Scaling Nerds · fundraise setup
Deck architecture
The right information should be shared at the right time. This is an overview of the new pitch / deck architecture for SbF
Fixes
- From previous investor conversations, Andrés noticed that the pitch was too long. Meetings started with enthusiasm and interest and lost steam.
- The deck is designed to prevent common misunderstandings, not to cover everything.
- The main objective of the first meeting is to get to the second meeting.
- The first part of the deck is focused on sharing key take-aways, not proving every point.
- Information is gated and staged
The flow
💬 commentRead left to right. This is the order in which one investor receives the material. Every version is cut from the same master, the readable deck.
investor timeline
1
First contact
TeaserFor anyone who has not had a dedicated pitch meeting yet. This deck can be sent after a conversation at a conference or to respond to an intro.
5-6 Slides
Purpose: increase the likelihood of getting a meeting
5-6 Slides
Purpose: increase the likelihood of getting a meeting
2
The pitch meeting
Presentation version + appendixThe Master version but with less text, more visuals and animations so points appear as they are spoken about.
It includes an appendix for Q&A.
10 - 13 Slides presentation deck
+ up to 10 slides appendix
Purpose: Make the pitch clear, appealing and foster conversation with investors.
It includes an appendix for Q&A.
10 - 13 Slides presentation deck
+ up to 10 slides appendix
Purpose: Make the pitch clear, appealing and foster conversation with investors.
3
After the meeting
The readable deck + appendixNow they have context, so the full readable version goes out as the follow-up, including the appendix.
Every slide in the appendix should answer a question. Not "nice to have" or deep due diligence information.
Every slide in the appendix should answer a question. Not "nice to have" or deep due diligence information.
4
Deeper interest
Data roomDedicated documents, organised by topic. When the conversation goes into detail, additional material should be stored here.
Investor Q&A repository + recorded calls
Every answer given once is written down, every call is recorded.
↻
Who the material is built for
💬 commentMost of the new funds will come from new investor contacts, not from existing ones. So everything on this page is designed first and foremost for investors who have not been through due diligence with StrongByForm yet.
Default · new investor contacts
The full sequence
- Teaser, pitch meeting, readable deck, data room, in that order.
- Nothing is assumed. The deck prevents the common misunderstandings before they come up.
Investors who already had due diligence conversations
An update version of the readable deck
- One or two slides at the beginning give context on what has changed since they last looked.
- The slides on the investment opportunity and the terms move from the back and the appendix to the front.
- The rest of the deck stays as it is. No teaser, no pitch meeting. Data room on request.
The first meeting
💬 commentThe purpose of the first pitch meeting is to get them to want a follow-up meeting. Everything else is secondary.
- Keep it short enough that the energy survives to the end. Only show the detail is in the appendix to answer specific questions raised.
- Make it interactive. Investors asking questions is the goal.
- Do not get lost in the details and. An explanation plus "happy to go deeper in due diligence" is possible.
The KPI to trackConversion from first meeting to second meeting.
Where information goes
💬 comment| The point is about | It goes to |
|---|---|
| A question an investor is likely to ask in the room | Appendix |
| A document someone will want to read in full | Data room |
| An answer that has been given by email before | Q&A repository |
| Proof for a claim the deck makes (patents, certification route, partner roles) | Data Room |