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Pitch Deck Templates For Seed Capital - NextView Ventures
Pitch Deck Templates For Seed Capital - NextView Ventures
T E M P L AT E S
Tw o V C - A p p r o v e d F o r m a t s f o r
Raising Institutional Seed Capital
with commentary from
the founding partners of
About
The leading seed-stage VC firm investing in internet and mobile startups on the
East Coast. We focus exclusively on seed, all in service of our mission: Help
founders give their companies the best possible start.
NextView was founded in 2010 by Lee Hower (PayPal, LinkedIn, Point Judith
Capital), David Beisel (About.com, Venrock) & Rob Go (eBay, Spark Capital).
How to Use This Resource
These slides make pitch deck creation easier and more precise.
While each company is different, we included key pieces you should use, along with our opinions on
what makes a great, investor-friendly pitch deck.
You should use these templates directionally -- dont simply copy/paste the entire resource.
Play to your strengths and select the right pitch deck format for your situation.
In this resource, youll find two different formats: (1) a short deck with a long, kitchen sink appendix and
(2) The Show, a story-driven format to be presented from start to finish.
You should use the deck that best aligns with your style and the specifics of your pitch meeting.
Current Status:
We are [company stage, e.g. pre-revenue, pre-launch, etc.].
Pilot Customers/Partners
Traction to date includes:
(Month or Quarter 1): X key metric, Y key metric
(Month or Quarter 2): X key metric, Y key metric
Logos or Other Proof of
Early Traction
Currently Raising:
[$X-Y million] seed round.
Previously raised [$X million] from [investors].
2
Problem
[The succinct problem statement you aim to
address goes here. Use plain language no jargon.]
Beisel
under & Partner
iew Ventures
3
Solution
[The succinct summary of the solution goes Theres noth
than getting
here. This often sounds like your company realizing th
what the pro
time for a sh
mission.]
R
[List a few key benefits and features here.] C
N
4
Go-To-Market This slide varies but
same: Show youre
(or have data or an u
in) distribution. Th
overlooked in favor
What to Know to Create Yours
David Be
Co-Foun
In ONE slide, convey one or more of the following: NextView
5
Go-To-Market
Total Addressable Market: [$XB industry]
Distribution Strategy: [Your unique advantage + channels you plan to test
Main
Focus:
[Launch web & iOS app] [X] [X]
[X initial users
Target
Results:
Convert X% of existing email list
Understand DAU & optimize]
[X] [X]
5
Seed-stag
Traction to Date there won
yet, but i
few data
proof you
6
Looking Forward
We are seeking [$X].
We aim to [major goals] in the next [timeframe].
Building
Team
Hire A, B, C] Hire X, Y, Z
Company
Progress
7
This kitche
great for yo
conversation
up a given sl
use, there
FAQs
C
N
Team
p y here.
a general
y seasoned
esh POV?
p it brief.
Headshot Headshot
Partner
ures
Past Company Title or Relevant Function Past Company Title or Relevant Function
Logo Impressive Achievement Logo Impressive Achievement
Past Company Title or Relevant Function Past Company Title or Relevant Function
Logo Impressive Achievement Logo Impressive Achievement
9
Competition
[Low Thing] [High Thing]
Logo
[High Thing]
Logo
Logo
Dont kill
[Low Thing] Logo Logo slide that
being over
to how yo
relevant tw
10
Use of Proceeds
Build team of [X]
[Biggest product milestone e.g. launch beta in X months]
Product/market fit and [X customers/users] in [X] months
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 YEAR Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 YEAR
Projected
Headcount
Projected
Customers
Revenue
Be thoughtful about projecting burn
Salaries + rate, since thats how VCs think
Overhead about finances. And definitely dont
Other try to project anything beyond two
(Professional Fees,
Rent, Utilities,
years. Its just not reasonable.
Travel, etc.)
In ONE slide, convey how youll drive growth through one of the following :
12
Marketing Deep Dive Example 1 of 3
In
[Description of Total Target Market] Progress/Su
User Acquisition cceeding
(Continue to
[Channel 1] [Channel 2] [Channel 3] Optimize)
[Conversion Action 1]
Conversion
and/or Retention (e.g. Lead, Free User, Trial, Demo, etc.) Launch or
Improve
(Starting
Soon)
[Conversion 2 or Retention]
Revenue Test/Validat
e
Monetization Hypotheses
(Starting
Later)
LTV
12
Marketing Deep Dive Example 2 of 3
Context
Context Context
12
Marketing Deep Dive Example 3 of 3
Tactic
# Customers
Tactic
Tactic
Tactic
Tactic
Tactic
Tactic
Tactic
Time
12
Traction Deep Dive
approach to
-4 graphs that
pulse on your
re tracking a
Data Point
tant metrics. Data Point
sel Data Point
r & Partner
Ventures
13
How It Works
14
Product Screens
1 3
2 4
15
Product Roadmap
Bucket 1
Milestone Milestone
Milestone
Bucket 2
Milestone
Milestone
Milestone Milestone
Bucket 3
Milestone Milestone
Milestone
Milestone Milestone
16
Customer Validation
Headshot Quote.
Test Customer Logos
Logo
17
Financials/Budget
eed, Revenue Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Year1 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Year2
ve a
Item $X $X $X $X $X $X $X $X $X $X
that
the Item $X $X $X $X $X $X $X $X $X $X
ess. Total Revenue $X $X $X $X $X $X $X $X $X $X
EBITDA ($X) ($X) ($X) ($X) ($X) ($X) ($X) ($X) ($X) ($X)
Other Income (Loss) ($X) ($X) ($X) ($X) ($X) ($X) ($X) ($X) ($X) ($X)
Net Income (Loss) ($X) ($X) ($X) ($X) ($X) ($X) ($X) ($X) ($X) ($X)
18
Example: A Venue Seed-stage
Unit Economics Booking Service
the history
economics.
you have a
comparable
(Showing [X] months trailing.)
Averages
Meetings/Events Booked X [Provide context for a given item as needed]
Rental Rate $X
Utilization X%
Revenue for Venue $X
Commission % X%
Gross Revenue $X
19
Market Size/Trends
ide,
irst, [$XB ]
List total market
the opportunity
rve.
er Go-to-
[$XB]
Market
Related Data Points
Data point/statement (Source)
op- Data point/statement (Source)
ata, Data point/statement (Source)
ch.
of
Data point/statement (Source)
gn. Data point/statement (Source)
Check the slide notes below for
Data point/statement (Source) helpful links on each topic: the idea
Data point/statement (Source) of total addressable market (versus
just the total market), as well as top-
r Data point/statement (Source) down and bottom-up analyses.
Data point/statement (Source)
Lee Hower
Co-Founder & Partner 20
Exit Comparisons
Public Co
[$X] [$X] [$X] [market cap]
VC VC VC Public Co
VC VC VC [market cap]
Startups in the [industry niche] space are acquisition targets for companies such
as [Examples], at valuations around [N] times price/sale.
21
Partners/Biz Dev
22
Monetization Example: B2B SaaS
If there are
flowchart is
exchange of
[Pricing: $X to $Y per user per month] B2B, show
comes from.
23
Challenges/Risks
[Challenge #1 context]
[Challenge #2 context]
[Challenge #3 context]
What keeps you up at night? Though
this may seem counterintuitive to
state so overtly, every startup has
challenges, and investors want to see
how youre thinking about them.
Rob Go
Co-Founder & Partner
NextView Ventures
24
Why Now?
Trend, Factor,
or Data Point
icon
Trend, Trend,
Factor, Factor,
icon icon
or Data or Data
Point Point
icon
Trend, Factor,
or Data Point
25
Template 2:
The Show
Look for these call-out boxes to learn more about a particular slide.
These exist OUTSIDE the actual story arc (i.e. its our attempt at
stepping back to analyze a slide). Theyre not part of the pitch.
The Show
Tell Your Seed-Stage Startups Story. Better.
The Show
Tell Your Seed-Stage Startups Story. Better.
The Show
Tell Your Seed-Stage Startups Story. Better.
2
The Show
is an investor pitch deck template
that guides an audience
through a compelling story
and helps entrepreneurs
more successfully
raise seed capital.
As with any style pitch deck, you should articulate the basics of
WHAT you do up front. Founders fail to convey this surprisingly
often, which derails your pitch immediately. Dont forget to
include this simple yet critical detail early in your own story.
2
What weve observed:
3
What weve observed:
After conveying the basics of WHAT you do, its now time to tell
the main story: WHY you exist. This is what makes The Show so
effective it tells a compelling story, with you at the center.
3
What weve observed:
After conveying the basics of WHAT you do, its now time to tell
the main story: WHY you exist. This is what makes The Show so
effective it tells a compelling story, with you at the center.
3
What weve observed:
Web and mobile
entrepreneurship is in
vogue and growing
fast. As a result, more
entrepreneurs are
pitching more VCs.
4
What weve observed:
Web and mobile
entrepreneurship is in
vogue and growing
fast. As a result, more
entrepreneurs are
pitching more VCs.
4
Problem
Unfortunately, many
startup pitches are
broken. Theyre ineffective
and fail to convince VCs to
invest.
5
Problem
Unfortunately, many
startup pitches are
broken. Theyre ineffective
and fail to convince VCs to
invest. Compelling Story, Part 2: Conflict. A problem is encountered by the hero
of your story. In your case, thats your customer, NOT your company
5
Problem
Unfortunately, many
startup pitches are
broken. Theyre ineffective
and fail to convince VCs to
invest. Compelling Story, Part 2: Conflict. A problem is encountered by the hero
of your story. In your case, thats your customer, NOT your company
But the status quo alone isnt enough. It must lead to a problem. No problem,
no product. No product, no company. You want to really hammer home this
idea of the problem you solve, so well dedicate a few more slides to just that
5
Why do pitches fail?
During the seed-stage, many pitches exhibit
the same issue
6
Problem
They lack a
compelling
story.
7
Problem
They lack a
compelling
story.
This happens for one of two
reasons
8
1. Some pitches are
B A R R E N
9
Not enough content.
10
Not enough content.
Not crystal clear on WHAT they do.
11
Not enough content.
Not crystal clear on WHAT they do.
No overt ask for capital.
12
Not enough content.
Not crystal clear on WHAT they do.
No overt ask for capital.
No stated plan post-fundraise.
13
Not enough content.
Not crystal clear on WHAT they do.
No overt ask for capital.
No stated plan post-fundraise.
Not clear why this is inevitable.
14
Not enough content.
Not crystal clear on WHAT they do.
No overt ask for capital.
No stated plan post-fundraise.
Not clear why this is inevitable.
15
2. Some pitches are
C L U T T E R E D
16
Too much copy.
17
Too much copy.
Too many details (vs. the KEY details)
18
Too much copy.
Too many details (vs. the KEY details)
Not delivered as a compelling story.
19
Too much copy.
Too many details (vs. the KEY details)
Not delivered as a compelling story.
20
Too much copy.
Too many details (vs. the KEY details)
Not delivered as a compelling story.
20
Instead, the goal is
to convey 3 things:
21
Instead, the goal is
to convey 3 things:
1. This matters.
22
Instead, the goal is
to convey 3 things:
1. This matters.
1. Were the
people to do
it.
23
Instead, the goal is
to convey 3 things:
1. This matters.
1. Were the
people to do
it.
1. Its already
happening.
24
Instead, the goal is
to convey 3 things:
The problem is truly
1. This matters. painful and the
opportunity is huge.
1. Were the
people to do
it.
1. Its already
happening.
25
Instead, the goal is
to convey 3 things:
The problem is truly
1. This matters. painful and the
opportunity is huge.
it.
1. Its already
happening.
26
Instead, the goal is
to convey 3 things:
The problem is truly
1. This matters. painful and the
opportunity is huge.
it.
Early traction hints
at much bigger
happening.
27
Solution
Compelling
stories convey
exactly that.
28
Were building
29
Compelling Story, Part 3: Resolution. Youve laid out the status
quo of whats happening, as well as the resulting problem. The
resolution to that problem comes next. It should lead neatly into an
oh, by the way moment...
Were building
29
Compelling Story, Part 3: Resolution. Youve laid out the status
quo of whats happening, as well as the resulting problem. The
resolution to that problem comes next. It should lead neatly into an
oh, by the way moment...
Were building
29
Compelling Story, Part 3: Resolution. Youve laid out the status
quo of whats happening, as well as the resulting problem. The
resolution to that problem comes next. It should lead neatly into an
oh, by the way moment...
Putting it all together: Weve observed X, which creates problem Y. The Next, outline why
solution is Z, and oh, by the way, thats exactly what were creating. youre the best team
Investors want to believe you are the inevitable resolution to this story. to provide it.
Were building
29
What we realized by
testing The Show
30
Why Stories Succeed
31
Why Stories Succeed
31
Why Stories Succeed
32
Why Stories Succeed
32
Why Stories Succeed
34
Early Results
Data Point/Proof
Data Point/Proof
Data Point/Proof
36
Our Unfair Advantage
for achieving traction and distribution
Not only should the story in your pitch present your company as the
inevitable resolution, it should drive home the unfair advantage every
investor seeks in entrepreneurs when it comes to actually gaining traction.
Its not just about building something worth using its about growth.
36
Our Unfair Advantage
Our Advantage:
1 Context
Our Advantage:
2 Context
37
Our Unfair Advantage
Our Advantage:
1 Context
Our Advantage:
2 Context
Maybe you have an exclusive partnership with a big brand. Maybe your
team boasts a truly connected, all-star cast. Whatever the unfair advantage(s)
is/are for your company, articulate that loudly and proudly. These are the
factors that help investors see you will not only succeed in general but will
succeed early and often. (Note that this is mainly about distribution.)
37
Opportunity
Years 1-2:
$X Billion Market
38
Opportunity
Growth into
Larger $Y Billion
Years 1-2: Market
$X Billion Market
38
18-Month Plan
Raise $N
Million in
Seed
38
18-Month Plan
Grow X
Part of
Raise $N
Business
Million in
Seed
39
18-Month Plan Achieve Z
Key
Results
Grow X
Part of
Raise $N
Business
Million in
Seed
40
18-Month Plan Achieve Z
Key
Results
Grow X
Part of
Raise $N
Business
Million in
Seed
41
Our mission is to help entrepreneurs
everywhere tell better stories to succeed.
The Show
Contact: example@example.com
555-555-5555
ViewFromSeed.com
@NextViewVC
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