Vladimir Mulhem’s Post

Founders pitch to raise capital. VCs pitch to deploy and manage it. Here’s how venture fund decks differ from startup pitch decks, slide by slide 👇 ⬛ 1. Opening Focus → Startups: “Here’s the problem we’re solving and why it matters.” → VCs: “Here’s our vision and what sets our fund apart.” ⬛ 2. Traction / Proof → Startups: Highlight revenue, user growth or MRR. → VCs: Highlight track record, returns and exits. ⬛ 3. Financials → Startups: 3 to 5 year forecasts are standard. → VCs: LPs are more focused on investment thesis and strategy than projections. ⬛ 4. Team → Startups: Usually 1 to 2 slides. → VCs: The team often takes centre stage and can fill a third of the deck. ⬛ 5. Competition → Startups: Use a comparison grid to show differentiation. → VCs: Keep it concise, focusing on why their fund wins deals. ⬛ 6. Risk → Startups: Show how the business model is de-risked. → VCs: Address risk indirectly through portfolio strategy and diversification. ⬛ 7. Storytelling vs Data → Startups: 30% story, 70% numbers. → VCs: 70% story, 30% data (this balance often shifts once they have multiple funds). ⬛ 8. What’s Emphasised → Startups: Market size, traction and growth. → VCs: Brand, deal flow and community. ⬛ 9. Social Proof → Startups: Customer wins and revenue milestones. → VCs: LP commitments, co-investors and portfolio founders. ⬛ 10. Deck Length → Startups: 10 to 15 slides. → VCs: 20 to 40 slides, often with detailed appendices. Naturally, every firm and fund stage has its nuances. But if you’ve ever compared the two, it’s clear that VCs are selling confidence just as much as founders are selling vision. Credit: Ivelina Dineva - The original awesome author! 🙌