When Kinnect dropped a new app that\u2019s all about preserving epic family tales and awkward holiday moments for generations to come, I knew I needed to take a closer look at its angel deck. <\/p>\n
The app is clever and can be thought of as a digital family scrapbook on steroids. This app isn\u2019t just about stashing photos; it\u2019s also got video and audio recording, plus a nifty timeline feature to organize your memories like a pro. Kinnect\u2019s grand plan is to make sure your grandkids get to hear straight from the source about that time Uncle Bob got stuck in a tree at the family reunion. <\/p>\n
In a world where our heritage can get lost in the shuffle of everyday life, Kinnect is here to remind us that family stories are worth saving \u2014 and, of course, that\u2019s all about storytelling. How well did the company tell its own story in the form of its angel pitch deck? Let\u2019s take a look.<\/p>\n
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We\u2019re looking for more unique pitch decks to tear down: <\/i>here\u2019s how you to get involved<\/a><\/i>. Read all our 90+ Pitch Deck Teardowns <\/i>here<\/a><\/i>.<\/i><\/p>\n The Kinnect pitch deck is playing on the heart strings in a big way, which is a great approach to storytelling when you are talking about startups that offer a human touch.<\/p>\n The problem slide in Kinnect\u2019s pitch deck is compelling and well-executed. The team has clearly articulated a significant pain point, one that resonates deeply and is immediately relatable. The statistics cited are particularly impactful: Approximately 44 million American adults are significantly lonely, with about 30% of older adults feeling isolated. This alone paints a stark picture of the social isolation epidemic.<\/p>\n Even more powerful is the revelation that over half of Americans frequently feel misunderstood or unknown by those around them. The use of emotive and powerful language effectively underscores the urgency and magnitude of the issue, making it clear that this is a widespread and pressing problem.<\/p>\n However, while the problem identified is undeniably significant, it also feels somewhat nebulous. It\u2019s hard to imagine a single product that can address all these diverse and deeply rooted issues of loneliness and disconnection. Tightening the focus of the problem statement might help in presenting a more cohesive and actionable solution. A slightly narrower and more focused problem could make the pitch even stronger and more believable.<\/p>\n The \u201cInsights\u201d slide in Kinnect\u2019s pitch deck is a great example of powerful storytelling. By combining the problem with its impact, the team has effectively highlighted how big and important this problem really is.<\/p>\n Kinnect has painted a vivid picture of the problem\u2019s effects, which helps investors understand the depth of the issue and dream big about the potential market for Kinnect. It makes the problem feel more tangible and sets the stage for the solution, showing that there\u2019s a real and urgent need for what they\u2019re building.<\/p>\n However, I also need to add that I don\u2019t love<\/em> this slide. Many parts of it can be seen as arguments against<\/em> the app: Being unaware of existing solutions, for example, means that there may just not be a real market for this. And the differentiation between family and chosen family is a strange thing to highlight as an advantage. If distinguishing between the two is important to people, the competition could easily address this, so it isn\u2019t as much of a competitive advantage as you might think.<\/p>\n A little more focus and clarity could help strengthen the argument.<\/p>\n The \u201cWhy me?\u201d type of information is typically included in the founder or team slide, but using it as a storytelling point here works well. Including the personal drive behind the venture can be incredibly powerful, as it explains why the founder will never give up on solving this problem.<\/p>\n Omar\u2019s personal experiences \u2014 losing his grandfather to Alzheimer\u2019s a few years ago and a friend to leukemia a month ago \u2014 are heart-wrenching and paint a vivid picture of his motivation. It shows that this is not just a business endeavor for him. It\u2019s a deeply personal mission.<\/p>\n Founders, let\u2019s get real. Every slide in your deck should scream, \u201cInvest in me!\u201d If it doesn\u2019t, it\u2019s dead weight. Sure, personal stories tug at the heartstrings, but investors aren\u2019t here for that. They want to know why your sob story makes them money. The \u201cWhy Omar is doing this\u201d slide? Sweet, but vague. If it doesn\u2019t clearly tie back to why your company will crush it. It\u2019s just fluff. Remember, if it doesn\u2019t make an investor reach for their wallet, it doesn\u2019t belong in your deck.<\/p>\n There\u2019s a ton of information missing from the deck. Crucial details like the go-to-market strategy, user acquisition plans, specific team member credentials, and concrete milestones are absent. Filling in these gaps is essential to provide a comprehensive and convincing pitch. Use a checklist<\/a> to make sure you have everything covered!<\/p>\n The \u201cFounder\u201d slide needs some polishing to really shine. Omar\u2019s 10+ years of experience in performance brand and product marketing is impressive on the surface, but it\u2019s crucial to tie that specific experience directly to Kinnect. Highlighting past roles or projects that are particularly relevant to the company\u2019s mission would strengthen this slide significantly. Investors want to see how his background directly contributes to the success of Kinnect.<\/p>\n Omar doesn\u2019t mention his last name anywhere in the deck, which raises a red flag. Investors need to be able to quickly look up and verify the founder\u2019s background. Including his full name and a link to his LinkedIn profile would add credibility and transparency. Speaking of LinkedIn, it\u2019s a bit concerning that Omar\u2019s profile doesn\u2019t reflect the 10 years of experience<\/a> mentioned here. Ensuring that his LinkedIn is up-to-date and consistent with the information in the pitch deck is crucial. Investors will check, and inconsistencies can undermine trust. Without job titles and just a vague idea of how the founder\u2019s past experience maps to the current venture, it\u2019s all a bit fuzzy.<\/p>\n There also seems to be a lack of clear founder\/market fit. The slide mentions a passion for storytelling, human connection and mental wellness, but it\u2019s not immediately obvious how this translates into a strategic advantage for Kinnect. To wit: I, too, have a passion for storytelling, human connection and mental wellness, but I probably wouldn\u2019t be a great founder for this particular startup. Get specific, connect the dots.<\/p>\n Drawing a direct line between Omar\u2019s experience and the company\u2019s goals will make this slide much more compelling. Adding more specific, verifiable information and making sure it\u2019s consistent across all platforms would significantly improve the founder\/market fit part of the story. <\/p>\n The \u201cSubscription Model\u201d slide presents an ambitious goal: a potential yearly subscription revenue of $204.8 million. That\u2019s certainly venture-scale, so kudos for aiming high. However, there are several aspects that need further clarification and support.<\/p>\n My immediate response is that it\u2019s going to be hard to find customers. I want to see predicates or comparable examples. This doesn\u2019t feel like an urgent need, so showing other types of products or services that families are willing to pay $80 per year for would strengthen the argument. It\u2019s essential to demonstrate that there is a precedent for this kind of spending \u2014 and I can\u2019t think of any offhand.<\/p>\n The term \u201cfamily\u201d needs more definition in this context. What are we memorializing, and how does it resonate with potential users? It\u2019s also unclear what Kinnect offers that can\u2019t be accomplished by existing free services like Facebook. Basically, this deck doesn\u2019t answer why families would choose to pay for Kinnect when they have free alternatives available.<\/p>\n Nowhere in the deck is there a go-to-market plan, which means that I\u2019m further worried how the founders plan to convince customers to shell out $80 per year. Without a clear strategy, it\u2019s difficult to see how they will reach and convert their target audience. Providing a detailed plan on customer acquisition and retention would make the deck far more compelling overall and this slide more believable.<\/p>\n The \u201cTraction\u201d slide is supposed to showcase Kinnect\u2019s progress, but it doesn\u2019t quite hit the mark. Here\u2019s why:<\/p>\n Stating that Kinnect is backed by TechStars through the Rising Stars Fund might sound impressive, but TechStars isn\u2019t exactly in its golden era right now<\/a>. Plus, raising money from an accelerator isn\u2019t the slam dunk of traction it\u2019s being made out to be. Investors want to see actual proof that people care about what\u2019s being built, not just a pat on the back from an accelerator.<\/p>\n The slide claims the team is 100% working on Kinnect. What does that even mean? Have the founders quit their day jobs and are now living on ramen while they hustle? Founders being fully committed is the bare minimum; the slide should explain what this dedication has achieved.<\/p>\n There\u2019s also the boast about recruiting a phenomenal founding team, but the team slide shows only one person, Omar. Where\u2019s the rest of this supposed dream team, and what makes them phenomenal? Investors need names, roles and impressive backgrounds.<\/p>\n Then there\u2019s the mention of being a member of Chicago\u2019s 1871 innovation hub. Cool, but what does that actually mean? Why does being part of this hub give Kinnect a competitive edge? Without context, it\u2019s just another buzzword.<\/p>\n None of these points really screams \u201ctraction.\u201d Investors are looking for real, tangible progress, like user growth, revenue, partnerships \u2014 not fluff. It\u2019s time to dig deeper and show the hard facts that prove Kinnect is on the path to success.<\/p>\n If you want your own pitch deck teardown featured on TechCrunch, here\u2019s more information<\/a>. Also, check out\u00a0all our Pitch Deck Teardowns<\/a>\u00a0all collected in one handy place for you!<\/p>\n<\/div>\nSlides in this deck<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Three things to love about Kinnect\u2019s pitch deck<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Powerful problem slide<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/meet-kinnect-v2-wip-omar-alvarez-slide-4-of-14.png?w=680\")
Explain the impact of the problem<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/meet-kinnect-v2-wip-omar-alvarez-slide-7-of-14.png?w=680\")
A personal touch<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/meet-kinnect-v2-wip-omar-alvarez-slide-10-of-14.png?w=680\")
Three things that Kinnect could have improved<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Dubious team<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/meet-kinnect-v2-wip-omar-alvarez-slide-2-of-14.png?w=680\")
Pie-in-the-sky business model<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/meet-kinnect-v2-wip-omar-alvarez-slide-6-of-14.png?w=680\")
Wait, this isn\u2019t traction<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/meet-kinnect-v2-wip-omar-alvarez-slide-11-of-14.png?w=680\")
The full pitch deck<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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