Sample Angel pitch deck: RAW Dating App’s $3M deck | TechCrunch

The RAW Dating App objectives to shake up the courting scheme via losing the faux, TikTok-ified, closely filtered pictures and changing them with a extra authentic, unvarnished revel in. The app objectives younger pros and scholars, in particular girls elderly 21 to 27, who search authentic interactions.

The corporate’s staff claims it raised a $3 million family and friends spherical. I haven’t been in a position to independently test that; lots of the corporate’s media protection seems to be written via the founder herself, in retailers like Forbes and era/how-anti-instagram-apps-are-changing-social-media/453915″ goal=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>Entrepreneur or as press releases that were given syndicated around the internet. Nonetheless, the deck was once fascinating sufficient that I sought after to take a more in-depth glance.

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Slides on this deck

Pitch decks are so much like courting: You’ve were given to strut your stuff to persuade buyers that you just’re the very best fit, worthy of tens of millions to develop and flourish. They wish to know that in spite of any bumps within the street, you’re the dream staff with whom they may be able to navigate thru the rest.

The pitch deck must promote your staff and your resolution, now not simply the product. That is the place RAW’s pitch deck swipes left beautiful difficult. As an alternative of showcasing the intense staff poised to dominate a booming marketplace and create plenty of glad suits, the pitch deck turns out love it’s looking to get buyers to obtain the app, now not make investments cash within the corporate.

As a result of this erroneous focal point, the deck is a scorching mess. The answer presentations up prior to the issue, and the issue isn’t even obviously said till slide 11 (there are handiest 18 slides general). The corporate tells me it submitted the deck precisely as pitched. Right here’s what is roofed:

1. Duvet slide
2. Product
3. Price proposition
4. Function
5. Function 2
6. Function 3
7. Target audience
8. Price proposition 2
9. Price proposition 3
10. Answer
11. Drawback
12. Drawback 2
13. Drawback 3
14. Festival
15. Ask and use of budget
16. Slide 16
17. Crew
18. Ultimate slide

3 issues to like about RAW’s pitch deck

I’ve already griped in regards to the deck’s odd order: The issue and resolution slides must be main the rate, now not trailing close to the tip. However, whats up, credit score the place it’s due: Whilst you after all do bump into them, there are some vivid spots.

A transparent resolution slide

RAW’s resolution slide is refreshingly transparent, providing a concise observation that hints on the cutting edge options that set the app aside. The teasers embedded inside the slide successfully outline the answer, giving a snapshot of ways RAW addresses the important thing ache issues of on-line courting. It’s a pleasing exchange of tempo, offering simply sufficient data to pique pastime with out being too overwhelming.

It’s excellent that this slide doesn’t overlap with the product main points. After wading thru numerous slides that learn like a consumer handbook, it’s a aid to peer a targeted resolution observation. The relentless product pitch is paused right here, permitting the approach to shine by itself deserves.

On the other hand, I gained’t get too over excited with the reward right here. Whilst the answer is well-articulated, it falls brief. Claiming to unravel “maximum” courting app issues seems like a cop-out. Buyers wish to see self assurance and ambition; inform them RAW solves all courting app issues. This isn’t where to hedge your bets or concern about overselling; it’s about convincing buyers that your resolution is complete and unbeatable. Promote them the dream, now not only a Band-Support.

Yep, that’s an issue all proper

Whilst it’s completely ludicrous that we needed to plow through 10 slides to after all hit an issue observation, I’ll begrudgingly admit it’s now not a horrible downside slide. Positive, there’s all the time room to toughen, however I’ll take hard-hitting numbers over wishy-washy “we’re making the sector a greater position” junk any day of the week. The statistics do a tight process of highlighting a obvious factor within the courting app global, I’ll give RAW that. On the other hand, a sprinkle of credibility wouldn’t harm. Bringing up resources for the ones stats can have remodeled skepticism into agree with.

Focused on the objective

A target market is meant to be a the most important a part of the pitch deck, and even though this reads slightly awkwardly, it does display that the staff at the back of RAW has a tight take hold of in their goal demographics. On the other hand, “Ladies age 21-27” turns out slightly arbitrary and needlessly slender — why now not simply “other people of their 20s”? But it surely’s refreshing to have this stage of readability.

We get a way of who RAW is aiming for and a obscure concept in their socioeconomic standing. On the other hand, pronouncing “massive U.S. towns” is like throwing a dart at a map. It’s higher to be explicit. Identity the towns. Display you’ve completed your homework and know precisely the place your top customers reside.

And the ones cutesy advertising and marketing phrases like “rawmantics”? They may fly in a user-facing marketing campaign, however right here you want to steer hardened buyers. Ditch the fluff and show you understand who you’re concentrated on with concrete, data-backed personas. Buyers wish to see you might have a transparent, strategic manner, now not only a suave play on phrases.

3 issues that RAW can have progressed

I’ll be truthful, there’s so much lacking from this deck that actually must now not were overpassed. From the figures I will see at the incorporated slides, there’s no manner I will make a cheap judgment as as to whether RAW is venture-scale, except for a intestine intuition that courting apps are scorching assets. RAW hasn’t offered any marketplace measurement information, there’s no go-to-market technique, and there’s a obvious hollow across the trade type and pricing. How precisely does this founding staff envision getting cash?

• Marketplace measurement information is the most important. Buyers wish to know the possibility of enlargement and the way giant the chance actually is. With out this, it’s not possible to gauge whether or not RAW can seize a good portion of the marketplace. Supply detailed analysis, statistics and projections to again up your claims to turn that there’s a considerable marketplace ripe for disruption.

• The go-to-market technique is lacking. How do you intend to draw customers? What’s your advertising and marketing plan? Are there partnerships within the pipeline? Buyers wish to see a transparent trail to consumer acquisition and enlargement. Lay out your methods, goal channels, and anticipated milestones. This is very important for demonstrating that you’ve got a practical and efficient plan to scale.

• There’s no trade type or pricing. How do you’re making cash? Subscription charges? In-app purchases? Commercials? This can be a elementary query that wishes a transparent resolution. Define your income streams, pricing technique, and the way you intend to transform customers into paying consumers. This readability is important for buyers to grasp the monetary viability and long-term attainable of RAW.

All that apart, there are some explicit slides within the deck that might have the benefit of revision and growth. Let’s give them a gradual ribbing and notice how we can have became this deck into one thing that actually dazzles.

That’s now not festival …

All proper, founders, let’s discuss your aggressive slide, or slightly, this dangerous excuse for one. It’s so dangerous, actually, that if I have been bearing in mind to take a position on this startup, I’d ship them away and ask them to make an actual festival slide.

In a hotly contested marketplace like on-line courting, you want a strong aggressive slide to turn you’ve were given a deal with on who you’re up in opposition to, and what your aggressive merit and differentiation is. Right here’s why a aggressive slide is the most important: Buyers wish to see that you know the battlefield. They wish to know you’re now not simply acutely aware of the contest however that you just’ve completed your homework and will outmaneuver them. Who’s the contest? Coloured packing containers numbered 1 to three don’t reduce it. Any individual who has a pulse and has been unmarried up to now decade can title any place between one and 15 competition off the highest in their heads.

You wish to have to show rock-solid wisdom of the sector the place you function. Display buyers you take hold of the panorama inside of out and again to entrance and that not anything going down on this area escapes your realize. This slide, sadly, doesn’t give me that self assurance.

What number of competition does RAW have? You wish to have specifics. Whilst your competition may now not be offering what RAW does, do they supply any options RAW doesn’t? What’s the associated fee comparability? Who do those other courting apps enchantment to? And let’s now not disregard: Courting apps depend on other people. It’s a numbers sport. Should you handiest have a handful of customers, making significant suits goes to be difficult. Buyers wish to see you’re now not simply every other face within the crowd; you’re the one that stands proud and is aware of precisely why you’re higher. So, let’s see that aggressive research beefed up with actual information, insights, and a transparent image of the place RAW suits on this crowded marketplace.

Hi, thriller slide!

OK, let’s dive into the enigma this is slide 16. You’ll realize I’ve simply referred to this one as “slide 16.” Is it a traction slide? Perhaps. In all probability it’s a projected enlargement slide? I don’t know. May just it’s a mixture of each, forming a now-and-next slide? Is it appearing traction from the previous or projections into the long run? It’s all conceivable, however I simply don’t know.

First off, the slide itself doesn’t have a identify. Whilst now not all decks identify their slides, they’re helpful. A identify would give a touch about what we’re taking a look at right here. As an alternative, we get a thriller field of data and not using a context. It’s like looking to learn a map and not using a legend. Lend a hand me out right here.

There are not any labels at the graph’s axes rather then months. Which years are those months from? Is it appearing July 2023 to Might 2024? Or possibly even July 2024 to Might 2025? The corporate introduced in 2023 (it says so on slide 2), so I’m guessing the previous, however I will’t make sure that. Are those per thirty days energetic consumer numbers appearing precise enlargement? Through which case, they must be charted correctly at the graph. Or are they enlargement projections? And even supposing they’re projections, they must be laid out with conviction. Give me transparent, classified axes and a timeline that is sensible.

If those are precise consumer numbers, they’re possibly bringing some income with them. And seeing as income is the most productive type of traction, display me the cash! How a lot income are we speaking about right here? Buyers wish to see the monetary affect, now not simply ambiguous traces on a graph. Truthfully, so far as graphs move, this one is verging on needless. Explain your information, label your axes, and ensure this slide conveys a transparent, impactful message.

We were given 99 issues, and the pitch is one

3 downside slides on this deck is totally overkill — particularly for the reason that staff is the use of 3 slides to hammer house the similar level in relatively other ways. Only one concise slide will do: “Courting apps make it more difficult, now not more uncomplicated, to search out real love.” Then run down the statistics that RAW has put at the first downside slide (and double-check that $638.8 million determine — it seems like any person were given somewhat too inventive with their decimal issues). And the second one downside slide is simply muddle.

Are those statements on the second one downside slide actual findings from RAW’s analysis? Or are they made up? In the event that they’re fabricated, why trouble together with them? The primary slide’s chilly, difficult statistics quilt the similar flooring. Buyers love statistics, particularly in the event that they’re in accordance with strong analysis. There’s no wish to move over outdated flooring. Stay it contemporary; stay it energetic. Don’t waste precious deck actual property.

Now, about the ones issues. Sure, ghosting is an issue, however you’ll’t make other people forestall ghosting. Human conduct isn’t one thing you’ll keep an eye on with an app function. And sure, scamming is an issue, however scams prey on susceptible other people on the lookout for love. Actual pictures are simply a part of the answer. Have you ever noticed the “Tinder Swindler”? It’s a jungle out there.

In any case, I’m taking factor with most likely a relatively difficult to understand a part of the deck: The staff says “actual pictures” and “no Photoshop,” however the majority of the pictures on this deck seem like they’ve been plucked from a high-end studio, with somewhat of Photoshop magic. In reality, lots of them are inventory pictures. After you’ve clicked in the course of the deck, you’ll acknowledge Man with Pink Tank Top, Thoughtful Man with Guitar, Selfie of Couple in New York Park, and most likely a couple of others, too.

I’m now not pronouncing you’ll’t use inventory pictures in pitch decks, however on this case, the place the corporate is touting authentic interactions that get started with authentic pictures, it’s slightly off-putting.

Total, I’m caught: I will’t get to the realization that this product is an actual approach to the issues the corporate outlines, and I in finding myself with a want: Display me how RAW tangibly addresses those problems with extra than simply hopes, desires and excellent intentions — preferably with a strong trade type beneath all of that.

The entire pitch deck

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