The Pitch Deck Pivot

Sean and Allison meet in the Denver office to review their burn rate and prepare for a critical investor meeting.

The Pitch Deck Pivot

Listen and choose the right answer

What is the main concern regarding their financial situation?

• They have too many designers on the payroll.
• Their runway is very short and the funding round might fall through.
• Their monthly burn rate is actually decreasing too fast.

What would happen if the funding fails, according to Allison?

• They will downsize the team and freeze spending.
• They will immediately close the company in Seattle.
• They will pivot to building mobile games.

What urgent task does Allison give Sean?

• To interview three new UX candidates.
• To redesign the investor pitch deck before tonight.
• To update the financial spreadsheet for the board.

How does Sean react to the urgent design request?

• He refuses to work late and leaves the office.
• He complains about the budget and asks for a raise.
• He accepts the challenge and opens Figma to redesign the slides.

Listen again and complete the sentences

• Allison: Sean, do you have a minute to look at our latest ____ numbers before the board arrives?
• Sean: Sure, Allison. I just opened the spreadsheet on my laptop. Our ____ is getting dangerously short.
• Allison: It really is. Supposing our upcoming ____ falls through next month, we won't last past November.
• Sean: That's terrifying. If it weren't for our last ____ looking so positive, they'd have pulled the plug already.
• Sean: Thanks, but nice words don't pay salaries. What's our ____ if the venture capitalists walk away?

Sources: photo by Pavel Danilyuk on Pexels