The Only Ten Slides You Need in Your Pitch

Summary

In this video, Guy Kawasaki, Chief Evangelist of Canva, shares the 10 essential slides needed for a successful pitch. He explains the importance of each slide, including the title slide, problem/opportunity, value proposition, underlying magic, business model, market plan, competitive analysis, management team, financial projections, and current status. Kawasaki emphasizes that the goal of a pitch is not to secure an immediate investment, but to keep the conversation going and advance to due diligence. He also advises against relying on viral success and encourages honesty about competition.

Takeaways

• 😀 The title slide should include your contact information, making it easy for people to reach out after your pitch.
• 😀 The second slide focuses on the problem or opportunity you're addressing, aiming to shift the audience's emotional response.
• 😀 The value proposition slide explains the importance and economic viability of addressing the identified pain or opportunity.
• 😀 The underlying magic slide introduces the unique advantage or secret sauce that sets your solution apart from competitors.
• 😀 The business model slide simply outlines how your company generates revenue, without overcomplicating things.
• 😀 The go-to-market plan slide assures investors that you have a practical and realistic strategy to bring your product to market.
• 😀 The competitive analysis slide demonstrates awareness of the competitive landscape and highlights how you differentiate, including the strengths and weaknesses of both you and your competitors.
• 😀 The management team slide should come later in the pitch—only focus on it if the earlier slides have already engaged the audience.
• 😀 Financial projections and key metrics should be simple and grounded, using realistic assumptions and metrics that show your business is on track.
• 😀 The current status slide covers your key accomplishments, milestones, and how the funding will be used, keeping the audience informed about your progress.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of a pitch?

The main purpose of a pitch is not to immediately convince someone to invest, but to stay in the game and advance to the next stage, typically due diligence and further meetings.

Why is the title slide important in a pitch?

The title slide is crucial because it provides your contact information and makes it easy for the audience to get back in touch with you after you've impressed them with your pitch.

What should be covered in the 'problem, opportunity, purpose' slide?

In this slide, you need to address the pain you're alleviating or the opportunity you're providing. It's about changing the pulse of your audience by connecting with their emotions or needs.

How should the value proposition be presented in a pitch?

The value proposition slide explains why solving the problem or providing the opportunity is economically valuable, highlighting the potential for success and the financial benefits.

What is meant by 'underlying magic' in a pitch?

Underlying magic refers to the unique, competitive advantage or secret sauce that sets your business apart. If you don't have a clear advantage, you're essentially just offering an implementation of an idea, which can still succeed but lacks a compelling edge.

What should the business model slide focus on?

The business model slide should focus on how your company makes money. Keep it simple and direct—this is about explaining your revenue generation method clearly and concisely.

What does the go-to-market plan slide need to convey?

The go-to-market plan slide reassures your audience that, despite the competitive landscape, you have a viable strategy for reaching your market. Be cautious not to mention going viral, as it's unpredictable and unreliable.

What is the role of competitive analysis in a pitch?

The competitive analysis slide serves two purposes: demonstrating your awareness of the competitive landscape and showcasing what your competitors can’t do, or what you can do better. This builds intellectual honesty and credibility.

Why is the management team slide positioned later in the pitch?

The management team slide is placed later because it's important to first excite your audience and change their pulse. If they’re excited by the earlier slides, they’ll be more interested in learning about your management team.

What should the financial projections and key metrics slide include?

This slide should provide simple financial projections for the next 2-3 years, as no one can accurately predict longer-term outcomes. Key metrics like subscriber growth, conversion rates, or customer acquisition costs are essential to show the feasibility of your business model.