7 key elements of a Killer Pitch deck

In the land of startups, pitching is in fashion! Last fall, I co-starred on an ABC Family (now Freeform) show called , and the one topic that gave us a huge increase in viewership was fundraising. Everyone desires to know the secrets.

Here are the key elements of my pitch deck that landed my company in funding from legendary enterprise capitalist Tim Draper.

Problem:

When taking a look at a problem, that you must ask yourself two very specific questions:

1. What is the issue I’m trying to resolve?
2. Do enough people even have this problem?

The answers to those questions alone will inform you whether you are wasting your time searching for enterprise investments. Venture capitalists need to know that you simply solve big problems.

Solution:

What solution have you ever give you for the issue you are attempting to resolve, and is it the best solution? You’ll find this out by going out and testing the market. If enough people imagine you are solving their problem, you are headed in the best direction.

Market size:

How big is the market opportunity? Venture capitalists need to know that you simply are targeting a HUGE market. They want your solution to resolve a problem for thousands and thousands of people. If your solution solves a problem for just a few people, it could be a great business, however it will not be suitable for enterprise capital investment.

Business model:

Every VC desires to know the way you are going to earn cash. Is it revenue share, ad sales, or a freemium business model? Whatever the case, that you must have a plan to generate revenue.

Competitive environment:

Who are your competitors? How is your solution different or higher than theirs? If your answer is, “I have no competitors,” the VC will take a look at you as if you’ve two heads attached to your body.

Every company has competitors. They will not be your direct competitors, but you need to definitely know who your competitors are.

Traction:

This refers to growth. How many consumers do you’ve? Do they pay customers? How much do they grow from month to month?

Team:

Who makes up your team? Is everyone qualified to work on the answer? Moreover, do their skills overlap or do they each make different contributions to the business? Also, how long did the band know one another before they decided to start out a business together? These are very vital aspects that a VC will consider when investing.

I say all this to say that this just isn’t the be all and end all. There are many interpretations of this fact, but I can guarantee that in the event you go to an investor meeting with these things checked, you’re rather more more likely to walk away with some form of financing.