The document provides guidance on creating an effective investor pitch deck, highlighting that it should tell a concise story that addresses key elements such as the problem/opportunity, product/solution, business model, and traction. It emphasizes weaving these elements into a simple, structured story that triggers emotions like empathy, fear of missing out, or desire to be part of the opportunity. The story should be told to the right investors and leave them wanting to know more about the unique founder's insights and vision.

1. Key elements of a killer
investor pitch deck
Shekar Nair
Partner, Upekkha

2. “If you are going on a voyage,
don’t program manage
people on building the ship.
Tell them about how fun the
journey will be“
Adapted from St Exupery,
Author of Little Prince

3. “Investors invest in stories
of business, not the
business itself.”
Babak Nivi, Founder,
AngelList

4. Pitch deck is not a brain squeeze

5. Simple Message that passes
Grandma test & the Chinese Whisper test

6. Few key ingredients weaved into a story

7. Few Key Ingredients

8. Problem/Opportunity

9. Price
Is an important
concern for
customers booking
travel online
Hotels
Leave you
disconnected from
the city and its
culture
No easy way exists
To book a room with
a local or become a
host
Example - Problem

10. Example - OPPORTUNITY
84M
560M
2 Billion+
TRIPS BOOKED (Worldwide)
Total Available Market
Source: Travel Industry Association of America &
World Tourism Organization
BUDGET & ONLINE
Serviceable Available
Market
Source: comScore
TRIPS W/AB & B
Share of Market
15% of available market

11. Team/Motivation

12. Example - TEAM

13. Example - MOTIVATION
● One of the founder couldn’t catch
the bus on Diwali, so what?? A lot of
us missed our buses… big deal….
● They thought, if IRCTC can simplify
railway bookings, WHY CAN’T local bus
ticketing be streamlined??

14. Product/Solution

15. Example - PRODUCT/SOLUTION
Insta Hiring Experience Platform

16. Business Model

17. Example - BUSINESS MODEL

18. Traction

19. Example - TRACTION

20. • Write down opportunity in terms of problem you are solving ?
• Write down the reason why you are excited and have the background to
pursue and win the opportunity ?
• What are the benefits users are getting from using your product ?
• How much money do you make and how ?
• How far are you along ?
Things you should think about

21. Weaving it into a story

22. POV, tailwinds, testimonial & emotion
Insight
Tailwinds
Quotes

23. Trigger one of these emotion
I want to be
part of this
Greed
What a cause ?
Feel Good
I don’t want
to miss out
Fear
I want to
root for this
guy
Empathy

24. SUCCESS Framework
Simple
Structure
Unexpected Credible Concrete Emotion Story
Trailer, Movie
and then
{Behind Scenes}
Unique Founder
Insights, Surprise,
Curiosity
Quotes by
Customers,
Press, Industry
Reports
Simplify,
explain
Metaphors
Dopamine
(Progress,
Excitement),
Oxytocin
(Empathy),
Endorphins
(Runner’s
High,
Laughter)
Take the
reader on a
journey
boring to
Interesting.

25. Remember It is a journey

26. Few key ingredients
weaved into a
sticky story told to
the right person

27. Thank You
Shekar Nair
shekar@upekkha.in

28. Michael Jackson wrote his fortune to Montclair School in his will, not his
university - $30M in total. It was an unthinkable gift for a small high school in
Los Angeles, California, the largest in their history. He mentioned that the
guidance provided by his teacher, Steve Laveroni, years after he graduated
helped him fight depression during some of his darkest years. This gift was
just a way for Michael to give back. How do you make sure you don’t miss your
Michaels ?
Almabase is a software that helps you engage all of your alumni without losing
that personal touch.
Sticky Story