Do you have an innovative hospitality startup idea that’s ready for prime-time? If so, chances are you need to put together a pitch deck. This is the keystone of any investor presentation – it provides executive-level insight into your business plan, market opportunity, and growth strategy. But what should a successful pitch deck look like?
To give you some ideas and inspiration on how a top-flight deck can propel your hospitality startup forward, as well as insight into the thinking behind these innovative businesses, we’ve looked at five exemplary examples from top hospitality startups in the industry right now. Get ready to learn how these incredible teams captured both tangible metrics and emotional appeal with their presentations!
What is a Pitch Deck and Why Do Hospitality Startups Need One
Starting a hospitality business can be a rewarding venture – whether it be a hotel, hospitality technology platform, or something else related to the hospitality industry. However, in order to secure the important funding rounds that can make a success of the business, hospitality startups need effective pitch decks to help get their message across.
As its heart, a pitch deck is the slide deck for a presentation that outlines the company’s mission, values and goals for potential investors (such as venture capitalists or angel investors) or other stakeholders. It is made up of various slides, images and text. As startup founders pitch their companies for investment, they will reference the slide deck and the information and graphics in the deck.
The pitch deck is also a key communication tool that is used in networking for startups. It can be used to introduce the startup or provide a quick overview of the business and idea, and is often attached in initial email communications with potential investors, advisors, and partners.
In the best case scenario, a first-class pitch deck can get an investor so excited that they start sharing the deck with other investors, which can be a terrific development for startups working hard to close their funding rounds. An interested investor may also be motivated to share a deck with key figures he or she may know in the travel industry which can be a key stepping stone in the growth journey of a startup.
(For more on startup fundraising read our articles: How to Raise Venture Capital Funding for Your Startup, Pre-Seed Funding: What it Is and How to Get It. How to Create a Startup Pitch, 15 Pre-Seed Venture Capital Firms Who Invest in Early Stage Startups).
The Growth of Tech Companies and Startups in the Hospitality Industry
Like in many other sectors, the hospitality industry has been making leaps and bounds in its technology in the last few years and that looks like it will be continuing for the forseeable future. From using artificial intelligence to enhance the guest experience in the hotel industry, to software that can streamline operations in restaurants, to the kind of online platform that can facilitate low-cost, direct bookings for travel companies, technology is revolutionizing the hospitality industry with solutions that increase revenue while reducing costs, and providing an overall improved customer experience for everyone.
The Importance of Funding Rounds to Hospitality Startups
All that being said, technology costs money and for most startups that means running a gauntlet of funding rounds to continue developing the innovation that fuels their growth. Without the inflow of cash from investors, many startups would not be able to meet the initial high operating costs needed to get off the ground.
What Investors Look for in a Pitch Deck
While the details vary between investors, there are a few key things that potential investors generally look for in a pitch deck. These can be broken into three main categories: market opportunity, competitive landscape, and financials.
First of all, they want to assess how big is the total addressable market (TAM) for your product or service. What are the trends in terms of demand, supply and pricing? How will your solution fit into this landscape and how big can it grow?
Secondly, they want to understand the competitive landscape. Who are the direct and indirect competitors to your product/service? What advantages do you have over them that sets you apart?
Finally, they want to see the financials. Will your product/service be profitable? What are the projected revenues and costs? How will you use their investment to achieve the milestones you’ve set for yourself?
While these are complicated topics, it’s just as important that a startup conveys all of this information in a clear, concise, and persuasive way.
For more on how to build a stellar pitch deck, read our article on How to Create an A+ Venture Capital Pitch Deck.
Let’s take a look at how some highly successful hospitality startups have done it!
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5 Examples of Hospitality Pitch Decks by Venture-Backed Startups
To give some insight into how some highly-successful hospitality startups have done it, let’s take a look at 5 pitch decks from venture-backed hospitality startups!
1). The AirBnB Pitch Deck
Hospitality Startup Details:
Business Model: Marketplace
Industry: Hospitality, Travel Industry
Customer Model: B2B, B2C
Hospitality Pitch Deck Details:
Amount Raised: $600K
Deck Funding Year: 2008
Round: Seed
Company Link: Airbnb
AngelList: AngelList
One of the best-known of all recent startups, San Francisco-based Airbnb is an online hospitality and booking platform, allowing people to rent or lease short-term lodging including vacation rentals, apartment rentals, homestays, hostel beds, or hotel rooms. AirBnB was founded by Brian Chesky, Joe Gebbia, and Nathan Blecharczyk when they started renting floor space in their San Francisco apartment one weekend during a busy design conference.
AirBnB has since completely disrupted the travel industry, and now operates in more than 81,000 cities and 191 countries all over the world. Airbnb allows users to find and book accommodations for various price points around the world. The company has grown rapidly since its launch in 2008 and now serves millions of guests each year.
AirBnB was funded through several venture capital funding rounds. This pitch deck, however, is the deck from their 2008 round which raised $600K, and is probably one of the best-known pitch decks available. In retrospect, it’s not the prettiest deck around, but it’s an interesting glimpse in how AirBnB’s startup founders were able to quickly and concisely explain their ground-breaking innovation and why travelers would want it.
2). The DigitalOutposts Pitch Deck
Hospitality Startup Details:
Business Model: Marketplace
Industry: Collaboration, Logistics, Real Estate, Travel
Customer Model: B2C
Hospitality Pitch Deck Details:
Amount Raised: $100K
Deck Funding Year: 2017
Round: Seed
Company Link: DigitalOutposts
AngelList: AngelList
DigitalOutposts was a platform that hosts groups of remote working professionals and graduate students in distinctive coworking destinations.
3). The Sonder Pitch Deck
Hospitality Startup Details:
Business Model: Marketplace
Industry: Hospitality, Travel, Proptech, Real Estate
Customer Model: C2C
Hospitality Pitch Deck Details:
Amount Raised: $225M
Deck Funding Year: 2019
Round: Late Stage
Company Link: Sonder
AngelList: AngelList
Sonder is a hospitality technology company that provides short-term rentals around the world. Through their unique booking platform, travelers make direct bookings for stylish, fully furnished apartments in major cities around the world such as London, Paris, New York, San Francisco, and in the Middle East. From cozy studios to spacious lofts, Sonder has something for every traveler. With 24/7 guest support and a team of local experts on call in each city they serve, Sonder offers an unmatched level of service and convenience in the luxury travel experience.
4). Homigo Pitch Deck
Hospitality Startup Details:
Business Model: Marketplace
Industry: Hospitality, Real Estate, Proptech,
Customer Model: B2C, B2B
Hospitality Pitch Deck Details:
Amount Raised: $200K
Deck Funding Year: 2015
Round: Seed
Company Link: Homigo
AngelList: AngelList
Homigo is an innovative real estate company that provides affordable housing solutions for individuals and families in India. Founded by a team of experienced real estate professionals, Homigo’s mobile property platform offers convenient, secure, and affordable longterm rentals that are accessible to all. With their extensive network of properties spread across the country, Homigo strives to provide quality living experiences to its customers.
5). Headout Pitch Deck
Hospitality Startup Details:
Business Model: App
Industry: Hospitality, Travel, Events, Entertainment
Customer Model: B2C
Hospitality Pitch Deck Details:
Amount Raised: $1.8M
Deck Funding Year: 2015
Round: Seed
Company Link: Headout
AngelList: AngelList
Headout is an online travel company and platform designed to make planning trips and experiences easy, efficient and fun. The startuip offers a wide range of experiences, from guided tours and reservations at local restaurants to tickets for museums, attractions, and shows – all at competitive prices. Headout also provides helpful local insights to ensure that travelers have the best experience possible in each destination.
Bottom Line: Hospitality Startups and Pitch Decks
In conclusion, it is evident that a well-crafted pitch deck is an essential tool for hospitality startups. Each of the five examples provided in this blog demonstrate that each of these companies have embraced the changing times and strategies to create a successful pitch deck. Crafting a compelling pitch deck can open up opportunities and investors, help with positioning within a certain sector and even allow startups to reach new heights by attracting customers. Through this blog post, readers now have learned more about why hospitality startups should have a pitch deck and seen some valuable examples. Now it’s time to get creative with your ideas so you can not only impress potential investors but succeed as a hospitality startup!
Need More Pitch Deck Inspiration?
Check out our:
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16 Best Social Media Pitch Deck Examples from Well-Known Startups,
31 Best Marketplace Pitch Deck Examples from VC-Funded Startups,
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5 Best Crypto Pitch Decks from VC-Funded Startups,
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and 19 Best Edtech Pitch Deck Examples.’
