This is part 13 of "The Ultimate Pitch Deck Guide for Startups," a fundraising guide made in partnership with DECKO, a leading pitch deck development company that’s helped ~180 startups raise over $100M from investors.
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Your Team slide is simultaneously one of the most important and straightforward slides in your pitch deck. It gives investors a clear understanding of who is steering the ship and why you are uniquely qualified to take your company over the finish line. While it is straightforward, there are still ways to make your Team Section truly stand out from the crowd.
When reviewing the Team Section, Investors primarily care about:
- Your team’s previous work experience (Especially if they come from notable companies that are relevant to your new one)
- Your team’s experience working together (Have you built together in the past?)
- Successful outcomes your team has driven either for your company or for previous employers.
In this chapter of “The Ultimate Pitch Deck Guide for Startups,” we’ll review some of the best practices for making your Team shine.
Now, let’s dive in.
- Include Key Team Members:
Begin by featuring the primary players in your organization. Whether it's the visionary founder, CEO, or vital executives, make sure the key figures are front and center. You do not need to include all of your team members, consultants, etc. Focus on leadership, investors, and key advisors.
EARLY STAFFING TIP: Avoid having too many people in the C-Suite at an early stage. C-Suite leadership is difficult to replace and investors will consider it too difficult to bring in seasoned executives later on. Instead, consider making your first hires “VPs” of their respective areas. For example, instead of a Chief Marketing Officer, make your founding marketing lead the Vice President of Marketing. This will allow them to either expand into the role of Chief Marketing Officer down the line or bring one in without having to mess with the chain of command.
- Professional Headshots:
A picture is worth a thousand words, and professional headshots speak volumes about your team's commitment to excellence. High-resolution images add a touch of credibility and professionalism to your pitch.
If your team does not have cohesive professional headshots (this is quite common for early stage companies), we recommend sending whatever headshots or photos of yourself that you have to Krome Image Labs (https://kromeimagelabs.com/). Their team of photo editors and their AI will make your entire team’s individual headshots look cohesive and professional for up to ~95% cheaper than a traditional photography session.
- Brief Bios and Roles:
Each team member should be accompanied by a concise and informative bio. Clearly outline their background, expertise, and current role in the company. This provides investors with a snapshot of the team's capabilities.
It is best to do this in bullet point format. Avoid clunky paragraphs as investors tend to scan slides rather than read them.
- Relevant Experience:
Highlight the relevant experiences of your team members. If they bring a track record of success in similar industries or have been part of noteworthy projects, emphasize these achievements to instill confidence in potential investors.
Include logos for past employers/ experience so that investors have a quick visual cue that lets them know where the team comes from if they don’t want to read through the slide.
- Achievements and Milestones:
Give credit where credit is due. Showcase any individual achievements or milestones reached by your team members. Whether it's academic accomplishments or successful projects, these accolades contribute to the overall strength of your team.
Did your founding engineer lead the product launch of a key feature at a major tech company? Did your sales lead drive millions in revenue in their last position? Achievements like these are relevant to investors as they let them know your team has done this before.
- Investors and Advisors:
Investors are looking for all the social proof they can find about why your company is investible. Including notable investors in your pitch deck lets new investors know that your company has been vetted before, stood up to scrutiny, and has made others believe there is a large opportunity.
Advisors are a great way to show investors that your leadership team listens to others and has a support network that extends out of the company payroll. When including Advisors, you only need their names, headshots (optional), and no more than 1-2 bullets on who they are. These should be less robust than your team slide but provide enough information to show the Advisors are credible.
- Team Diversity:
Diversity is not only an ethical consideration but also a strategic asset. If applicable, highlight the diversity within your team—be it in terms of skills, backgrounds, or experiences. A diverse team fosters creativity and adaptability.
- Roles and Responsibilities:
Clear communication is key. Define the roles and responsibilities of each team member to provide investors with insights into the internal structure of your company and how each person contributes to its success.
- Future Hiring Plans:
Looking to expand your team? Briefly mention your future hiring strategy. This insight provides investors with a glimpse into your growth plans and the skills you deem crucial for the next phase of your company.
As you craft your deck, don't underestimate the power of the team slide. It's more than a formality—it's your team's moment to shine. By following these 8 best practices, you'll not only present information effectively but also make a compelling case for why your team is the driving force behind your startup's success.
Check in next week when we talk about how to use your pitch deck to actually make “The Ask” that lets investors know how much you’re raising and why.
