You know those pieces of advice that get shared SO often and exactly the same way? The ones that you haven’t followed and now are just annoying? 

I see this all the time with fundraising advice so I’m pumped to kick off a two-part series of thought-provoking strategies that could level up your game. These tips are far enough from your usual stuff where you might just finally take action. They might just give you that extra edge you’ve been looking for. 

Today we’ll cover 3 strategies focused on pitch decks, risk, and dealing with rejection. 

Let’s jump in…

Template-Free Zone 

Some big names really push the idea of a perfect pitch deck template—like a set number of slides, a certain order, and exact sections you’re supposed to include. Take Sequoia’s Pitch Deck Template, for example—it lays out a strict format with specific content and order.

Here’s where I part ways with the standard approach: I don’t believe in templates. I think every story is unique, and your deck should follow the path that best tells your story in the most compelling way. Templates can totally kill your creativity and end up making your pitch pretty vanilla and forgettable. Instead, focus on hitting key themes. As long as you keep the flow going and make people eager to see what’s next, you’re golden.

There are four themes you must cover in your pitch. You can present them however you like—whether on one slide, spread out, or combined. The key is to keep it engaging and make sure your story keeps people hooked.

1- The Problem and Opportunity – Make sure it's crystal clear what problem you're solving and why it's deeply painful.

2- Your Solution – Explain what your solution is and what makes it unique and insightful.

3- Potential Impact – Show how huge the opportunity is. Venture capitalists are looking for massive potential, so this must be felt within the deck.

4- The Team – Show why your team will make it happen. Investors need to see that you’ve got the right crew to pull this off.

Remember, you don’t need to go overboard with every little detail in your deck. If you try to include every single point, you might end up confusing people and losing sight of your main message. The goal is to keep them interested and make them want to know more.

Go Bold or Go Home: Embrace The Risk Of Your Idea

I know this can be a tough pill to swallow for founders because it feels pretty uncomfortable to go all-in and be super bold. When you push hard and go big, you’re almost inviting people to disagree with you and not like your idea. But here’s the thing: it’s way better to be specific and bold rather than watering down your message just to avoid turning people off.

I’ve seen this play out in the real world. There’s a startup I worked with that went all in on a risky, unconventional idea focused around porn.  Yes, porn. There are many reasons this could scare off investors, but when they raised they didn’t tone it down to make it more palatable to squeamish investors. Those weren’t the right investors for them anyway. Sure, not everyone loved it, but those who did were fired up and ready to back it. That’s what you want—people who are excited and believe in your vision no matter how scary or weird it is to others.

So, VCs are looking for huge opportunities with potential for big returns. Safe, middle-of-the-road ideas might seem solid, but they often don’t have the scale or impact that VCs are after. So, embrace the risk, go big, and don’t sweat it if some folks aren’t on board. It’s the bold ideas that get noticed.

Seek Rejection

This one’s a bit of a mind-bender: you should actually be seeking out rejection.

I know, it sounds counterintuitive, but when you’re in fundraising mode, the goal isn’t to avoid rejection like the plague. Instead, you should aim to get clear “no’s” quickly so you can move on and focus your energy where it really counts. No one wants to waste time chasing after a maybe that’s never going to turn into a yes.

Don’t let the fear of rejection be your guide. Instead, use it as a tool. If a VC is on the fence, push them to make a decision. If they’re hesitant and you push them to say no, it’s actually a win. Why? Because if they were never going to invest, you’ve just saved yourself a lot of time. Clean rejection can also give you real insight into elements of your pitch that aren’t working.  Lukewarm non-passes give you nothing and waste your time. 

Next week: Part 2… 

Next week I have some unconventional thoughts on pitches, tiered fundraising strategies, and nailing your preparation…

See ya.

Be chased,
Jason

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