If Israel is the start up nation with just 8 million people, then in any given week, thousands of presentations for investors are being prepared.

What colour, which font, background graphics, the order of the slides – the guidelines for all of these issues have been well documented in countless blogs. What I want to share here are six key ‘must dos’ that should drive your presentation, making it relevant and ensuring that your audience will listen.

1. Each slide has to carry a targeted message. In today’s business climate of immediacy, few have time for cute effects and background noise. Get to a point, and quickly.
2. However large your deck – somewhere between 10 and 14 slides – make sure that it tells a story.
3. What makes for an interesting story? First, early on, throw in a hearth throb of an anecdote. Second, throughout the pitch, tell the audience how they can make money! The technology, service or product may carry a ‘wow’ factor, but you need to show a business model with a clear path to a return on investment.
4. Whatever your order of slides, the last one should have a take-home message. Not only is this a summary of the opportunity, but it conveys how – and why – the audience should act next.
5. Rehearse your presentation. And when you have done so, rehearse and then rehearse again. Good actors do not fluff their lines under any circumstances. It is a convincing performance.
6. While you are rehearsing, remember that you do not have to stick to the original slide. If your verbal flow and logic does not match the frame, then you need a quick rethink.

Quite often, it is the slide that needs to be changed as opposed to your words. The reason? Because the image does not help the potential investor show how they will double their cash. And that is why you are in the room in the first place!

Good luck.