Hi! I’m glad you’re here. You’ve made it to issue #32 of VC Demystified🪄.
My name’s Nicole - I’m a Principal at an early stage venture fund, and I know firsthand that VC can often be a black box. Breaking into the industry may feel daunting and resources can seem scarce and inaccessible. I wanted to put together a newsletter to give others the playbook I wish I had when I first started.
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Today’s deep dive: The key pages in a fundraising pitch deck
My personal mission is to open as many doors as possible for other people and this newsletter is just one avenue to do that. As always, I will continue to post VC insights daily across my socials for those of you who prefer those channels.
The key pages in a fundraising pitch deck
In VC, the pitch deck is an important part of first impressions.
For founders, it’s a tool to distill your vision into a compelling story that captures attention and builds investor confidence.
For investors, it’s the first window into a company’s potential - its market opportunity, team, and roadmap for growth.
A well-constructed pitch deck not only increases a founder’s chances of securing funding but also makes an investor’s job easier by presenting critical information clearly and concisely.
Key Tips for Founders
Be Concise: Limit to 8-12 slides.
Be Visual: Use graphics and charts; avoid dense text.
Tailor the Story: Align with the investor’s focus or fund thesis.
Key Tips for Investors
Look for Red Flags: Unrealistic projections, unclear differentiation, or lack of market focus.
Assess Team Strength: Their background and ability to execute are as crucial as the idea.
Mastering these 9 key slides will prepare you to either pitch or evaluate a company effectively.
Let’s get into it!
1. Problem
Define the problem you’re solving.
Make it relatable and specific - use data or anecdotes to highlight the pain point.
2. Product / Solution
Show how your product solves the problem better than existing options.
Include screenshots or examples to make it tangible.
Tip: Include a demo link to your product here.
3. Team
Highlight the key members of your team and their relevant experience.
Emphasize why your team is uniquely positioned to solve this problem.
Tip: Show your team’s history working together.
4. Market Opportunity
Define the size of your addressable market (TAM, SAM, SOM).
Demonstrate that the opportunity is large ($1B+) and growing.
Show why now is the right time for this solution (e.g. new legislation, advancement in tech).
Tip: This should be a bottom-up market sizing, not top-down.
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