In 2022, investors spent 24% less time then in 2021 on startup pitch decks they faced. The average time they invested in successful pitch decks was 2.46 minutes in 2022 and 3.30 minutes in 2021.

According to many venture capitalists and Angel investors who attended LEAP 2023, this trend will continue in 2023 with mass layoffs and a turbulent global economy.

Yes. There is no longer ‘cheap money’ for startups.

On the technical side, in the past, pitch decks consisted mainly of text and images. Admittedly, text and complex graphics on pitch deck slides have lost their charming days – the rich eye candy effect.

So, what’s the game changer in 2023? Video.

Technically, the power of video is becoming increasingly important in today’s investment climate.

Related: Connecting With Your Audience Through Video

Grab investors’ attention this year: the importance of video in pitch decks

We all know that video is a dynamic and engaging medium that can help bring a pitch deck to life, making it more attractive and memorable for investors. Let’s take a look at how video can improve a pitch deck and why it’s becoming increasingly important in today’s investment climate.

Video can effectively convey a startup’s message and value proposition as it allows for multiple forms of communication such as verbal, visual and audio. This can help make the message more engaging and memorable for the viewer.

Video presentations in pitch decks can increase investment opportunities by 50% and increase engagement and understanding 80% compared to text only.

In addition, video in pitch decks can be used to show a product or service in action, provide a behind-the-scenes look at the company, or introduce the team, which can help build trust and credibility with investors.

Examples of successful startups that have used video in their pitch decks include Dropbox, which used a simple animation to explain how their service worked, and Airbnb, which used a video with real customer testimonials to show the value of their platform .

Understandably, using video alone is no guarantee of success. It should be integrated with other elements of the pitch deck, such as clear and concise messaging, a strong value proposition, and an understanding of the target audience.

Related: Five Greatest Pitch Decks of All Time

And here are some success stories!

dropbox: In its early days, Dropbox used an animated video to explain how the service worked. The video quickly helped convey the value of their product and how it solved a common problem.

airbnb: Airbnb started using videos of real customer testimonials to show the value of its platform. This helped build trust and credibility with investors and demonstrate the real impact of their service.

Square: Square used one video to introduce his team and present his product. This helped build a personal relationship with investors and demonstrate the ease of use of their payment processing solution.

Zendesk: Using video to explain their product, Zendesk Chat, helped companies connect with customers in real time. This helped convey the value of their product and how it solved a common problem.

It is worth noting that these are just examples, and many more successful startups have used video in their pitch deck to effectively convey their message and value proposition.

Tips for creating an engaging video pitch deck

A successful video pitch deck is like a movie trailer, with each element carefully crafted to captivate the viewer and effectively convey the main message.

1. The story — Storytelling is a crucial part of a video pitch deck. It is important to have a clear and compelling story that communicates the problem your startup is solving, the solution you are offering and its impact on the market. This should be presented in a way that is easy to understand, recognizable and memorable.

2. The design & visuals — Footage is an important video pitch deck element. They should grab the viewer’s attention, convey information and help them understand your message. Using a mix of animation, live action footage, and infographics can make the video more engaging and memorable.

3. The voice — Sound is another important element of a successful video pitch deck. A well-crafted soundtrack can set the tone, set the mood, and help keep the viewer engaged. A professional voiceover can also help convey critical information and give the video a polished feel.

4. The alignment — Finally, it’s essential to remember that a video pitch deck should be tailored to your target audience and align with your overall marketing strategy. It’s also important to make sure the video is high quality, visually appealing, and easy to understand.

Back to you

Many loyal startup investors are pretty vocal about using videos in startup pitch decks.

Once I had a one-on-one conversation with one of my business associates (the investor himself); she told me I would like to see more videos in fundraising pitches. She claimed that if 85% of her pitch decks contained video, she would probably answer 85% of those emails.

This is the game changer we’ve been talking about in this blog, and as a founder you need to collect as much information as possible to differentiate your deck presentation from the sea of ​​pitch decks investors are faced with.