One of the crucial components of this funding application process is creating a persuasive pitch deck. In this guide, we’ll walk you through what you need to craft the best possible pitch deck. One that captures the attention of VIA Fund and other impact investors and showcases the potential impact of your social enterprise.
Before we dive in, let’s clarify who impact investors are and why tailoring your pitch deck for them might differ from a traditional investor pitch.
What is impact investing?
“Impact investments are investments made with the intention to generate positive, measurable social and environmental impact alongside a financial return.” (Global Impact Investing Network, GIIN). Impact investors target enterprises that have a positive social or environmental impact.
For impact investors, two key factors hold paramount importance:
- Demonstrable Impact: investors want to visualize how their investments will tangibly contribute to positive change and how this impact can be reliably measured and evaluated. Hence, your pitch deck must comprehensively illustrate the current and projected impact of your project and how it will be measured.
- Financial Viability: whether through loans or investments, investors need assurance that your venture can generate sustainable financial returns, with the capacity to repay funds while maintaining both your business operations and your social impact.
- Partnership: Impact investors seek more than just financial involvement. They are keen to actively engage with your business, helping you develop it further. As a result, they require well-thought-out plans and your readiness to strive toward your goals. On their end, they are prepared to offer non-financial support that accelerates your journey to success.
VIA Fund is an impact investor, which is why you should keep these points in mind while preparing a pitch deck for funding. To guide you in designing a pitch deck that resonates with us and other impact investors, we’ve laid out a step-by-step guide. Use the suggested structure and tips, and draw inspiration from the examples below. Following these instructions, your pitch deck will effectively communicate your enterprise’s potential to create a sustainable, measurable, and positive impact.
How to prepare a Pitch Deck for VIA Fund and Impact Investors
First impressions matter. Your cover page should be clean, professional, and visually appealing. Include your venture’s name, logo, and contact information to make sure you are easily recognized. Choose colors and fonts that align with your brand identity.
Start strong with a brief introduction to your social enterprise. Share your social enterprise’s mission, vision, and the core essence of your purpose. Highlight key achievements that showcase your impact to date. Use captivating imagery that connects with your narrative.
Questions to Answer:
- What is your social enterprise’s mission and vision?
- What key achievements have you accomplished so far?
- How have you already made a positive impact?
Example:
“At Abilities Empowered, our mission is to empower individuals with disabilities by providing them with meaningful employment opportunities and fostering a more inclusive society. Our vision is to create a world where everyone, regardless of their abilities, is valued and able to contribute to the workforce. We’re proud to have already enabled over 50 individuals to secure fulfilling jobs and gain financial independence.”
Dig deep into the heart of the problem your social enterprise addresses. Use a mixture of compelling statistics, data visualization, and images to underscore the urgency and scale of the issue.
Questions to Answer:
- What is the specific problem your social enterprise is addressing?
- How can you use data to quantify the issue’s extent and urgency?
Example:
“Individuals with disabilities face significant barriers in accessing meaningful employment. According to the World Health Organization, around 80% of people with disabilities in developing countries are unemployed. In our region alone, the unemployment rate among this demographic is at a staggering 25%. These statistics highlight the deeply entrenched societal challenges that perpetuate inequality and limit opportunities for personal growth.”
Visual Elements:
- A bar graph showcasing the unemployment rates among people with disabilities in different regions.
- A pie chart illustrating the distribution of types of disabilities in the community you’re serving.
Break down your solution comprehensively. Include a step-by-step visual representation, like a flowchart or infographic, to help your audience visualize how your business model or technology addresses the problem. Incorporate annotated diagrams to explain the unique features of your solution.
Add some evidence from research on why you think your solution works and delivers social impact for beneficiaries: validation from third parties is important. Data from universities and research institutions or aligned for-profit entities are good choices. Quotes and numbers are the most convincing.
Questions to Answer:
- How does your solution directly address the social problem?
- What verifies the efficiency of your solution? Is there data from reputable sources to validate the effectiveness of your approach?
- How can you visually represent the step-by-step process of your solution? What key features of your solution make it unique?
- What quotes or testimonials can you include to highlight the impact of your solution?
Example:
“Our approach at Abilities Empowered is centered around providing skill-building workshops, tailored job training, and flexible work arrangements for individuals with disabilities. This holistic framework breaks down barriers by offering personalized support and accommodations. A comprehensive flowchart showcases our step-by-step process: from identifying skills to job placement and ongoing mentorship. “A recent study by [University/Research Institution] highlighted that tailored job training programs increase employment rates among individuals with disabilities by up to 30%.”
Visual Elements:
- A flowchart outlining the journey from skills assessment to job placement.
- An infographic highlighting the various components of your holistic approach, such as workshops, mentorship, and adaptive technologies.
Provide an in-depth view of your revenue model. Break down your income streams, such as product sales, subscriptions, or services. Create a visually appealing diagram that illustrates your pricing tiers and target market segments. If you have a subscription-based or tiered pricing strategy, visually present these tiers with concise explanations. Incorporate icons or images to enhance the visual appeal.
Questions to Answer:
- What are the different revenue streams of your social enterprise?
- What does your pricing structure look like?
- What kind of customer categories do you have? What is the percentage of revenue coming from different categories?
Example:
“Our revenue model is designed for sustainability and scalability. We generate income through multiple streams, including product sales, workshops, and corporate partnerships. This diverse approach not only ensures financial stability but also maximizes our social impact. A visual representation depicts our revenue sources and pricing tiers, catering to a wide range of customers.”
Visual Elements:
- A circular diagram showing the different revenue streams (product sales, workshops, partnerships) radiating from the center.
Show your overall impact. Do this quantitatively but also qualitatively: Give numbers of beneficiaries reached, and the number of customers who used your product, and don’t forget the overall change you caused: if you conducted the research on how beneficiaries’ lives changed (for example, 89% employed people with disabilities reported that they started to feel more comfortable talking to strangers) if you don’t have these kinds of numbers – leverage stories, testimonials, and images that convey the tangible change you’ve facilitated. Don’t miss out on the chance to show what your impact measurement process looks like.
Questions to Answer:
- Who are your beneficiaries? How many beneficiaries have you reached so far?
- What are the most significant outcomes in your Theory of Change? How can you illustrate achieving these outcomes?
- Do you have stories or testimonials to showcase tangible transformation?
Example:
“At Abilities Empowered, our impact is both quantitative and qualitative, demonstrating our commitment to driving meaningful change. We’ve directly impacted over 150 individuals with disabilities through job placements, skill-building, and ongoing support. Our transformative approach is validated by internal research findings, including the fact that 89% of employed individuals reported increased confidence in social interactions.”
Visual Elements:
- A testimonial quote from a beneficiary sharing their personal growth story.
- An infographic outlining your impact measurement process, from data collection to analysis.
Explain how you plan to scale. Include a timeline that highlights key milestones, such as product launches or market expansions.
Show the market you want to reach and the opportunity you want to use with your company. Show why it is you that can reach this market by highlighting what makes you stand out from competitors.
Questions to Answer:
- What is your scaling/growth strategy?
- What are the new markets or regions you’re planning to enter? What is the unique value proposition that sets you apart from competitors?
- What visual elements can you use to represent your expansion into new markets?
Example:
“Our journey toward greater impact involves strategic scaling. Over the next three years, we envision several key milestones. In Year 1, we plan to launch an online platform for skills training, expanding our reach beyond our immediate community. By Year 2, we aim to establish regional partnerships to diversify our offerings. Finally, in Year 3, we aim to enter new markets, starting with neighboring regions”.
Visual Elements:
- A timeline highlighting Year 1, Year 2, and Year 3, with icons representing each milestone.
Provide a detailed financial overview. Use line graphs to present historical revenue, expenses, and profits over time. Create a bar graph to display projected revenue growth. These visuals should make your financial story clear and easy to digest.
Visual Elements:
- Color-coded line graph depicting the trends of revenue, expenses, and profits over the past three years and projected revenue growth for the next five years.
Questions to Answer:
- What are historical revenue, expenses, and profit trends?
- What are your projected revenue, expenses, and profit trends for the timeline you propose to the investor?
Elaborate on each team member’s role and expertise. Use images and brief bios to introduce team members. Highlight key skills and experiences that qualify each team member to execute your business plan.
Visual Elements:
- Individual photos of each team member.
- Brief bios outlining their roles and expertise.
Questions to Answer:
- What key skills and experiences set each team member apart?
Clearly state the funding type and amount you’re seeking from VIA Fund. Break down how you plan to utilize the funding with a visual representation, such as a pie chart showing the allocation of funds to different aspects of your enterprise.
Example:
“We’re seeking a non-interest loan of $100,000 and a grant of $30,000 to propel our mission forward. The funds will be strategically allocated to key areas that will drive our impact and growth.”
Visual Elements:
- A pie chart that visually represents the allocation of funds.
Questions to Answer:
- What is the capital you need in order to implement your growth/scaling plan?
- What are the key areas in which you plan to allocate the funding?
Conclusion
You’re all set to take the next step! Good luck as you move forward with your pitch deck preparations. And remember, your pitch deck is more than just a presentation, it’s an invitation to join forces in driving positive social impact. You’re not just seeking funds, you’re creating partnerships that will drive you forward, creating and scaling your social impact!
