I agree with Fred on this, and am glad this is a trend. A "presentation" it static and unengaging for both sides: VC's can tune out and avoid eye contact. Entrepreneurs can act without thinking, helping to avoid stress. The results benefit no one.<p>It's been my experience in VC that few pitches which don't evolve into true conversations are effective. So one should plan to build conversion, to build a connection with your audience.<p>That said, I do like having slides to fall back on, or refer to, when needed. But I try to minimize the time that anyone looks at them, vs. at other people.
After 5 years and 100s of Investment Decks I think investment decks are actually terrible for founders. All they do is give investors infinite reasons to say no. All of our best investors came on board without seeing a deck - and it was a long coffee or dinner that was the conversation.<p>I've never met an investor that said "You know slide 12 really sold me" but plenty that said "Slide 12 really showed me that this isn't right for us right now."<p>Also none of the big 5, or whatsapp etc... had investor decks. Media kits, sure, but no investor decks.