Should you include a video in your pitch deck?
Should you, or should you not, include a video in your pitch deck? It’s a question I’m asked relatively regularly, and I understand why founders might want a video in their deck.
Why founders might find video attractive
Making good videos is relatively inexpensive and uncomplicated, so why wouldn’t you want to include tested and reliable content? That’s especially true if you’re not a very confident presenter: for every second the video rolls, you do not have to speak. You don’t have to suffer with your dry mouth, feel embarrassed by stuttering, or worry about omitting something crucial or stumbling over your words. The reasons are compelling.
The case against video
As a general rule, I advise against including video in your pitches, There’s a couple of reasons for that…
Keep it simple - As soon as you include anything more advanced than text and images in your deck, you are opening yourself up to the prospect of technical failure. While everything might flow fabulously in your rehearsals, you can almost guarantee it will glitch when it comes to doing the real thing. Why open yourself up to that possibility? Even the most confident presenter can find themselves flustered when their connection is foundering and video buffering; add in some nerves, and you will quickly feel like you’re in a collapsing room with the walls disappearing around you.
Second, a pitch is meant to be a conversation. As soon as you introduce a video into the pitch, you bring an axe down. It’s your job to engage with and respond to your audience. You can’t do that when you rely on something prerecorded, and you also risk losing the attention of your investors. You absolutely don’t want that.
When to play video
My advice to avoid video isn’t a hard and fast rule. Sometimes, a video, for example, an animation or a timelapse video, does the job far better than you and your words can. This is especially true if you’re trying to explain a complex process or demonstrate an involved model. In these cases, seeing a system in action or having a tour around a model is far more effective than your words can ever be. You do, however, need to adhere to some golden rules.
No audio - you can (and should!) offer the voice-over when you are pitching
Footage should be under one minute in duration.
Do not embed video into send-ahead or leave-behind decks—they are too large and bandwidth-hungry. Instead, provide a trackable link to a YouTube-hosted video, enabling you to see how many times it has been watched.
Always have an backup plan available in case of video failure. A sequence of images that illustrates growth, progress, or the process might not be as effective, but you’ll have your bases covered.
Three points to remember
Avoid video as a general rule, and never embed videos into decks.
If using a timelapse or animation to demonstrate a complex process, don’t include audio and make sure it’s under one minute in length.
Always have a backup series of images available in case of a video failure.
Learn much more
Did you know: Our Ready to Raise in 14 days course will teach you everything you need to know to put together a world-class pitch in just two weeks.