Ten Top Tips for Creating a Knockout Pitch Deck

We are reviewing pitch decks from IoT startups and early-stage companies each day – in the quest to expand our investment portfolio to continually include the brightest and best IoT innovations.

Here we share insights on the kind of content and delivery that gets us sitting forward and eager to engage with IoT entrepreneurs. So, if you want to know what it takes to get us to move from initial enquiry to actual pitch, read on.

1. First impressions really count. You’ve got a few short seconds to capture our attention and imagination. To hook us, you need to convey your core message quickly and clearly. Tell us what your product is and does and why you’re a good catch. Does your proposition address a big problem or new market? Tick this box early and you’ll be off to a flying start.
2. Time is money. Typically, we’re working against the clock. Our advice is to keep your initial pitch deck brief - our optimum is 12-15 slides. Get us interested and we can delve into all the fine detail later.
3. Show what you know. We want to see clear evidence that you’ve done your research and planning and you’re completely clear on why the world needs you. We want to see proof of the addressable market – alongside the argument for why your product is best placed to satisfy demand.
4. Tell us the story so far. We’re looking for products that already have some traction, some qualified customer interest and maybe even some initial partners in scope. A brief summary is fine – but give us the highlights of all your hard work to date.
5. People matter. We back teams, not individuals. So if you’re operating as a lone-ranger you’re probably not for us. We also want to see evidence of commitment and dedication from our founders – so if you’re not yet in your business on a full-time basis, you need to be ready to make that change as soon as the funds come in.
6. Be clear on the ask. One of your top priorities in engaging with an organisation like Breed Reply is fundraising. So, we need to know what you’re looking for, how you expect to spend the funds and some financial projections that show how this plays out along a timeline to move your business forward. Make this a clear and separate section – so it gets the attention it deserves.
7. Tell us about the technology. Know your audience - we’re a specialised IoT fund – which means we really know our tech and we’ll be particularly interested in how yours works AND where the IP lies. More general investors might require a different approach – but our team are happy for you to talk technical.
8. Content is king – but style matters. Getting your message across is your No1 goal. But if you struggle to make your deck look good, it’s certainly worth getting some help on the layout. We absolutely do NOT advocate style over substance – but getting your idea to ‘pop’ off the page should not be compromised if you’re powerpoint skills are below par.
9. Take nothing for granted. If you’ve already got a web site, or an explainer video – link that content from within the deck. But make sure all the headlines we need to make a decision about whether to progress to the next stage is in the deck itself. If the person vetting pitch decks is working whilst travelling (for example) – they may not be able to dip into additional content.
10. Say it straight. Know your key messages and make sure they stand out as part of a coherent story. Be clear, be simple and make the deck structure work. Convey your confidence – but also prove your points. Strong headlines can help a lot here.

Here at Breed Reply, we are always on the lookout for talented, early stage IoT companies.

Our services model offers high involvement – above and beyond what you might expect from a traditional VC. When we spot a pre-revenue business with a winning product concept and talented team, we are able to invest at an earlier stage and with a substantially larger amount than many traditional venture capital firms. We engage with our early-stage companies as a partner, working with their team to gain a deep understanding of their business and to tailor a bespoke set of services delivered over a 12-month period that will help the company develop, grow and scale rapidly.

We push hard for results – because the mutual success of our portfolio companies and our own organisation depends upon it. Plus, we know from experience that tangible achievements will help our portfolio companies to secure vital next-round funding.

So, if your idea is innovative and you’re at proof of concept stage or beyond, with a pitch deck that’s ready to go, we’d love to hear from you.