Raising
money requires that entrepreneurs develop a high quality pitch that speaks to
potential investors. Many entrepreneurs
struggle to tell their stories in an organized, focused and concise way that is
meaningful to investors. One area they
often get tripped up is in how to present slides during their pitch.
Here
are answers to 6 frequently asked questions about how to deliver your pitch
1.
When my slides are
projected onto a screen on the other side of the room from the investors, where
should I face?
Since
your goal is to communicate effectively to the investors, resist the urge to
face the screen and instead, turn your body to face the live audience and speak
directly to them. Don’t make the common
mistake of presenting to the screen rather than the audience. (Yes, I’ve seen it happen!)
2.
Why is it important
that I look at the investors more than the screen?
Eye
contact helps you determine if the audience is attentive and if they understand
your message. It also expresses your
respect for them and demonstrates your confidence, since you know the information
without having to read it.
3.
What if I can't
remember my content without reading my slides?
Practice
is the best way to ensure that you remember your content. Practice by standing up and saying the words
out loud as you go through your slides, paying particular attention to how you
transition from one slide to the next.
The goal is not to memorize every word, but to become comfortable enough
with the material that you can say it several different ways without getting
flustered.
In
addition to practicing, you can also position your laptop screen in your line
of sight as a "confidence monitor" - so you can face the panel of
investors and still glance at the slides on your laptop screen, which can help
you remember what you want to say next.
4.
How much information
should go on each slide?
Enough
to convey your message, but probably not as much as you think. Don't write out
your entire pitch presentation on your slides and then read it word for word to
the investors; that would be incredibly boring and there would no need for a
pitch meeting. You could just send them
the slides to read on their own.
The
value of the pitch meeting for the investors is not just the content on your
slides – it’s also getting the chance to meet you and hear you talk about your
business. You are the presentation; the
slides are just there as visual aids.
So
make sure your slides support your overall story without being a
distraction. They should be easy to
understand and follow rather than densely populated with tons of bullet points
in small font or charts that are impossible to read.
5.
What if when I look
at the audience, they're all looking at my slides on the screen?
Don’t
allow yourself to be distracted by this.
The investors need time to read your slides (another reason why your
slides shouldn't be too busy or hard to read) and if the slides are easy to
digest, their attention will quickly return to you. And use your words to walk them through the
slide and navigate any chart or graph.
6.
Where should I stand?
Stand
to the side of the screen so you don't block the investors’ view. Also be careful not to stand in the way of
the projector light so your silhouette doesn't appear on the screen. Using a remote control will allow you to
advance your slides without having to hover over the laptop. Many remotes include laser pointers so you can
highlight items on the slide if needed.
Delivering
a pitch presentation with slides is not necessarily easy, but with preparation
and practice, you can learn to deliver an effective presentation that educates
the investors about your business and clearly explains why they should invest.