How to Build Your Series C Round Pitch Deck? [Free PDF Attached]

What is Series C Financing?

Series C financing is the third stage of venture capital financing.

After completing their Series A and B rounds, companies often seek further funding for business expansion and growth. This investment round aims to help a company raise enough money for R&D and development costs with a new product or meet a specific short-term goal.

As with the previous two rounds, the investors are usually high-wealth individuals or venture capital funds.

Series C does not always involve a specific pre-defined investment amount. Instead, investors may choose to fund the company over time, with a set number of installments. This type of installment funding is called a 'Milestone-Based' round.

When a Series C round is complete, the funds will likely be used for product development and marketing.

How Does Series C Funding Round Work?

Via Giphy

Series C rounds are usually the last stage before a startup can go public.

Venture capitalists usually invest between $1 million and $7.5 million in a Series C round.

The typical valuation of a late-stage startup can range from $20 million to $100 million. The percentage of the company, usually 10%-25%, is decided first, and then based on this percentage, a valuation has to be determined.

There are two types of series C funding — Backup or Growth.

Backup is a small sum invested if the company requires additional funds for day-to-day operations. If the company does not require additional funds, this investment round is often called a growth round. Backup rounds are typically put forth by angel investors and seed-funding companies, whereas venture capitalists usually put forth growth rounds. The primary purpose of a backup round is to help the company in an emergency.

A growth round aims to increase its overall value to prepare it for an initial public offering (IPO). Investors may also inject the necessary capital to expand the company's operations, finance new equipment or other day-to-day expenses, and develop new products or services. These investments are usually made by venture capitalists looking for more significant returns on their investments as the company has already begun to prove its potential.

Series C funding rounds often take the form of a convertible note, as opposed to a standard agreement.

A convertible note can be an alternative to equity because it provides the investor with debt-like benefits available at their investment.

Series C rounds are followed by D rounds, known as the pre-IPO rounds.

Click here to explore the world's largest collection of Pitch Decks!

Key Players Involved in a Series C Funding Round

Since series C rounds are typically the last round of funding before an IPO (initial public stock offering), it is crucial to understand who is involved in the process.

These Are the Key Players in a Series C Funding Round:

Entrepreneurs:

Typically, entrepreneurs have equity in the company, so they are motivated to attract more funding. Although the entrepreneurs' target is usually profitable growth, they will accept capital that allows the company to expand into new markets.

Co-Founders:

The co-founder's interest in a Series C funding round is slightly different from the entrepreneurs. Co-founders may have been with the company since its inception and have equity, but they are employees now and less likely to own a majority of the company. Their motivation is more focused on raising capital, resulting in equity-based compensation for them or their family.

VCs (Venture Capital Firms):

VCs are motivated by financial returns and exits. They invest in companies that will boost their portfolio and increase the value of their funds. VCs seek creative ways to expand into new markets, and they want to provide the tools to compete in the market. VCs also provide critical advice and mentoring for entrepreneurs, especially with a significant investment at stake.

Board of Directors:

Board members are independent, third-party advisors who oversee a company's critical decisions. They set the strategic direction and help the company grow. Board members are also responsible for ensuring that investors realize a return on their investment.

Board Members (Voting):

These are the board's people who have voting rights.

Non-Investor Directors:

Non-investor directors are independent board members that are not affiliated with any investors. They help create a diverse board, ensuring no single point of failure.

Investor Directors:

These are members of the board who represent investors rather than the company or other independent directors.

Investor/Voting Directors: This is a hybrid position that includes the VCs and other investors and those with voting rights.

What Are the Challenges Associated With a Series C Financing?

The challenges that can emerge during a series C funding round are numerous and diverse. A series C funding round can increase business and revenue, additional scrutiny from investors and lenders, increased pressure to provide more information, and the need to establish a more professional image for the company.

The biggest challenge that can emerge during a series C funding round is maintaining current levels of investor confidence. Each additional challenge that the company encounters increases the risk factor and decreases the probability of receiving additional funding rounds.

This may not be an easy challenge to overcome. Still, the most effective way for a company to increase its chances of securing additional rounds of funding is by working closely with its investors and lenders during this period.

In addition to working closely with its investors and lenders, a company must establish a more professional image during a series C funding round. If the company cannot establish a professional image for its business, it will have no hope of attracting further rounds of funding.

A company should also avoid the mistake of thinking that a series C funding round is a time to take a break from their business. Many companies stop working and take an extended break once they have completed a series C funding round, but this is the wrong move.

Instead, a company should continue building its business and attracting new customers. A series C funding round is the best time for a company to establish solid sales and marketing channels for their business because they have greater access to investor money at this time.

The Perfect Funding Proposal for Series C Funding Round

You've built a great company with a strong product and impressive user base, but you need to raise money to keep the momentum going.

Raising money is hard, especially when your competition is well-funded and has been around longer than you have.

Telling your story clearly and concisely is essential for raising money. This guide will teach you how to build a Series C round pitch deck to help you stand out from the crowd and convince investors to write you a check. Scroll down as we enlist the key slides to be included in a Series C pitch deck:

Slide 1: The Cover

The cover slide must be eye-catching and show your business proposition in a few seconds through a high-quality image.

It should include your company logo and tagline and avoid having too much text on the first slide.

Download Series C Round Pitch Deck

Slide 2: Table of Contents

The Table of Contents is the part of the deck that lists all sections and subsections in it. It's helpful because the reader can quickly get an idea of the topics in the deck, and they can use it to navigate through it quickly.

Download Series C Round Pitch Deck

Slide 3: Company Overview

The company overview is the most elemental slide in your pitch deck. This is where you introduce your company to the audience. It provides your potential investors with a quick look at your current position and the current market you operate in through critical financial details. The slide must also shed light on the company's vision and mission.

Download Series C Round Pitch Deck

Slide 4: Funding History of the Company

A company's funding history is crucial because it lets potential investors know that this isn't a fly-by-night, a get-rich-quick scheme. It shows that the company has staying power and determination while proving it can go head-to-head with its competitors.

Download Series C Round Pitch Deck

Slide 5: The Problem Statement

A Problem slide in a pitch deck may be easy to overlook. However, this slide is essential for two reasons:

The Problem slide is the first thing that an audience reads, and it's what they use to establish their frame of reference. Before they've read anything else, the Problem statement defines what's going on and why you're talking to them.

The Problem slide is where the audience forms their expectations for what you are about to tell them.

But if you have a poorly written Problem statement, it's where the audience turns into skeptics: they start mentally picking apart your ideas and looking for flaws.

Download Series C Round Pitch Deck

Slide 6: The Solution

Once The Problem is understood, explain how your idea solves the issue. This way, you create a complete and compelling narrative.

To Develop an Effective Solution Slide, We Recommend the Following:

Keep it short and straightforward (maximum 2 - 3 short paragraphs)
Be specific to the type of problem in The Problem slide. For example, different solutions exist in various markets depending on what type of problem you are trying to solve
Show how your idea is different or better than existing solutions that already exist in the market.
If possible, show that your solution is best in class or pick a few competitors and explain why your solution is better than theirs
Quantify the potential impact of your solution.

Ensure you have examples to support the idea being genuine, i.e., which other companies are using similar ideas or the consequences of a successful solution?

Download Series C Round Pitch Deck

Slide 7: Key Performance Highlights and Sales Channels

The value of the Key Performance Highlights and Sales Channels slide in a pitch deck is that it provides a concise overview of your business and its traction. The slide should be an informational summary for anyone who has not followed your company closely.

The Key Performance Highlights Slide Should Cover Three Things:

The state of your business today - where you are, who you are, why it matters
Key metrics that show the progress your company has made in the past period
Metrics that measure customer adoption of your product - who you are targeting and how many customers you have now
The Sales Channels slide should cover two things:
How your target customers are being reached today - social media, PR, direct sales reps, etc.

Download Series C Round Pitch Deck

Slide 8: Founding Members of the Company

The Founding Members slide of a pitch deck is another must-have slide. Especially for first-time founders without an extensive network, it is beneficial to highlight the relationships with their founding team and board members.

The slide gives an overview of your essential co-founders and your board members. It is important to list as many important contacts as possible and put yourself in the center as the company's CEO.

You don't have to put all your contacts on the slide. List important investors, founders, advisors, board members only.

Download Series C Round Pitch Deck

Slide 9: Future Goals and Investment Ask

The final step is essential to show investors. The more ambitious the plan, the more attractive it will be to investors.

The slide is the last chance for the startup to get across any information not covered earlier in the presentation or to tie up any loose ends.

The slide is usually a high-level view of the startup's future roadmap and its most important milestones. It is an opportunity to lay out ambitious plans, but it should be realistic enough not to risk initial investment by overselling the startup's potential.

Download Series C Round Pitch Deck

SlideTeam - We Design The Best Pitch Deck For Seed Rounds

If you are looking for a pitch deck design that is guaranteed to get the attention of potential investors, look no further than SlideTeam. Our experts can help you create a stunning pitch deck that will captivate your audience from start to finish.

Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help you raise the money you need to take your business to the next level. Thanks for reading!

Download the free Series C Round Pitch Deck PDF.