Building a Presentation 101

Recently I wrote a blog highlighting the key components of making a killer pitch and the 10/20/30 Rule which focuses on the number of slides, time, and layout.

This week, we will take a closer look at each slide and its contents.

Cover Slide: Make sure to include your company’s name, tag line, location, presenter’s name and title. If more than one person will be presenting, their name(s) will go on the next slide.
Objective? Make sure everyone in the room understands what the value proposition of the company is and also hint at the overall market before the following slide. Get the investors attention early and make sure they understand why you’re there.

Team Slide: List the top 3 to 4 key members of your company. Most companies tend to put this slide last, however it is a common courtesy to make sure that everyone is introduced.
Objective? Make sure that this does not become an extensively long slide; it should be just enough for the investors to get a handle on who is working on the venture and a significant milestone that they have accomplished.  Also, if there is a component or a piece of the puzzle missing, say it before they point it out; it will show you are on top of your game.

Slide 1 – Company Slide: Highlight your core value proposition: the unique benefit that customers receive by using your product. Make sure to highlight the technology, target market (the demographic that you will initially go after) and the status of the company.
Objective? Where/When/How? Where is the company: launch date, customer base, revenue or expected revenue, and funding requirements. When is this all going to take place (timeline), and finally How is the venture going to accomplish its objectives.
Note: Key partnerships and brand name are extremely important on building recognition. Make sure you mention them, if appropriate.

Slide 2 – Problem & Opportunity Slide: You need to explain the big/important problem that is either current or emerging which your company plans on solving. Make sure to illustrate that you have a good understanding of the market dynamics, why the problem exists and how exactly you plan on solving it.
Objective? Get the audience to share the vision of the problem that needs to be addressed and the return from their investment. 

Slide 3 – Solution Slide: List your product offering and the audience who will be using it. Stay as non-technical as possible; do not get into the nitty gritty of how it all works, but highlight the outcome. If it’s part of the overall solution , you should include the delivery process of your solution,
Objective? The “ah ha” moment; this is the climax of your presentation where everyone goes, “I see where this is going”

Slide 4 – Benefits  & Value Slide: Clearly highlight the top benefits from using the product/service and who realizes them. 
Objective? This is to reinforce the “ah ha” that your audience had in the previous slide and make sure they have a good understanding of the product dynamics.

Slide 5 – Intellectual Property Slide: What makes your solution a process that others cannot easily duplicate or surpass in the near future? What’s your secret sauce? If you hold any patents or other documentation that creates this barrier legally, make sure you mention it.
Objective? Make your audience feel like they have a security blanket if they were to move forward.

Slide 6 – Competitive Advantage Slide: Here are the skill sets that makes you better than everyone else. This is an extremely important slide to showcase your ability to win, domain expertise, high-level connections, and relationships that will position you to succeed.
Objective? Show case how you’re different then everyone else in the same industry and why would the average customer choose your solution over a competitor.

Slide 7 – Marketing Strategy Slide: How will you penetrate the market and get your product/service out. Focus on showing the tricks up your sleeve that allow you to turn the market upside down and the position that you will take.
Objective? What are you going to use to get the word out and how will you accomplish that.

Slide 8 – Business Model Slide: How do you plan on making money? Make sure to include pricing, costs, and strategy for becoming profitable.
Objective? Making sure that the audience understands that this is a viable business and can generate revenue, and is not just a cool gadget or website that showcases how many songs are being illegally downloaded.

Slide 9 – Financial Projections Slide: How much money do you plan on making and when.  Most financial projections in my opinion are pure fluff. Therefore, the purpose of this slide is to illustrate that you understand the macroeconomics of the evolution of your industry and your company.
Objective? The numbers should tell the reader a story and have them understand the path you plan on taking.

Slide 10 – Funding Requirement & Milestones Slide: Convey to the audience how much money you need and what will you do with the money in the future. These numbers would be included in the financial projections but this is an opportunity to highlight them.
Objective? Build the credibility of knowing if someone said, “okay great, here’s the check” that you have a clear plan of achieving your goals.

Also include a summary slide that wraps up the presentation and leaves a lasting impression of why your company rocks and they should get their checkbook out before someone else does.

As always, if you have any questions or feedback, post a comment or shoot me an email.

Ashkan
Ashkan@greenhornconnect.com
 

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