10 Secrets of an Effective Presentation

“Brevity is a great charm of eloquence.”

— Marcus Tullius Cicero

After having suffered through many a bad presentation, I have come to really appreciate an effective one. But what makes an effective presentation? As F.L. Lucas said, “And how is clarity to be achieved? Mainly by taking trouble and by writing to serve people rather than to impress them. “ Here are a few key points:

1.     Brevity is Bliss

A friend asked me to sit through a presentation for an on-line dog food company. The Founder/CEO had spent nearly $2.5mm of his own money and was convinced this was the most important discovery since the theory of relativity. Two and a half hours into the presentation, after I had asked him multiple times to get to the point, I finally sttod up, politely told him I could not help him, and left the room. Needless to say, he never raised any capital, and clearly that’s because of I am a heartless, blood sucking VC and banker! As William Shakespeare said, “Brevity is the soul of wit.”  If you can’t articulate a business idea in 15-30 minutes, it is not worth pursuing.

2.     Know Your Audience

I once wrote a piece for CNN, which the producer completely altered before publishing. When I asked him why, he simply said, “You are not speaking to our audience.” It is very important to know your audience before presenting anything, to make sure you know their background, experience, interest in the sector, existing investments, level of technical knowledge, and expertise.

Especially when you are pitching VCs, it is important to do the diligence to make sure they are interested in your sector, are currently investing, have dry powder, invest in your geography, do not have any competitive portfolio companies, focus on your stage, and write the check size you are in interested in. As Annie Proulx said, “I find it satisfying and intellectually stimulating to work with the intensity, brevity, balance and word play of the short story. “

3.     Focus on no More than Three Points

Remember the scene in the movie Amadeus, where his royal highness complained about “Too may notes”. Well, that’s a common issue! There is such a thing as too much of a good thing.  As Thomas Leonard said, “Clarity affords focus. “ Make sure people leave the meeting remembering the two or three most important points that are your strengths and differentiation.

4.     Nobody Likes History Lessons

H. L. Mencken famously said, “A historian is an unsuccessful novelist.” Most people don’t like history lessons in presentations. If I do not know what you are talking about or need context, I will ask. During a presentation, I want to understand the ability of the presenter to communicate an opportunity, articulate an idea, and demonstrate powers of persuasion.

5.     Focus on the Team – Do Not Rely Too Much on the Idea

People invest in people, not ideas. One of the key elements in a presentation is your ability to demonstrate your team’s credibility, relevant experience, commitment, integrity, ability to execute, and passion. There are many reasons why:

• The idea and company you start with will morph with time.

• There will always be mistakes and challenges along the way.

• Markets shift quickly and unexpectedly.

• If the idea and the market are indeed good, there will always be competitors with more money, resources, and access.

A smart, experienced team is one that thinks in an objective and thorough manner, and has the ability to figure things out along the way, without falling in love with the idea itself. Flexibility, agility, decisiveness, and maturity are the qualities investors are attracted to in a presenting team.

6.     Be Factual, Concise, & Clear

Every smart investor conducts extensive background checks and due diligence. Don’t overstate. Make sure your information is accurate. Remember, facts are not elastic. Do Not Stretch Them. Also, remember your assumptions are worth very little, without data to back them up. So be very clear, conscience and careful about explaining your assumptions and backing them up. As Marquis De Vauvenargues said, “Clarity is the counterbalance of profound thoughts.”

7.     Avoid These Amateurish Mistakes

These are the comments we do NOT want to hear in a presentation. No explanation necessary!!!

• These are very conservative numbers

• There are no competitors

• The market is a trillion dollars, and we are going to capture 1% of it

• I do not like partners

• My idea is worth billions

• The company will sell for $500 million in three years

8.     Be clear about the opportunity and business model

We all have short attention spans. We are not going to waste time trying to figure out the details of your opportunity. If I have to ask you about your monetization mechanism, tem, or business model, you have lost me. So remember what Gotthold Ephraim Lessing said, “For me the greatest beauty always lies in the greatest clarity.”

9.     Do NOT have ANY mistakes in your presentation

I recently received an e-mail from a young entrepreneur, who spelled my company name wrong among other things. He was also 15 minutes late to the meeting. Not a strong first impression. Attention to detail is expected.

10. Leave Them Wanting More

You do not have to completely open the kimono during the first meeting. Take it one step at a time. If you are doing well, make sure you leave something for the next meeting.

Giving effective presentations is not easy, requires practice, and takes a lot of preparation. But it is an important business tool. After all, we are always presenting in one way or another. As George Oppen said, “Clarity, clarity, surely clarity is the most beautiful thing in the world, A limited, limiting clarity I have not and never did have any motive of poetry But to achieve clarity.”