This video focuses on how to create a powerful and concise pitch deck by avoiding filler words. It emphasizes the importance of simplicity in fundraising communication with investors.
What this video covers
The pitch deck is the document that you’re going to need in order to raise money. Again, it’s going to be two minutes and 41 seconds, 2:41 what you have from investors, so the last thing that you want is to put noise in there because they’re going to be filtering it, and the investors are not going to like it. In today’s video, we’re going to be breaking it down for you so that you get to understand how you put it together powerfully and how you avoid those filler words. So, without further ado, let’s get into it.
So, obviously, those are the different things that are going to be contributing to a catastrophic result and not getting that money in. Again, filler words are definitely not going to contribute for you to get the money because the investor wants it simple. Simplicity is king when you’re fundraising.
One of the first ways to avoid the filler words is to use a pitch deck template. You can actually use the one that I have below that is for free that founders are using all over the world to raise millions. By having that template, you know exactly where you’re going to be positioning, what’s going to be the structure, and that way, you don’t have to put filler words to avoid some emptiness on the real estate. You always need to have that clear and great combination between the text and also the visuals. Using a pitch deck template can actually help you to accomplish getting those filler words out of the picture.
You also want to set aside a hard limit on the number of slides that you’re going to be including. Typically, the amount of slides that you are going to be putting in there are going to be anywhere between 15 to 25 slides. The last thing that you want is to go over 25 because once you go over that amount, then you’re going to have to come up with all types of words and fillings in order to make sure that the deck is not empty. Again, try to keep it to a minimum, and simplicity is king, so cut as much as you can, but avoid cutting into the story.
You also want to use a big font size. The typical font size that you’re going to be including on pitch decks is going to be 30 points. Most of the people that are going to be reading those presentations are going to be senior folks for the most part, and they’re going to have trouble reading a very tiny font size. Again, put it in a way which is going to allow them to right away be able to read the document and skim through it because investors skim through the presentation.
You want to also use more images. The more images that you use, the better, and you will have that nice balance because, at the end of the day, an image can be as powerful as 1,000 words. If you can find an image that is explaining what you’re trying to convey via text, maybe remove some of that text, and you actually have the image in place. Images are fantastic.
Things like that that are right to the point and that investors are typically used to. Anything other than that is probably going to overcomplicate the flow and the structure of the presentation.
Also, something that you can do is to have someone else review the presentation. A good way to do this could be to perhaps put your presentation on Google Slides or on some collaborative type of tool where you can share it with your team, share it with advisors, and then also with perhaps board members so that they can perhaps cut and simplify wherever it may be a little bit complex.
Also, what you want to do is have alternative versions to the deck, and those alternative versions could be either used by sending via email, or you’re going to also have the deck that you’re going to be presenting in public because typically, via email, they’re going to review, they’re going to have more of an opportunity to read. While, when you’re in-person, you want them to focus on you, and obviously, in-person and on video, whatever that is.
