How much time do you need to create a pitch deck?
Creating a comprehensive pitch deck can be a challenging task, but it is an essential component of effective communication with investors at any stage of your outreach. A common question among our clients is «How much time will it take to create a pitch deck?». Our team has identified the key stages of creating a pitch deck and potential obstacles to help you optimize your time and resources.
There are four main steps to preparing a pitch deck:
- Prepare your «homework» by doing background research and problem statements.
- Content and structure preparation which includes writing a storyline and determining the flow of the presentation.
- Design stage which packages all the information in a visually appealing way and creates a consistent brand style
- Preparing the speaker
The process of creating a pitch deck is only the tip of the iceberg, with research & preparation being the biggest chunk of our pitch deck development pie followed by content and design stages.
The majority of the time should be spent on initial research and preparation, including gathering information, formulating a unique selling proposition, and conducting market research. This stage can take from several days to weeks. Once the research and preparation are done, the focus shifts to creating the structure and the content of the deck.
The content and structure stage includes writing a storyline and determiningthe flow of the presentation. You should have a clear understanding of how you want to present your idea on each slide. This is where you present your messages in a visually appealing format and develop infographics, visual solutions, and so on. But at the same time, you will need to prepare a basis for your graphic style, including essential components like core elements, typefaces, and colors. These elements will translate into your future brand style.
This process of establishing a solid brand style and transforming it to your visuals on your slides is crucial if you want to stand out from other applicants to an accelerator program or VC. It is true that the content goes first, without great content you won’t get anywhere. At the same time, the nice design and nice packaging of your ideas matter.
The visual appeal and layout of the ideas play a crucial role in differentiating oneself from other applicants. Just imagine looking through 50 applicants in one day with pretty much the same presentations, but the right visual arrangement and containment of the ideas can help to stand out from the crowd. Remember that investors are humans so the more engaging your design is the more chances your project has to succeed at this stage of outreach.
Preparing for your pitch is the last essential stage in the process of creating a pitch deck.
This quote highlights the importance of spending enough time preparing for your pitch, especially if you have limited time to present it.
One way to prepare is by doing «mock pitches». Pitch your idea to your colleagues and friends, encouraging them to ask challenging questions so that you can be well-prepared to tackle any inquiry from potential investors. This process should continue until you are completely comfortable with your pitch and know all the nuances of your story and messages. It’s also important to think about the tone of voice you’ll use when speaking to different audiences. For example, it may be different when presenting to Angel Investors versus Venture Capitalists.
What if an investor wants to see your pitch deck as soon as possible?
On such occasions, it’s important to understand which skills from your skill set are your strong suit and allocate your time accordingly. For example, if the design is your strong suit, you may spend more time on design and outsource the storyline and content. On the other hand, if you are a great copywriter, you may do the storyline yourself and outsource the design. Ultimately, the most important thing is to have a deep understanding of your idea and how to present it effectively.
In terms of timeline, there are four main stages to prepare for a pitch deck:
- On stage zero, you’ll probably spend from one week to even months. Depending on the depth of your research.
- Then you will move to define the structure and the content, which usually varies from a couple of days to another week.
- Moving on to the design stage, which usually depends fully on the abilities that you have in design and how much you would like to outstand from the others, in terms of your startup world competition.
- And for the last stage, the nicest timing you have is one week of preparation, mock pitches, et cetera.
In conclusion, while it may seem tiresome, preparing a pitch deck is an essential part of any startup-investor communication. The key is to focus on research and preparation in order to create a solid deck that will help you stand out from the competition and win your next round.
