Why Your Investor Presentation Should Focus on the Past and Future

There used to be a time, not so long ago, when an entrepreneur could secure funding on the basis of an investor presentation that focused on what would be achieved, rather than what had been achieved. Times have changed and investors are far more cautious and skeptical. This means investor pitches must be refocused to include achievements as well as statements of intent and projections.

When creating investor presentation documents e.g. Executive Summary or Deck, think about what you have already achieved and include it. Plainly in the case of a startup seeking seed funding, there may be little that has occurred.

Nevertheless a presentation that outlines some achievements will have greater impact. Obviously sales and customers are persuasive.  It may, however, that the achievements are the recruitment of a strong management team or the creation of a strong brand identity which should be included.

When you start to talk in terms of what you have achieved, it lends credibility to your assertions as to what you will do. You begin to cast yourself as someone who ‘does’ rather than someone who ‘says’, ‘hopes’ or ‘intends’. The ‘doers’ and ‘achievers’ are plainly far more investable in today’s brave new world, so make sure you cast yourself as one.

Comments

[Martin Soorjoo]

Thanks Don,

I completely agree with the twist you have given it.

Martin

[Don Li]

Fabulous.

And if I may, I'll steal the following,
"it lends credibility to your assertions as to what you will do." as
"it lends credibility to your assertions as to what you will be able to do."