If you&rsquo;re looking for the right tool to automate your business processes, read our article. You&rsquo;ll find out how to choose the best CRM and ERP solutions.

Looking for the effective tool to automate your business processes? Click here ➤ and read all you need to know! What is ERP software? What system, CRM or ERP, does your company need? How to choose the best one of ERP solutions? You'll find out all these answers right here ✅

CRM vs ERP: What Will Perform Your Tasks

Do you want to know whether you need to build your own CRM system? Click here and find out the answer!

Do you want to know whether you need a unique customer relationship program? Click here ᐅ and find out the answer! ✅ We'll provide you with useful CRM information, so you'll get the idea of how to build your own CRM system and why you should make this very choice.

Do You Need to Build a Custom CRM System? 

According to Gartner, the market size of the custom CRM solutions will soon exceed $ 40 billion. Such an impressive figure is quite understandable: modern marketing is increasingly seeking to automate all and everything, and therefore successful companies monitor, analyze, and customize different aspects of data processing. Because forward-looking businessmen and investors know that it's difficult to draw the right conclusions and predict results without a reliable data management system. This applies to companies of any type, especially venture capital firms.
Manual data processing is possible only for the time being, and after a certain point, when the number of startups reaches 10-15, XSL tables can no longer satisfy your needs. And it's much more reasonable to implement a customer relationship management (CRM) system and, thus, automate these processes.
So let's discuss how mainstream CRM systems help VC firms improve their efficiency. Also, we're going to describe the best data analytics strategy and explain how to avoid CRM failures. We hope, you'll find our article useful.
<h2 dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">What data should be managed?</h2>
A lot of top-tier firms use data and CRM tools, and if you've decided to join the leaders, you should figure out what data management you need.
We'll tell you what type of information is being usually processed by traditional CRM solutions, and then it's up to you what to choose.
<h3 dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">Standard CRM offerings:</h3>
<ul dir="ltr">
<li style="text-align: justify;">contact management. Contacts may include information about startups' owners, partners, clients, etc.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">startups management. The feature helps to manage startups: keep track of new projects and check the status of old ones (both abandoned and accepted by your company).</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">the deal flow, which contains everything related to transactions and relationships with startups and partners. The feature is aimed to help you see the history of your interaction with a particular company.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">fundraising and investments. We&rsquo;re talking about the processing of cash flows. You must clearly understand how much funds you've already allocated and to whom. And future investments should also be tracked.</li>
</ul>
You can expand the list as you please because effective CRM platforms mean reporting and tracking systems that meet your specific requirements. And you're the only one to know these requirements.
Still don't see why your company needs CRM? We're ready to explain your benefits by points.
<h2 dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">What CRM benefits do venture capitalists get?</h2>
Now we&rsquo;ll try to convince you that getting CRM systems for firms would be a great business decision.
We&rsquo;re not going to be unfounded, we have arguments in favor of creating market mainstream CRM solutions.
<img src="https://d12zh9bqbty5wp.cloudfront.net/ckeditor_assets/pictures/3892/content_content_crm_2_1.jpg" alt="CRM solution" width="800" height="399" />
<ol>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Reduced costs, which is due to the automation of complex calculations (and other operations of the sort) and the formalization of business processes.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Workflow optimization. Notifications (mail, SMS), reducing the number of unnecessary routine tasks, and simplification of data processing lead to a significant optimization of all activities.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">KPI-based management. For each process, you can select performance indicators (metrics) and start tracking them with your CRM solution.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Standardization of business processes. The work of the company is being carried out according to a certain scheme incorporated in your mainstream CRM system. This also improves business efficiency.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">A powerful analytical tool, which provides comprehensive information about the current state of affairs in a company in real time.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Increase in business transparency. The item in question logically follows from the previous one: with all the data at hand and the possibility of their detailed analysis, the business becomes more transparent (and therefore more trustworthy).</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Better internal communications. Among others, the company leverages a CRM system to store information about each employee, both public data (general contacts, his position, etc.) and confidential information (which is available only to management). Such an approach helps to strengthen the relationship in the teamwork. &nbsp;</li>
</ol>
<h2 dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">What to consider when choosing a CRM platform</h2>
You can implement a CRM system by building it from scratch or selecting one of the ready-made solutions. The second option isn&rsquo;t the most perfect, but it'll do if you have a limited budget or think that creating new CRM software for client management would take too much time.
Anyway, we strongly recommend that you take into account a few factors when choosing a CRM platform.
<h3 dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">Data storage security</h3>
Custom CRM solutions involve working with data, which means that there is a risk of losing the information, stealing it (in the case of hacker attacks), and other similar problems.
What could be done to improve data security? We&rsquo;ll give a few examples of appropriate measures:
<ol dir="ltr">
<li style="text-align: justify;">Encoding data. Each transmission must be secure and encrypted. The step is obvious but inevitable.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Immune to hacker attacks. Again, such a security measure seems rather traditional, plain as a pikestaff, but logical at the same time.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">The use of several centers to store the data. Then you shouldn't be afraid of failures in the work of any of the centers. In the end, there are also others to keep your information stored.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">User security. Multiple measures should be provided to secure the processing of user data, including multi-stage authentication, limited access to information, session time, etc.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Updates. And, of course, the security system must constantly evolve and improve.</li>
</ol>
<h3 dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">The problem of finding the perfect ready-made data management system</h3>
We guess everyone knows how to use CRM systems but what about finding the best one? Is it an easy task?
Of course not, because you need to choose the best one of the ready-made web-based management systems - the perfect tool which your whole company is going to use. So, you may encounter a couple of difficulties, such as:
<ol dir="ltr">
<li style="text-align: justify;">Each project (as well as every venture capital firm) is unique, and the mainstream CRM system you've found is universal. You'll have to create a data management solution in accordance with your specific custom CRM requirements in order to be fully satisfied with the result.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Sometimes it's difficult to meet the needs of all departments with a single software. In order to make sure everyone is satisfied, you should test the selected tool, compare it with other solutions, and take other similar steps. Otherwise, by choosing a system without such measures and disregarding the opinion of future product users, you just waste your time and money.</li>
</ol>
In general, the difficulties we&rsquo;ve described lead us to the next item, namely&hellip; &nbsp;
<h3 dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">Customization of ready-made CRM systems for firms</h3>
If you decide to take advantage of one of the existing CRM systems for firms, then, sooner or later, you'll have to customize the chosen tool and adjust it to your needs. Of course, you're unlikely to cope with the task on your own; you'll probably have to hire the following experts:
<ul dir="ltr">
<li style="text-align: justify;">backend and frontend developers. They'll be able to expand or customize the functionality of your mainstream CRM system, set up a dashboard, integrate new tools, and perform other similar tasks;</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">UI/UX designer to help you redesign your data management platform and make it more intuitive and easy to use. Also, your company needs CRM which would fit into your corporate style.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">QA team to ensure the error-free operation of web-based management systems. Without these experts, you won't manage to succeed either!</li>
</ul>
<h4 dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">Additional points worth considering:</h4>
<ul dir="ltr">
<li style="text-align: justify;">access to API. If the CRM provider doesn't care to give you a free API, customization can become a difficult task;</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">server data output format. The fact is that not all systems provide data in the convenient JSON format, and then it won&rsquo;t be easy to make any changes later;</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">the programming language, in which CRM has been written. Such a parameter affects the issue of finding the right specialists. You must make sure the developers you hire are versed in this language.</li>
</ul>
<img src="https://d12zh9bqbty5wp.cloudfront.net/ckeditor_assets/pictures/3891/content_content_crm_3_1.jpg" alt="mainstream CRM system" width="800" height="523" />
<h2 dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">How to select the best mainstream CRM system</h2>
So, you intend to select a ready-made CRM solution (or create one from scratch). But what to consider in the process of choosing a particular system (or drawing a list of requirements)? To figure out what to look for (or what task to delegate to the developer), answer the questions below.
<ol dir="ltr">
<li style="text-align: justify;">What is the list of features you want to get? All the CRM systems for firms are somewhat similar, but there are also nuances, of course. Say, the owner of the online shop wants to have a possibility to monitor buyers, and the representative of the venture capital fund should keep track of startups.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">How much time do you have to implement the CRM system you need? You won't manage to create data management software too quickly (especially when talking about developing from scratch). Customization of the existing tools may take some time either. These factors must also be borne in mind.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">What about pricing? There are free ready-made solutions as well as paid ones. Of course, the latter offer more advanced and flexible functionality. Determine your budget and think about how much you can allocate to implement a customer relationship management (CRM) system.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">What is the size of your venture capital firm? The larger the company, the more advanced your mainstream CRM system should be. In addition, be sure to consider the project scaling factor: perhaps, you're planning to expand your company in the future?</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">What are you using now for data management? Maybe, you already have an effective CRM platform, and you just want to add new features to it? Otherwise, if you're unhappy with the existing tool, then, of course, the best option is to abandon the old version in favor of the new one.</li>
</ol>
To get a successful CRM, you need to clearly understand your expectations. Do enough preparation, and only then proceed to the project implementation.
<h2 dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">Summary</h2>
We'd like to believe we've convinced you of the importance of competent data management, and now you understand how to leverage data and CRM systems to your benefit - so that it would lead to the company's growth and increasing business efficiency.
If you have questions left or need expert advice on the data analytics strategy, you're welcome to <a href="https://agilie.com/contacts" target="_blank" rel="noopener">contact us</a>!
&nbsp;

Every venture capital firm should find a reliable CRM solution. So click here and read all the details of choosing a CRM platform your VC company needs.

Every venture capital firm should find a reliable CRM solution ⚡ But how to select the most effective data management system? We have the answer! Click here ⇉ and read all the details of choosing a CRM platform your VC company needs!

Why Every Venture Capital Firm Needs a CRM Software and How to Select It

Сreate your MLP with us! We have a successful experience to share with you!

A minimum loveable product, what is it and how does it work? If this issue is of great interest to you, click here ➦ and read our article! An MLP development for a startup is not easy, but surely manageable.

What are the Next Steps After Creating an MVP?

What's the weather app and how to create it? If you're really interested in these and other similar questions, read our article! &nbsp;

What's the weather app and how to create it? If you're really interested in these and other similar questions, click here ➦ and read our article! We'll describe to you in detail the best way to build a weather application of the highest quality level ✅ Also, you'll see a couple of great weather app design examples.

How to Create a Weather App and Not Get Caught in a Storm

Entrepreneurship is getting increasingly popular nowadays. Plenty of startups emerge all around the world every single day, but only a few are destined for success. But how to be the lucky one? Frankly, there is no room for luck at all, as you can benefit only through hard, deliberate, and painstaking work.
In this article, we are going to pay more attention to digital startups. Everything begins with an idea. Besides, the market is rarely in standstill, so startups have as little time as possible to present their projects to the public. However, dream big, but take your time. The startup culture has a number of various challenges and problems, and this is why, we believe, it is an appropriate moment to introduce you to an MVP.
<h2 dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">What is a minimum viable product?</h2>
A minimum viable product definition more or less varies, since it is a concept. The term itself was coined and defined by Frank Robinson and popularized by Steve Blank and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Ries" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Eric Ries</a>. The latter wrote The Lean Startup, a work that determined the formation of many companies. He defines an MVP as &ldquo;that version of a new product a team uses to collect the maximum amount of validated learning about customers with the least effort.&rdquo; The approach is proved to be rather efficient, and many large international companies used it in the beginning.
As a result, we can conclude that an MVP is a fully operational web or mobile application with enough functionality to meet the requirements of early users and gather feedback. &ldquo;M&rdquo; and &rdquo;V&rdquo; stand for minimum and viable. The general idea is to comprehend the required minimum and make it equally viable. The use of the concept of a minimum viable product became a common practice in the IT industry, for it allows startups to understand whether their product is able to attract potential users without investing much time and money.
<h2 dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">How to build an MVP?</h2>
It is quite a challenge to introduce a new product to the market. The market is full of companies that rushed all-in on a new product and failed to fit customer needs. That is why one needs an MVP. Of course, a new idea will totally excite you, but for your own good, cool down a little and carefully consider how to create a minimum viable product. The first thing to do is to conduct a proper market and competitor analysis. It will provide one with answers to the following important questions:
<ol style="list-style-type: decimal;">
<li dir="ltr">
What audience are you targeting by your product?
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
Your app is capable of solving a particular problem, isn&rsquo;t it?
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
Will your product stand out?
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
Are there any rivals on your way?
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
How will you generate money by it?
</li>
</ol>
Starting a minimum viable product development makes sense only if you answered yourself all these questions.
Let&rsquo;s model a real-life situation: you&rsquo;ve come up with an original idea of how to provide people with shelter. Usually, a house has a foundation, one or several floors, and a roof. However, despite all the progressive construction methods, it still takes plenty of time. In the meantime, the user wants the solution as soon as possible. Will he or she be pleased with only a foundation and several walls? Definitely not, since even a basic version of the project has to solve the main problem, and the major purpose of a shelter is to evoke a sense of security in people. As a result, such an approach is not feasible. It would be more appropriate to begin with a simple hut, later you can pitch a tent, then you will be able to build a bungalow, whereas the final product might even be a skyscraper.
<img src="https://d12zh9bqbty5wp.cloudfront.net/ckeditor_assets/pictures/998/content_mvp_2.jpg" alt="mvp key features" width="800" height="511" />
Such a scenario is also applicable to the IT industry. Moreover, almost every currently popular startup had been a rather primitive one at one point, and gradual development brought them to success. Pursuant to Go-Globe latest data, 74% of high growth internet startups are set to fail owing to premature scaling, while startups that expand properly perform a 20-fold faster growth.
Have you ever heard about such minimum viable product examples? Everyone is aware of what Airbnb is now, plenty call upon its services on a daily basis, but only a few can recollect how it looked like in the beginning. Facing the problem of paying rent and lack of cash, Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia decided to share their apartments with attendees of their hometown conference at a minimum charge. They launched a minimalistic website, posted some photos of the apartment and that is it.
After a while, demand for the services skyrocketed. Their concept of a minimum viable product managed to prove its feasibility. As of today, Airbnb not only leases millions of flats all around the globe but also provides a number of other options, namely yoga lessons, canyon rafting, cooking classes, various wildlife encounters, etc. After such prosperous startups, one will no longer doubt about how useful could be an MVP development for a startup.
The things are similar when you decide to build a web or mobile app MVP. Eventually, what you need is to create a basic version and improve it according to the feedback you get. If you are still wondering how to make use of an MVP, take these aspects into account as well:
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li dir="ltr">
Find your target audience and understand its needs and expectations. Before wasting thousands or hundreds of thousands on product development, make sure you are building something the customer needs and, it is vital, can afford.
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
Build an MVP for a particular platform. Do not try to please everyone at once. Even if you have enough funds, it is wiser to choose one of the platforms at first.
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
List the features you want to introduce. Many young entrepreneurs start panicking when it comes to what MVP key features should be initially implemented. Only basic, but fully operational ones have the right to exist on this early stage. Their major goal is to allow users to solve their current issue, nothing more.
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
If you plan to build an MVP, do not set a long-term target, get it done gradually, step by step; do not plan anything way ahead. The urgent issue is to attract users. There is no use scheduling other upgrades whereas the product enjoys poor demand.
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
Perfectionism can backfire in the circumstances. One should deliver a real working product, not eye candy. Although your minimum viable product examples may have a catchy design, admirable visuals, and plenty of functions, the user might show a little interest in it, for it does not solve its problem.
</li>
</ul>
Without taking the above mentioned into account, an MVP&rsquo;s attributes will be neither minimum nor viable. We are still trying to convey the idea that there is no sense in implementing all the features at a time. This tips might encourage some entrepreneurs to stop and adjust the development process. They might even think something like that: &ldquo;Oh, OK, we&rsquo;ve substantially advanced with our project, but the whole thing is to bring a minimum viable product to the market, not a complete working product. It is better to define and temporarily remove currently unnecessary features from our MVP, improve the major ones, and release the product.&rdquo; And the approach will only favor them.
<h2 dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">How can startups benefit from an MVP?</h2>
It is rather hard to underestimate the impact of a minimum viable product development. There are a lot of reasons to implement the project with the help of the concept, but here we will try to underline the most valuable ones:
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li dir="ltr">
It slashes costs. High inputs frighten entrepreneurs the most. They often wonder how much does it cost to build an MVP. The figure can be attributed to many factors, since more complex projects need higher expenditures. However, when it comes to an MVP, it costs notably less (within $10,000-$20,000 on average), and a price of a mistake is substantially lower.
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
You are able to gather users&rsquo; feedback and test the product interactively. It allows you to collect information about the most and the least popular features as well as improve an MVP correspondingly. The product resolves a particular issue but has no additional functions so far, but early users are able to suggest improvements that might be introduced later.
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
It saves your time. Creating a minimum viable product mobile app as well as a web app requires as little time as possible. In addition, one can always adjust the development process. Earlier, custom software was developed according to initial specifications. But customer needs would inevitably change until it was completed. According to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lean_startup" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Lean Startup</a>, the startup MVP methodology we&rsquo;ve mentioned above, and Agilie team estimations, the first version of an MVP should take about 12 weeks or 3-4 months. Notably, this time includes not only programming but also design stages, that are an integral part of a minimum viable product development.
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
It enables you to attract investors and first paying customers. The benefits are obvious: your product starts generating money, thereby you can advance in adding new features to your MVP.
</li>
</ul>
<img src="https://d12zh9bqbty5wp.cloudfront.net/ckeditor_assets/pictures/999/content_mvp_3.jpg" alt="how to build mvp" width="800" height="511" />
<h2 dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">Outsourcing or in-house team?</h2>
Although designing a minimum viable product is only a part of the development cycle and is optional, it would be rather essential if you have a scale project. But whom to make responsible for it? There are several ways to build an MVP.
On the one hand, nothing prevents you from creating a minimum viable product yourself. Yet, it requires a deep knowledge of coding and a huge amount of time. Remember, one has to represent all MVP key features in the best light for as little time as possible, because the market is constantly on the march.
On the other hand, you can put together your own team. Still, it is way more difficult. Here one will have to consider a bunch of various aspects besides the project itself. Hiring people is a time-consuming process, and it takes a lot more to retain them. Besides, the quality of the product might be affected, as a newly gathered team will hardly operate as smoothly as an experienced one. Another thing is that you can hardly predict the results.
Eventually, the most suitable option of how to create a minimum viable product is to outsource it. Let us consider the pros and cons of the approach.
Pros:
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li dir="ltr">
outsourcing companies traditionally have a full stack of specialists who are experienced in building a minimum viable product: business analysts, developers, designers, QA specialist, etc;
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
having a well-established development process, they will be able to deliver the final product of better quality in less time;
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
you receive a well-designed, convincing, and competent solution;
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
transparent and well-established communication process; the customer could always be in touch with a team, be aware of what is being developed at the moment, and what is scheduled for later;
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
in some cases, an outsourcing company from another country may cost you less, but this largely depends on where are you from.
</li>
</ul>
Cons:
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li dir="ltr">
services provided by experienced teams will surely cost you more;
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
sooner or later you will need your own team, since VC rounds favor startups with an in-house team, while some work can still be outsourced;
</li>
<li dir="ltr">
absence of frequent personal meetings due to different locations.
</li>
</ul>
All in all, a minimum viable product development is one of the most appropriate models for startup companies. It takes a little time to make an MVP for a startup and equip it with a basic set of functions that can address the user issue. It enables you to save time, money, and human resources if one is frugal with them. We hope that this article granted you all the information you needed.
Whereas you have any questions left, we&rsquo;re always ready to provide you with our expert advice. <a href="https://agilie.com/contacts" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Contact us</a>!

How to build a minimum viable product and what benefits does it have? These and similar questions are disclosed in our article!

How to build a minimum viable product and what benefits does it have? Whereas you are concerned about these and similar questions, click here ➦ and read our article! We will describe you how to develop an MVP in detail ✅

How Your Startup Can Reduce Development Costs with an MVP

Read our tips on how to build a local search and review app and benefit from it.

Apps helping to search nearby are very popular right now 

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Starting the next round to raise money for your project, keep in mind that you'll be able to interest investors only if you package your idea properly. The appealing pitch deck design in addition to a thoughtful story will help you make a positive impression on potential contributors. You'll be much more persuasive than your competitors, which means your chances of getting the investment can increase significantly.
In our article, we're going to describe to you 10 basic rules for creating the perfect pitch deck. Following these simple tips, you'll undoubtedly surpass your rivals, whose PowerPoint presentations will look poor in comparison with your beautifully designed project.
<h2 dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">#1 First slide - first impression</h2>
The first impression is your best chance. In fact, it's all you have. Alas, once you make the wrong move, you&rsquo;ll find it difficult to resolve the consequences. 
Having produced the undesired impression, you totally influence the opinion of the person, and not in a good way. And when it comes to the pitch deck design, the person we're talking about is your possible investor. The conclusion from this rule is extremely simple: you have to pay special attention to the first page of your presentation.
To encourage the investor to continue exploring your project, the first page should attract notice, intrigue, and, perhaps, amaze the imagination. Surprise your future contributors and make them look forward to reading more. Convince them that you are able to solve their most burning problems or implement a long-standing dream.
<img style="border: none;" src="https://d12zh9bqbty5wp.cloudfront.net/ckeditor_assets/attachments/2119/content_pitch_deck_design_2_updated.jpg" alt="pitch deck" width="800" height="586" />
<h2 dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">#2 Avoid large text blocks</h2>
Unfortunately, today we're not fond of reading. Of course, sometimes it is imperative but even then few people would be inspired by the huge canvas of the text. And your investor is no exception.
20-30 words are more than enough for a successful pitch deck design. The main thing is to make sure these words catch, enthrall, and convince your reader.
<h2 dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">#3 One thought - one image</h2>
To avoid overloading the pitch deck, break your thoughts into separate blocks. Each slide should be the answer to a specific question and express a single idea.
Do not describe the problem on 5 slides just because you have found so many cool associative pictures to supplement your phrase and want to use them all.
<h2 dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">#4 Diagrams are the best option for visualization</h2>
Most people love pictures, and if the image also has a certain meaning, its significance rises many times. Diagrams, graphs, and the like are very useful in this respect, for they can describe graphically different numerical data: changes in the market, company growth, increased profits, improved demand, - in general, any statistics. 
Let's summarize: the human eye perceives the information submitted in a graphics format better, and therefore it is necessary to actively use it when creating a pitch deck design.
<img style="border: none;" src="https://d12zh9bqbty5wp.cloudfront.net/ckeditor_assets/attachments/2120/content_pitch_deck_design_4_updated.jpg" alt="pitch deck design" width="800" height="511" />
<h2 dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">#5 Association with your company</h2>
We hope your project is a holistic brand with its character, positioning, corporate identity, and other important attributes. If we are wrong, then, first of all, you should take care of this issue.
If you have successfully overcome the branding phase, make sure that the pitch deck design is a logical addition to your company and its continuation. To create a well-rounded image, use the logo, writing style, branded fonts, and colors from your brand book or style guide.
<h2 dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">#6 Find a balance between slides' number</h2>
A small number of pitch deck slides is just as bad as their excessive quantity: in the first case, you won't convince investors, in the second - you risk tiring them. So you have to find your golden mean. 
No one can help you in this matter, it's meaningless to give universal tips. Everything depends on the essence of the project, your ability to summarize the thoughts, and the persuasiveness of the arguments given.
<h2 dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">#7 Don&rsquo;t forget about the main &ldquo;W&rdquo; questions </h2>
When creating a pitch deck design, remember the five key "W" questions. Answering them, you'll be able to argue your position soundly and convince investors to make an impressive contribution.
<img style="border: none;" src="https://d12zh9bqbty5wp.cloudfront.net/ckeditor_assets/attachments/2121/content_pitch_deck_design_3_updated.jpg" alt="design" width="800" height="586" />
<ol dir="ltr">
<li style="text-align: justify;">WHAT? What do you offer? What problem do you solve? This is the positioning of your product. Describe it in a capacious and bright way.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">WHY? That is, why do you need raising money for your project? And why do your possible investors need your project implemented? &nbsp;It&rsquo;d be reasonable to bring a list of your benefits.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">WHOM? Whom will are you going to interest in your product? Describe your target audience.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">WHERE? Where are you planning to sell your product? Where will customers find it?</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">WHEN? When do you want to get started? When are you expecting to cross the break-even point and start making real profits?</li>
</ol>
Your entire pitch deck is, in fact, an expanded answer to these questions. Make them extremely clear and precise, they shouldn't require additional explanations.
However, our next rule is devoted to this very moment.
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<h2 dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">#8 Try to be as clear as possible</h2>
Remember about "the simplicity of genius", as they call it. Use clear associations, both verbal and graphic ones. Do not overload your pitch deck design.
Don&rsquo;t try to complicate the presentation, thinking that such an approach will make you look smarter or more innovative. Speak with your contributor in his language (since you've answered the &nbsp;"Whom?" question, you already know who he is, your potential investor).
<h2 dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">#9 Single style instead of chaos</h2>
This rule resonates with the fifth item we've described earlier. Your pitch deck design should cause associations with the company and be created in a single harmonious style. It applies to everything: the color scheme, fonts, the manner of expressing thoughts, the nature of the images used, and other similar factors.
Otherwise, your presentation will look unconvincing and unprofessional. It may seem that you have not given it enough time and effort. And if so, contributors can have a reasonable question: is it worth investing in a project which isn't able to inspire anyone, even its creator?
<h2 dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">#10 Color matters </h2>
Effective pitch deck design directly depends on the chosen color scheme. This may surprise you, after all, the color seems to be such trivia, why should you pay attention to it? However, the successful closing of your round is too important a goal to neglect any detail, even if you think it's insignificant 
So, what should you do to choose the right color palette?
<ul dir="ltr">
<li style="text-align: justify;">Think about the psychology of colors. Each color evokes its emotions and associations. Try to match the purpose of your project.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Analyze your competitors. You need to understand why they&rsquo;re using this particular solution - and surpass them.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Find the correlation between the design solutions and the success of the closing round.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Follow the trends. Being old-fashioned is sometimes useful, but not in the case when you are trying to interest investors in the relevance of your idea.</li>
</ul>
According to statistics, some pitch deck designs garner attention thanks to a moderate color scheme, while other companies use a lot of colors and, too, receive the investments they need. It all depends on the specific situation.
<h2 dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">Summary </h2>
As you see, the pitch deck design is quite a complicated task, there are many nuances, which should be taken into account. And the final goal is high - to get money for your project! 
Imagine, you can gain tens of thousands of dollars (or even millions) of investments by spending just a few thousand to properly design your pitch deck. It&rsquo;s worth trying, right?
After all, people always judge by appearances, and your project will certainly meet the same fate. So help them make the right decision. 
<div class="blog-banner__wrapper blog-banner__wrapper--large"><a class="blog-banner__link" style="background-image: url('https://d12zh9bqbty5wp.cloudfront.net/ckeditor_assets/attachments/1166/contact_us_1.jpg');" href="https://agilie.com/contacts" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="image-incut-hide" src="https://d12zh9bqbty5wp.cloudfront.net/ckeditor_assets/attachments/1166/contact_us_1.jpg" alt="agilie.com/contacts" width="850" height="300" /></a>
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<span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: S&ouml;hne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Noto Sans', sans-serif, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji'; font-size: 16px; white-space-collapse: preserve; background-color: #ffffff;">Dive into our article about 10 fundamental rules for crafting the perfect pitch deck for investors.

10 basic rules for creating the perfect pitch deck. Click here to find them out!

10 Rules of the Convincing Pitch Deck Design

Blockchain has become a paradigm shift that changes the operations of different industries. Nevertheless, like any other disruptive technology, a lot of myths and misconceptions have appeared. We should differentiate between fact and fiction to use blockchain technology effectively and responsibly. We can better understand what blockchain is (and isn&rsquo;t), how it functions, and the varied applications it holds besides cryptocurrencies by clarifying these misconceptions.
<div id="form-description" class="form-description" data-title="Key Takeaways" data-text="Blockchain is not just about Bitcoin; it is the technology that can transform different fields. 

Blockchains are strong but not flawless, and being aware of the possible weak sections is a very important thing in keeping the network safe.

Educational investment and partnerships with software development experts are the main factors for businesses that will use blockchain technology.">
<div class="form-description-title">Key Takeaways</div>
<ul style="text-align: justify;">
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
Blockchain is not just about Bitcoin; it is the technology that can transform different fields.&nbsp;
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" aria-level="1">
Blockchains are strong but not flawless, and being aware of the possible weak sections is a very important thing in keeping the network safe.
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
Educational investment and partnerships with software development experts are the main factors for businesses that will use blockchain technology.
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h2 dir="ltr" role="presentation">&nbsp;Myth 1: Blockchain and Bitcoin Are the Same</h2>
Among the most common myths about blockchain technology is the confusion between the blockchain and Bitcoin. Blockchain and Bitcoin were created simultaneously, so they are widely believed to be the same thing. However, we must understand that blockchain is a much broader term. It is the technology that created Bitcoin. While Bitcoin is indeed the first and most famous application of this technology, equating the two is like saying that Google is the Internet.
Blockchain is a decentralized digital ledger technology (DLT) that records transactions across multiple computers so that the records cannot be altered retroactively, without the alteration of all subsequent blocks and the consensus of the network.
This makes blockchain a naturally secure and transparent method of data and transaction recording.&nbsp;
Bitcoin is a type of digital currency based on blockchain technology and used for secure, anonymous, and decentralized financial transactions. The blockchain of Bitcoin acts as a public ledger for all the transactions in the Bitcoin network, thus, it is possible to transfer digital currency securely without the use of intermediaries like banks or governments.&nbsp;
Blockchain technology can be much broader than purely financial transactions. It can be used in different industries with various aims. Nowadays, many businesses are studying how blockchain can improve their operations (read more about <a href="https://agilie.com/blog/enterprise-blockchain-development-how-businesses-derive-benefits" target="_blank" rel="noopener">enterprise blockchain development</a> and <a href="https://agilie.com/blog/enterprise-blockchain-development-how-businesses-derive-benefits" target="_blank" rel="noopener">enterprise-grade blockchain development</a>).

Here are a few examples:
Healthcare: Blockchain can guarantee the safety of medical records storage and sharing. Thus, they are only available to authorized personnel and patients and lead to quicker diagnosis and treatment.​
Financial Services: Blockchain is a viable solution for international payments, real-time settlements, and improving transaction transparency and security.
Digital Identity:&nbsp; Blockchain can correct identity theft and fraud by adding digital identities that cannot be changed. For example, Estonia's e-Residency program is the first of its kind, a government-issued digital identity that allows entrepreneurs from anywhere in the world to operate and conduct business online in the EU.
Real Estate: Blockchain can simplify property transactions such as sales, leasing, and financing by reducing paperwork and improving transparency.
<a class="incut--wrap" style="transition-delay: 0s;" href="https://agilie.com/blog/the-evolution-of-blockchain-from-bitcoin-to-business-applications" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="incut"><img style="height: 344px; width: 778px;" src="https://d3pxw3l8cozu05.cloudfront.net/images/f9e66e179b6747ae54108f82f8ade8b3c25d76fd30afde6c395822c530196169-1716280829344.png" width="100%" height="100%" />Learn more about the evolution of Blockchain from Bitcoin to business applications.</a>
<h2 dir="ltr">Myth 2: Blockchain Transactions Are Always Anonymous</h2>
A frequent mistake people make about blockchain technology is that it is automatically anonymous to its users. However, the truth is more nuanced. Blockchain transactions are not strictly anonymous but pseudonymous.
Pseudonymity means that a user's identity is not directly tied to their blockchain transactions but rather to a digital pseudonym, typically a public key or a blockchain address. These addresses are like a sequence of letters and numbers, giving privacy but not total anonymity.
In contrast, anonymity would mean that the transactions are entirely disconnected from any identity, even a pseudonym, making them untraceable to the user. Blockchain does not usually provide this level of anonymity because the transaction history of each blockchain address is visible to anyone who accesses the blockchain.
Most blockchains are open ledgers, meaning that all transactions are visible to anyone who wishes to view them. This level of transparency ensures that while users' identities are not directly exposed, their transaction histories and patterns can be analyzed.<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> 
<img src="https://d3pxw3l8cozu05.cloudfront.net/images/f9e66e179b6747ae54108f82f8ade8b3c25d76fd30afde6c395822c530196169-1716280901953.png" />
While basic blockchain transactions offer pseudonymity, several enhancements and tools can increase privacy:
1. Mixing Services: Services like CoinJoin allow multiple users to combine their transactions into a single transaction with multiple inputs and outputs. This mixing blurs the traceability of any single coin, making it more difficult to link wallets with identities.
2. Privacy-Focused Cryptocurrencies: Some cryptocurrencies, like Monero and Zcash, are designed specifically to enhance privacy. Monero uses ring signatures and stealth addresses to hide the transactions&rsquo; origins, amounts, and destinations. Zcash allows users to shield transactions completely through its zk-SNARKs technology, which enables transactions to be verified without revealing the sender, receiver, or amount.
3. Use of Multiple Addresses: Users can increase their privacy by using multiple wallets or addresses, dispersing their transactions across several points, which makes it more challenging to link them to a single identity.
<a class="incut--wrap" style="transition-delay: 0s;" href="https://agilie.com/blog/blockchain-tech-trends-how-to-stay-ahead-of-the-curve" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="incut"><img style="height: 344px; width: 778px;" src="https://d3pxw3l8cozu05.cloudfront.net/images/f9e66e179b6747ae54108f82f8ade8b3c25d76fd30afde6c395822c530196169-1716280997458.png" width="100%" height="100%" />Explore key blockchain technology trends and stay ahead in its innovation with insights and practical examples.</a>
<h2 dir="ltr">Myth 3: Blockchains Are Unhackable</h2>
The idea that blockchains are completely unhackable is a frequently held misconception that can cause a dangerous level of complacency in security measures. While blockchain technology does offer robust security features, it is not immune to vulnerabilities. Knowing the security features employed and the situations in which breaches happen is very important for anyone who wants to use blockchain for their business.
Blockchain technology secures data through several mechanisms:
Cryptography: Every transaction on a blockchain is secured using cryptographic algorithms, which ensure that data can neither be altered nor read without the appropriate cryptographic key.
Decentralization: By distributing copies of the ledger across a network, blockchain reduces the risk of a single point of failure that could compromise the entire system.
Consensus Protocols: Blockchains use various consensus mechanisms, like Proof of Work (PoW) or Proof of Stake (PoS), to agree on the validity of transactions. These protocols prevent a malicious actor from changing even a single aspect of the blockchain.
<a class="incut--wrap" style="transition-delay: 0s;" href="https://agilie.com/expertise/fintech/blockchain-software" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="incut"><img style="height: 344px; width: 778px;" src="https://d3pxw3l8cozu05.cloudfront.net/images/f9e66e179b6747ae54108f82f8ade8b3c25d76fd30afde6c395822c530196169-1716281102044.png" width="100%" height="100%" />Learn more about our blockchain software development services.</a>
Despite these security measures, there are scenarios where blockchains can and have been compromised.
<h3 dir="ltr">Scenarios Under Which Breaches Have Occurred</h3>
51% Attacks: This type of attack happens when a single entity gains control of more than 50% of the network&rsquo;s mining hash rate or stake, allowing them to manipulate transactions and potentially double-spend coins.&nbsp;
Code Vulnerabilities: <a href="https://agilie.com/blog/secure-smart-contract-design-best-practices-in-solidity-programming" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Smart contracts</a>, which are self-executing contracts with the terms directly written into code, can contain vulnerabilities. One of the most famous incidents is the DAO attack on the Ethereum network. Hackers exploited a vulnerability in the DAO (Decentralized Autonomous Organization) smart contract code to siphon off one-third of the DAO&rsquo;s funds.
Phishing and Social Engineering: End-user security is often the weakest link in a blockchain system. Phishing attacks can allow attackers access to blockchain assets, bypassing network security measures, to steal private keys or wallet credentials.
<img src="https://d3pxw3l8cozu05.cloudfront.net/images/f9e66e179b6747ae54108f82f8ade8b3c25d76fd30afde6c395822c530196169-1716281254703.png" />
<h2 dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;">Conclusion</h2>
The blockchain technology is often seen as highly popular and muddled at the same time.&nbsp; Falsified myths are only part of the misconceptions that can mislead such a fantastic technology. Similarly, proper professional knowledge and strategy can help blockchain perform to its potential in various fields.&nbsp;<a href="https://agilie.com/blog/your-own-cryptocurrency-from-scratch-everything-you-need-to-know-to-create-your-cryptocurrency" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Building your own cryptocurrency</a> can be a strategic move for businesses seeking to innovate and tap into new digital markets.
At <a href="https://agilie.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Agilie</a>, we understand that dealing with a complex environment is also a significant challenge. This is why we create powerful blockchain systems and wish to educate our clients regarding the breadth of blockchain-utilizing services. Therefore, such solutions can be tailored to your industry's concrete necessities and problems.
<a class="incut--wrap" style="transition-delay: 0s;" href="https://agilie.com/contacts" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="incut"><img style="height: 344px; width: 778px;" src="https://d3pxw3l8cozu05.cloudfront.net/images/f9e66e179b6747ae54108f82f8ade8b3c25d76fd30afde6c395822c530196169-1716281316627.png" width="100%" height="100%" />Contact us to find out how our blockchain development services can help you achieve your goal.</a>

Discover the truths about blockchain technology as we debunk common myths and clarify its applications to empower businesses with informed integration.

Discover the truths about blockchain technology as we debunk common myths and clarify its applications to empower businesses with informed integration.

Blockchain Myths Debunked: Separating Fact from Fiction

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