Remember the Monty Python skit about
the World’s Deadliest Joke? It was a
powerful secret weapon unleashed on WWII battlefields to turn the tide for the
Allies. Specially trained British soldiers shouted it in German as they
advanced across the battlefield causing Nazi soldiers to die laughing. My German isn’t very good but I’m told that
the joke was really just German gibberish. (Keep reading and - if you have a
strong heart -I promise to tell you the actual World’s Funniest Joke...)
The World’s Deadliest/Funniest Joke reminds me of the whole myth surrounding
entrepreneurs and their INVESTOR POWERPOINTS.
The myth goes something like: “Deliver a KILLER investor pitch in 10
slides and you’ll have them climbing over the table to write checks!” I’ve easily
heard more than a 1,000 investor pitches - not counting the dozens that I’ve
given - and there were definitively some entrepreneurs who really killed (in
the standup comedy sense). Still I’ve seen more deathlike reactions (OK, maybe heavy
eyelids) than any VC excited enough to break out the checkbook.
The Investor PowerPoint is a necessary evil in the world of
ever shortening attention spans. The limitations of PowerPoint inspired us to create the Fundability
Company SnapShot. It’s a live link to an interactive executive summary which is
designed for quick scanning or deeper digging via the company’s virtual data
room which we call the DiligenceRoom. In less than the time it takes to create
a new deadly PowerPoint, an entrepreneur can set up a Company SnapShot and secure
DiligenceRoom to store all sorts of digital documents – including exec exec
summaries, financial models, term sheets, PowerPoints(!), you name it.
If you still want some tips on preparing your Killer
PowerPoint, Guy Kawasaki advocates the 10/20/30 Rule of PowerPoint: no more than 10 slides, 20 minutes
and no font smaller than 30 point. Plus he defines the 10 topics that VCs want
to see on those slides. It’s all good advice. No joke.
Ok, you’ve read this far so you deserve to hear the
award-winning, certified World’s Funniest Joke. It's attributed to Spike Milligan who inspired Monty Python but never gave a PowerPoint. Enjoy.
Two hunters are out in the woods when one of them collapses.
He doesn't seem to be breathing and his eyes are glazed. The other guy whips
out his phone and calls emergency services. He gasps, "My friend is
dead! What can I do?". The operator says "Calm down. I can help.
First, let's make sure he's dead." There is a silence, then a shot is
heard. Back on the phone, the guy says "OK, now what?"