Venture capital · Pitch Decks

How to respond to "send me your deck"?


December 8th, 2016

What do you do when a VC tells you to send them your deck? Is it customary to e-mail in your deck as a first step before a formal pitch? What if you refuse and insist on presenting it to them?

Steve Simitzis Founder and CEO at Treat

December 8th, 2016

Emailing a deck before a meeting is customary. I always send a Docsend link (rather than a PDF attachment) to track if it's been opened or forwarded around. 

Some people have two decks - an overview deck to share before the meeting, and a more complete deck to present live. But if you have exciting traction data, you'll want to share that before you meet.

The only good reason to withhold a deck is that you're genuinely too busy to put one together, because your startup exploded overnight and there's no sign of it letting up. Otherwise this comes off as too "cute" and manipulative.

Mark Schopmeyer Investment Professional at Carrick Capital Partners

December 8th, 2016

Email the deck.  The reason the VC is asking for it is so they can get smart on your company so when you meet, it's not a "page-flip", which is an inefficient use of time.  You can expect to receive more pointed questions with references to your deck during your meeting.

Rob Adams Advisory Board Member at PhotoPad For Business

December 8th, 2016

If you want the VC to participate in your funding, then you must send it to them.   Here are a couple of things to consider : 
  1. This is a customary practice. VC's get hundreds of requests for funding and they have to have some method of screening so they spend their time for in person meetings for companies that fit their investment thesis, don't overlap with current portfolio and have some chance that they'll write a check.  If you don't fit their thesis, they also don't want to waste your time either. 
  2. They have what you want. If you want to play, you follow their rules.  Most VCs these days are not hurting for deal flow, especially top tier ones. 
  3. From a VCs point of view, if you're unwilling to share information with them, then there is a good chance that you'll be an uncommunicative entrepreneur once they do fund you, therefore you're a less desirable investment. 
  4. Also if you're reluctant to send the deck then there is a problem.  It could be one of the following, you're too secretive, your idea is indefensible, you weren't smart enough to create your IP properly but you're smart enough to know it, you weren't skilled enough to build a deck that does not require your presence.  In each case, you aren't a good investment.  

If you want the investment, send in the deck.  If you don't trust them enough to send them the deck, then they wouldn't be a good investor for you anyway. 

Jeff Clavier Managing Partner at SoftTech VC

December 8th, 2016

All good points. Some VCs will ask for the deck before taking a meeting, others won't. 

I personally always do, unless I know the entrepreneur or he/she has been recommended highly by someone we trust. We want to be respectful of entrepreneur's time and only invite them if we think that we'd genuinely be open to investing (i.e there is no issue with category, stage, geography, etc.).

If the entrepreneur refuses to send a deck, I'll explain why I need it as a first step. And if I don't get it, I'll probably respectfully pass on the opportunity.

Dane Madsen Organizational and Operational Strategy Consultant

December 8th, 2016

You send the deck. They will not consent to a meeting without knowing what the highlights are, but neither should you. You should have a "get a first meeting" deck to tell them what you do and how you will do it for this purpose. You should have a deeper deck for the meeting if you get their interest. Dane Madsen 206.900.5852 Mobile Sent from my mobile device. Forgive typographical and grammatical errors.

Farley Duvall CEO & Co-Founder - White Bull

December 8th, 2016

Just FYI, most of the worst presentations that I have seen are people reading their .ppt presentations and not "telling their story" around their slides.

Your slides should show your most relevant points so the viewer doesn't need to take notes and he/she SEES the most important ideas. But you still need to tell your story.

So, yes, send the .ppt so the VC can understand what you do and decide if it fits into his investment profile. Believe me, if you insist on a face2face before sending anything, you will not go further. And without any relationship with the VC or a warm intro, your deck probably won't even get a glance by anyone but an intern/analyst.

Marc-André Launière Conseiller en gestion / Travailleur autonome

December 9th, 2016

You send the deck...a simple version

Andre Sr. Managing Partner | Business Funding | Speaker | Mentor

December 8th, 2016

Investors review your deck to determine if they want to talk and learn more about your opportunity. So if you refuse, cross that investor off your list. It is actually a good thing! If they ask for your deck you have piqued their interest to learn more. 

Tom DiClemente Management Consulting | Interim CEO/COO | Coach

December 9th, 2016

I myself would not make an appointment to meet without first seeing your deck, even if you come with very strong recommendations. There are too many potential investments out there. I, and others I know, want to see what you're about and whether you're a fit before inviting you in for a talk. When you do come in, I don't necessarily want you to give me a presentation of your slide deck - I want you to talk and I want to ask questions.

So, as long as you have heard of the VC and know they do deals, and if you are anywhere near their targeted space - simply send the deck as soon as they ask!

Thanks, Tom

Michael Burack

December 8th, 2016

Send it and follow up