Pitch Deck Templates For Seed Capital - NextView Ventures

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The document discusses pitch deck templates and best practices for early-stage startups raising seed capital.

The two main pitch deck formats discussed are the startup pitch deck template and the what every investor wants entrepreneurs to know template.

Some common mistakes to avoid are claiming you won't need future funding, underpreparing by not conveying the basics, overpreparing by including too much information, and not presenting your pitch with a story arc.

Startup Pitch

Deck
TEMPLATES

Tw o V C - A p p r o v e d F o r m a t s f o r
Raising Institutional Seed Capital
with commentary from
the founding partners of

About

These are NextViews series of tactical resources for entrepreneurs,


built specifically for seed-stage companies as part of NextViews
platform of startup support. For more, visit ViewFromSeed.com

The leading seed-stage VC firm investing in internet and mobile


startups on the East Coast. We focus exclusively on seed, all in
service of our mission: Help founders give their companies the best
possible start.
NextView was founded in 2010 by Lee Hower (PayPal, LinkedIn, Point
Judith Capital), David Beisel (About.com, Venrock) & Rob Go (eBay,
Spark Capital).

How to Use This Resource


These slides make pitch deck creation easier and more precise.

While each company is different, we included key pieces you should use, along with our
opinions on what makes a great, investor-friendly pitch deck.
You should use these templates directionally -- dont simply copy/paste the entire resource.

This was built for early-stage startups raising seed capital.

This is not intended for use by startups seeking Series A or later rounds, as you will need to
include different information and/or craft a different narrative to successfully reach these
financial milestones.
Throughout this resource, my
partners and I offer some light
commentary and opinions via these
sticky notes. Youll find them along
the margins of a given slide.
David Beisel
Co-Founder & Partner
NextView Ventures

Some copy is packaged in [blue and


brackets] to be extra clear that its just
placeholder and should be updated.

Pitch Decks 101


What Every Investor Wants Entrepreneurs to
Know

Mistakes to Avoid
Dont make the claim that you wont need future funding after this round.

This is somewhat common for entrepreneurs to say. But if the business is truly great,
youre better off raising future capital so you can step on the gas.
Additionally, taking venture capital implies youre trying to maximize growth and returns,
so in most cases, you will actually want to raise additional capital. Claiming otherwise can
hurt your credibility.

Dont under- or over-prepare. Both are surprisingly common pitfalls.

Many entrepreneurs fail to convey the basics (the who/what/why/how) early in the deck. Be
sure you do so you can have a more productive discussion afterwards. Be careful not to
underprepare.
Conversely, others will over-prepare, stuffing too much information into the deck and
treating the meeting like a one-way transaction. In reality, you want a conversation to
secure that next meeting.

Always present your pitch with some kind of story arc.

The second template will explain more details about why this is important, but suffice to
say that many failed pitches lack a compelling narrative and thus fall flat. Good pitches tell
Always send your deck as a PDF.
an authentic story.

This avoids font and formatting issues.

Goals to Keep in Mind


The goal of your first investor meeting is NOT to secure funding.

Your very first goal is to secure the NEXT meeting. You want to get an investor excited and
intrigued enough to perform some due diligence and convey that excitement to his or her
partners.

Play to your strengths and select the right pitch deck format for your
situation.

In this resource, youll find two different formats: (1) a short deck with a long, kitchen
sink appendix and (2) The Show, a story-driven format to be presented from start to
finish.
Short Pitch + Long
The of
Show
You should use the deck that best alignsAppendix
with your style and the specifics
your pitch
meeting.
Critical info up front
Coherent story format
Exhaustive appendix
Highly visual
Characteristics:
Basic layout/design
Driven by emotions

Use Cases:

First meetings (typically


much more
conversational)
For those less comfortable
as public speakers

One-way, end-to-end
presenting to VCs
Typically better for
good public speakers

Template 1:

Pitch + Kitchen Sink FAQs

A basic pitch deck outlining


c o re
d e t a i l s u p f ro n t . Re f e r t o t h e
appendix as needed based
on the conversation.

Example Company

Confidential Investor Presentation


January 2014

Executive Summary
What We Do:

ExampleCo is a [zero-jargon description of


product] used by [broad but addressable
market] to [benefits].
We are focused on the [$X billion target
niche] market.

Team Experience

Logos of Past
Companies & Top
Schools

Current Status:
We are [company stage, e.g. pre-revenue, prelaunch, etc.].
Traction to date includes:
(Month or Quarter 1): X key metric, Y key
metric
(Month or Quarter 2): X key metric, Y key
metric

Pilot Customers/Partners

Logos or Other Proof of


Early Traction

Currently Raising:

[$X-Y million] seed round.


Previously raised [$X million] from [investors].

Problem
[The succinct problem statement you aim
to address goes here. Use plain language
no jargon.]

your problem, as
emotional arc to
s immersed in it
adding some
such as these.

[Customer Tries
Something]

[Heres Their
Terrible Pain]

[Existing Solutions
Are Broken/Nonexistent]

Beisel
under & Partner
View Ventures

Solution

[The succinct summary of the solution


goes here. This often sounds like your
company mission.]
[List a few key benefits and features here.]

1-2 Product Screens

Explanation of
Actions Taken

Explanation of
Actions Taken

Theres noth
than getting
realizing the
what the pro
time for a sh

Explanation of
Outcomes

Go-To-Market
What to Know to Create Yours

This slide varies but t


same: Show youre th
(or have data or an un
in) distribution. This
overlooked in favor o

In ONE slide, convey one or more of the following:


1. Your unfair distribution advantage
Whats the one thing that sets you apart when it comes to
distribution?
2. Your initial customer/user acquisition strategy
What channels are you thinking about? What data can you share
based on past tests? What tech integrations are you building?
3. Your initial marquee partners or customers, if applicable
Who are your earliest true believers that will help you gain
traction and/or generate word-of-mouth? Whos already in your
camp that has a recognizable brand, history of success, or
enough confidence in your company and product to partner or
buy early on?

David B
Co-Foun
NextView

Go-To-Market
Total Addressable Market: [$XB industry]
Distribution Strategy: [Your unique advantage + channels you plan
to test
Launch
[Dates]

Traction
[Dates]

Growth
[Dates]

[Launch web & iOS app]

[X]

[X]

Priority

Tasks:

[Improve signup flow


Finalize user referral process
Accepted to App Store
Drive initial signups
Measure DAU totals]

[X]

[X]

Target
Results:

[X initial users
Convert X% of existing email list
Understand DAU & optimize]

[X]

[X]

Main
Focus:

Traction to Date

[Key Metric #1]


[Key Metric #2]
[Key Metric #3]

Seed-stage
there won
yet, but it
few data p
proof you

Looking Forward
We are seeking [$X].
We aim to [major goals] in the next [timeframe].

Company
Progress

Team
Building

Hire A, B, C]

Launc
h

Develop
Product

May

Hire X, Y, Z

Goal

Initial App
Optimization

June

Goal

[X]

July

Goal

[X]

Aug

Sept

Oct

This kitchen
great for you
conversation
up a given sl
use, theres n

FAQs

Team

.
general
seasoned
h POV?
it brief.

Headsho
t

Headsho
t

Name, Current Title

Name, Current Title

Partner
tures

Past Company
Logo

Title or Relevant Function


Impressive Achievement

Past Company
Logo

Title or Relevant Function


Impressive Achievement

Past Company
Logo

Title or Relevant Function


Impressive Achievement

Past Company
Logo

Title or Relevant Function


Impressive Achievement

Competition
[Low Thing]

[High Thing]

[High Thing]

Logo
Logo
Logo

[Low Thing]

Logo

Logo

Dont kill y
slide that w
being over
to how you
relevant tw

We are stronger than the competition in [key differentiators].


We are threatened by the competition in [honest worries you have].

10

Use of Proceeds

Build team of [X]


[Biggest product milestone e.g. launch beta in X
months]
Product/market fit and [X customers/users] in [X] months
Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

YEAR

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

YEAR

Projected
Headcount
Projected
Customers
Revenue
Salaries +
Overhead
Other
(Professional Fees,
Rent, Utilities,
Travel, etc.)

Cash Burn
Total Cash
Burn

Be thoughtful about projecting burn


rate, since thats how VCs think
about finances. And definitely dont
try to project anything beyond two
years. Its just not reasonable.
Rob Go
Co-Founder & Partner
NextView Ventures

11

Marketing Deep Dive


What to Know to Create Yours
In ONE slide, convey how youll drive growth through one of the
following :
1. Your actual marketing funnel and results to date
2. Your products built-in growth drivers (referrals, network
effects, etc.)
3. Proposed tactics you plan to deploy over time

The Next 3 Slides Show


Examples

If this isnt based on actu


propose how youre thin
it. We live in a demand-c
world. The question to a
how youll address that i

Rob Go
Co-Founder
NextView V

12

Marketing Deep Dive

Example 1 of 3

[Description of Total Target Market]


User Acquisition

[Channel 1]

[Channel 2]

[Channel 3]

In
Progress/S
ucceeding
(Continue
to
Optimize)

[Conversion Action 1]
Conversion
and/or
Retention

(e.g. Lead, Free User, Trial, Demo, etc.)

[Conversion 2 or
Retention]

Launch or
Improve
(Starting
Soon)

(e.g. MQL, 1-7-30-Day Active Users,


Critical/Sticky Feature Usage, etc.)

Revenue
Monetization

LTV

Test/Valida
te
Hypothese
s
(Starting
Later)

12

Marketing Deep Dive

Example 2 of 3

User Network Effects/Product


Virality

Context
Context

Product
Feature

Context
Context

Product
Feature

12

Marketing Deep Dive

Example 3 of 3

Path to [X] Customers


[X]
Customer
s

Tactic
# Customers

Tactic
Tactic

Tactic

Tactic
Tactic

Tactic

Tactic
Tactic
Time

12

pproach to
4 graphs that
pulse on your
e tracking a
metrics.

sel
er & Partner
Ventures

Traction Deep Dive


Data Point
Data Point
Data Point

13

How It Works
[ExampleCo makes X easier and
cheaper.]
[Save Time: ExampleCo does X for you]
.
[Save Money: X% more cost-effective on average.]

Youd be
slides fai
product w
and jargo
much, es

How Customers Use [ExampleCo]:


1. [X]
2. [Y]
3. [Z]

14

Product Screens

3
2

15

Bucket 3

Bucket 2

Bucket 1

Product Roadmap
Milestone

Milestone

Milestone

Milestone
Milestone
Milestone

Milestone

Milestone

Milestone

Milestone
Milestone

May

June

July

Milestone

Aug

Sept

Oct

16

Customer Validation
Headsho
t

Quote.

Test Customer Logos

Logo

Headsho
t

Logo

Quote.

Proof
Proof
Proof
Proof

of
of
of
of

concept
concept
concept
concept

data
data
data
data

point
point
point
point

17

he
ss.

er

Financials/Budget
Revenue
Year2
Item
Item
Total Revenue
Cost of goods sold
Item
Item
Total COGs
Gross Profit
Gross Margin
X%
X%
Expenses
Item
Item
Total Expenses

Q1

Q2

Q3

Year1

Q4

Q1

Q2

Q3

$X
$X
$X

$X
$X
$X

$X
$X
$X

$X
$X
$X

$X
$X
$X

$X
$X
$X

$X
$X
$X

$X
$X

$X
$X
$X

$X
$X
$X

$X
$X
$X

$X
$X
$X

$X $X
X%
X%

$X
X%

$X
$X
$X

$X
$X
$X

$X
$X
$X

$X
$X
$X

$X
$X
$X

$X
$X
$X

$X
$X
$X

$X
$X
$X

$X
$X
$X

$X
$X
$X

$X
X%

$X
X%

$X

$X
$X
$X

$X
$X
$X

$X
$X
$X

$X
$X
$X

Q4

$X

$X
$X
$X
X%
X%

$X
X%

$X
$X
$X

$X
$X
$X

$X
$X
$X

$X
$X
$X

EBITDA
($X)
($X)
($X)
($X)
($X)
($X)
($X)
($X)
($X)
($X)
Other Income (Loss)
($X)
($X)
($X)
($X)
($X)
($X)
($X)
($X)

Be sure
and you
mistake
project
growth

18

Unit Economics

Seed-stage
the history t
economics.
you have an
comparable

Example: A Venue
Booking Service

(Showing [X] months trailing.)


Averages
Meetings/Events Booked
Rental Rate
Utilization
Revenue for Venue
Commission %
Gross Revenue

X [Provide context for a given item as needed]


$X
X%
$X
X%
$X

Cost
Channel/Partnerships
Acquisition
Cost-per-lead
-Partner Commission
$X
Service Agent
$X
Net Revenue
$X
Margin %
X%

Direct
$X
-$X
$X
X%
19

Market Size/Trends

e,
rst,
t
he

er

,
.

[$XB ]
total market
opportunity

Go-toMarke
t
Related Data Points

Data
Data
Data
Data
Data
Data
Data
Data
Data

point/statement
point/statement
point/statement
point/statement
point/statement
point/statement
point/statement
point/statement
point/statement

[$XB]

(Source)
(Source)
(Source)
(Source)
(Source)
Check the slide notes below for
(Source) helpful links on each topic: the idea
(Source) of total addressable market (versus
the total market), as well as top(Source) just
down and bottom-up analyses.
(Source)
Lee Hower
Co-Founder & Partner

20

Exit Comparisons
Startu
p

Startu
p

Startu
p

Public Co

acq. by

acq. by

acq. by

[market cap]

Buyer

Buyer

Buyer
Public Co

[$X]

[$X]

[$X]

[market cap]

VC

VC

VC

Public Co

VC

VC

VC

[market cap]

Startups in the [industry niche] space are acquisition targets for


companies such as [Examples], at valuations around [N] times
price/sale.

21

Partners/Biz Dev
Current Partners:

Target Partners:

Logos of Early
Partners

Logos of Future
Potential Partners

22

Monetization

Example: B2B SaaS

[B2B SaaS Business Model]


[Sales Strategy: Free trial and bottom-up
selling]
[Pricing: $X to $Y per user per month]

If there are m
flowchart is
exchange of
B2B, show o
comes from.

[Operating Margins: Over X%]

23

Challenges/Risks

[Challenge #1 context]
[Challenge #2 context]
[Challenge #3 context]

What keeps you up at night? Though


this may seem counterintuitive to
state so overtly, every startup has
challenges, and investors want to see
how youre thinking about them.
Rob Go
Co-Founder & Partner
NextView Ventures

24

Why Now?
Trend, Factor,
or Data Point

Trend,
Factor,
or
Data
Point

icon
icon

icon
icon

Trend,
Factor,
or
Data
Point

Trend, Factor,
or Data Point
25

Template 2:

The Show

A v i s u a l , e m o t i o n a l l y- d r i v e n
deck
t o c r a ft a n d d e l i v e r a c o m p l e t e ,
c o m p e l l i n g s t o r y.

What Is The Show?


The Show is an alternative to the more traditional pitch deck style.

The Show is perfect for entrepreneurs aiming to tell a compelling, start-to-finish story.
Compared to the previous template, this deck should be presented in its entirety with
minimal interruption or tangential discussion.
Depending on your personal presentation style and abilities, The Show can be great for
group pitches.

Note the following meta approach to teaching you The Show.

Theres no exact template for creating The Show, since its so specific to your own story. As
a result, weve created an example of this style pitch deck by pitching a fake product: The
Show.
Thus, the following slides will help you get a sense of the emotional feel of this style, and
the copy itself will overtly talk about it too, since thats our product. (Meta, we know.)

Look for these call-out boxes to learn more about a particular slide.
These exist OUTSIDE the actual story arc (i.e. its our attempt at
stepping back to analyze a slide). Theyre not part of the pitch.

The Show
Tell Your Seed-Stage Startups Story. Better.

Confidential Investor Presentation


January 2015

Remember: Were about to present this template to you as if The Show is the startup being
pitched. Thus, the slides that follow will convey both the emotional style of this type of pitch
AND some tactical details of what you should include in your own version of The Show.

The Show
Tell Your Seed-Stage Startups Story. Better.

Confidential Investor Presentation


January 2015

Remember: Were about to present this template to you as if The Show is the startup being
pitched. Thus, the slides that follow will convey both the emotional style of this type of pitch
AND some tactical details of what you should include in your own version of The Show.
(Still with us on the meta approach? Good. Now,
quite literally, on with The Show)

The Show
Tell Your Seed-Stage Startups Story. Better.

Confidential Investor Presentation


January 2015

The Show
is an investor pitch deck
template
that guides an audience
through a compelling story
and helps entrepreneurs
more successfully
raise seed capital.

The Show
is an investor pitch deck
template
that guides an audience
through a compelling story
and helps entrepreneurs
more successfully
raise seed capital.

As with any style pitch deck, you should articulate the basics of
WHAT you do up front. Founders fail to convey this surprisingly
often, which derails your pitch immediately. Dont forget to
include this simple yet critical detail early in your own story.

What weve observed:

What weve observed:


After conveying the basics of WHAT you do, its now time to tell
the main story: WHY you exist. This is what makes The Show so
effective it tells a compelling story, with you at the center.

What weve observed:


After conveying the basics of WHAT you do, its now time to tell
the main story: WHY you exist. This is what makes The Show so
effective it tells a compelling story, with you at the center.
Note that all compelling stories, from nursery
rhymes to Shakespeare to your pitch, can break
down into THREE parts, which well discuss

What weve observed:


Web and mobile
entrepreneurship
is in vogue and
growing fast. As a
result, more
entrepreneurs are
pitching more VCs.

What weve observed:


Web and mobile
entrepreneurship
is in vogue and
growing fast. As a
result, more
entrepreneurs are
pitching more VCs.
Compelling Story, Part 1: A status quo. What is the state of things
historically or today? For a pitch, the status quo is the observation youve
made about the market that will inevitably lead to Part 2 of your story

Problem

Unfortunately, many
startup pitches are
broken. Theyre
ineffective and fail to
convince VCs to
invest.
5

Problem

Unfortunately, many
startup pitches are
broken. Theyre
ineffective and fail to
convince VCs to
invest.

Compelling Story, Part 2: Conflict. A problem is encountered by the hero


of your story. In your case, thats your customer, NOT your company

Problem

Unfortunately, many
startup pitches are
broken. Theyre
ineffective and fail to
convince VCs to
invest.

Compelling Story, Part 2: Conflict. A problem is encountered by the hero


of your story. In your case, thats your customer, NOT your company

But the status quo alone isnt enough. It must lead to a problem. No problem,
no product. No product, no company. You want to really hammer home this
idea of the problem you solve, so well dedicate a few more slides to just that

Why do pitches fail?


During the seed-stage, many pitches
exhibit the same issue

Problem

They lack a
compelling
story.
7

Problem

They lack a
compelling
story.

This happens for one of two


reasons

1. Some pitches are


BARREN

Not enough content.

10

Not enough content.


Not crystal clear on WHAT they do.

11

Not enough content.


Not crystal clear on WHAT they do.
No overt ask for capital.

12

Not enough content.


Not crystal clear on WHAT they do.
No overt ask for capital.
No stated plan post-fundraise.

13

Not enough content.


Not crystal clear on WHAT they do.
No overt ask for capital.
No stated plan post-fundraise.
Not clear why this is inevitable.

14

Not enough content.


Not crystal clear on WHAT they do.
No overt ask for capital.
No stated plan post-fundraise.
Not clear why this is inevitable.

All of this only confuses


and frustrates investors.

15

2. Some pitches are


CLUTTERED

16

Too much copy.

17

Too much copy.


Too many details (vs. the KEY details)

18

Too much copy.


Too many details (vs. the KEY details)
Not delivered as a compelling story.

19

Too much copy.


Too many details (vs. the KEY details)
Not delivered as a compelling story.

These are hard to follow.


The story gets lost in all
the noise.
20

Too much copy.


Too many details (vs. the KEY details)
Not delivered as a compelling story.

These are hard to follow.


The story gets lost in all
the noise.
(As an aside, you should be picking up on the style of The Show by
now: short, clear statements, presented in a single, connected story.)

20

Instead, the goal is


to convey 3 things:

21

Instead, the goal is


to convey 3 things:
1.This
matters.

22

Instead, the goal is


to convey 3 things:
1.This
matters.
2.Were the
people to
do it.

23

Instead, the goal is


to convey 3 things:
1.This
matters.
2.Were the
people to
do it.
3.Its already
happening.

24

Instead, the goal is


to convey 3 things:
1.This
matters.

The problem is truly


painful and the
opportunity is huge.

2.Were the
people to
do it.
3.Its already
happening.

25

Instead, the goal is


to convey 3 things:
1.This
matters.
2.Were the
people to
do it.
3.Its already
happening.

The problem is truly


painful and the
opportunity is huge.

Your team has the


talent and the unfair
advantages to win.

26

Instead, the goal is


to convey 3 things:
1.This
matters.
2.Were the
people to
do it.
3.Its already
happening.

The problem is truly


painful and the
opportunity is huge.

Your team has the


talent and the unfair
advantages to win.

Early traction hints


at much bigger
success in the future.

27

Solution

Compelling
stories
convey
exactly that.
28

Were building

The Show

to help entrepreneurs easily create


the most compelling stories possible.

29

Compelling Story, Part 3: Resolution. Youve laid out the status


quo of whats happening, as well as the resulting problem. The
resolution to that problem comes next. It should lead neatly into
an oh, by the way moment...

Were building

The Show

to help entrepreneurs easily create


the most compelling stories possible.

29

Compelling Story, Part 3: Resolution. Youve laid out the status


quo of whats happening, as well as the resulting problem. The
resolution to that problem comes next. It should lead neatly into
an oh, by the way moment...
Putting it all together: Weve observed X, which creates problem Y. The
solution is Z, and oh, by the way, thats exactly what were creating.
Investors want to believe you are the inevitable resolution to this story.

Were building

The Show

to help entrepreneurs easily create


the most compelling stories possible.

29

Compelling Story, Part 3: Resolution. Youve laid out the status


quo of whats happening, as well as the resulting problem. The
resolution to that problem comes next. It should lead neatly into
an oh, by the way moment...
Putting it all together: Weve observed X, which creates problem Y. The
solution is Z, and oh, by the way, thats exactly what were creating.
Investors want to believe you are the inevitable resolution to this story.

Next, outline why


youre the best team
to provide it.

Were building

The Show

to help entrepreneurs easily create


the most compelling stories possible.

29

What we realized by
testing The Show
30

Why Stories Succeed

Stories target the head and


the gut.
Investors make decisions
with both.

31

Why Stories Succeed


Stories target the head and
1
the gut.
Investors make decisions
Youll want to speak to each point. For #1, wed add this: Investors make decisions using both of
these things. with
But unless youre
a world-class storyteller that can make plain slides come to life,
both.
regular slides wont cut it. The Show is more adept at targeting both the head (Is this a smart
business? Can it scale and make money?) and the gut (Am I excited about this? Does this feel huge?).

31

Why Stories Succeed

1
2

Stories target the head and


the gut.
Investors
makethe
decisions
Stories convey
WHY.
with
both.
Young
startups lack a
history of proof but have
plenty of purpose.

32

Why Stories Succeed


Stories target the head and
1
the gut.
Investors
makethe
decisions
Stories convey
WHY.
2
with
both.
Young
startups lack a
history of proof but have
plenty of purpose.
This is the driving factor behind your pitch. If youre launching to simply make money, most
investors wont actually get excited. At NextView, for example, we look for authentic founders
people who identify a problem and understand their why, their mission. When things get tough or
challenges arise, as they always do, these founders will run through walls to keep building their
businesses. The Show effectively conveys this sense of purpose and succeed-at-all-costs mentality.

32

Why Stories Succeed

1
2
3

Stories target the head and


the gut.
Investors
makethe
decisions
Stories convey
WHY.
with
both.
Young
startups lack a
history of proof but have
plenty
purpose.
Storiesof
have
high impact in
little time.
Maximize your short pitch
meetings.
33

Why Stories Succeed

1
2
3

Stories target the head and


the gut.
Investors
makethe
decisions
Stories convey
WHY.
with
both.
Young
startups lack a
history of proof but have
plenty
purpose.
Storiesof
have
high impact in
little time.
short
pitch
Stories shedMaximize
light on things two sides mightyour
have in common,
like shared purpose
or common
interests. Seed VCs invest in people much more than they invest in business plans and ideas. The
Show deliversmeetings.
a story that can quickly get investors excited about the opportunity. If structured
properly, The Show also doesnt require a lot of time to reach that end result. This fits within the
constraints of a pitch meeting and allows for important follow-up questions after.

Early Results
Data Point/Proof
Data Point/Proof
Data Point/Proof

34

Early Results
Data Point/Proof
Data Point/Proof
Data Point/Proof
Stories were the most
effective means for
generating a positive
response from investors.
35

Early Results
Note that this slide should present just a few key data
Data Point/Proof
points and perhaps a powerful statement, quote, or
conclusion. In addition to the short list of data points,
Data Point/Proof
provide context verbally, e.g., For comparison, Famous
Company A gets X results, making ours better by Y.
Data Point/Proof

Stories were the most


effective means for
generating a positive
response from investors.
35

Our
Unfair
Advantage
for achieving traction and distribution

36

Our
Unfair
Advantage
for achieving traction and distribution

Not only should the story in your pitch present your company as the
inevitable resolution, it should drive home the unfair advantage every
investor seeks in entrepreneurs when it comes to actually gaining traction.
Its not just about building something worth using its about growth.

36

Our Unfair Advantage

Our Advantage:
Context

Our Advantage:
Context

37

Our Unfair Advantage

Our Advantage:
Context

Our Advantage:
Context
Maybe you have an exclusive partnership with a big brand. Maybe your
team boasts a truly connected, all-star cast. Whatever the unfair
advantage(s) is/are for your company, articulate that loudly and proudly.
These are the factors that help investors see you will not only succeed in
general but will succeed early and often. (Note that this is mainly about
distribution.)

37

Opportunity

Years 1-2:
$X Billion Market
38

Opportunity

Growth into
Larger $Y
Years 1-2:
Billion Market
$X Billion Market
38

18-Month Plan
Raise $N
Million in
Seed

38

18-Month Plan
Raise $N
Million in
Seed

Grow X
Part of
Business

39

18-Month Plan
Raise $N
Million in
Seed

Achieve
Z Key
Results

Grow X
Part of
Business

40

18-Month Plan
Raise $N
Million in
Seed

Achieve
Z Key
Results

Grow X
Part of
Business

Remember, you should be prepared to speak more to each point in your


pitch. Otherwise, it can feel like a gross oversimplification. For this slide, you
should demonstrate that you understand the key levers you need to pull to
gain traction and successfully reach your Series A round or other milestones.

40

Our
Team
deep expertise and decades of
combined experience in
raising/investing seed capital
Lee Hower

Rob Go

David Beisel

Jay Acunzo

41

Our mission is to help entrepreneurs


everywhere tell better stories to succeed.

The Show
Contact: [email protected]
555-555-5555
ViewFromSeed.com
@NextViewVC

GET M ORE RESOURC ES,


ADV IC E & INSIGHT S F OR
SEE D-STAGE STARTU PS
V i s i t V i e w Fr o m S e e d . c o m
Fo l l ow @ N ex t V i e w VC

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