Sagacious Think

KISS plays an important role (Keep It Simple Stupid)

You do not need many slides and they should be to the point.  These slides will probably not fall into place but result from a lot of sweat and tears to get them down to their core message.  This may be challenging as everyone is excited about their product and wants to share, in detail, their incredible solution, but entrepreneurs need to view their slides with the jaded view of investors.  Every entrepreneur that crosses their doorway has a brilliant idea, so you need to set yourself apart in other ways.  The best way is to quickly get to the point.  Have a core set of slides (its fine to have more, but keep them as backup should the conversations continue) which include:

Introduction – Why are you there, and what is it all about?

Highlights – Who are you?

Problem/Solution – What are you addressing with your solution, and why has it not been done before, or why are you better?

Market Size - Obvious, but very important to be realistic about what can be achieved, look at competitors

Competition - (Everyone has some) – Know what you are up against, even it if its the status quo, after all you have to convince your customers that you are better than what they have now

Go to Market Strategy - How do you intend to get your product to the masses?  Why do you think it will work?  How does the competition do it?

Team - Who is on your team?  Why are you strong?  What skills are you missing?

Business Model - How will this work?

IP – Where are you at with the IP, have you submitted, do you have a patent, what countries are you applying for protection?

Financial Information – Admittedly, this is your best guess, but identify your assumptions, and milestones, and the decision points that got you to those numbers

Call to Action – why are you there, if you are asking for money, how much?

Each section should have critical elements, be careful that you do not duplicate information as the entrepreneur only has a limited time to make an impact – everything counts

Introduction Check List

• Why will you be credible?
• What qualifies you to be an entrepreneur?
• Why are you unique?
• What’s your story, and how well do you tell it?

Highlights Check List

• Who are you?
• Where are you at in the process?
• What will set your company apart?
  • Who are your customers?
  • What is your value proposition?
  • What is your market timing?

Finanical Checklist

• 3-5 years out – remember this is speculative, but it shows how well you’ve considered your plan
• revenue
• expenses -
• profitability – when
• key metrics – what defines success?
• customers, how many, when will you acquire?
• employees, how many, when are you bringing them on?
• market timing

Go to Market Checklist

• How are you going to get those critical first customers?
• How will you get successive customers?
• What is your strategt?  (direct, channel, web, viral)
• What are your proof points? (how do you know you are on track?)
• Who is your cusotmer?
• Does the strategy tie to your value proposition?
• How are you reaching those customers?