The RAW Relationship App goals to shake up the courting scheme by shedding the faux, TikTok-ified, closely filtered pictures and changing them with a extra real, unvarnished expertise. The app targets younger professionals and college students, notably ladies aged 21 to 27, who search real interactions.
The corporate’s staff claims it raised a $3 million family and friends spherical. I haven’t been capable of independently confirm that; a lot of the firm’s media protection seems to be written by the founder herself, in shops like Forbes and Entrepreneur or as press releases that obtained syndicated throughout the online. Nonetheless, the deck was attention-grabbing sufficient that I wished to take a more in-depth look.
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Slides on this deck
Pitch decks are lots like courting: You’ve obtained to strut your stuff to persuade traders that you just’re the proper match, worthy of tens of millions to develop and flourish. They should know that regardless of any bumps within the highway, you’re the dream staff with whom they’ll navigate via something.
The pitch deck ought to promote your staff and your answer, not simply the product. That is the place RAW’s pitch deck swipes left fairly arduous. As a substitute of showcasing the good staff poised to dominate a booming market and create a great deal of completely happy 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 sizzling mess. The answer reveals up earlier than the issue, and the issue isn’t even clearly said till slide 11 (there are solely 18 slides whole). The corporate tells me it submitted the deck precisely as pitched. Right here’s what is roofed:
- Cowl slide
- Product
- Worth proposition
- Characteristic
- Characteristic 2
- Characteristic 3
- Goal market
- Worth proposition 2
- Worth proposition 3
- Answer
- Downside
- Downside 2
- Downside 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 answer slides must be main the cost, not trailing close to the top. However, hey, credit score the place it’s due: Whenever you lastly do come across them, there are some shiny spots.
A transparent answer slide
RAW’s answer 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 via numerous slides that learn like a person guide, it’s a reduction to see a targeted answer assertion. The relentless product pitch is paused right here, permitting the answer to shine by itself deserves.
Nevertheless, I received’t get too carried away with the reward right here. Whereas the answer is well-articulated, it falls quick. Claiming to unravel “most” courting app issues seems 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 answer 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 via 10 slides to lastly hit an issue assertion, I’ll begrudgingly admit it’s not a horrible drawback slide. Certain, there’s at all times 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 obvious situation within the courting app world, I’ll give RAW that. Nevertheless, a sprinkle of credibility wouldn’t harm. Citing sources for these stats might have reworked skepticism into belief.
Focusing on the goal
A target market is meant to be a vital a part of the pitch deck, and though this reads somewhat awkwardly, it does present that the staff behind RAW has an honest grasp of their goal demographics. Nevertheless, “Women age 21-27” appears somewhat 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 obscure concept of their socioeconomic standing. Nevertheless, saying “large U.S. cities” is like throwing a dart at a map. It’s higher to be particular. Title the cities. Present you’ve completed your homework and know precisely the place your prime customers stay.
And people cutesy advertising phrases like “rawmantics”? They could fly in a user-facing marketing campaign, however right here you have to persuade hardened traders. Ditch the fluff and show who you’re concentrating on with concrete, data-backed personas. Traders wish to see you’ve got a transparent, strategic strategy, not only a intelligent play on phrases.
Three issues that RAW might have improved
I’ll be trustworthy, there’s lots lacking from this deck that actually mustn’t have been ignored. From the figures I can see on the included slides, there’s no method I could make an inexpensive judgment as as to whether RAW is venture-scale, apart from a intestine intuition that courting apps are sizzling property. RAW hasn’t offered any market dimension information, there’s no go-to-market technique, and there’s a obvious gap across the enterprise mannequin and pricing. How precisely does this founding staff envision creating wealth?
- Market dimension information is essential. Traders must know the potential for progress and the way large the chance actually is. With out this, it’s unattainable 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 point out that there’s a considerable market ripe for disruption.
- The go-to-market technique is lacking. How do you intend to draw customers? What’s your advertising plan? Are there partnerships within the pipeline? Traders must see a transparent path to person acquisition and progress. Lay out your methods, goal channels, and anticipated milestones. That is important for demonstrating that you’ve got a practical and efficient plan to scale.
- There’s no enterprise mannequin or pricing. How do you generate profits? Subscription charges? In-app purchases? Adverts? It is a elementary query that wants a transparent reply. Define your income streams, pricing technique, and the way you intend to transform customers into paying prospects. This readability is important for traders to grasp 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 mild 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 speak about your aggressive slide, or relatively, this dangerous excuse for one. It’s so dangerous, in reality, 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 strong aggressive slide to point out you’ve obtained a deal with on who you’re up towards, 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 completed your homework and may outmaneuver them. Who’s the competitors? Coloured bins numbered 1 to three don’t lower it. Anybody who has a pulse and has been single prior to now decade can identify wherever between one and 15 rivals off the highest of their heads.
It is advisable to show rock-solid information of the sphere the place you use. Present traders you grasp the panorama inside out and again to entrance and that nothing occurring on this area escapes your discover. This slide, sadly, doesn’t give me that confidence.
What number of rivals does RAW have? You want specifics. Whereas your rivals won’t supply what RAW does, do they supply any options RAW doesn’t? What’s the worth comparability? Who do these completely different courting apps enchantment to? And let’s not overlook: Relationship 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 matches on this crowded market.
Hi there, 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? Perhaps. Maybe it’s a projected progress slide? I don’t know. Might or not it’s a mix of each, forming a now-and-next slide? Is it exhibiting traction from the previous or projections into the long run? 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 taking a look at right here. As a substitute, we get a thriller field of knowledge with no context. It’s like making an attempt to learn a map with no legend. Assist me out right here.
There are not any labels on the graph’s axes apart from months. Which years are these months from? Is it exhibiting July 2023 to Could 2024? Or possibly 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 be sure. Are these month-to-month lively person numbers exhibiting precise progress? During which case, they need to be charted correctly on the graph. Or are they progress 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 smart.
If these are precise person numbers, they’re presumably bringing some income with them. And seeing as income is the perfect 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. Actually, 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 obtained 99 issues, and the pitch is one
Three drawback slides on this deck is totally overkill — particularly as a result of the staff is utilizing three slides to hammer residence 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 to be like somebody obtained a bit too inventive 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, arduous statistics cowl the identical floor. Traders love statistics, particularly in the event that they’re based mostly on strong analysis. There’s no must go over outdated floor. Hold it contemporary; preserve it energetic. Don’t waste helpful deck actual property.
Now, about these issues. Sure, ghosting is an issue, however you’ll be able to’t make individuals cease ghosting. Human habits isn’t one thing you’ll be able to management with an app function. And sure, scamming is an issue, however scams prey on susceptible individuals in search of love. Actual pictures 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 situation with maybe a barely obscure a part of the deck: The staff says “real photos” and “no Photoshop,” however the majority of the pictures on this deck seem like they’ve been plucked from a high-end studio, with a little bit of Photoshop magic. The truth is, lots of them are inventory pictures. After you’ve clicked via the deck, you’ll acknowledge Man with Pink Tank Prime, Considerate Man with Guitar, Selfie of Couple in New York Park, and doubtless a number of others, too.
I’m not saying you’ll be able to’t use inventory pictures in pitch decks, however on this case, the place the corporate is touting real interactions that begin with real pictures, it’s somewhat off-putting.
Total, I’m caught: I can’t get to the idea that this product is an actual answer 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, goals and good intentions — ideally with a strong enterprise mannequin beneath all of that.
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