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EXAMPLE PITCH DECK

FOR APPLYING TO ACTIVATE

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  • Keep it simple. Explaining something complicated in a simple way shows skill. Use visualizations instead of long paragraphs of text.
  • Be concise: less is more. However, this pitch deck differs slightly from the pitch deck you would send to an investor or use when pitching. This pitch deck must be self-explanatory so it may require a bit more text than usual.

  • Get feedback and show others! If someone can’t understand your business just by skimming through the deck, simplify it!

A FEW TIPS:

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Oneliner.

COMPANY LOGO.

💡

- This is your chance to steer readers in the right direction, so choose a picture that shows your product in action or the industry that you are in.

- The one-liner should give a high-level idea of what you are doing.

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Here you describe the problem

1. THE PROBLEM

💡

- Describe the problem you are solving and who is experiencing it

- Solving several problems? Choose the biggest one

- Your job is to have the listener/reader understand and/or relate to the problem. You can use storytelling, a persona, or data to do so

- The goal is to describe the problem with such clarity that the solution can be guessed

Describe the consequences of the problem

… or show data that supports the problem and its effects

… or use storytelling or a persona to showcase the problem and its effects

Make sure to read the comments for extra tips!

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Here you describe the solution

2. THE SOLUTION

💡

- The solution is your product/service

- Product/solution itself not of interest! Rather, focus on the benefits it creates for the customer

- Mockups/product images - highlight the user journey and experience

(do not showcase features and technical capabilities)

- Main point: what value are you providing for the user?

Describe the benefits of your solution

… and show the value that you are providing for the user

Tip: Focus on the user journey

Make sure to read the comments for extra tips!

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A market expected to grow X% in 3 years

3. MARKET/CUSTOMERS

💡

- How big is the total market (in USD) and how much of that market do you expect to capture?

- You can either show this by using TAM, SAM, SOM framework* or the “Bottom up approach” (Start with one unit and scale up based on assumptions around customer acquisition, retention, distribution, production capabilities, etc.)

- Make sure you define what time horizon you use

*https://www.thebusinessplanshop.com/blog/en/entry/tam_sam_som

$1.9B

$500M

$60M

Total Available Market

How big is the total market, i.e. the largest possible market?

Serviceable Available Market

Out of that total market, how big is the market that fits you?

Serviceable Obtainable Market

Out of the market that fits you, how big is the market that you can reach/obtain?

Make sure to read the comments for extra tips!

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4. IDEAL CUSTOMER PROFILE (ICP)

An ICP, or Ideal Customer Profile, is a clear and specific description of the perfect customer for your product or service. It helps you target your marketing and sales efforts effectively.

You can include the following key elements in your ICP:

- Demographics: Define key demographic traits of your ideal customer, such as age, location, income, and job title.

- Needs and Pain Points: Describe the specific needs, problems, or pain points that your ideal customer faces, which your product or service can address effectively.

- Value Proposition: Emphasize how your product or service aligns perfectly with your ICP's needs and pain points. Highlight the unique value you bring to the table and why your offering is a must-have for them.

- Market Potential: Showcase the market size and growth potential of the segment that matches your ICP.

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OR

5. COMPETITION

Competitive advantage 1

Competitive advantage 2

Competitive advantage 3

Competitive advantage 4

Competitive advantage 1

Competitive advantage 2

💡

- In what other ways can your customer solve the problem? “Companies with similar products” is too narrow of a scope - e.g. a competitor to data analytics tool could be Excel, pen and paper, outsourcing it, etc.

- Two common ways to visualize competitive landscape:

  • Two axis chart (magic quadrant)
  • Power grid table

Make sure to read the comments for extra tips!

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Founding team

A diverse team ready to execute

6. TEAM

💡

- The team is probably the most important part of any startup!

- Show that you are exactly the right people to execute the idea – show how the team members complement each other and showcase your view on diversity

- Show the relevant backgrounds and competences you have – use logos to showcase where you have previously worked/studied

- If you have relevant advisors / investors it can be worth it to add them. Distinguish them clearly from the team members

logo.

Name

Title or role

Background in a few words.

Name

Title or role

Background in a few words.

Name

Title or role

Background in a few words.

Name

Title or role

Background in a few words.

logo.

logo.

logo.

logo.

logo.

logo.

logo.

Name

Title or role

Background in a few words.

logo.

logo.

Advisors

Make sure to read the comments for extra tips!

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7. BUSINESS MODEL

💡

- In the simplest way possible, show how you will make money

- Show your pricing

- Show your unit economics/margins if you have any. Not mandatory*

*https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-calculate-unit-economics-for-your-business

$ price per user

0

45

upon request.

feature 1.

feature 2.

feature 3.

unlimited.

premium.

enterprise.

free.

LTV $45x9

CAC $125

—— = ———— =3,24

average monthly subscription

profit

average time they will be customers

average cost of acquisition for all channels

Make sure to read the comments for extra tips!

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8. SCALABILITY

$ ARR (Annual recurring revenue)

Years

7

pre-seed

A-round

B-round

Scale to Nordics

Enterprise product launch

Scale to the US w/ office

C-round

D-round

Add this new market segment

💡

- Time to create FOMO, show how you will scale!

- Common to show a 5–10 year growth graph, a so called “hockey stick”

- How does your revenue growth/user growth look?

- What activities and new markets will contribute to growth?

- Make sure to include labels and metrics on both axes; y-axis can have customers, revenue or other growth metrics, while the x-axis should have years

6

5

4

3

2

1

8

9

seed

120M

100M

80M

60M

40M

20M

10M

0M

$100M in ARR

Make sure to read the comments for extra tips!

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9. SUSTAINABILITY

💡

- Describe how you work, or intend to work, with sustainability

- You can base it on goals and specific sub-goals in Agenda 2030.

Make sure to read the comments for extra tips!