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[Slide 3] I love the at-a-glance approach here.Image Credits:Cloudsmith
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[Slide 12] This is a great way to encapsulate progress to date and use that as a bridge to what your company is planning to do next. Great storytelling in action!Image Credits:Cloudsmith
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[Slide 17] That’s traction all right. But why did we have to wait until slide 17 to see it?Image Credits:Cloudsmith
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[Slides 6 and 7] OK, but why two of them?Image Credits:Cloudsmith
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[Slide 22] So, with whom are we speaking?Image Credits:Cloudsmith
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[Slide 23] Well this is hard enough to read, even if I wasn’t blue/blue color blind.Image Credits:Cloudsmith
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Back in September 2021 , Cloudsmithraised $ 15 million in Series A fundingfor its cloud platform that manages company ’ software supply chains . At the time , that was the orotund Series A round for a Northern Ireland fellowship since 2005 , so it definitely got something right ! I was delighted to look over Cloudsmith ’s deck to see how it did it . The deck included some redacted number , but there was still enough data to get a skillful word-painting .
We ’re depend for more unparalleled auction pitch deck to shoot down down;here ’s how you to get involved . Read our 90 + Pitch Deck Teardownshere .
Slides in this deck
The introduction has 36 slides — 25 make up the principal deck of cards , eight are in the appendix and three are addendum . While it is substantial , there is way for advance . For good example , I ’d remove unnecessary slides like the organizational chart ( nobody cares and certainly not in an intro deck ) and combine alike playground slide , such as the competition and challenger pricing slides . While there is much to treasure about the deck , let ’s take a tightlipped looking at to identify other areas for nuance .
Three things to love about Cloudsmith’s pitch deck
Cloudsmith originally submit its deckmonthsago , and every time I look at it , I was frustrated by how much of the deck of cards was redacted . It was hard to get a feeling for what impressed its investors to hand over the cash . But there ’s still a mickle to learn , even with information pretermit , so I decided to dive in . ( Hey , startup founding father : This is your very broad hint tosubmit your own deck to the Pitch Deck Teardown series ! )
Here are some slides that I liked :
A promising summary
The sum-up slide for Cloudsmith effectively sets the stage for a comprehensive and tempting company overview . It functions as an rent undoer within the delivery deck , plan to distinctly articulate what Cloudsmith does and its telling execution to date . This all but ensures that potential investors understand the promising nature of the opportunity from the get - go .
This slide captures the effect of Cloudsmith ’s operation and achievements in a compact yet potent format . It acquaint cardinal information that inform and excites , create a compelling case for why investment funds is not only an opportunity but also a strategical move for those wait to capitalise on emerging tech trend .
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Although some figures are redacted , the visible metric are quite promising , suggesting strong performance and potential . Even the redacted parcel are “ correct . ” It ’s a piddling sus to hide your NPS ( net promoter score ) — get along on , that ’s scarcely a business secret — but you unquestionably want to show your ARR ( one-year recur receipts ) , MRR ( monthly fall back revenue ) , number of customers , etc .
However , the slide could be even more in force by including the fiscal “ ask ” : how much capital Cloudsmith is seeking and what the funds will be used for . Detailing the specific use of cash in hand could help bridge over the spread between investor interest and action mechanism , lay down a strong vitrine for why an investmentnowcould be pivotal for Cloudsmith ’s trajectory — and aid build a slight FOMO powerful out of the gate .
What’s now? What’s next?
The remarkable “ Now and Next ” slide is a dynamic way to show the company ’s substantial achievements and ambitious succeeding plan . This lantern slide artfully blends past triumphs with aspirations for growth , leave investors with a captivating story .
The chute exemplify Cloudsmith ’s capability and square foundation . It articulates the company ’s practical benefit , simplifying complex technical conception for investors . This clarity ensures that even those unfamiliar with the technical intricacies can grasp the significant value Cloudsmith brings to its customers .
Transitioning from the present to the hereafter , the slide invite investors to venture on a apportion sight with the caller . The outlined expansion plans are not just about growth ; they are also about leveraging subsist intensity to construct a thriving hereafter .
Cloudsmith ’s design are not really elaborated enough to be amply believable , however ; this slide arouse my “ Sure , yeah , and how are you going todothat ? ” snark . But I ’m certainly pay attending at this point , and fuck the frontwards - looking speck at the substantial growth the company is envisioning .
Helloooooo, traction
The best form of traction is receipts , and Cloudsmith has a graph displaying its ARR from August 2019 to April 2021 , which attend sound . Now , as the number are redact , I ca n’t be certain exactlyhowhealthy , but the graphical record is pointing in the correct direction , and Cloudsmith sleep with that it needed to share those physical body .
The companionship also included other utile metric on its adhesive friction slide , indicating customer numbers , LTV ( lifetime value ) and CAC ( customer acquirement cost ) , among others . Again , the figures are put , but assuming they ’re healthy , this is a good example of what to admit on a traction slide . There are no dressing table metrics , and it ’s not essay to use a quartz glass ball to seem into the futurity , which by definition is n’t grip .
Now , given that this is a Series A financing , we ’re talking about growth here , and most growth rhythm are done exclusively on traction . If you have it , the fundraise will be pretty straightforward . If you do n’t , well , you ’re in for a elusive time . So I have to ask : Why are we only go this chart on slide 17 ? If this were my pitch shot deck , this would be slide 3 or 4 ; this is exponential growth(ish ) , and wait groovy . Lead with that ! !
Three things that Cloudsmith could have improved
Before you bulge out flinging your pack of cards into the universal direction of VCs , take a beat . Examine each slide in your deck of cards . inquire yourself , “ Does this slide actually help raise cash ? ” If not , ditch it . Sometimes , less is more . One killer slide can compact a bigger punch than a couple of lackluster ones . Trim the fat and keep your interview hooked on what really matters : your fundraising goal .
A fast shamble that would facilitate trim the adipose tissue and streamline the deck :
OK , with that reshuffle out of the way .
Two solution slides? Are you sure about that?
have ’s get actual about solvent slew : They ’re supposed to be your strategic ace up your arm , not a deep dive into the nitty - gritty . They should give a bird’s - centre panorama of how your company plans to tackle the bounteous , bad trouble you ’ve laid out . But here we are , with two slides that seem to have block their purpose in life and are recede deeply in the gage . It ’s like Cloudsmith is attempt to show off how much it knows rather than focus on the strategic overview . Keep it high level , folks .
There ’s slide 6 , strut around with its three box that shout out , “ I ’m useful ! ” but whisper , “ I ’m not solving anything . ” Sure , it ’s packed with info , but it ’s like that node at the political party who talks a lot but does n’t really say anything important ( I know this all too well , because I ’m often that Edgar Guest , but learn me out ) . These boxes might feel good about themselves , but they ’re not doing the problem of be active us toward a solution . It ’s time to refocus and verify every element on that coast is there to add to the resolution , not just to take up space .
And do n’t get me started on the full trouble / solution quartet . The company has a narrative as clear as mud here . Four slides of dull text that in all likelihood seemed like a good melodic theme at the time , but in reality , they ’re just a homework assignment for your consultation . If you had paired that bloated lantern slide 5 with a sleek slide 7 , you ’d have a sharp problem statement and a solution that does n’t require a map and compass to understand . rather , cut the clutter and make it easy for everyone to see the genius of your solution .
Hello, faces
Oh , Cloudsmith , your team slide is a paradox wrapped in a PowerPoint . It ’s somehow pull off to give too much and too little at the same time : a magic deception no investor wants to see . There ’s a deluge of details about the core team , which is n’t exactly what is postulate to wow investor at this stagecoach . They want the juicy stuff about why your founders are the chosen ones to lead this speculation . You ’re cod with hints , but come up on , give the full level . Dive deep andshow why they ’re the captains of this ship . And while you ’re at it , throw in their LinkedIn profiles . It ’s the digital age ; investors are gon na stalk . Make it loose for them .
And speak of unneeded info , while it ’s great to know who ’s continue the ship unfluctuating , a gaming - by - play on every core squad member for a Series A lurch is n’t needed . What would spice thing up is a quick quotation of your overall head count . It provide a glimpse of your scurf and cathode-ray oscilloscope without bogging everyone down with the minutiae . Keep it sleek , keep it smart , and keep the focus on what really count : make up the investors believe you ’ve got the best squad to take this “ to da moon,”as the crypto kids care to say .
Here’s some money — now tell me what you’re going to spend iton
Could this half - assed financial riddle slide be any more vague ? It dances around the theme of money like it ’s a hot range , vaguely hinting at how the party will expend the hard cash but clam up regarding the actual amount it ’s looking to raise . Here ’s a backsheesh : When you ’re asking for money , do n’t be unsure . Spell it out , loud and clear . How much do you need ? Do n’t bequeath investors guessing or they might guess themselves the right way out of the get together room .
And on that case , chuck the per centum . They ’re about as helpful as a chocolate teapot . Use hard number , dates and detail . Say when you ’re planning to make those key hire , and what these raw horse in shining armour will cost you . More significantly , what dragons are they going to slay ? Lay out the goals these hires will help you attain , and please , for the love of clarity , make it specific — the how , what , when , where and why . Offer investors the roadmap , not just the terminus .
Now , about those goals : You ’ve got aspirations , but how are you go to work those daydreams into realism ? What needs to happen ? Do you need multitude , peter and infrastructure ? And how much will these dreams cost ? Once you ’ve sort out all that , dazzle with the potential benefit . What question will these investment work for your company ? Remember , it ’s all about SMART finish here : specific , measurable , realizable , relevant and time - bound . separate the investor what they ’ll get for their money , and make it clear that if you hit those goal , you ’ll be able-bodied to raise a chunky Series B to keep dog that ARR frame up and to the right .
The full pitch deck
If you want your own pitch deck teardown featured on TechCrunch , here ’s more information . Also , checker outall our Pitch Deck Teardownsall collected in one handy space for you !
