The RAW Relationship App goals to shake up the courting 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, notably 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 in a position to 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 bought syndicated throughout the online. Nonetheless, the deck was attention-grabbing sufficient that I needed to take a better look.
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Slides on this deck
Pitch decks are lots like courting: You’ve bought 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 street, you’re the dream crew with whom they’ll navigate via 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 onerous. As an alternative of showcasing the sensible 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 scorching 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 in regards to the deck’s weird order: The issue and answer slides needs to be main the cost, not trailing close to the top. However, hey, credit score the place it’s due: While you lastly do come upon 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 revolutionary options that set the app aside. The teasers embedded throughout 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 info 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 handbook, it’s a reduction to see a centered answer 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 appears like a cop-out. Buyers need 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-Assist.
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 a good job of highlighting a evident concern within the courting app world, I’ll give RAW that. Nevertheless, a sprinkle of credibility wouldn’t damage. Citing sources for these stats may 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 slightly awkwardly, it does present that the crew behind RAW has a good grasp of their goal demographics. Nevertheless, “Women age 21-27” appears slightly arbitrary and needlessly slender — why not simply “people in 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 obscure 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 completed your homework and know precisely the place your prime customers stay.
And people cutesy advertising and marketing phrases like “rawmantics”? They could fly in a user-facing marketing campaign, however right here you must persuade hardened traders. Ditch the fluff and exhibit you already know who you’re focusing on with concrete, data-backed personas. Buyers need to see you could have a transparent, strategic method, not only a intelligent play on phrases.
Three issues that RAW may have improved
I’ll be sincere, there’s lots lacking from this deck that actually mustn’t have been neglected. From the figures I can see on the included slides, there’s no method I could make an affordable judgment as as to whether RAW is venture-scale, except for a intestine intuition that courting apps are scorching property. RAW hasn’t offered 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 creating wealth?
- Market measurement information is essential. Buyers have to know the potential for progress 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 intend to draw customers? What’s your advertising and marketing plan? Are there partnerships within the pipeline? Buyers have to 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 a sensible and efficient plan to scale.
- There’s no enterprise mannequin or pricing. How do you make cash? Subscription charges? In-app purchases? Advertisements? 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 important 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 would profit from revision and enchancment. Let’s give them a mild ribbing and see how we may have turned this deck into one thing that actually dazzles.
That’s not competitors …
All proper, founders, let’s discuss your aggressive slide, or slightly, this dangerous excuse for one. It’s so dangerous, actually, that if I had 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 courting, you want a strong aggressive slide to indicate you’ve bought 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: Buyers need 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 might outmaneuver them. Who’s the competitors? Coloured containers numbered 1 to three don’t reduce it. Anybody who has a pulse and has been single up to now decade can title wherever between one and 15 rivals off the highest of their heads.
You could 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 rivals does RAW have? You want specifics. Whereas your rivals may not supply what RAW does, do they supply any options RAW doesn’t? What’s the worth comparability? Who do these totally different courting apps attraction to? And let’s not overlook: Relationship apps depend on individuals. It’s a numbers recreation. In case you solely have a handful of customers, making significant matches goes to be robust. Buyers have to 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.
Hey, 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 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 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 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 make sure. Are these month-to-month energetic 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 sensible.
If these are precise person numbers, they’re presumably bringing some income with them. And seeing as income is the most effective type of traction, present me the cash! How a lot income are we speaking about right here? Buyers have to see the monetary impression, 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 bought 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 alternative 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 appears like somebody bought 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 trouble together with them? The primary slide’s chilly, onerous statistics cowl the identical floor. Buyers love statistics, particularly in the event that they’re based mostly on strong analysis. There’s no have to go over previous floor. Preserve it recent; hold it vigorous. Don’t waste useful 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 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 concern with maybe a barely obscure a part of the deck: The crew says “real photos” and “no Photoshop,” however the majority of the photographs on this deck seem like they’ve been plucked from a high-end studio, with a little bit of Photoshop magic. In truth, a lot of them are inventory photographs. After you’ve clicked via the deck, you’ll acknowledge Man with Pink Tank High, Considerate Man with Guitar, Selfie of Couple in New York Park, and possibly a number of others, too.
I’m not saying you possibly can’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.
General, 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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