How to improve your pitching skills to investors. With Dr. Evi Dekoulou

1. PITCH DECK DESIGN
Dr. Evi Dekoulou / Dr. Nicholas Nicoli

2. WHAT IS A PITCH DECK?
Presenting a startup idea to investors to secure funds for its creation…

3. TYPES OF PITCHES
The short version and the shorter version
Pitches usually last anywhere
between 30 - 60 seconds (the
elevator pitch) to 10 minutes.
Most commonly pitches last 3-6
minutes.
Who do you pitch to?

4. MOST IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER
THE TOUGHER AN
INVESTOR IS DURING
YOUR PITCH THE BETTER
IT IS FOR YOU!
TYPES OF PITCHES

5. Elevator pitch
TYPES OF PITCHES

6. 1. THE TEAM
2. THE PROBLEM
3. THE SOLUTION
4. THE TARGET GROUP
5. THE BUSINESS MODEL
6. THE MILESTONES
7. THE NEEDS
8. THE ABILITY TO ANSWER
QUESTIONS
WHAT TO INCLUDE IN A PITCH DECK

7. YOUR TEAM
PROFILE OF TEAM:
1. Entrepreneurial mindset
2. Diverse…with common vision
3. Fearless
4. Open-minded (all founders
and co-founders)
WHAT TO INCLUDE IN A PITCH DECK

8. THE PROBLEM / NICHE
Make it personal, give it a story…
WHAT TO INCLUDE IN A PITCH DECK

9. THE SOLUTION / THE COMPETITIVE
ADVANTAGE
‘so, because of this problem, we
want to create…’
What kind of competition exists?
Ask yourselves, ‘does it do it
better than what is already out
there?’
WHAT TO INCLUDE IN A PITCH DECK

10. WHAT TO INCLUDE IN A PITCH DECK

11. THE TARGET GROUP
Who is it for?
Why do they need it?
What are their lifestyle habits?
What is the potential market size?
WHAT TO INCLUDE IN A PITCH DECK

12. THE BUSINESS MODEL
1. Scalable
2. Repeatable
3. Profitable
WHAT TO INCLUDE IN A PITCH DECK

13. THE MILESTONES
What have you done thus far?
What are the next steps
What are your projections?
WHAT TO INCLUDE IN A PITCH DECK

14. THE NEEDS
What are you asking for?
WHAT TO INCLUDE IN A PITCH DECK

15. QUESTIONS
Answer honestly…
Share the burden with the
team
Prepare with Q&A’s
Don’t be naïve…
WHAT TO INCLUDE IN A PITCH DECK

17. Lesson #1: Do Bring Your
Passion
If you are not excited at your business, no one
else will be

18. Lesson #2:Don’t Pitch Like
a Girl
 Don’t use “soft” language and phrases such as “One
day we’d like to…”, “We hope to…”, “We think it may
be possible…”
 Be confident, use action-phrases like “We are…”,
“We’re making it happen by…”

19. Lesson #3: Do Know Your
Audience
Who are you pitching your business to?
Investors? Media? Employees? Partners? Customers?
Make your pitch relevant to your audience

20. Lesson #4: Do Boast About
your Dream Team
Investors are not just showing a commitment to your idea
They are investing in you and your people

21. Lesson #5: Be Prepared to
Answer Questions

22. Lesson #6:Be Willing To
Listen
It’s not uncommon for investors to offer ideas and
suggestions during a pitch

23. Lesson #7: Do
Acknowledge The Risks
There’s an inherit risk when investing in a startup, and
investors want to know they will receive a return on
their funds
Turning a blind eye to the potential risks send investors
heading in the opposite direction

24. Lesson #8:Don’t read your
speech or stare at the screen
Make eye contact & pay attention to your body language

25. Lesson #9:Don’t ramble!
Keep your pitch short,
simple & specific

26. Lesson #10: Use limited
technical jargon