<h2>Cover </h2> <br> <img src="https://imagedelivery.net/9intrh8-kd7PGClXJhlmKw/42fe775e-4170-44f8-2f32-d53c61673100/public" alt="Title: How Wealthsimple raised $2MM in 2 weeks slide screenshot"> <br> <p> This slide sets a simple and bold introduction to the pitch. The title, "How Wealthsimple raised $2MM in 2 weeks," is intriguing and would likely grab the attention of any investor. It suggests that this is a compelling success story worth paying attention to. The font is clean and easy to read, and the slide isn't overcrowded by any means, which makes it immediately visually appealing. However, the slide feels a bit too minimalistic, almost to a fault. While simplicity is often a strength, there's a significant lack of branding here. The slide would benefit from a Wealthsimple logo or perhaps some brand colors or imagery to boost recognition and personality right from the start. Offering some kind of visual, whether it’s a subtle background image or branding element, would add a touch of professionalism and make the slide more interesting. In short, while the minimalist approach is refreshing, it risks coming across as too plain and could use more visual flair to make a stronger first impression.</p> <br> <hr> <h2>About me </h2> <br> <img src="https://imagedelivery.net/9intrh8-kd7PGClXJhlmKw/61eeb0b7-f68f-45dc-c5f1-aab875a14100/public" alt="About me slide screenshot"> <br> <p> This slide titled "About me" provides a nice balance between text and visuals. Featuring a professional photo adds a personal touch, helping to humanize the presentation and establish a connection with the audience. Including the photo alongside the name and Twitter handle of Mike Katchen adds an element of approachability and modernity. Additionally, the brief list of significant past roles gives credibility and insight into his professional background without overwhelming the viewer. However, similar to previous slides, this one could benefit significantly from stronger branding elements. A strategy might involve incorporating the Wealthsimple logo or at least using color schemes that align more clearly with the company’s identity. This way, not only does Mike’s personal brand shine, but so does the company’s, reinforcing a cohesive narrative throughout the deck. While the simplicity maintains clarity, a bit more visual engagement could be advantageous, possibly through subtler but effective design choices like borders or colored backgrounds. Making these small tweaks could transform this slide from being merely informative to memorable and inline with Wealthsimple’s overall aesthetic.</p> <br> <hr> <h2>In May </h2> <br> <img src="https://imagedelivery.net/9intrh8-kd7PGClXJhlmKw/85f50ee3-1d8c-4d78-5bc9-868567329700/public" alt="In May slide screenshot"> <br> <p> This slide, titled "In May," focuses on outlining the impressive achievement of raising a $2M seed round in just 2.5 weeks. It effectively communicates a critical milestone and sets the stage for sharing insights, which is highly relevant to a potential investor audience. The text is straightforward and to the point, ensuring that the key message is not lost. However, the slide's visual appeal is quite limited. The background is plain, and the absence of visual elements or branding makes it feel a bit too simplistic. Including a logo or using color schemes aligned with Wealthsimple’s branding could give this slide a professional touch, making it more engaging. A visual element, like an icon representing investment or growth, could also add some flair and draw the viewer's eye. While the text efficiently gets the message across, enhancing the slide's visual design would enrich the presentation’s overall impact.</p> <br> <hr> <h2>Table stakes for seed rounds </h2> <br> <img src="https://imagedelivery.net/9intrh8-kd7PGClXJhlmKw/29f66094-7eee-4525-a5b8-555ebe084000/public" alt="Table stakes for seed rounds slide screenshot"> <br> <p> This slide titled "Table stakes for seed rounds" is concise and effective in communicating two crucial points: the importance of a good idea in a large market and having a killer team. It’s direct and makes these foundational elements clear to the audience. This slide’s simplicity ensures that the message isn’t cluttered or lost, allowing the focus to be on these essential factors. However, the slide is very sparse visually. There's a lot of untapped potential for using visuals or some graphic elements to make it more engaging. Incorporating small icons or graphics related to ideas and teams could emphasize these points in an eye-catching way. As it stands, the slide lacks any branding elements, like a logo or color scheme tied to Wealthsimple’s identity, which would give it a polished, professional look. By integrating subtle design enhancements, this slide could transition from merely informative to visually impactful, while keeping its straightforward approach intact.</p> <br> <hr> <h2>Tip #1 </h2> <br> <img src="https://imagedelivery.net/9intrh8-kd7PGClXJhlmKw/ec4fe9de-82c4-4552-ca5f-ada2ce8cd700/public" alt="Tip #1 slide screenshot"> <br> <p> This slide titled "Tip #1" effectively highlights the importance of finding a lead investor early in the fundraising process. Including a photo of Joe Canavan adds a personal touch and credibility to the advice, given his impressive background. The text below the image concisely outlines his credentials, reinforcing why his expertise is relevant and worth noting. This approach makes the slide both informative and visually balanced, as the image complements the text nicely. Nevertheless, there's room for improvement in terms of branding and visual engagement. The slide is quite plain, lacking brand-specific elements like a Wealthsimple logo or their signature colors. Adding these details could make the slide more cohesive with the rest of the deck and reinforce the company's identity throughout the presentation. Some subtle design enhancements, such as a border around the image or an accent color for the title, could elevate the slide’s overall appeal. While the content is straightforward and clear, integrating more elements that capture attention could make this slide not only informative but also memorable.</p> <br> <hr> <h2>Tip #1 </h2> <br> <img src="https://imagedelivery.net/9intrh8-kd7PGClXJhlmKw/aa0840c4-5c89-4d88-0887-b78b540bea00/public" alt="Tip #1 slide screenshot"> <br> <p> This slide, titled "Tip #1," gives practical advice about the importance of securing a lead investor early in the funding process. The accompanying pie chart visually represents how investors make decisions, illustrating that "other investors" play a significant role. This combination of text and visuals makes the information digestible and engaging, effectively conveying the point that leadership in investment is influential. While the slide effectively combines graphics and text, it could use more branding elements to align it with the Wealthsimple identity. Incorporating the company’s logo or using its brand colors would give it a more cohesive look with the rest of the presentation. The design is clean, but more visual interest could be added through subtle enhancements like a background pattern or thematic icons. These additions could elevate the slide’s visual appeal without detracting from its clarity and straightforward nature. Overall, while the slide communicates its message well, a stronger reflection of brand identity would enhance its overall impact.</p> <br> <hr> <h2>Tip #2 </h2> <br> <img src="https://imagedelivery.net/9intrh8-kd7PGClXJhlmKw/0d7775e5-2699-4e68-a281-5c9dd6ad2600/public" alt="Tip #2 slide screenshot"> <br> <p> The slide titled "Tip #2" effectively communicates the message that angel investors don't need to be from the tech industry. This is a valuable piece of advice for startups, encouraging them to consider a broader range of potential investors. The accompanying bar graph is a helpful visual tool, succinctly illustrating the significant difference in numbers between active tech angels and other wealthy individuals interested in investing. This visual component breaks up the text and makes the slide more engaging. However, the slide could benefit from some enhanced branding. Including Wealthsimple’s logo or using company-specific colors would make the presentation feel more cohesive and aligned with their identity. While the slide isn’t crowded, adding a few design elements, such as a border or shading around the graph, would boost its visual appeal without overwhelming the core message. These small improvements could make a big difference, turning a straightforward slide into one that’s not only informative but also memorable and visually appealing.</p> <br> <hr> <h2>Tip #2 </h2> <br> <img src="https://imagedelivery.net/9intrh8-kd7PGClXJhlmKw/138331d3-042d-43eb-d309-6789f6addd00/public" alt="Tip #2 slide screenshot"> <br> <p> This slide effectively emphasizes that angel investors don't have to come from the tech industry. The pie chart is a nice touch, visually depicting the distribution of Wealthsimple investors between tech and finance sectors. This simple visual aids in illustrating that a significant proportion comes from finance, reinforcing the idea of seeking diverse investor backgrounds. The message encourages startups to broaden their search for "smart money," which adds value beyond financial backing. On the downside, the slide could use some branding elements to create a stronger visual identity. Incorporating Wealthsimple’s logo or color scheme would add cohesion to the presentation and make it instantly recognizable. While the slide is not overcrowded, minimal design enhancements, like a colored background or a border around the chart, could make it more visually appealing. These tweaks wouldn’t distract from the core message, but rather enhance the visual experience, making the slide both informative and memorable. Overall, it's a straightforward and effective slide, but a few branding elements could elevate its impact significantly.</p> <br> <hr> <h2>Tip #3 </h2> <br> <img src="https://imagedelivery.net/9intrh8-kd7PGClXJhlmKw/8f1fd1b2-b0e6-47ef-b20f-49edb73aaf00/public" alt="Tip #3 slide screenshot"> <br> <p> This slide offers straightforward advice on creating a compelling pitch deck. It emphasizes the importance of being concise and clear, suggesting that an effective deck should tell your story in 4-5 pages covering key areas like what you do, market size, team, growth plan, and competition. This clear breakdown is practical and serves as a useful guide for startups aiming to capture investor interest without overloading them. However, the slide’s simplicity verges on being too plain. There’s a lack of visual elements that could make the information more engaging. Incorporating icons or graphics for each of the listed topics could help break up the text and make the content more memorable. Additionally, the slide would benefit from branding elements like a Wealthsimple logo or brand colors to establish a cohesive look throughout the deck. This could reinforce the brand’s identity and make the presentation feel more polished and professional. Overall, while the advice is sound and well-organized, enhancing the slide’s visual appeal would make it more effective at capturing and keeping the audience's attention.</p> <br> <hr> <h2>WEALTHSIMPLE </h2> <br> <img src="https://imagedelivery.net/9intrh8-kd7PGClXJhlmKw/9661a434-f6e9-4693-f4aa-b06d1700b300/public" alt="WEALTHSIMPLE slide screenshot"> <br> <p> This slide, featuring the title "WEALTHSIMPLE," is clean and straightforward, effectively emphasizing the brand’s tagline, "Smart investing made simple." The minimalist design focuses attention on the company’s name and mission, which can be powerful for reinforcing brand identity. The usage of a consistent color scheme sets a professional tone, and the centered text ensures that the viewer knows exactly where to look. However, while the simplicity is elegant, the slide could offer more visual interest to engage the audience further. For instance, incorporating a subtle background pattern or dynamic graphic could add depth without detracting from the main message. Additionally, if this slide serves as a cover or conclusion, it might be effective to include a logo or an aspirational image that represents the company’s values and services. Presenting a bit more context or visual flair alongside the brand name could make the slide not only a marker of identity but also a more captivating end or beginning to a presentation. Overall, it’s an effective slide, but a touch more creativity could make it shine.</p> <br> <hr> <h2>Wealthsimple is Canada’s fastest growing online investment manager </h2> <br> <img src="https://imagedelivery.net/9intrh8-kd7PGClXJhlmKw/3cc0b877-e869-46ea-73ba-c7aea1adc300/public" alt="Wealthsimple is Canada’s fastest growing online investment manager slide screenshot"> <br> <p> This slide succinctly portrays Wealthsimple’s core identity and mission as Canada's fastest-growing online investment manager. The straightforward text highlights the company's commitment to making investing easy, low-cost, and transparent. The clear and concise message is easy to understand, ensuring that viewers immediately grasp Wealthsimple's value proposition. However, the slide feels quite plain and could benefit from additional visual elements to make it more engaging. Incorporating the Wealthsimple logo or a subtle graphic could enhance brand recognition and add visual interest. While the text is informative, the overall presentation would gain depth with a more dynamic background or design feature that aligns with the brand’s aesthetic. This approach would not only hold attention better but also create a cohesive flow with the rest of the presentation. By adding these elements, the slide could transform from merely informative to both engaging and memorable.</p> <br> <hr> <h2>The investment industry is transforming </h2> <br> <img src="https://imagedelivery.net/9intrh8-kd7PGClXJhlmKw/d54dc406-5f8d-498e-09c6-e052e2fdb200/public" alt="The investment industry is transforming slide screenshot"> <br> <p> This slide does a great job of laying out the evolution of the investment industry over the decades. By listing key developments from the 1980s to the 2010s, it highlights how each era brought significant changes, ultimately setting the stage for online solutions like Wealthsimple. The timeline format is clear and logical, making it easy for viewers to follow along and understand the progression of industry transformations. However, the slide could benefit from a bit more visual flair. While the timeline is straightforward, adding some icons or graphics representing each decade’s development could make the information more engaging and memorable. Additionally, the slide is lacking in branding elements. Incorporating Wealthsimple's logo or using their color palette would strengthen brand recognition and tie this historical context directly back to the company’s story. These enhancements could turn an informative slide into a visually captivating part of the presentation, maintaining audience interest and reinforcing the narrative of innovation leading to Wealthsimple’s offerings.</p> <br> <hr> <h2>What we do </h2> <br> <img src="https://imagedelivery.net/9intrh8-kd7PGClXJhlmKw/630d01c5-bec0-4428-56c3-276bcd1c3600/public" alt="What we do slide screenshot"> <br> <p> This "What we do" slide clearly outlines Wealthsimple's mission and services. It effectively communicates their target market—young professionals seeking an easy and smart way to invest. The text highlights the use of technology and their competitive pricing, which differentiates Wealthsimple from other investment managers. By mentioning notable team members, it adds credibility and showcases the expertise behind their services. However, the slide is text-heavy and lacks visual elements, which makes it a bit dry. Incorporating some visuals, like icons or graphics, could help break up the text and make the information more engaging. Additionally, the slide doesn’t include any branding elements such as a logo or specific color palette, which could help reinforce the company’s identity. Adding these design touches could transform the slide from purely informative to something more visually appealing and memorable. Ensuring that the presentation maintains brand consistency throughout would also give it a more professional look and feel. Overall, the content is solid, but a few enhancements to the design could really make it stand out.</p> <br> <hr> <h2>The product </h2> <br> <img src="https://imagedelivery.net/9intrh8-kd7PGClXJhlmKw/2120e6c8-402d-424b-997f-ed065a9f0c00/public" alt="The product slide screenshot"> <br> <p> The slide titled "The product" does a solid job of showcasing what Wealthsimple offers with a blend of text and visuals. The text is split into three main sections—smart investing, simple experience, and dedicated support—which clearly outlines the benefits and features of the product. Each point is concise yet informative, giving potential investors a good sense of what sets Wealthsimple apart from competitors. On the visual side, the mock-up of the platform on the slide is a nice touch. It gives a real look at how the investment portfolio appears to users, driving home the simplicity of the interface. However, the slide could use a bit more in the way of branding. Including Wealthsimple's color scheme or logo would help reinforce brand identity and continuity throughout the presentation. Also, while the text is clear, a small icon next to each section heading could add a bit of flair and make the slide more engaging. Overall, it’s a well-structured slide that conveys the product benefits effectively, but a few tweaks with visuals and branding could really make it pop.</p> <br> <hr> <h2>US CASE EXAMPLE </h2> <br> <img src="https://imagedelivery.net/9intrh8-kd7PGClXJhlmKw/a2e2a020-23ca-4572-2cc0-eb46ae5bfb00/public" alt="US CASE EXAMPLE slide screenshot"> <br> <p> The "US CASE EXAMPLE" slide presents a compelling snapshot of Wealthfront’s rapid growth trajectory, highlighting an impressive journey from $0 to $1 billion in just two years. This visual is quite powerful, as it uses a graph to effectively depict the milestones achieved and the steep upward curve of growth. The timeline of significant events is clearly marked, making it easy for the audience to grasp the scale and speed of development. Despite the useful information, the slide feels somewhat sparse in terms of visuals. While the graph is informative, adding branding elements or design enhancements, like a company logo or a colored border, could make the slide more visually engaging and tied to the rest of the presentation. The supporting text below the graph succinctly captures key points, but it could be enhanced with icons or highlighted features to draw attention to wealth-related growth metrics. Overall, the slide is informative and straightforward, yet with some additional branding and design flourishes, it could better captivate and sustain audience interest.</p> <br> <hr> <h2>The Canadian market opportunity </h2> <br> <img src="https://imagedelivery.net/9intrh8-kd7PGClXJhlmKw/195005ef-19f3-4c67-230b-7c529fdb2e00/public" alt="The Canadian market opportunity slide screenshot"> <br> <p> This slide, titled "The Canadian market opportunity," effectively highlights the space Wealthsimple aims to occupy within a massive $1.3 trillion market. The use of circles to represent the full-service and self-directed sectors gives a clear visual understanding of market sizes and gaps. The central focus on Wealthsimple's role fills the void between these two segments, showcasing the unique market niche the company is targeting. While the slide is straightforward and visually organized, it lacks branding elements that could enhance visual identity. Adding Wealthsimple’s logo or using a distinct color scheme from the brand could unify the slide’s look with the rest of the presentation. Additionally, the layout—though effective—could be made more engaging with graphic elements or subtle design enhancements, such as arrows or icons, to emphasize points. These small modifications could make the slide not only informative but also more visually appealing, helping to capture and maintain audience interest. Overall, it provides a clear message, but a few design tweaks could elevate its impact.</p> <br> <hr> <h2>Team </h2> <br> <img src="https://imagedelivery.net/9intrh8-kd7PGClXJhlmKw/e498b8df-cb47-4074-1ab3-96962d6d4c00/public" alt="Team slide screenshot"> <br> <p> The "Team" slide provides a comprehensive overview of Wealthsimple's key players. Each team member is highlighted with a photo and a brief list of credentials, which paints a picture of their expertise and experiences. This setup is straightforward, making it easy for the audience to understand the depth of talent and leadership behind the company. Including diverse roles showcases the well-rounded nature of the leadership team, strengthening the company’s credibility. However, the slide could benefit from a little visual enhancement. While the photos help with personalization, adding some branding elements like Wealthsimple’s logo or signature colors could tie the slide more solidly to the rest of the presentation. This could enhance brand consistency and make the slide visually cohesive. Additionally, the layout feels a bit crowded. Spacing out the information or using icons to represent specific skills or accomplishments might help in making the content more digestible. These tweaks could transform the slide from informative to impactful, keeping the audience engaged while reinforcing brand identity. Overall, it’s a well-constructed slide, but some design refinements could elevate the presentation.</p> <br> <hr> <h2>Advisors </h2> <br> <img src="https://imagedelivery.net/9intrh8-kd7PGClXJhlmKw/693e845b-3442-4470-9a20-cf53b5308a00/public" alt="Advisors slide screenshot"> <br> <p> The "Advisors" slide is well-organized, showcasing the impressive lineup of experienced advisors backing Wealthsimple. Each advisor is paired with their photograph and a brief summary of key roles and accomplishments, providing a glimpse into the depth of knowledge supporting the company. This setup is straightforward and effective, offering viewers insight into the caliber of expertise guiding Wealthsimple without overwhelming them with information. However, the slide could be improved by incorporating branding elements to strengthen the connection to Wealthsimple. Adding the company’s logo or integrating its color scheme could enhance visual cohesion throughout the presentation. Additionally, while the text provides useful context, using design elements like icons or background colors might make the information more visually engaging and less homogenous. While the photos personalize the slide, a bit more spacing between entries could improve readability and prevent the layout from feeling cluttered. Overall, the slide does a great job of highlighting the advisory team’s credentials, but a few aesthetic tweaks could enhance its impact and tie it more effectively to the overall brand story.</p> <br> <hr> <h2>CLIENT ACQUISITION </h2> <br> <img src="https://imagedelivery.net/9intrh8-kd7PGClXJhlmKw/fa49ad0f-2d09-4412-5fd3-a1e55226fa00/public" alt="CLIENT ACQUISITION slide screenshot"> <br> <p> The "CLIENT ACQUISITION" slide provides a clear, concise description of Wealthsimple’s target market—young professionals aged 25-45 who may be earning well but lack the assets to hire traditional advisors. This information gives a quick insight into the company’s strategic focus and helps set the stage for understanding its market positioning. It effectively communicates who the primary clients are, which is crucial information for investors to grasp. However, the slide feels a bit underwhelming due to the large blank space dedicated to "Not sharing at this time… sorry." While it might add a touch of humor or mystery, it leaves much to be desired in terms of content. This space could have been used to add more details about the company's client acquisition strategies or perhaps a brief overview of tactics employed. Additionally, the slide could benefit from some branding touches like logos or icons to make it more engaging and visually appealing. Incorporating these elements could solidify the visual identity of the presentation and ensure the slide doesn’t feel like a missed opportunity to elaborate on an essential aspect of the business. Overall, while the slide has potential, adding more substantive content and branding could greatly enhance its effectiveness.</p> <br> <hr> <h2>Tip #4 </h2> <br> <img src="https://imagedelivery.net/9intrh8-kd7PGClXJhlmKw/c554308f-3a24-4562-9b97-cdac2782ff00/public" alt="Tip #4 slide screenshot"> <br> <p> The "Tip #4" slide delivers a straightforward piece of advice: set a deadline to move efficiently from lead to close when fundraising. It succinctly lays out the timeline, highlighting that closing often takes longer than expected. The slide’s message is clear and practical, providing a useful guideline for startups aiming to streamline their fundraising process. Despite the clarity of the text, the slide could benefit from a more dynamic design. The visual is basic, featuring a simple arrow and timeline within a rectangle. Adding some branding elements, like the company logo or expanded color palette, could enhance visual appeal and strengthen brand consistency across the presentation. Additionally, incorporating some icons or graphics to represent each phase (Lead, Deadline, Close) might make the slide more visually engaging and easier to remember. While the content is valuable, a touch of creativity in the design aspect could better capture and retain the audience's attention, making the advice feel more actionable and inspiring. Overall, the slide offers solid advice but could stand out more with a bit of design flair.</p> <br> <hr> <h2>Great resources on fundraising </h2> <br> <img src="https://imagedelivery.net/9intrh8-kd7PGClXJhlmKw/9aae5035-fe97-40fb-e78a-ef8d710a0200/public" alt="Great resources on fundraising slide screenshot"> <br> <p> The "Great resources on fundraising" slide provides a handy list of links and sources for those interested in learning more about the ins and outs of raising capital. Featuring links to well-known resources like Paul Graham’s essay and StartupNorth articles, it effectively guides viewers to credible information, which can be invaluable for budding entrepreneurs. This slide serves as a practical reference point, making it straightforward and useful. However, this slide could be a lot more engaging with some visual improvements. While it lists valuable resources, the overall appearance is quite text-heavy, and the layout feels a bit plain. Incorporating more visuals or icons next to each resource could break up the monotony and draw attention to each link. Including some branding elements, like Wealthsimple’s logo or color scheme, could better integrate this slide into the overall presentation and make it feel less like a simple list of links and more like a cohesive part of the deck. It's all about capturing the viewer's interest and ensuring the slide remains memorable. Adding these design elements could enhance the appeal and effectiveness of this resource-filled slide.</p> <br> <hr> <h2>Recap </h2> <br> <img src="https://imagedelivery.net/9intrh8-kd7PGClXJhlmKw/373c43ce-5feb-45c3-6fec-e7e042ee7100/public" alt="Recap slide screenshot"> <br> <p> The "Recap" slide does a good job of summarizing key points from the presentation in a clear and straightforward manner. The list format makes it easy to read and helps the audience quickly digest important takeaways, like the importance of having a lead investor and the value of creating a great pitch deck. This kind of recap is essential for reinforcing the main messages and ensuring that important advice sticks with the audience. However, the slide lacks visual elements, which could make it more engaging and memorable. Adding some icons or graphics to accompany each point could break up the text and make the content more visually interesting. The slide also doesn’t include any branding, such as a company logo or consistent color scheme, which would help tie it back to the overall presentation. These design touches would not only enhance brand recognition but also make the recap feel more cohesive and polished. While the content is useful and concise, a bit of visual creativity could turn a standard recap into a powerful conclusion that leaves a lasting impression.</p> <br> <hr> <h2>Tip #5 </h2> <br> <img src="https://imagedelivery.net/9intrh8-kd7PGClXJhlmKw/59ee5002-48d6-45ff-f622-f74972041300/public" alt="Tip #5 slide screenshot"> <br> <p> The "Tip #5" slide offers sound advice: invest in your own round if possible. This suggestion is a great tip for entrepreneurs as it demonstrates commitment and alignment with investor interests. The slide plainly explains why this can be a powerful signal of dedication and responsibility, noting that few teams take this step, which could also help individuals stand out in the investment landscape. The bullet points make the information easy to read and digest. On the flip side, the slide lacks any visual elements or branding, which might make it feel too text-heavy and a bit dull. Adding a visual, such as an icon or an illustration symbolizing investment, could break up the text and make the advice more engaging. Branding elements like a logo or the brand’s colors would not only reinforce the visual identity but also make the slide feel more cohesive with the rest of the presentation. These small enhancements could elevate the slide, capturing attention and making the key points more memorable. All in all, the content is practical and clear, but a touch of creative design could provide the punch it needs to really resonate.</p> <br> <hr>
