Most founders obsess over their pitch deck design. But guess what? Investors don’t fund aesthetics — they fund clarity. Especially when it comes to your numbers.
In this edition, I’m breaking down real financial elements that helped startups secure angel and early-stage VC funding. Here’s what worked — and what you shouldn’t miss.
📊 The 5 Slides That Mattered Most (Financially)
1. Business Model (with unit economics)
“Show me how ₹1 turns into ₹3.”
- Pricing strategy
- Customer acquisition cost (CAC)
- Gross margin per unit
- Payback period
🧠 Tip: Highlight how scalable and profitable each sale is — not just revenue.
2. 12-Month Financial Forecast
“Can you manage cash flow and growth?”
- Revenue vs. burn
- Expense breakdown (monthly)
- Runway based on current cash
- Assumptions behind the projections
🧠 Tip: Use bottom-up forecasting — build from real numbers, not wild guesses.
3. Historical Performance (if any)
“What traction do you have?”
- MRR / ARR trends
- Retention/churn rate
- Milestones (revenue, users, locations)
🧠 Tip: Keep it sharp and data-backed — include charts only if they’re meaningful.
4. Use of Funds
“Where exactly will the money go?”
Break it into categories:
- Team hiring
- Product development
- Marketing & growth
- Compliance / ops
🧠 Tip: Don’t over-allocate to salaries or fluff — show what drives ROI.
5. Key Metrics Dashboard
“How are you measuring performance?”
Include metrics like:
- CAC : LTV ratio
- Gross margin
- Burn multiple
- Contribution margin
- Customer growth rate
🧠 Tip: Show you understand these numbers and how you’ll improve them.
💡 Final Advice from the (Virtual) CFO’s Desk
Numbers alone don’t raise money — but bad or vague numbers kill interest fast.
As a Chartered Accountant & Virtual CFO, I help founders build decks that are not just pitch-ready — they’re investor-respect-ready.
If you’re fundraising (or plan to), start with honest numbers, clear logic, and smart tracking.
📩 Want me to review your current numbers or help build a model, feel free to reach out at 📧 office@cfoemeritus.com
PS: Next week, I’ll share a free financial due diligence checklist — so you know what investors actually look for beyond the pitch.
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