What is the primary problem Squee is trying to solve?

According to slide 6, Squee addresses the gap between design talent and commercial viability. The founders argue that while many designers are excellent at creating products, they lack the expertise or platform to sell them effectively to a global audience. Squee positions itself as the bridge that handles the discovery and sales process for these creators.

How does Squee make money?

The business model is stated on slide 12: 'Our revenue comes from commission fee.' This implies a marketplace or affiliate model where Squee takes a percentage of every transaction facilitated through their mobile app or web platform. However, the deck does not specify the exact percentage or the average order value expected.

What platforms is Squee available on?

The deck showcases both a mobile and web presence. Slide 7 displays the iOS interface, featuring 'Home,' 'Item View,' and 'Menu' screens. Slide 8 and 9 show the web interface, which includes a 'Featured Today' section and a 'New Arrivals' category, along with social login capabilities.

Who are the founders of Squee?

The leadership team, shown on slide 13, includes Ivan Kapulica (Founder), Krunoslav Klarić (Co-Founder and Lead Curator), and Ivan Ivanković (Co-Founder). The descriptions highlight Kapulica's background in the financial industry and Klarić's role in handpicking items and maintaining relationships with designers.

What information is missing from the Squee pitch deck?

The deck is missing several standard venture capital requirements. There is no market sizing (TAM/SAM/SOM), no competitive landscape analysis, no financial projections, and no traction metrics. Most importantly, slide 15 ends the deck without stating how much capital the company is seeking or how they intend to use it.

Squee Pitch Deck Teardown: A Visual-First Approach

Squee is a design-focused discovery platform aiming to solve the problem of talented designers who lack the skills to sell their work. The deck, spanning 15 slides, emphasizes a visual-first user interface across both iOS and web platforms. The business model is straightforward, relying on commission fees from sales generated through the platform. While the deck excels at establishing a brand aesthetic and showcasing a functional UI, it lacks critical financial data, market sizing, and a specific funding ask. The team slides highlight a mix of technical and creative backgrounds, though the de…

Key takeaways

The company identifies a core problem where 'Amazing designers know how to Design not how to Sell' on slide 6.
The platform operates as a daily design inspiration tool, as stated on slide 2.
The revenue model is explicitly defined as coming from a 'commission fee' on slide 12.
UI mockups for iOS show a 'Buy' button and social features like 'Invite Friends' on slide 7.
The web interface includes social login options for Facebook and Twitter, shown on slide 8.
The deck contains no mention of current traction, user numbers, or revenue figures.
There is no competition slide detailing specific market rivals, only a general statement that competition pushes them to do better on slide 11.
The team consists of six members, including a 'Lead curator' and a 'Lead designer,' detailed on slides 13 and 14.

The Visual Narrative: Squee Pitch Deck Analysis

Squee’s pitch deck is a study in minimalist, visual-heavy storytelling. At 15 slides, it attempts to capture the essence of a design-forward brand. The deck is less about spreadsheets and more about the 'vibe' of the product, which is consistent with their mission of providing design inspiration. However, from a fundraising perspective, the lack of hard data creates significant gaps that a founder would need to address in a live pitch.

Slides 1-5: The Aesthetic Hook

The deck opens with a simple black title slide (Slide 1) stating the value proposition: "DESIGN INSPIRATION IN YOUR POCKET." This is followed by Slide 2, which reiterates that "squee brings you daily design inspiration." The logo, featuring the tagline "squee loves you," establishes a friendly, consumer-centric brand identity.

Slides 3, 4, and 5 are purely visual. They feature high-quality photography of design objects: wooden nutcrackers, a minimalist lamp, and a modern desk with integrated shelving. These slides serve no purpose other than to establish the quality of curation the user can expect. While visually pleasing, using 20% of a pitch deck for uncaptioned imagery is a bold choice that risks losing the attention of investors looking for business substance.

Slide 6: The Problem Statement

Slide 6 finally introduces the business logic. Over an image of a bicycle, the text reads: "Amazing designers know how to Design not how to Sell." This is a classic 'gap in the market' problem statement. It identifies the target supplier (designers) and their pain point (lack of retail expertise). It sets the stage for Squee to act as the commercial intermediary.

Slides 7-9: Product and User Interface

Slide 7 provides a look at the mobile application. It shows three screens: the Home feed, a Product Details page, and a side Menu. Notable features include a "Double Tap To Squee It" interaction (similar to Instagram's like feature) and a prominent green "Buy" button on the product page. The menu shows social features like "Invite Friends," suggesting a viral growth mechanism.

Slides 8 and 9 transition to the web interface. Slide 8 shows a landing page with "Join with facebook" and "Join with twitter" buttons, indicating a low-friction onboarding process. The layout is a grid of curated items under "Featured Today" and "New Arrivals." Slide 9 shows a specific product page for a "Racconto Plurale bookcase," complete with a "BUY" button and a "SQUEE" button, along with a "You might also like..." recommendation engine. These slides prove that the product is more than a concept; it has a functional, cross-platform UI.

Slides 10-12: Strategy and Business Model

Slide 10 makes a geographic claim: "Europe is the home of the design." This suggests that Squee may be focusing on European designers as their primary supply source, though it doesn't explicitly state a regional launch strategy. Slide 11 addresses competition with the vague statement: "Competition pushes us to do better." This is a missed opportunity. A standard pitch deck should name competitors (like Etsy, Behance, or Fab.com) and explain Squee's unique advantage. Simply acknowledging that competition exists does not help an investor understand the market positioning.

Slide 12 is the most important business slide: "Our revenue comes from commission fee." This confirms the marketplace model. However, the slide is thin on details. It does not mention the commission percentage, the payment processor, or how they handle logistics/shipping, which are the primary hurdles in e-commerce.

Slides 13-14: The Team

The team is split across two slides. Slide 13 introduces the founders. Ivan Kapulica is described as a "Product guy" who "Sold his first business." Krunoslav Klarić is the "Lead curator" responsible for designer relationships. Ivan Ivanković is labeled the "King of Multitasking."

Slide 14 introduces the technical and design staff. Mario Žderić and Mario Strizić are developers, with Strizić claiming to be able to "develop a better native app for facebook with my other hand." Domagoj Kapulica is the Lead Designer. While the tone is lighthearted and shows personality, it lacks professional pedigree. Investors typically want to see specific past companies, years of experience, or relevant degrees rather than claims about baking cakes or making pancakes.

Slide 15: The Conclusion

The deck ends on Slide 15 with "THANKS A MILLION!" and contact information. There is a glaring omission here: the "Ask." A pitch deck is a tool to raise money, yet this deck never specifies how much money is being raised, at what valuation, or what the milestones for the next 18 months look like.

What Works

Brand Consistency: The deck looks and feels like the product it is describing. The typography and imagery are high-end, which is essential for a design-focused startup. · Clear Revenue Model: Even though it is brief, stating that revenue comes from commission fees removes any ambiguity about how the company intends to survive. · Product Readiness: The inclusion of both mobile and web mockups suggests the team has moved past the ideation phase and has a tangible product to show.

What is Missing

The Ask: As mentioned, there is no financial request. This is the most critical missing piece of a fundraising deck. · Market Size: There is no mention of the total addressable market (TAM). Investors need to know if this is a billion-dollar opportunity or a niche hobbyist site. · Traction: Are there users? How many designers are signed up? What is the Month-over-Month growth? The deck is silent on all performance metrics. · Logistics: In a marketplace, the 'how' is as important as the 'what.' The deck doesn't explain who handles shipping, returns, or customer service.

What a Founder Should Copy

Visual Problem Statement: Slide 6 is a great example of using a single, powerful sentence to define a market inefficiency. It is easy to understand and hard to argue with. · UI Walkthrough: The way Slide 7 labels the different parts of the app (Home, Item View, Menu) is a helpful way to guide an investor through the user journey without needing a live demo. · Curated Imagery: If you are in a creative industry, your deck must reflect your taste. Squee succeeds in proving they have the "great taste" mentioned in the founder's bio through their choice of slide photography.

Frequently asked questions

What is the primary problem Squee is trying to solve?: According to slide 6, Squee addresses the gap between design talent and commercial viability. The founders argue that while many designers are excellent at creating products, they lack the expertise or platform to sell them effectively to a global audience. Squee positions itself as the bridge that handles the discovery and sales process for these creators.
How does Squee make money?: The business model is stated on slide 12: 'Our revenue comes from commission fee.' This implies a marketplace or affiliate model where Squee takes a percentage of every transaction facilitated through their mobile app or web platform. However, the deck does not specify the exact percentage or the average order value expected.
What platforms is Squee available on?: The deck showcases both a mobile and web presence. Slide 7 displays the iOS interface, featuring 'Home,' 'Item View,' and 'Menu' screens. Slide 8 and 9 show the web interface, which includes a 'Featured Today' section and a 'New Arrivals' category, along with social login capabilities.
Who are the founders of Squee?: The leadership team, shown on slide 13, includes Ivan Kapulica (Founder), Krunoslav Klarić (Co-Founder and Lead Curator), and Ivan Ivanković (Co-Founder). The descriptions highlight Kapulica's background in the financial industry and Klarić's role in handpicking items and maintaining relationships with designers.
What information is missing from the Squee pitch deck?: The deck is missing several standard venture capital requirements. There is no market sizing (TAM/SAM/SOM), no competitive landscape analysis, no financial projections, and no traction metrics. Most importantly, slide 15 ends the deck without stating how much capital the company is seeking or how they intend to use it.