Demo Day with concise slides, bold delivery, and the three-act strategy. Learn to ask, showcase social proof, and captivate investors. Your startup journey begins here!
Greetings, courageous first-time founder! If you’re gearing up for your inaugural Demo Day in the thrilling realm of startups, get ready for an exciting journey. This guide is here with indispensable tips to ensure your readiness for the adventure that awaits on Demo Day.
Demo Day may sound like a term exclusive to the startup or venture capital world. It might even conjure images of a live infomercial for the unfamiliar. Let’s clear the air for anyone still in the dark about what Demo Day entails. At a demo day, entrepreneurs showcase their business concepts, products, and advancements to an assembled audience. They consist of potential investors, mentors, and the broader entrepreneurial community. This event serves as a platform for startups to exhibit their innovations and accomplishments. The primary goals are to secure investment, form partnerships, and garner support.
Importance of Demo Days for Various Stakeholders:
Exposure: Demo days provide startups with an opportunity to showcase their products and services to a diverse audience, attracting potential investors and customers.
Networking Opportunities: Founders can establish connections with experienced mentors, potential partners, and investors, gaining access to valuable advice and resources.
Feedback Loop: Presenting to a live audience allows founders to receive real-time feedback, aiding in the refinement of products and business strategies.
Funding Prospects: Demo days serve as a platform to secure funding from investors actively seeking opportunities in promising startups.
For Investors:
Deal Exploration: Investors gain exposure to a variety of startup ideas and innovations in one consolidated event, facilitating the identification of potential investment opportunities.
Due Diligence: Demo days offer the chance for investors to meet founders in person, ask pertinent questions, and assess the viability of startups under consideration.
Early Investment Potential: Investors may discover startups with groundbreaking ideas, presenting the opportunity for early investment and the potential for significant returns.
For The Community:Showcasing Innovation: Demo days allow the community to witness the latest innovations and technological advancements introduced by startups.
Community Support: Attendees can provide moral support and encouragement to founders, nurturing a culture of entrepreneurship within the community.
Economic Impact: Successful startups emerging from demo days can contribute to economic growth by creating job opportunities and driving innovation in the local economy.
How to slay your Demo day Presentation ?
Use fewer words in your slides
Create slides with minimal text. This ensures that the audience remains focused on your spoken words rather than what’s written. The purpose of the slides is to complement your spoken content and maintain a clear focus on the current topic.
Avoid using bullet points throughout the presentation.
Each slide should contain at most one sentence, with an accent color highlighting key words for audience emphasis.
Steer clear of transitions or overly flashy designs, as simplicity is key when addressing a large audience.
Remember, the slides are a guide, not the centerpiece of your presentation.
Screen Placement
Ensure there’s a screen in front of you when you’re on stage. Avoid the mistake of looking back at the screen, as it gives the impression of being unprepared, especially during demonstrations.
It may suggest a lack of coordination with your co-presenter, typically your co-founder, who controls the slides. While you shouldn’t constantly look down at the screen, having it in front of you serves as a backup in case of unexpected issues. A quick glance can help you stay on the right slide or recover smoothly if something goes wrong. This allows you to maintain control without appearing confused. It’s a subtle yet valuable tool, so make sure it’s part of your setup.
Be Bold
Embrace boldness— in a setting where you’re among 10+ other companies, boldness is essential. Investors and press lose interest quickly in lengthy pitches. By being bold, you inject a refreshing energy into the crowd, capturing their attention. Standing out could even lead to post-event interviews with the press. Remember, “Be so good they can’t ignore you.”
Craft your speech in tweetable soundbites.
Audiences at demo days love to tweet, and having concise, impactful statements ensures that your message reaches a broader audience. Plan in advance for these soundbites.
For instance – “Numbers speak louder than words: 200% growth in just six months. This is just the beginning.”
The three act strategy
The “Three Acts” approach is the optimal strategy for a demo day presentation, akin to a theatrical performance. In entrepreneurship and presentation delivery, treating it as a spectacle that captivates the audience is more effective than a traditional slide deck pitch.
Act I – The Setup: Begin by establishing the enemy throughout the presentation—introduce the elevator pitch and the overarching vision for the business. Keep this segment concise, aiming for under 90 seconds. The objective is to provide context, engage the audience, and seamlessly transition to a compelling demo.
Act II – The Demo: The heart of your presentation lies here. Instead of treating demo day solely as an investor-focused event, delve into a detailed showcase of what your product has accomplished.
Avoid static screenshots, opting for pre-recorded videos if necessary due to potential connectivity issues. Present a logical progression of your product’s capabilities, as a stellar demo has the power to motivate investors to commit.
Act III – The Execution:Conclude by discussing your achievements and future plans. Highlight press coverage, current investors, business development deals, and the exceptional team you’ve attracted. This demonstrates your team’s ability to execute.
Additionally, address key questions such as launch dates, funding plans, and the overarching philosophy driving your company’s mission.
Articulate why your company exists and how it aims to make a substantial impact on the world.
Include a clear “ask” in your demo day presentation
Whether it’s a specific fundraising goal or an announcement of your explorations in fundraising, make sure your intentions are transparent. Many entrepreneurs struggle because they fail to ask for what they need. If you already have commitments, openly share the details of investors and amounts, showcasing your current fundraising status.
Highlight social proof to bolster your presentation.
Strike a balance between confidence and humility. Display the individuals and achievements supporting your venture. Tangible traction, endorsements from industry peers, and a track record of successful execution are powerful elements that excite investors. Use social proof to substantiate your claims and build credibility during your presentation.
For startups seeking visibility, investors looking for promising ventures, and event organizers aiming for a dynamic and interactive experience, exploring Startup Demo Day is not just an option—it’s a necessity. It emerges as a revolutionary force in the world of pitch events. The efficient event setup, unlimited survey responses, easy feedback sharing, and real-time feedback and results collectively redefine the Demo Day experience through the platform.
