The RAW Relationship App goals to shake up the courting scheme by shedding the pretend, TikTok-ified, closely filtered images and changing them with a extra real, unvarnished expertise. The app targets younger professionals and college students, notably 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 capable of independently confirm that; a lot 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 received syndicated throughout the online. Nonetheless, the deck was fascinating sufficient that I needed to take a more in-depth look.
We’re searching for extra distinctive pitch decks to tear down: Right here’s the way you to get entangled. Learn all our 90+ Pitch Deck Teardowns right here.
Slides on this deck
Pitch decks are loads like courting: You’ve received to strut your stuff to persuade traders that you just’re the right match, worthy of tens of millions to develop and flourish. They should know that regardless of any bumps within the highway, 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 exhausting. As an alternative of showcasing the good crew poised to dominate a booming market and create a great deal of blissful matches, the pitch deck looks as if it’s making an attempt 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 reveals up earlier than the issue, and the issue isn’t even clearly said 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
- Characteristic
- Characteristic 2
- Characteristic 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 tip. However, hey, credit score the place it’s due: Once you lastly do come across them, there are some brilliant 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 inside 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 data 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 aid to see a targeted 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 looks like a cop-out. Traders 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-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 drawback slide. Positive, 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 obvious situation 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 remodeled skepticism into belief.
Focusing on the goal
A audience is meant to be an important a part of the pitch deck, and though this reads somewhat awkwardly, it does present that the crew behind RAW has a good grasp of their goal demographics. Nevertheless, “Women age 21-27” appears somewhat 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 imprecise 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 phrases like “rawmantics”? They could fly in a user-facing marketing campaign, however right here it’s good to persuade hardened traders. Ditch the fluff and exhibit you recognize who you’re focusing on with concrete, data-backed personas. Traders need to see you’ve got a transparent, strategic method, not only a intelligent play on phrases.
Three issues that RAW may have improved
I’ll be sincere, there’s loads lacking from this deck that actually shouldn’t have been missed. From the figures I can see on the included slides, there’s no approach I could make an inexpensive 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 knowledge, there’s no go-to-market technique, and there’s a obvious gap across the enterprise mannequin and pricing. How precisely does this founding crew envision making a living?
- Market measurement knowledge is essential. Traders must know the potential for progress and the way large the chance actually is. With out this, it’s inconceivable 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 point out that there’s a considerable market ripe for disruption.
- The go-to-market technique is lacking. How do you propose 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 sensible and efficient plan to scale.
- There’s no enterprise mannequin or pricing. How do you earn a living? Subscription charges? In-app purchases? Adverts? This can be a elementary query that wants a transparent reply. Define your income streams, pricing technique, and the way you propose to transform customers into paying clients. This readability is important 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 might 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 really dazzles.
That’s not competitors …
All proper, founders, let’s discuss your aggressive slide, or moderately, this dangerous excuse for one. It’s so dangerous, the truth is, that if I have been contemplating to take a position 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 stable aggressive slide to point out you’ve received 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: Traders 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 bins numbered 1 to three don’t lower it. Anybody who has a pulse and has been single prior to now decade can identify wherever between one and 15 rivals off the highest of their heads.
It is advisable to exhibit rock-solid information 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 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 supply what RAW does, do they supply any options RAW doesn’t? What’s the value comparability? Who do these completely different courting apps attraction to? And let’s not overlook: Relationship apps depend on individuals. It’s a numbers sport. 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 knowledge, insights, and a transparent image of the place RAW matches on this crowded market.
Hiya, 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? Perhaps. Maybe it’s a projected progress slide? I don’t know. May it’s a mix 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 an alternative, we get a thriller field of knowledge with no context. It’s like making an attempt 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 perhaps 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 lively 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 smart.
If these are precise consumer numbers, they’re presumably bringing some income with them. And seeing as income is the perfect 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 knowledge, label your axes, and ensure this slide conveys a transparent, impactful message.
We received 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 residence 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 seems like somebody received a bit too inventive 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 hassle together with them? The primary slide’s chilly, exhausting statistics cowl the identical floor. Traders love statistics, particularly in the event that they’re based mostly on stable analysis. There’s no must go over previous floor. Maintain it recent; preserve it full of life. Don’t waste precious deck actual property.
Now, about these issues. Sure, ghosting is an issue, however you may’t make individuals cease ghosting. Human habits isn’t one thing you may management with an app function. And sure, scamming is an issue, however scams prey on weak individuals searching for love. Actual images 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 situation with maybe a barely obscure a part of the deck: The crew says “real photos” and “no Photoshop,” however the majority of the images on this deck appear to be they’ve been plucked from a high-end studio, with a little bit of Photoshop magic. The truth is, a lot of them are inventory images. After you’ve clicked by way of the deck, you’ll acknowledge Man with Pink Tank Prime, Considerate Man with Guitar, Selfie of Couple in New York Park, and possibly a couple of others, too.
I’m not saying you may’t use inventory images in pitch decks, however on this case, the place the corporate is touting real interactions that begin with real images, it’s somewhat 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 stable enterprise mannequin beneath all of that.
The complete pitch deck
If you’d like your personal pitch deck teardown featured on TechCrunch, right here’s extra data. Additionally, try all our Pitch Deck Teardowns all collected in a single useful place for you!
