All companies, both public and private, will inevitably have to present their organization to investors. Though not every presentation is identical, there are some common topics that must be touched upon in every slide deck. Having worked on countless investor presentations for our clients, we have compiled a short list of what we believe should be included in a typical 15-25 slide investor deck.
1. The Problem You Are Solving
All successful products solve a problem, no matter how big or small. Given the nature of your business, not all investors will be fully aware of the benefits that your product provides. It is imperative that you include a detailed explanation of how your product works and demonstrate why it is a better solution than that of your competitors. This will allow investors to recognize what differentiates you from your competition and what makes your company the best positioned for the future.
2. Market Opportunity
In order for investors to understand the true potential of your business, they must be made aware of how much the company can grow. All presentations should include the market size of your industry and how far you can penetrate that market. Investors can use this to estimate your future revenues and compare you to other companies within the same sector.
3. Commercial Strategy
Once you have communicated the two previous topics to investors, it is time to reveal how you plan on achieving your goals. This does not need to be too granular and can be kept quite general. Oftentimes, companies provide short-term and long-term goals to help investors understand your priorities and what they can expect to see in the future. Your business plan demonstrates to investors that you have set clear and attainable goals and have a logical strategy for success.
4. Recent Milestones
Not only are investors looking at your future potential, they are also interested in your past performance. Include a slide dedicated to recent achievements to give investors a glimpse into the pace at which your company grows and attains its goals. This paired with your commercial strategy allows investors to gauge how effective and efficient the management team can be.
5. Financials
Finally, all presentations should have a slide dedicated to the company’s financial position. Some companies elect to include their most recent income statement while others choose to include only a few metrics. Though the degree of detail that companies provide varies, the metric that should always be included is revenue. Revenue is the most important indicator for investors, as it allows them to gauge your ability to make money. Typically, the latest quarterly results are disclosed along with the revenue from the year prior.
It is important to keep your presentation up to date, as you want to show investors the most accurate picture of your company. If you have any questions or would like to know more about what to include in an investor deck, please contact Gilmartin Group today.
Malcolm MacLeod, Analyst
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