Reviewing Decks
I’ve been reviewing a few more decks than usual recently — all stages from pre-launch to SEIS to getting-ready-for-Series A. Here’s some of the feedback given to entrepreneurs, which might help you too:
Tell the story. Here’s how: Gather the titles from each slide and put them in a bulleted list on the 11th slide (which you’ll soon delete, there should only be 10 for the main deck). Those 10 titles on the 11th slide should tell the story without the need for anything else. If they don’t, work harder to make sure the story flows from one bulleted line to the next.
Make it clear which bits *you* do and which bits *they* do. It can all get very complicated very quickly with new platforms, tech, hardware and revenue streams. Don’t make the reader have to go back and try to figure out who’s who all over again.
At the early stage of a company (and forever really) it’s all about focus. Of course there’ll be other markets you could go into and other products to try but that’s a ‘tease’ for the future not something to be working on right now (maybe it’s even something to be left ‘on the table’ for the acquirer). Getting a product out there and getting people or organisations you don’t already know to part with their money is hard enough. Make a product people want, put a price on it and make some profit. (It’s so wonderful to meet people who have clearly thought this through).
You have an opportunity as an entrepreneur to make a stand. To stick two fingers up to the boring old way of doing things. You are in charge. You should feel in charge so stand tall. Don’t meekly ask for permission. You won’t get it.
Details matter. Do all the links work? Does *your* team slide match *their* LinkedIn profiles? If you can’t get the small things right then how can you be sure you’ll sort out the big stuff?
I’ll likely ask you to do something in return, e.g. come here or contribute here perhaps… but if you want me to look over a deck (Google Slides please) and you’ve done the above please get in touch.
You’ll get candid feedback. You might not agree with the feedback and you might push back on it. And that’s fine — I’m keen to learn too — and if we have a bit of back & forth then it’ll make the deck clearer and hopefully get the result you want.