{"id":502,"date":"2021-03-31T08:30:34","date_gmt":"2021-03-31T12:30:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/2021\/03\/31\/14-words-to-take-out-of-your-vc-pitch-deck\/"},"modified":"2021-03-31T08:30:34","modified_gmt":"2021-03-31T12:30:34","slug":"14-words-to-take-out-of-your-vc-pitch-deck","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/news\/14-words-to-take-out-of-your-vc-pitch-deck\/502\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Words To Take Out Of Your VC Pitch Deck"},"content":{"rendered":"<!-- shortcode [asyncjs] -->\n        <script type=\"text\/javascript\">if (!window.AdButler) {\n                (function () {\n                    var s = document.createElement(\"script\");\n                    s.async = true;\n                    s.type = \"text\/javascript\";\n                    s.src = 'https:\/\/servedbyadbutler.com\/app.js';\n                    var n = document.getElementsByTagName(\"script\")[0];\n                    n.parentNode.insertBefore(s, n);\n                }());\n            }<\/script>\n        <script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n            var AdButler = AdButler || {};\n            AdButler.ads = AdButler.ads || [];\n            var abkw = window.abkw || '';\n            var plc376258 = window.plc376258 || 0;\n            document.write('<' + 'div id=\"placement_376258_' + plc376258+ '\"><\/' + 'div>');\n            AdButler.ads.push({\n                handler: function (opt) {\n                    AdButler.register(167788,376258, [300,250], 'placement_376258_' + opt.place, opt);\n                },\n                opt: {\n                    place: plc376258++,\n                    keywords: abkw ,\n                    domain: 'servedbyadbutler.com'\n                }\n            });\n        <\/script>\n        \n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em><strong>By May Habib, CEO of Writer.com<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">170 seconds. Weeks or even months of working on your pitch deck could come down to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.prnewswire.com\/news-releases\/the-seed-squeeze-new-docsend-data-shows-early-stage-founders-face-heightened-investor-scrutiny-institutional-barriers-301127028.html\">170<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.prnewswire.com\/news-releases\/the-seed-squeeze-new-docsend-data-shows-early-stage-founders-face-heightened-investor-scrutiny-institutional-barriers-301127028.html\"> seconds<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.prnewswire.com\/news-releases\/the-seed-squeeze-new-docsend-data-shows-early-stage-founders-face-heightened-investor-scrutiny-institutional-barriers-301127028.html\"> (on average)<\/a> that investors spend looking at your deck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;Investors see a lot of pitches. In a single year, the classic general partner in a venture firm is exposed to around 5,000 pitches&#8230;and ends up doing between zero and two deals,\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reidhoffman.org\/linkedin-pitch-to-greylock\/\">writes<\/a> VC and LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With all that pressure to make an impact quickly, founders spend an incredible amount of time on the design of their slides. Less consideration, however, is usually spent on the <em>words <\/em>on the slide. That\u2019s a mistake, especially when you only have 170 seconds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When not used intentionally, the words in your deck can be distracting or downright off-putting. We used what we know about language and healthy communication from the millions of documents we\u2019ve processed at <a href=\"http:\/\/writer.com\">Writer<\/a> to come up with 14 words and phrases to remove from your VC pitch deck:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<!-- shortcode [asyncjs] -->\n        <script type=\"text\/javascript\">if (!window.AdButler) {\n                (function () {\n                    var s = document.createElement(\"script\");\n                    s.async = true;\n                    s.type = \"text\/javascript\";\n                    s.src = 'https:\/\/servedbyadbutler.com\/app.js';\n                    var n = document.getElementsByTagName(\"script\")[0];\n                    n.parentNode.insertBefore(s, n);\n                }());\n            }<\/script>\n        <script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n            var AdButler = AdButler || {};\n            AdButler.ads = AdButler.ads || [];\n            var abkw = window.abkw || '';\n            var plc428354 = window.plc428354 || 0;\n            document.write('<' + 'div id=\"placement_428354_' + plc428354+ '\"><\/' + 'div>');\n            AdButler.ads.push({\n                handler: function (opt) {\n                    AdButler.register(167788,428354, [300,250], 'placement_428354_' + opt.place, opt);\n                },\n                opt: {\n                    place: plc428354++,\n                    keywords: abkw ,\n                    domain: 'servedbyadbutler.com'\n                }\n            });\n        <\/script>\n        \n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Negative associations<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>1. \u201crunway\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pitching VCs is a balancing act: you want to position your idea in the best light, but also show that you\u2019ve thought things through. However, volunteering for certain types of information can have the opposite effect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<u>Don&rsquo;t write:<\/u>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>I\u2019m seeking $X in funding to provide Y months of runway<\/em>. You certainly need to show how you\u2019re going to use the funding you\u2019re asking for,\u00a0 but you don\u2019t want to frame things in terms of the <em>runway<\/em> in a pitch deck. The word is associated with a looming cash-out date, which can put an investor in a negative state of mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.advertisingweek360.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Image-1.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Caption: <em>This <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.happysignals.com\/leading-experience-management-platform-for-it-happysignals\"><em>HappySignal<\/em><\/a><em> slide is a solid example of keeping your messaging positive and using uplifting language.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>2. \u201cexit strategy\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<u>Don&rsquo;t write:<\/u>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Our exit strategy is&#8230;<\/em>Yes, thinking through your business means knowing how you\u2019ll handle worst-case and best-case scenarios. But putting <em>exit strategy<\/em> in your deck can only get investors thinking about the inherent risks. You want them focused on the opportunity. You need to know what to say when the topic comes up \u2014 just don\u2019t volunteer the information on a slide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Cliches<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>3. \u201cjust one percent\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A pitch deck is a tool to show VCs why your idea merits an investment. Using cliches can work against that goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<u>Don&rsquo;t write:<\/u>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>If we could capture X% of the market<\/em>&#8230; It\u2019s not only a cliche, it\u2019s wishful thinking rather than a plan. Keep the text on your slides grounded in relevant facts and figures. Other cliches to cut include: <em>the Amazon of X<\/em>, <em>imagine a future<\/em>, and <em>moving Y to the blockchain<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Absolutes<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>4. \u201ceveryone\u201d, \u201calways\u201d, \u201cnever\u201d, \u201cno one\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A great pitch requires nuance. Using absolutes to talk about your idea fails on that count. And, if you look closer, chances are there will be exceptions to the absolute that\u2019s being set up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When discussing your TAM, target customer, or product value, your words need to reflect a thoughtful and measured approach. Using absolutes, such as <em>everyone likes X<\/em> falls short of that goal and casts doubts about the validity of your plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.advertisingweek360.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Image-2.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Caption: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.crossbeam.com\/\"><em>Crossbeam\u2019s<\/em><\/a><em> addressable market slide wisely narrows things down to businesses with \u201cat least one partnership-focused employee,\u201d across four key market segments. Incredibly specific!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Imprecise language<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>5. \u201cunique\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Precise communication makes it easier to bet that a business has the potential to succeed. But imprecise language is one of the top no-no\u2019s we see in pitch decks. Take the word <em>unique. <\/em>It may seem like an ideal word to show differentiation, but it\u2019s imprecise as to the nature of the uniqueness. Just describe the uniqueness directly, or better yet, the plan to execute on the uniqueness. Ideas are important \u2014\u00a0but the plan is what gets companies funded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>6. \u201cintend\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Good intentions aren\u2019t the same as a plan. Using the word <em>intend<\/em> in your pitch deck makes the discussion conceptual and somewhat nebulous. An <em>intention<\/em> is easier to reject than a plan backed up by compelling storytelling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>7. \u201cno competition\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Don\u2019t write &#8220;<em>no competition <\/em>anywhere in your deck. Like, anywhere. At best, it will be seen as an exaggeration: if there isn\u2019t direct competition, there may be indirect competition to consider. And, at worst, it could make investors think that you haven\u2019t fully explored the market, meaning your entire premise could be flawed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>8. \u201cgood\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Investors don\u2019t want <em>good<\/em> ideas, they want the <em>best<\/em> ideas. Using the word <em>good<\/em> to describe any part of your plan (for example, <em>good growth<\/em>) lacks specificity and lowers your pitch\u2019s believability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.advertisingweek360.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Image-3.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Caption: <a href=\"https:\/\/wasabi.com\/\"><em>Wasabi\u2019s<\/em><\/a><em> market slide showcases what precise language can do for a deck.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Qualifiers (aka intensifiers)<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>9. \u201cVery\u201d, \u201cso\u201d, \u201cquite\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Brevity is key when you\u2019re working with a visual format, like a pitch deck. Qualifiers not only clutter your slides with unnecessary text, they\u2019re also less precise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<u>Don&rsquo;t write:<\/u>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>very<\/em>, <em>so<\/em>, and <em>quite<\/em>. Ask yourself one question: What does <em>very fast growth<\/em> look like? Your answer would likely be different than someone else\u2019s. Instead, you might say<em> growth of X% a year<\/em> so there isn\u2019t confusion<em>.<\/em> Again, you want to be as precise and fact-based as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.advertisingweek360.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Image-4.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Caption: <a href=\"https:\/\/unest.co\/\"><em>UNest<\/em><\/a><em> avoids the pitfalls of qualifiers like \u201cvery fast\u201d onboarding by going with a succinct \u201c5 minutes\u201d claim.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Other things to keep in mind:<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>10. Readability<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In an analysis of successful decks, we found an average readability level of Grade 10 or 11. For unsuccessful decks, that number was higher &#8212; Grade 12 or college. Never use jargon, keep your sentences simple, and include a maximum of 1-2 sentences per paragraph. To analyze your own deck\u2019s language, try out Writer\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/app.writer.com\/signup\">readability<\/a> tools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>11. Humor: Just don\u2019t<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cracking a joke on a slide can easily backfire. The last thing you want is to have a failed joke make your pitch awkward or throw you off. That could derail the entire process. So it\u2019s best to skip the deck humor and get to what really matters: your plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<!-- shortcode [asyncjs] -->\n        <script type=\"text\/javascript\">if (!window.AdButler) {\n                (function () {\n                    var s = document.createElement(\"script\");\n                    s.async = true;\n                    s.type = \"text\/javascript\";\n                    s.src = 'https:\/\/servedbyadbutler.com\/app.js';\n                    var n = document.getElementsByTagName(\"script\")[0];\n                    n.parentNode.insertBefore(s, n);\n                }());\n            }<\/script>\n        <script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n            var AdButler = AdButler || {};\n            AdButler.ads = AdButler.ads || [];\n            var abkw = window.abkw || '';\n            var plc376259 = window.plc376259 || 0;\n            document.write('<' + 'div id=\"placement_376259_' + plc376259+ '\"><\/' + 'div>');\n            AdButler.ads.push({\n                handler: function (opt) {\n                    AdButler.register(167788,376259, [300,250], 'placement_376259_' + opt.place, opt);\n                },\n                opt: {\n                    place: plc376259++,\n                    keywords: abkw ,\n                    domain: 'servedbyadbutler.com'\n                }\n            });\n        <\/script>\n        \n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>With all the pressure to make an impact quickly, founders spend an incredible amount of time on the design of their slides. Less consideration, however, is usually spent on the words on the slide. That\u2019s a mistake, especially when you only have 170 seconds.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":503,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","editor_notices":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[3],"topics":[2],"class_list":["post-502","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-brands-marketers","topics-editorial"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v28.0 (Yoast SEO v28.0) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>14 Words To Take Out Of Your VC Pitch Deck | AW360<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/advertisingweek.com\/aw360\/news\/14-words-to-take-out-of-your-vc-pitch-deck\/502\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"14 Words To Take Out Of Your VC Pitch Deck\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"With all the pressure to make an impact quickly, founders spend an incredible amount of time on the design of their slides. 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