How to Build a Pitch Deck Investors Remember | Donna Griffit

Send us Fan MailWhen capital is tighter and investors are more cautious, founders cannot afford to bury a strong business beneath a confusing pitch.In this episode, Peter Boolkah speaks with Donna Griffit, corporate storyteller, pitch specialist and author of Sticking to My Story: The Alchemy of Storytelling for Startups.Donna explains how to transform facts, figures and fragmented information into a clear investor story. She introduces her four-act pitch structure and shows how founders can communicate the problem, solution, commercial opportunity and long-term vision without overwhelming investors with information.You’ll discover:The four acts of an effective investor pitchHow to turn the customer’s problem into a compelling storyWhy facts and figures need a clear narrativeHow customer journeys help investors understand a solutionWhat belongs in the business-data section of a pitchWhy founders frequently neglect their vision for the futureHow a strong message improves presentation confidenceThe difference between a presentation deck and a teaser deckHow to identify investors who understand your marketWhy you should avoid approaching investors backing direct competitorsHow to request a warm introduction without creating unnecessary workWhat to include in a concise cold approachWhy founders should not negotiate against themselvesHow current funding decisions can affect future investorsWhy the right investor should provide more than moneyThe importance of remaining open, flexible and coachableDonna also explains why founders need to understand the purpose of the capital they are raising. Rather than presenting an unsupported valuation, they should be able to explain how much money they need, how it will be used and which important milestones it will help the company reach.A memorable story may secure an investor’s attention, but the final investment decision must also withstand proper commercial, financial and legal scrutiny.This conversation was recorded in 2023 and includes references to the market conditions and startup events of that period.This episode is for general educational purposes and does not constitute investment, legal, tax or accounting advice. Obtain appropriately qualified professional advice before agreeing investment or funding terms.ABOUT DONNA GRIFFITDonna Griffit is a corporate storyteller, pitch specialist and author of Sticking to My Story: The Alchemy of Storytelling for Startups.For more than two decades, Donna has helped startups, investors and major companies transform complex information into clear, engaging presentations and investor pitches.Her methodology combines storytelling with the commercial structure investors need to understand the problem, solution, market opportunity, business model, competitive position and long-term potential of a company.CONNECT WITH DONNA GRIFFITWebsite: https://donnagriffit.comBook: https://donnagriffit.com/sticking-to-my-story/CONNECT WITH PETER BOOLKAHWebsite: https://www.boolkah.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/boolkahInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/pboolkah/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BoolkahX: https://twitter.com/boolkahABOUT PETER BOOLKAHPeter Boolkah is a business coach, author and speaker who has spent more than 20 years helping business owners build stronger, more valuable businesses that do not depend on them for everything.He is the creator of The Hamster Wheel Trap® and author of Your Business Sucks: Build a Business That Works Without Destroying Your Life.Peter works with founders and leadership teams on the issues that ultimately determine whether a business creates freedom or becomes another job: leadership, founder dependency, people, profit, execution, scaling, exit readiness and enterprise value.His approach is direct, practical and built around one simple question:Do you own the business, or does the business own you?Learn more at https://www.boolkah.com