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Best practices for a great pitch deck and presentation
30 december 2022

Best practices for a great pitch deck and presentation

The advice in this article is based on the experiences of the Angelwise team and of various VC partners.

 

Before contacting any investors, make sure you know their investment strategy. Nothing triggers a worst response than to try an pitch to someone who is not investing in your type of company.

 

And remember: you have only one chance to make a first impression.

The 13 page slide deck

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Purpose



Problem



Solution



Product



Team



Why now



Market



Competition



Business model




Traction



Financials



Exit



Ask

 

Grab the attention of the investors on what your company is about with some compelling data or statement.


Describe clearly what problem you’re addressing and the benefit (from the customer perspective) of fixing it.


Demonstrate how you’re fixing the problem and what the metrics are that demonstrate your customer is getting value.


Describe what your product is, how it solves the problem you attack and map out how the product will evolve.


Introduce the team that will make your company a success, who are the founders, management, board and advisors.


Highlight why the timing is right for your company to introduce your product.



Demonstrate who your target customer is and that you’re operating in a big, growing market.



What are the current solutions that you will displace or complement and what is your USP vs. competition (any IP?).


Who do you sell to and how, pricing, marketing & sales strategy and process, CAC & LTV.




Show your traction, articulate revenue to date, positive commitments and/or indicators of future revenue growth


Include a table with a forecast with # customers, revenue, gross profit, opex, EBITDA, # employees and cash, starting with the current/last trading year.


Define your exit strategy and horizon, identify current M&A in your space and potential acquirers.


Clearly express what your are looking for in terms of investment, what is the use of funds, and specify other financing sources.

 

 

Purpose

Grab the attention of the investors on what your company is about with some compelling data or statement.


Problem

Describe clearly what problem you’re addressing and the benefit (from the customer perspective) of fixing it.


Solution

Demonstrate how you’re fixing the problem and what the metrics are that demonstrate your customer is getting value.


Product

Describe what your product is, how it solves the problem you attack and map out how the product will evolve.


Team

Introduce the team that will make your company a success, who are the founders, management, board and advisors.


Why now

Highlight why the timing is right for your company to introduce your product.


Market

Demonstrate who your target customer is and that you’re operating in a big, growing market.


Competitipon

What are the current solutions that you will displace or complement and what is your USP vs. competition (any IP?).


Business model

Who do you sell to and how, pricing, marketing & sales strategy and process, CAC & LTV.


Traction

Show your traction, articulate revenue to date, positive commitments and/or indicators of future revenue growth


Financials

Include a table with a forecast with # customers, revenue, gross profit, opex, EBITDA, # employees and cash, starting with the current/last trading year.


Exit

Define your exit strategy and horizon, identify current M&A in your space and potential acquirers.


Ask

Clearly express what your are looking for in terms of investment, what is the use of funds, and specify other financing sources.

 

Presentation tips

A few tips for delivering your pitch presentation:


Be prepared

This is the determining factor on how well or not your idea will fly before an investor. “Do the work. Out-work. Out-think. Out-sell your expectations. There are no shortcuts.” (Mark Cuban)


Know your audience

Do some background check on the investor, this can help you tailor your pitch.


Expertise and ambition

Demonstrate that you are a business-savvy and ambitious intellect who knows how to roll up his sleeves and get dirty in the real world, willing to go to any length (positively of course) to achieve his vision of conquering the relevant market space. Highlight your (and your team’s) achievements.


Unnecessary information

Maximize the time you have by being brief and precise, with the relevant data points.


Be visual

Visual messages always make the most out of your pitching presentation, avoid to many words.


Know your business

Have the right facts and figures figured out, know your long term goals and a plan to achieving them.


Brief, clear and open

Don’t get lost in detail, or in complexity. Make sure you explain in concrete details how you intend to create a space for yourself in the market. What size of the market do you occupy? What are your go-to-market plans? Give current stats in the market to validate your knowledge base the industry you are in.


Clear ask

Make sure you know what the investment will be used for, be open on your other (existing or potential) investors.


Easy to contact

Provide all your contact details, and set-up an easy way to schedule a (follow-up) meeting.


Be prepared




Know your audience



Expertise And Ambition






Unnecessary Information



Be Visual




Know your business




Brief, clear and open






Clear ask





Easy to contact




This is the determining factor on how well or not your idea will fly before an investor. “Do the work. Out-work. Out-think. Out-sell your expectations. There are no shortcuts.” (Mark Cuban)



Do some background check on the investor, this can help you tailor your pitch.



Demonstrate that you are a business-savvy and ambitious intellect who knows how to roll up his sleeves and get dirty in the real world, willing to go to any length (positively of course) to achieve his vision of conquering the relevant market space. Highlight your (and your team’s) achievements.



Maximize the time you have by being brief and precise, with the relevant data points.



Visual messages always make the most out of your pitching presentation, avoid to many words.



Have the right facts and figures figured out, know your long term goals and a plan to achieving them.



Don’t get lost in detail, or in complexity. Make sure you explain in concrete details how you intend to create a space for yourself in the market. What size of the market do you occupy? What are your go-to-market plans? Give current stats in the market to validate your knowledge base the industry you are in.



Make sure you know what the investment will be used for, be open on your other (existing or potential) investors.



Provide all your contact details, and set-up an easy way to schedule a (follow-up) meeting.


In short, tell a short but great story and demonstrate that you and your team will deliver the plan. Make sure you show how you work with your customers. Be real.


Follow-Up

Be ready to follow-up with:

  • Data to support your presentation
  • Your business and financial plan, this should be complete but not overly complex. Make sure there is a clear link between the drivers of your business and the financial results.
  • Company structure, including current cap table (and a history if relevant)
  • Detailed product demonstration (better yet – a demo account)
  • More detailed information on questions asked


30 januari 2025
Greener, cheaper and frustration-free: Pleevi revolutionizes workplace EV charging Brussel, 30 Januari 2025 – Electric vehicles (EVs) are on the rise, especially as company cars. Employees and visitors alike charge their cars on company premises. This charging is highly diverse: ranging from short to long periods, with varied charging demand during times when green energy availability and cost fluctuates. Pleevi, a spin-off of VITO (partner in Energyville), has developed AI-driven software that not only facilitates greener and more cost-efficient charging sessions, but also seamlessly integrates other energy sources, such as solar energy and stationary batteries. In addition, the system goes beyond real-time input, leveraging weather forecasts and the predicted background energy consumption. With the goal of achieving emission-free mobility and the European requirement that 87% of all consumed electricity must be renewable by 2040, the bar has been set high. Mobility is a significant part of this challenge. While substantial efforts have been made to make EV charging infrastructure ‘smart,’ these systems often only prioritize cost and energy savings. Pleevi goes further by prioritizing both driver comfort and charging reliability at the forefront as well. Pleevi's crystal ball Pleevi’s platform considers not only local energy generation and dynamic pricing but goes much further. “The unique aspect of Pleevi is that our entire charging process is not only based on real-time information but also incorporates what the next hours will bring,” explains Wout Lagae, Co-founder and CEO of Pleevi. “By forecasting energy flows 24 hours ahead, Pleevi’s AI-driven optimisation ensures efficient energy usage without overloading the grid. For instance, on a sunny morning, we can account for abundant solar energy expected later in the day, as well as wind energy forecasts. Our algorithm also factors in the energy needs of the main building on a given day. This helps determine how much energy will be available for charging infrastructure. On a Friday, when many employees work from home, the capacity will differ significantly from a busy Tuesday when high energy demand is required both in the parking area and the building. This allows us to offer not only cheaper but also greener charging sessions.” Pleevi’s technology is already operational at sites in Belgium, Germany, and France, demonstrating its scalability and effectiveness across diverse markets through partnerships with major players such as Phoenix Contact and VMA (part of CFE Group). Investors believe in Pleevi Pleevi has set ambitious goals, aiming to manage 25,000 charging points by 2027. Investors are already convinced of its potential, contributing €1 million to scale this innovative technology across Europe. Marc Mommaerts (Managing Partner Angelwise), Chairman of the board, shares: “Pleevi’s smart EV charging tackles a critical energy challenge. It optimizes renewable energy use, strengthens grid stability, and prevents overloads. With top-notch technology Pleevi delivers strong ROI while solving a clear societal and energy problem.” “As the energy transition accelerates and the world embraces rapid electrification—driven largely by electric vehicles—flexibility in our power systems is becoming essential. Pleevi positions itself as a crucial enabler by providing cutting-edge APIs that empower charging point operators to deploy innovative solutions faster and more effectively. Their technology is a key driver of the smarter, more sustainable infrastructure we need for the future. I'm happy to be part of the story and look forward to it.” – Loïc Bar, investing Business Angel. The Pleevi team Wout Lagae - Co-founder & CEO Robin Vanderschueren - Co-founder & CTO For more information please visit: https://www.pleevi.ai/ Contact Wout Lagae Co-founder & CEO +32 479 27 61 89 wout.lagae@pleevi.ai Sidestory: A spin-off from VITO As a leading Flemish research institute, VITO developed advanced, intelligent algorithms that form the backbone of Pleevi’s solutions. These algorithms enable Pleevi to tackle complex energy challenges by optimising EV charging with minimal energy costs, ensuring both sustainability and efficiency. Drawing on its expertise in energy optimisation, VITO also played a key role in validating the technology. Angelwise : Angelwise is an early stage investment fund that mainly focuses on supporting startups and young companies in the next stage of their growth, preferably together with business angels or other early stage funds. ( www.angelwise.be ) Seeder Fund : A venture capital fund accelerating early-stage financing for promising digital entrepreneurs. ( https://www.seederfund.be ) Noshaq Energy : A public investment company driving regional economic development in the energy sector. ( https://noshaq.be ) QBIC : Qbic is a sector-agnostic seed and early-stage venture capital fund, focusing on creating impact through the transformation of technological breakthroughs into sustainable business. This operation benefits from support from the European Union under the InvestEU Fund. ( www.qbic.be ) Loïc Bar (Business Angel): Founder and CEO of Opinum, a leader in energy data management, contributing expertise in data-driven energy optimization. 
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