SMALL MISTAKES ADD UP
Check yourself 🧠
You are not pitching to get the money. You are pitching to get the next conversation. Think of it as a sales process.
The First Slide 1️⃣
You have 3-8 seconds to grab their attention. Don't waste it on a logo and start framing their understanding.
Cut the white noise ✂️
Hello, my name is Zineb Layachi and I am from Morocco. Thank you so much for the opportunity bla, bla, bla. Cut it out! You have very few seconds to grab their attention, get to the good stuff.
But, who is your Ideal Client? 🎯
Don't make me guess who this is for.
Overcrowded slides 🥴
This deters from your spoken pitch.
Grabbing attention and maintaining it during the pitch is your goal.
What's your ASK or CTA? 💎
It's like putting all your energy in seducing someone and then forgetting to ask them out.
Have you practiced at all? 🏹
This is an easy one to avoid. Just practice.
What's the story? 💤
All great pitches have a story. We remember stories and how they made us feel...not facts.
Where's the social proof 👀
People don't want to be the first ones. Tell them others have already been winning with your product or service.
Show me the money 💵
If you have revenue, don't forget to include it and make sure it's visible. If you don't, what's something you can show instead.
Talking too fast? 🚀
If it's the way you talk, practice slowing down. If it's because you want to cram as much in as possible...you better go back to the beginning and remove the parts that don't deliver value...make every second count!
What was that? No competition?!?
There is no such thing. Even when we think there is none, there is always competition...even if just the competitive alternatives.
Tell me about your Pipeline ⊳
Forget the hypotheticals, what does your current pipeline look like? Do you have access to them?
What does that even mean? 🙃
Only use jargon your audience will understand, if not they will tune out wondering what that is and completely miss your message.
Team slide ≠ Your CV ‼️
If they want to see your CV, they can go to Linkedin.
This is where you think about what's the most relevant experience that will help them believe that I and we are the team to lead this venture.
Product and features don't get you funded 🤖
We know that you are more comfortable talking features, but that's not what the investor needs to hear.
Focus on the problem first, who you are solving it for and how.
Sorry, I can't understand what you're saying? 🤔
Make sure you enunciate. If English is not your first language, practice as much as you can enunciating. Choose words you are comfortable with, remember to use simple language. Talk like a human.
What will you do with that money? ❖
Investors don't want their money to pay salaries, and they don't want to be funding your learning curve.
Where's that light? 🧡
Bring that passion with you to the (virtual) room, no one wants to see a 'meh' attitude.
Don't inflate the data ❗️
They will find out and it will reflect poorly on you.
Zero distractions in the background 😵💫
This just about sums it up:
The Last Slide 📧
Your contact details have to be personal.
Your name
Your role