The process of raising capital from investors can be difficult. Investment decks are essential tools that showcase the business’s story, with the aim to spark investors’ interest. Although investment decks are presentations, producing a compelling one does not solely rely on great presentation skills. Design, clarity, and accurate market and company estimations should also be considered, but how do you go about putting this together?
6 things you should include in your investment deck
1. Introduction slide
These first couple of slides are where investors should be told what they need to know about your business. Keeping it concise, here is where the business overview and mission will be stated.
2. The team
Highlighting the team and their strengths are the next key step to creating a great investment deck. Investors need to believe in the company to invest and the team is a big part of that. They need to know that the team is committed to scaling the company and that they will be great to work with.
3. The problem
These pages are where you address the market opportunity your company provides the solution to. It is important that the market is thoroughly researched and there are facts and figures that display the state of the current market.
4. The product/service
It is now time to show off your product or service. Detail how it solves the previously stated problem and what makes it stand out from others. It is important that you cover every angle in this section and leave no room for doubt or unanswered questions.
5. Marketing/go-to-market strategies
The aim of this slide will be to showcase how you plan to market your product once you receive the potential investment. It Is important to highlight how you will roll out your product or expand globally and capture your target market.
6. Financials/Projections
Adding the projections of the revenue and cost to your investment deck is vital as all investors really want to know is their return on investment. It will show them that you understand financial metrics and know how to navigate a successful business.
Top tips for creating an impressive investment deck
- Keep your investment deck between 15 to 20 slides
- Refrain from including in-depth financial details. That can be discussed in the follow-up
- Do not use a lot of jargon or acronyms, clear and concise language is key
- Do not belittle the competition or dismiss regulatory risks
- Ensure that your information and metrics are up to date
- Put some thought into the design of the presentation, ask for help from a designer or creative
- Include the following wording at the bottom left of the investment deck cover page: “Confidential and Proprietary. Copyright (c) by [Name of Company]. All Rights Reserved.”
- Make sure to send the investment deck in pdf format to the investors prior to the meeting
FinTech investment decks
Amidst a record-breaking year of FinTech investment, it’s clear that a lot of FinTechs are getting their investment decks right to warrant such funding, but the investment deck is just the icing on the cake of what it takes to secure capital. Lunar and Yapily founders have shared tips on how they managed to secure investment, especially during the pandemic.
Lunar’s CEO, Ken Villum Klausen says “Have strong, ongoing dialogues with your investors early on and be fully transparent. With Lunar, even small investors have known what is happening at an operational level. Stick to the plan you outline. For us, that meant exclusively pursuing a regional play and only targeting the Nordics instead of going for international expansion. Lastly, price your company fairly.”
Yapily’s CEO, Stefano Vaccino says “Do not wait to raise if you have a strong partner willing to invest. Some might say ‘I’ll wait until May when I have maximum valuation’. But it’s not about maximising valuation but about maximising success. Yapily had a long runway and strong revenue so could have waited, but we took the chance. Build relationships with investors before it’s needed; that way you know who you’re getting. For instance, Yapily had known Lakestar — our newest investor — for a long time before we started talks. Choose the right partner to maximise your chance of success. They should understand the space, have technical experience, and fintech understanding. Lastly, be ready for the unexpected and prepare for the worst.”
There are several questions venture investors will ask when presented with an opportunity to invest. The aim of the investment deck is to ensure these questions are answered and reassure the investors that the company is worth putting its money into. The tips covered are a great starting point to creating a standout investment deck.
Investment is a very exciting (and stressful) time for a growing FinTech startup, but post-investment it’s important not to lose momentum and to follow through on plans. Each funding stage will bring about different problems so it’s vital to have the right team in place to achieve the next stage of growth. For information on how to attract the best talent after securing investment, have a read of our recent article the hiring process after investment.
