The RAW Courting App goals to shake up the courting scheme by shedding the pretend, TikTok-ified, closely filtered images and changing them with a extra real, unvarnished expertise. The app targets younger professionals and college students, significantly girls aged 21 to 27, who search real interactions.
The corporate’s crew claims it raised a $3 million family and friends spherical. I haven’t been capable of independently confirm that; many of the firm’s media protection seems to be written by the founder herself, in retailers like Forbes and Entrepreneur or as press releases that acquired syndicated throughout the online. Nonetheless, the deck was attention-grabbing sufficient that I wished to take a better look.
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Slides on this deck
Pitch decks are quite a bit like courting: You’ve acquired to strut your stuff to persuade traders that you just’re the proper match, worthy of hundreds of thousands to develop and flourish. They should know that regardless of any bumps within the highway, you’re the dream crew with whom they will navigate by way of something.
The pitch deck ought to promote your crew and your resolution, not simply the product. That is the place RAW’s pitch deck swipes left fairly exhausting. As an alternative of showcasing the sensible crew poised to dominate a booming market and create a great deal of joyful matches, the pitch deck looks like it’s making an attempt to get traders to obtain the app, not make investments cash within the firm.
Due to this misguided focus, the deck is a scorching mess. The answer exhibits up earlier than the issue, and the issue isn’t even clearly said till slide 11 (there are solely 18 slides complete). The corporate tells me it submitted the deck precisely as pitched. Right here’s what is roofed:
- Cowl slide
- Product
- Worth proposition
- Function
- Function 2
- Function 3
- Goal market
- Worth proposition 2
- Worth proposition 3
- Answer
- Drawback
- Drawback 2
- Drawback 3
- Competitors
- Ask and use of funds
- Slide 16
- Workforce
- Closing slide
Three issues to like about RAW’s pitch deck
I’ve already griped concerning the deck’s weird order: The issue and resolution slides must be main the cost, not trailing close to the top. However, hey, credit score the place it’s due: Once you lastly do encounter them, there are some vivid spots.
A transparent resolution slide
RAW’s resolution slide is refreshingly clear, providing a concise assertion that hints on the revolutionary options that set the app aside. The teasers embedded inside the slide successfully outline the answer, giving a snapshot of how RAW addresses the important thing ache factors of on-line courting. It’s a pleasant change of tempo, offering simply sufficient data to pique curiosity with out being too overwhelming.
It’s good that this slide doesn’t overlap with the product particulars. After wading by way of numerous slides that learn like a consumer handbook, it’s a reduction to see a targeted resolution assertion. The relentless product pitch is paused right here, permitting the answer to shine by itself deserves.
Nevertheless, I gained’t get too carried away with the reward right here. Whereas the answer is well-articulated, it falls quick. Claiming to resolve “most” courting app issues looks like a cop-out. Traders wish to see confidence and ambition; inform them RAW solves all courting app issues. This isn’t the place to hedge your bets or fear about overselling; it’s about convincing traders that your resolution is complete and unbeatable. Promote them the dream, not only a Band-Help.
Yep, that’s an issue all proper
Whereas it’s completely ludicrous that we needed to wade by way of 10 slides to lastly hit an issue assertion, I’ll begrudgingly admit it’s not a horrible drawback slide. Certain, there’s all the time room to enhance, however I’ll take hard-hitting numbers over wishy-washy “we are making the world a better place” junk any day of the week. The statistics do an honest job of highlighting a evident subject within the courting app world, I’ll give RAW that. Nevertheless, a sprinkle of credibility wouldn’t damage. Citing sources for these stats might have reworked skepticism into belief.
Concentrating on the goal
A target market is meant to be an important a part of the pitch deck, and though this reads just a little awkwardly, it does present that the crew behind RAW has an honest grasp of their goal demographics. Nevertheless, “Women age 21-27” appears just a little arbitrary and needlessly slim — why not simply “people in their 20s”? But it surely’s refreshing to have this degree of readability.
We get a way of who RAW is aiming for and a imprecise thought of their socioeconomic standing. Nevertheless, saying “large U.S. cities” is like throwing a dart at a map. It’s higher to be particular. Identify the cities. Present you’ve achieved your homework and know precisely the place your prime customers dwell.
And people cutesy advertising phrases like “rawmantics”? They may fly in a user-facing marketing campaign, however right here it’s good to persuade hardened traders. Ditch the fluff and exhibit you recognize who you’re concentrating on with concrete, data-backed personas. Traders wish to see you might have a transparent, strategic strategy, not only a intelligent play on phrases.
Three issues that RAW might have improved
I’ll be trustworthy, there’s quite a bit lacking from this deck that actually mustn’t have been missed. From the figures I can see on the included slides, there’s no method I could make an affordable judgment as as to if RAW is venture-scale, except for a intestine intuition that courting apps are scorching property. RAW hasn’t introduced any market measurement information, there’s no go-to-market technique, and there’s a evident gap across the enterprise mannequin and pricing. How precisely does this founding crew envision getting cash?
- Market measurement information is essential. Traders must know the potential for development and the way massive the chance actually is. With out this, it’s unimaginable to gauge whether or not RAW can seize a good portion of the market. Present detailed analysis, statistics and projections to again up your claims to indicate that there’s a considerable market ripe for disruption.
- The go-to-market technique is lacking. How do you propose to draw customers? What’s your advertising plan? Are there partnerships within the pipeline? Traders must see a transparent path to consumer acquisition and development. Lay out your methods, goal channels, and anticipated milestones. That is important for demonstrating that you’ve a sensible and efficient plan to scale.
- There’s no enterprise mannequin or pricing. How do you earn a living? Subscription charges? In-app purchases? Adverts? This can be a elementary query that wants a transparent reply. Define your income streams, pricing technique, and the way you propose to transform customers into paying prospects. This readability is significant for traders to know the monetary viability and long-term potential of RAW.
All that apart, there are some particular slides within the deck that might profit from revision and enchancment. Let’s give them a delicate ribbing and see how we might have turned this deck into one thing that actually dazzles.
That’s not competitors …
All proper, founders, let’s discuss your aggressive slide, or fairly, this unhealthy excuse for one. It’s so unhealthy, the truth is, that if I have been contemplating to take a position on this startup, I’d ship them away and ask them to make an actual competitors slide.
In a hotly contested market like on-line courting, you want a stable aggressive slide to indicate you’ve acquired a deal with on who you’re up in opposition to, and what your aggressive benefit and differentiation is. Right here’s why a aggressive slide is essential: Traders wish to see that you just perceive the battlefield. They should know you’re not simply conscious of the competitors however that you just’ve achieved your homework and might outmaneuver them. Who’s the competitors? Coloured packing containers numbered 1 to three don’t minimize it. Anybody who has a pulse and has been single prior to now decade can title wherever between one and 15 opponents off the highest of their heads.
You want to exhibit rock-solid data of the sphere the place you use. Present traders you grasp the panorama inside out and again to entrance and that nothing taking place on this area escapes your discover. This slide, sadly, doesn’t give me that confidence.
What number of opponents does RAW have? You want specifics. Whereas your opponents won’t provide what RAW does, do they supply any options RAW doesn’t? What’s the value comparability? Who do these totally different courting apps enchantment to? And let’s not overlook: Courting apps depend on individuals. It’s a numbers recreation. For those who solely have a handful of customers, making significant matches goes to be powerful. Traders must see you’re not simply one other face within the crowd; you’re the one who stands out and is aware of precisely why you’re higher. So, let’s see that aggressive evaluation beefed up with actual information, insights, and a transparent image of the place RAW suits on this crowded market.
Howdy, thriller slide!
OK, let’s dive into the enigma that’s slide 16. You’ll discover I’ve simply referred to this one as “slide 16.” Is it a traction slide? Possibly. Maybe it’s a projected development slide? I don’t know. Might it’s a mixture of each, forming a now-and-next slide? Is it exhibiting traction from the previous or projections into the longer term? It’s all doable, however I simply don’t know.
First off, the slide itself doesn’t have a title. Whereas not all decks title their slides, they’re helpful. A title would give a touch about what we’re right here. As an alternative, we get a thriller field of data with no context. It’s like making an attempt to learn a map with no legend. Assist me out right here.
There aren’t any labels on the graph’s axes aside from months. Which years are these months from? Is it exhibiting July 2023 to Could 2024? Or perhaps even July 2024 to Could 2025? The corporate launched in 2023 (it says so on slide 2), so I’m guessing the previous, however I can’t make sure. Are these month-to-month lively consumer numbers exhibiting precise development? By which case, they need to be charted correctly on the graph. Or are they development projections? And even when they’re projections, they need to be laid out with conviction. Give me clear, labeled axes and a timeline that is sensible.
If these are precise consumer numbers, they’re presumably bringing some income with them. And seeing as income is one of the best type of traction, present me the cash! How a lot income are we speaking about right here? Traders must see the monetary influence, not simply ambiguous traces on a graph. Truthfully, so far as graphs go, this one is verging on ineffective. Make clear your information, label your axes, and ensure this slide conveys a transparent, impactful message.
We acquired 99 issues, and the pitch is one
Three drawback slides on this deck is totally overkill — particularly as a result of the crew is utilizing three slides to hammer house the identical level in barely other ways. Only one concise slide will do: “Dating apps make it harder, not easier, to find true love.” Then run down the statistics that RAW has placed on the primary drawback slide (and double-check that $638.8 million determine — it seems like somebody acquired a bit too artistic with their decimal factors). And the second drawback slide is simply muddle.
Are these statements on the second drawback slide actual findings from RAW’s analysis? Or are they made up? In the event that they’re fabricated, why hassle together with them? The primary slide’s chilly, exhausting statistics cowl the identical floor. Traders love statistics, particularly in the event that they’re based mostly on stable analysis. There’s no must go over previous floor. Hold it contemporary; maintain it energetic. Don’t waste worthwhile deck actual property.
Now, about these issues. Sure, ghosting is an issue, however you possibly can’t make individuals cease ghosting. Human conduct isn’t one thing you possibly can management with an app characteristic. And sure, scamming is an issue, however scams prey on susceptible individuals in search of love. Actual images are simply a part of the answer. Have you ever seen the “Tinder Swindler”? It’s a jungle on the market.
Lastly, I’m taking subject with maybe a barely obscure a part of the deck: The crew says “real photos” and “no Photoshop,” however the majority of the images on this deck appear like they’ve been plucked from a high-end studio, with a little bit of Photoshop magic. In truth, lots of them are inventory images. After you’ve clicked by way of the deck, you’ll acknowledge Man with Pink Tank High, Considerate Man with Guitar, Selfie of Couple in New York Park, and possibly a couple of others, too.
I’m not saying you possibly can’t use inventory images in pitch decks, however on this case, the place the corporate is touting real interactions that begin with real images, it’s just a little off-putting.
Total, I’m caught: I can’t get to the idea that this product is an actual resolution to the issues the corporate outlines, and I discover myself with a want: Present me how RAW tangibly addresses these points with extra than simply hopes, desires and good intentions — ideally with a stable enterprise mannequin beneath all of that.
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