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Pres. Guide

Introduction

If you have been invited to present to RVI, then this page should provide answers to most or all of your questions on logistics and requirements. This page also contains best-practices that anyone presenting to an investor group should find of value.

Purpose

The purpose of your presentation is simply to interest one or more investors in the room to learn more.  So in your slides, focus on teaching us just enough about the business so we can start asking intelligent questions and realize the opportunity.  If there is interest, we will dig into the details during due diligence. 

Perspective reminder: This is not a presentation about your business, this is a presentation about an opportunity for RVI members to make a significant financial return by investing in your company.

Format & Logistics

  • Technology can waste everyone's time. Therefore we provide a computer, pre-loaded with your slides, and projector so you can focus on pitching.  
  • You will provide someone (it can be your presenter) to advance your slides.
  • We will provide printed copies of your application and executive summary to all RVI members in attendance.
  • Please bring printed copies of your slides.
  • Attire is business formal.
  • Feel free to bring up to six people to present.  You are encouraged to bring current/potential investors with you to the presentation.  If you need more room, please let us know.

Timing

  • Presentation - 10 minutes
    • You have only ten minutes for your presentation.
    • You will be given discrete three-minute and one-minute warnings from the back of thge room by RVI's manager.  Please be aware of the clock.
    • If you run over, you will be cut off.
  • Q&A - 15 minutes
  • Closed Door Discussion - After the Q&A you will be escorted out and RVI Members will discuss your opportunity and decide if they wish to form a due diligence team.  We will inform you one way or the other within one week.

Slide Requirements

  • So the investors can easily find it if needed, place your contact information appears on your title slide.
  • In your PowerPoint Presentation, you will separate your "core" slides (those making up your canned presentation) from your Q&A slides with a single slide that says simply “Q&A.”
  • Make sure your slide's text is at least 24 points. Otherwise, some people in the room will not be able to read the text.
  • Ensure your slides have slide numbers.
  • If your slides use light lettering on a dark background they'll look good on the screen but print up poorly.  If you use this style for the screen, send a seperate version for printing that uses dark text on a light background.

Typical Questions

These are some of the most common questions asked by our investors during the Q&A period. We provide them here to help you fully prepare.

  • What would you do with more money?  Would it help you add value in a significant way?  What impact would it have on ROI timing and magnitude?
  • What would you do with less money? What is the absolute minimum amount you would need to achive the next milestone of credibility?  What is that milestone?
  • What percentage of your net worth is invested into the company?
  • What % of your company does this investment buy?
  • What is your sales & marketing strategy?

Best Practices (not required)

Ideal Presentation Outline

If you have a presentation that has already helped you secure financing, then by all means stick with it. But otherwise it is strongly advised that you follow this outline.  It has been tested and found to be a winning formula:

  1. Company - Who you are in one or two sentences. What stage your company is at (pre/post revenue? Already raised money previously? In business 1 month, 1 year, 5 years?)
  2. Need - There is a problem
  3. Solution - We have a way to address this problem (and it is patentable/protectable)
  4. Market - There are $$’s with this problem
  5. Competition - We can secure those $$’s better than anyone else
  6. Business Model - And here is how we’ll get those $$’s
  7. Financials - How many $$’s we’ll get
  8. Exit - Here is how you (investors) get your money back + a large return
  9. People - Who is going to execute this plan and why they should re-assure you
  10. Investment Strategy - This is how much we need and when, and what each funding stage allows us to do

Other Suggestions

  • Speech Independence - Unless you specifically call the audience’s attention to one of your slides, there is no guarantee that they will be reading a given slide at any time during your speech. Given this, make sure your speech does not require the audience to be reading your slides except when you specifically call their attention to do so.
  • Prepare - It is not uncommon for experienced management teams to dedicate 30-60 man-hours of time to create (and practice) their slides, handouts, and oral presentation. Don't underestimate the work required to design and execute an effective presentation.
  • < 6 Bullet Points - Slides with too much text are hard to read and do not communicate your message clearly.  We strongly recommend no more than 3-5 bullet points per slide.
  • Financials - Spreadsheet-like financials looked at very quickly lend themselves to miscommunication.  In a ten minute presentation you don't have time for miscommunications.  We recommend instead that you tell us three things: 1) How long until you reach break even; 2) How long until you reach "The Magic Number;" and 3) What the value of the "Magic Number" is.  The Magic number is that number/variable that, in your industry, denotes success and likely acquisition/IPO/significant profitability. Examples: 100k subscribers, $10 million EBIT, $30 million in revenue, etc.
  • Use Graphics - A well chosen image, graph, or chart can be far more impactful than a screen full of text.