The RAW Relationship App goals to shake up the relationship scheme by shedding the pretend, TikTok-ified, closely filtered photographs and changing them with a extra real, unvarnished expertise. The app targets younger professionals and college students, significantly ladies 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 in a position to independently confirm that; many 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 net. 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 rather a lot like relationship: You’ve obtained to strut your stuff to persuade traders that you simply’re the right match, worthy of thousands and thousands to develop and flourish. They should know that regardless of any bumps within the street, you’re the dream crew with whom they will navigate by way of something.
The pitch deck ought to promote your crew and your answer, not simply the product. That is the place RAW’s pitch deck swipes left fairly laborious. As a substitute of showcasing the good crew poised to dominate a booming market and create a great deal of completely satisfied matches, the pitch deck looks as if it’s attempting 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 exhibits up earlier than the issue, and the issue isn’t even clearly acknowledged 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
- Function
- Function 2
- Function 3
- Goal market
- Worth proposition 2
- Worth proposition 3
- Resolution
- Drawback
- Drawback 2
- Drawback 3
- Competitors
- Ask and use of funds
- Slide 16
- Group
- 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 ought to be main the cost, not trailing close to the top. However, hey, credit score the place it’s due: Once you lastly do come across them, there are some vibrant spots.
A transparent answer slide
RAW’s answer slide is refreshingly clear, providing a concise assertion that hints on the progressive 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 relationship. It’s a pleasant change of tempo, offering simply sufficient info 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 answer assertion. The relentless product pitch is paused right here, permitting the answer to shine by itself deserves.
Nonetheless, I received’t get too carried away with the reward right here. Whereas the answer is well-articulated, it falls brief. Claiming to resolve “most” relationship app issues seems like a cop-out. Traders need to see confidence and ambition; inform them RAW solves all relationship 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-Support.
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 downside slide. Positive, there’s all the time room to enhance, however I’ll take hard-hitting numbers over wishy-washy “we’re making the world a greater place” junk any day of the week. The statistics do an honest job of highlighting a obtrusive difficulty within the relationship app world, I’ll give RAW that. Nonetheless, a sprinkle of credibility wouldn’t damage. Citing sources for these stats might have reworked skepticism into belief.
Focusing on the goal
A target market is meant to be an important a part of the pitch deck, and though this reads slightly awkwardly, it does present that the crew behind RAW has an honest grasp of their goal demographics. Nonetheless, “Ladies age 21-27” appears slightly arbitrary and needlessly slender — why not simply “folks of their 20s”? But it surely’s refreshing to have this stage of readability.
We get a way of who RAW is aiming for and a imprecise thought of their socioeconomic standing. Nonetheless, saying “giant U.S. cities” is like throwing a dart at a map. It’s higher to be particular. Identify the cities. Present you’ve executed 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 essential persuade hardened traders. Ditch the fluff and reveal who you’re concentrating on with concrete, data-backed personas. Traders need to see you’ve gotten a transparent, strategic strategy, not only a intelligent play on phrases.
Three issues that RAW might have improved
I’ll be trustworthy, there’s rather a lot lacking from this deck that actually mustn’t have been neglected. From the figures I can see on the included slides, there’s no manner I could make an inexpensive judgment as as to whether RAW is venture-scale, apart from a intestine intuition that relationship apps are sizzling property. RAW hasn’t introduced any market measurement information, there’s no go-to-market technique, and there’s a obtrusive gap across the enterprise mannequin and pricing. How precisely does this founding crew envision creating wealth?
- Market measurement information is essential. Traders must know the potential for progress and the way huge the chance actually is. With out this, it’s not possible 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 intend to draw customers? What’s your advertising plan? Are there partnerships within the pipeline? Traders must see a transparent path to consumer acquisition and progress. Lay out your methods, goal channels, and anticipated milestones. That is important for demonstrating that you’ve a practical and efficient plan to scale.
- There’s no enterprise mannequin or pricing. How do you earn cash? Subscription charges? In-app purchases? Adverts? It is a basic query that wants a transparent reply. Define your income streams, pricing technique, and the way you intend to transform customers into paying clients. This readability is significant 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 would 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 really dazzles.
That’s not competitors …
All proper, founders, let’s discuss your aggressive slide, or reasonably, this dangerous excuse for one. It’s so dangerous, in reality, that if I have been contemplating to speculate 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 relationship, you want a strong aggressive slide to indicate 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 need to see that you simply perceive the battlefield. They should know you’re not simply conscious of the competitors however that you simply’ve executed your homework and might outmaneuver them. Who’s the competitors? Coloured bins numbered 1 to three don’t reduce it. Anybody who has a pulse and has been single up to now decade can identify wherever between one and 15 rivals off the highest of their heads.
It’s worthwhile to reveal 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 occurring on this house 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 provide what RAW does, do they supply any options RAW doesn’t? What’s the worth comparability? Who do these completely different relationship apps enchantment to? And let’s not neglect: Relationship apps depend on folks. It’s a numbers recreation. When you 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.
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 progress slide? I don’t know. Might or not it’s a mixture of each, forming a now-and-next slide? Is it exhibiting traction from the previous or projections into the long run? It’s all potential, 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 a substitute, we get a thriller field of knowledge with no context. It’s like attempting 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 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 make sure. Are these month-to-month energetic consumer numbers exhibiting precise progress? By 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 sensible.
If these are precise consumer numbers, they’re presumably bringing some income with them. And seeing as income is the very 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 strains 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 obtained 99 issues, and the pitch is one
Three downside slides on this deck is totally overkill — particularly as a result of the crew is utilizing three slides to hammer residence the identical level in barely other ways. Only one concise slide will do: “Relationship apps make it tougher, not simpler, to search out real love.” Then run down the statistics that RAW has placed on the primary downside slide (and double-check that $638.8 million determine — it seems like somebody obtained a bit too artistic with their decimal factors). And the second downside slide is simply litter.
Are these statements on the second downside 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, laborious statistics cowl the identical floor. Traders love statistics, particularly in the event that they’re primarily based on strong analysis. There’s no must go over outdated floor. Preserve it recent; hold it full of life. Don’t waste helpful deck actual property.
Now, about these issues. Sure, ghosting is an issue, however you’ll be able to’t make folks 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 folks on the lookout for love. Actual photographs 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 difficulty with maybe a barely obscure a part of the deck: The crew says “actual photographs” and “no Photoshop,” however the majority of the photographs on this deck appear 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 photographs. 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 doubtless a number of others, too.
I’m not saying you’ll be able to’t use inventory photographs in pitch decks, however on this case, the place the corporate is touting real interactions that begin with real photographs, it’s slightly off-putting.
Total, I’m caught: I can’t get to the assumption 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, desires and good intentions — ideally with a strong enterprise mannequin beneath all of that.
The complete pitch deck
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