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1/
Thread on deck structure!
This is a deck structure that I share with a lot of entrepreneurs. Remember, goal of the deck is to get to a conversation. VC’s see >1k decks a year and fund ~1%. You need to be in the room where it happens.
(Alternative goal is a quick no).
Thread on deck structure!
This is a deck structure that I share with a lot of entrepreneurs. Remember, goal of the deck is to get to a conversation. VC’s see >1k decks a year and fund ~1%. You need to be in the room where it happens.
(Alternative goal is a quick no).
2/
Will go into details and give examples of each, but at a high level:
Basic biz overview
The hook:
+ why now
+ traction
+ founder-market fit
Problem / Solution:
+ motivation
+ pmf
+ market size
Main Course:
+ your solution
+ competitive landscape
+ why you'll win
+ team
Will go into details and give examples of each, but at a high level:
Basic biz overview
The hook:
+ why now
+ traction
+ founder-market fit
Problem / Solution:
+ motivation
+ pmf
+ market size
Main Course:
+ your solution
+ competitive landscape
+ why you'll win
+ team
3/
Why you are raising:
+ Capital efficiency to date
(+ SaaS Napkin)
+ Hypothesis
+ Ask
+ Use of funds
Why you are raising:
+ Capital efficiency to date
(+ SaaS Napkin)
+ Hypothesis
+ Ask
+ Use of funds
4/
Basic Biz overview.
+ Are you DTC? Dev tools? Social audio app?
+ What’s your business about?
Love this from @loginhood. Clear + concise and also using the often-wasted title slide real estate.
Basic Biz overview.
+ Are you DTC? Dev tools? Social audio app?
+ What’s your business about?
Love this from @loginhood. Clear + concise and also using the often-wasted title slide real estate.
5/
The Hook is so critical!
According to @DocSend's latest report, investors spend LESS THAN 3 MINUTES looking at a deck. You need to hook them in early.
A few ways to do this but all amount to giving the investor an 'aha' moment via:
+ traction
+ why now
+ founder-market fit
The Hook is so critical!
According to @DocSend's latest report, investors spend LESS THAN 3 MINUTES looking at a deck. You need to hook them in early.
A few ways to do this but all amount to giving the investor an 'aha' moment via:
+ traction
+ why now
+ founder-market fit
6/
TRACTION
+ If you've got it flaunt it. Ideally this is revenue but works effectively for MAU / DAU, even for signups or LOI's.
+ Explain any dips / inflections points
Startups are all about momentum. VC's invest at a discount against the future. More momentum = larger future.
TRACTION
+ If you've got it flaunt it. Ideally this is revenue but works effectively for MAU / DAU, even for signups or LOI's.
+ Explain any dips / inflections points
Startups are all about momentum. VC's invest at a discount against the future. More momentum = larger future.
7/
WHY NOW?
What has changed over the last 5 years that will enable / propel your success?
Even better, what will be changing over the NEXT 5 years?
This can include tech changes, shifts in consumer behavior, affordability / access changes.
Love this one from @mybundletv
WHY NOW?
What has changed over the last 5 years that will enable / propel your success?
Even better, what will be changing over the NEXT 5 years?
This can include tech changes, shifts in consumer behavior, affordability / access changes.
Love this one from @mybundletv
8/
FOUNDER-MARKET FIT
Founders with direct, tangible experience in a category. No better example than @ericsyuan at Zoom.
Can demonstrate this by including your story + background
Have seen it time and again with @helena @nabeeleats @jcoh11 @greghayes44 @DeanShaps @danpantelo
FOUNDER-MARKET FIT
Founders with direct, tangible experience in a category. No better example than @ericsyuan at Zoom.
Can demonstrate this by including your story + background
Have seen it time and again with @helena @nabeeleats @jcoh11 @greghayes44 @DeanShaps @danpantelo
9/
FMF Parenthetical
If don't have prior experience you can replace w/ traction or other earned insights.
Including interviews w/ users, LOI's, surveys, or revenue.
Saw this with @jackgindi1 (revenue + growth) and w/ http://keepyourcadence.com (prototypes + user interviews).
FMF Parenthetical
If don't have prior experience you can replace w/ traction or other earned insights.
Including interviews w/ users, LOI's, surveys, or revenue.
Saw this with @jackgindi1 (revenue + growth) and w/ http://keepyourcadence.com (prototypes + user interviews).
10/
Problem / Solution Section:
+ Motivation
+ PMF
+ Market Size
Problem / Solution Section:
+ Motivation
+ PMF
+ Market Size
11/
Motivation
+ Explain the problem (and its downstream effects)
+ Why are YOU the right one to solve this > I've even seen this 'flipped' to: why is this the problem you were born to solve. This is a 5-10 year journey. Show that you have passion for it!
Motivation
+ Explain the problem (and its downstream effects)
+ Why are YOU the right one to solve this > I've even seen this 'flipped' to: why is this the problem you were born to solve. This is a 5-10 year journey. Show that you have passion for it!
12/
Product-Market Fit / Hypothesis
If you have PMF, you'll know it + should be able to show it
If you're pre-PMF, one thing I love to see is a hypothesis. For this tranche of funding you are currently raising, what will you prove out on the journey to PMF.
Product-Market Fit / Hypothesis
If you have PMF, you'll know it + should be able to show it
If you're pre-PMF, one thing I love to see is a hypothesis. For this tranche of funding you are currently raising, what will you prove out on the journey to PMF.
13/
Market Size (aka TAM)
You will want to showcase a large + growing TAM. But remember, top down will likely get a yawn. @mcuban especially hates this!
Market Size (aka TAM)
You will want to showcase a large + growing TAM. But remember, top down will likely get a yawn. @mcuban especially hates this!
14/ TAM Continued
Bottoms up is the way to go.
+SaaS: ACV's for startup / smb / enterprise x Number of Companies in that bucket x Expected Win Rate
+ Social: ARPU based on engagement metrics
+ DTC: This is tough...here looking at LTV / CaC expectations can be more informative
Bottoms up is the way to go.
+SaaS: ACV's for startup / smb / enterprise x Number of Companies in that bucket x Expected Win Rate
+ Social: ARPU based on engagement metrics
+ DTC: This is tough...here looking at LTV / CaC expectations can be more informative
15/ TAM, Part III
The goal of TAM is to make it look large. VC is a hit-driven business and many investors want asymmetric upside > if this works how large can it be?
The more grounded in data you can be here, the better off, but yes, many category creators expand TAM (ie Uber)
The goal of TAM is to make it look large. VC is a hit-driven business and many investors want asymmetric upside > if this works how large can it be?
The more grounded in data you can be here, the better off, but yes, many category creators expand TAM (ie Uber)
16/ Your solution or product.
+ What is it; how does it solve the problem
+ How is it better, faster, cheaper, or more convenient?
Love this 1-2 punch from the OG @Lunchboxtech deck circa early 2019. (Disclaimer so @nabeeleats doesn't kill me: this is the old, old branding).
+ What is it; how does it solve the problem
+ How is it better, faster, cheaper, or more convenient?
Love this 1-2 punch from the OG @Lunchboxtech deck circa early 2019. (Disclaimer so @nabeeleats doesn't kill me: this is the old, old branding).
17/
Competitive Landscape
+ What the market leaders are doing?
+ What other challengers are doing in the space
(This also helps validate market size / TAM)
Competitive Landscape
+ What the market leaders are doing?
+ What other challengers are doing in the space
(This also helps validate market size / TAM)
18/ Competition Continued
More than explaining why you're the best option it's more interesting and intellectually honest to talk through why you're the best for specific users.
What is your beachhead market? How can you truly be best in class for some subset of customers.
More than explaining why you're the best option it's more interesting and intellectually honest to talk through why you're the best for specific users.
What is your beachhead market? How can you truly be best in class for some subset of customers.
19/
Why you'll win: pick 1-3
+ What is your competitive edge?
+ Does your team have deep technical domain expertise?
+ Do you have a GTM that no one else can replicate? How?
And my fav:
+ What do you believe that others don't (yet understand)? How are you ahead of the curve?
Why you'll win: pick 1-3
+ What is your competitive edge?
+ Does your team have deep technical domain expertise?
+ Do you have a GTM that no one else can replicate? How?
And my fav:
+ What do you believe that others don't (yet understand)? How are you ahead of the curve?
20/
Fundraising
+ How much are you raising? valuation? terms? structure?
+ How much did you previously raise?
+ What will money be used for?
+ What have you accomplished with previous capital / bootstrapping?
The goal here is to show that this capital will accelerate growth
Fundraising
+ How much are you raising? valuation? terms? structure?
+ How much did you previously raise?
+ What will money be used for?
+ What have you accomplished with previous capital / bootstrapping?
The goal here is to show that this capital will accelerate growth
21/
Fundraising continued. Love this slide that explains previous growth and showcases previous capital infusion as acceleration point.
Fundraising continued. Love this slide that explains previous growth and showcases previous capital infusion as acceleration point.
22/
Fundraising Part III
Capital Efficiency: showcasing that you've been a great steward of capital bodes well for those that you're asking for more of it.
How awesome is this slide? Thanks @BessemerVP for the framework: https://www.bvp.com/atlas/cash-conversion-score/
Fundraising Part III
Capital Efficiency: showcasing that you've been a great steward of capital bodes well for those that you're asking for more of it.
How awesome is this slide? Thanks @BessemerVP for the framework: https://www.bvp.com/atlas/cash-conversion-score/
23/
Fundraising Part IV
Another great way to show your progress for SaaS companies is to compare yourself to others via Christopher Janz @PointNineCap SaaS Napkin Math.
https://medium.com/point-nine-news/what-does-it-take-to-raise-capital-in-saas-in-2019-26829debef29
Fundraising Part IV
Another great way to show your progress for SaaS companies is to compare yourself to others via Christopher Janz @PointNineCap SaaS Napkin Math.
https://medium.com/point-nine-news/what-does-it-take-to-raise-capital-in-saas-in-2019-26829debef29
24/
To wrap it up. Goal of deck is to give VC's enough to get them excited. Or enough for them to get back with a quick no
+ Have a hook to intrigue them
+ Lean into your strongest elements - background, team, current performance, product differentiation.
+ Don't try to play coy
To wrap it up. Goal of deck is to give VC's enough to get them excited. Or enough for them to get back with a quick no
+ Have a hook to intrigue them
+ Lean into your strongest elements - background, team, current performance, product differentiation.
+ Don't try to play coy
25/
You don't need all parts of this obviously and your deck will vary on stage, sector, etc. But the framework is a good jumping off point.
As always, happy to be critiqued here and for others to add their thoughts!
You don't need all parts of this obviously and your deck will vary on stage, sector, etc. But the framework is a good jumping off point.
As always, happy to be critiqued here and for others to add their thoughts!
