Pitching Your Startup In A RemoteFirst World

Founding partner of @Wunderdogs , an award-winning branding agency and digital studio for high-growth companies and venture capitalists.

It may not be new to you that the technology landscape has changed and with it the way we work. However, what may not be immediately obvious is that these changes will inevitably impact how your startup goes to market.

In late 2022, global stock markets were inundated with predictions about the future of venture capital. The global financial recession is playing a big part in deciding how investors use their funds. Meanwhile, telecommuting and telecommuting are becoming increasingly common in the startup world after the global pandemic has transformed work culture in a colossal way. So if you're thinking of raising a fundraiser this year, chances are you'll be doing so in a completely different environment than you did a few years ago.

At Wunderdogs, we've been helping startups secure funding for strategy, visual branding, and deck development for over five years. We are also a remote agency as we were established well before Covid so we know a lot about remote work. In this article, I want to give you some practical tips to make your presentation interesting and memorable in the new landscape of remote technologies.

All stages are not the same

When you fundraise online, you do so in two different ways: either you introduce your startup via a video call, or you are invited to email it for investors to view at their leisure. The obligations of the investor are very different in each case. When they get an email, they commit to reading your deck, so you can (and should) add more text and additional information. If they get a video call, they'll join the conversation, so pay attention to your message and be ready to talk.

Although both use a pitch deck, this deck looks very different depending on the scenario. One thing is for sure, for both types of decks to be successful they must be guided by strong storytelling principles. The visual or textual support should describe the problem, the unique solution you are proposing, and the supporting evidence.

Bridge Reading Suggestions

A clean and accessible design is essential when designing a reading table. The goal is to make the text component simpler, to clarify and simplify ideas. You can use infographics instead of text, icons to support captions, graphics to reinforce market messages, and other visual aids to communicate ideas more effectively. This helps your audience better understand and retain your ideas. First, make sure your deck matches fonts, colors, and images - this will ensure smoother playback.

Remember that your audience has a limited amount of time to look at your deck, so make it as easy as possible for them. Follow a strict text hierarchy on each slide to highlight key points. Since a reading game inevitably contains a lot of text, it makes sense to create space for relaxation and reflection with lighter slides or slide breaks.

Good practices for a visual deck

When it comes to a visual deck, the design should have a strong impact, serving as both a backdrop to your presentation and a supporting tool that reinforces your message. With that in mind, it's important to only keep text and images that really get your point and help your audience remember what you're trying to learn.

When it comes to the visual content of a deck, brevity is key. Try to limit each slide to no more than 12-15 words and make sure all the information is important. If you're concise and direct, your audience will be engaged and focused on what matters most.

Consistency is also important when it comes to visual decks. Well-designed, cohesive visual storytelling can greatly enhance your presentation, but when lacking cohesion, it can easily alienate your audience from your message.

Successful

Attending a virtual presentation can be very nerve-wracking: not only do you have to make sure you're playing the right notes in your message, but also that your technique is right. To ensure a smooth presentation, be sure to practice with the same setup you will be using during the meeting. Remember to use videos and animations sparingly and only when you really need them, such as when you need them. B. Product demonstrations as they don't work well on screen sharing.

When you attend a meeting, remember to talk as much as you can about yourself, your vision, and your company. When you're in a virtual meeting, it can be difficult to apply all of the typical public speaking techniques since your slides are likely to take up most of your audience's screens. To counter this, keep your slides minimal. Less text to read forces your audience to focus on you, your personality and your voice. To keep your audience engaged, increase the number of slides and move them faster. This gives your speech more momentum.

While online presentations are not new, they will remain relevant in 2023 and improving them in the new fundraising environment will be a priority. It's important to remember that your pitch should be tailored to both the platform you're promoting and the type of investors you're targeting. Make sure you're using the right images for the right deck type, and optimize based on how your message is received by your potential investors. Above all else, focus on your story because it will help you stay consistent wherever it takes you.

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