On-Demand Course for Founders

Don’t Hate Your Deck

Turn your fundraising deck from Meh to Wow in three weeks!
Where do I sign up?Invite me to teach to your portfolio
Trusted by venture funds, accelerators, foundations, consulates, and universities around the globe

It's about time we got intentional with our decks

Story

Learn how to craft a narrative that (genuinely) captivates investors
1

Content

Learn how to build a fundraising deck that blends information with story
2

Vision

Weave everything into a killer deck that will fuel your company's growth
3
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DECODING INVESTOR FEEDBACK

When investors say “you’re too early-stage,” they mean “I have no idea what you do”.

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Did you ever feel like investors told you one thing, but you felt it was a polite way of saying something else?
The goal of a deck is to get a first meeting, not to get an investment. Sometimes I get to slide 7 or 8 and I still don’t know what the company does. That isn't good for their chances of getting a meeting.
Abby Lyall
Tribeca Venture Partners
I spend minutes reviewing a deck before diving in deeper. If I can't understand what your company does in five minutes or if your deck buries information in poorly designed formatting, I'll move on and rarely follow-up for a meeting
Nolan English
SOSV
At dlab we look at over 1,000 deals some years, nearly every one of them comes over the transom with a deck. The majority are formulaic, boring, uninspiring crap. It's a sales exercise. Ya gotta put your sales hat on. GET SOME HELP if you don't know what you're doing!
Shawn Broderick
dlab
It's not just what you say, but how you say it. Clear and concise messaging is critical for companies at all stages, and understanding who your audience is and tailoring the message to them is essential.
Sarah Applebaum
Pangaea Ventures
Your deck is often your first opportunity to make an impression and it is shocking how many decks don’t take the care needed to tell a compelling story.
David Brown
Impellent Ventures
My intake team at Aperture VC reviews thousands of decks a year. A shockingly high percentage never get past this stage because it’s not clear what the startup does.
Garnet Heraman
Aperture VC
As a private equity entrepreneur, there is no shortage of brand decks that come through our doors for consideration. What is most astonishing to me is the blend of unintelligible information, the inability to drive a concrete and condensed message forward and frankly, mis-information. You have roughly a minute or less to grab the attention of most investing firms.
Melissa Facchina
Siddhi Capital
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The Hate Your Deck™️ Method

Transform “No” into
“Tell Me More”

Learn how to make investors love your deck by building a slide outline step-by-step with our course (which you can then design or have our design team finish).
Crack the code to deck storytelling
Outline a flow that is investor-friendly
Spice it up with bragging done right
Where do I sign up?

Deck building & beyond

Course & Community

Join an exclusive group of founders who are fundraising, build strong connections, and dry run your deck before sending to investors.

Special workshops

Get a private invite to our exclusive masterminds with high profile investors on positioning, fundraising campaigns, working with illustrators, and negotiating with investors.

Live Lectures

Join live workshops every quarter to go through the deck building content, get real feedback on your story, and work with peers on your deck.

Over 350+ founders turned course graduates across 6 continents

Highlight intentional
Don’t Hate Your Deck Course

Invest in your deck, and
they'll invest in you.

Essential
1,500
USD
Access to the course, community, and asynchronous feedback from Mike
12-month access to course content
Signature fundraising deck template
Access to a community of other founders and investors
Option to join when the course is taught live
Virtual networking events
Exercise templates
Get a private invite to our exclusive workshops and Circle community so that you can always stay ahead of the fundraising game.
Submit Your Info
Premium
2,500
USD
Same as Essential, but add office hours with Hate Your Deck
One-on-one consultation with Mike, or
Two hours with the Hate Your Deck team:
Storyteller
Designer
Copywriter
Get personalized, no holds-barred, teardown of your fundraising deck from the most professional deck builders in the biz.
Submit Your Info
Portfolio
On Request
USD
Access to the course for your entire portfolio
Provide the Essential or Premium options for your entrepreneurs at one fixed price.
Taught Live: The course is taught live for your portfolio. Afterward, everyone has access to the platform.
Optional Office Hours: Add office hours for your companies if they’d like extra 1:1 time.
*Limited availability based on designer available*
Let's Talk
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Want your program to fund this? Check out the FAQs.
testimonials

With 4.8 out of 5 feedback scores from 300+ graduates, sometimes it's best to let them do the talking.

I’ve been putting pitch decks together since 1994. My first job was with The Walt Disney Company which was militant about PPTs. I got my MBA at Harvard Business School and most of my career was in private equity (Oaktree & Apollo), all of which used PPT heavily.  When I transitioned into tech, I watched countless videos about pitch decks and sought the advice of numerous VCs.  Mike Lightman still had a ton to teach me.  His course is different. He explains the rationale behind the different elements of storytelling to VCs.  It’s really good stuff!
Bennett Kim
CEO of ZNest
We had a very good experience working with Mike. He was a good ressource to identify and structure our key messages but what he really brings to the table is the science of storytelling ... We had a good story, with Mike's support, we made it great.
Martin Larocque
CEO, Electro Carbon Inc.
Michael is a true professional who tells it like it is. His critic is on point and followed with excellent advice to improve your pitch to potential customers and investment professionals.  I really appreciated his effort in helping me create the story of Axine that is compelling and highlights our best attributes. Whether you are a start up or growing your company, engagement with Michael will definitely be worth your while.
Mark Ralph
President & CEO, Axine Water Technologies
I happily recommend Mike and his (Don’t) Hate Your Deck method. His approach was caring, calm, generous, and insightful. I was impressed by his ability to impart knowledge, provide thoughtful feedback, and inspire me to reach new heights.
Bettina Stern
Co-Founder & Co-CEO, Chaia Tacos
Mike is one of the most dynamic and passionate professionals I've worked with as a small business owner. His enthusiasm makes it easy to learn. He helped me both see the big picture and unlock missed opportunities in the small details of my company's messaging. If you're at a crossroads in trying to understand your business, your mission, or your story and want some wonderful perspective, I would highly recommend this course.
Ashley Brichter
Founder, Birthsmarter
Michael is smart and experienced. He understands what VCs are looking for, because he has been on that side before, and how to craft the right story.
Isabelle Steichen
CEO & Lupii
Mike's expertise in deck construction was nothing short of remarkable; he not only met our expectations but exceeded them by a long shot. He brought a level of precision and attention to detail that took our deck from a standard to a masterpiece. If you're seeking an expert who will not only meet but exceed your expectations, Mike is the one to call. We highly recommend him for any deck-related project.
Natalie Micale
Oh Hello
Michael was an incredible instructor! He gave me personally tailored feedback that was exactly what I needed to hear to make my deck clear, thorough and compelling. Beyond that, he really teaches you how to craft your story and hone your voice as a founder. I still listen back on our sessions together anytime I'm needing inspiration or refinement and I'd recommend this course to anyone who's looking to craft a killer deck.
Maxine Chapman
Founder at SurfDurt
Michael and his team were fabulous.  His course helped me understand what was most important to share about our story and focused message so that it was easy to digest, clear and get people excited.   The process and structure was so valuable in bringing out the best of who we are, and what we do, so that we could achieve the best possible finished finished product with our deck.
Jill Osur
Founder & CEO
I can't emphasize enough how transformative the '(Don't) Hate Your Deck' course has been for me. The course not only equipped me with the necessary skills to build a compelling pitch deck but also helped me gain a deeper understanding of my company's essence and purpose.
Afshan Abbas
Fuchsia Shoes
I thought I had a pretty good pitch down, but Mike helped me take my story to the next level! He has a knack for truly crafting a compelling story through a deck, and he helped me to see a totally new way to frame up my problem and solution.  He also has a great deck structure that goes beyond the standard "10 Slide Pitch Deck" everyone uses, which helps us to stand out when in front of investors and partners.
Hilary Cocalis
Founder & CEO
The (Don't) Hate Your Deck course has truly been a game-changer for me. It's the first one where I've felt a real transformation in my deck, moving it to a point where I not only take pride in presenting it but genuinely look forward to sharing it with investors. Whether I'm physically there or just sending a link, the strength and cohesiveness of my presentation remain intact.
Leeanna Gantt
CEO of Tooktake
Michael has a true gift! His ability to rapidly understand a unique industry, synthesize a ton of information and pull out the parts that matter most is something everyone raising funds can benefit from a conversation with him. The process of learning to think through our company as a story to tell and invite others into has changed how we have conversations. We appreciate everything we got from the program!
Stefanie Jenkins
BuzzU, Chief Innovation Officer
Mike has great energy - no matter the story you are trying to tell he is 100% all in. He’s your ride or die when it comes to working through your message.
Dani Alexander
Studio AKA
Mike is  the best go to guy for help building a deck for presentations or fundraising.  The best around!
Lynne Obrien
Line in the  Sand
Hate Your Deck is a fabulous course for anyone who needs to build a pitch deck. Whether you're trying to raise money or share your early-stage venture with the world, this course will make a critical difference with your success.
Charlotte Massey
Gnara
Mike from Hate Your Deck has an incredible gift for helping entrepreneurs turn stats into compelling narratives to hook investors in. His insight into what makes a hero's journey translated our vision from a series of dry slides into an inspired story to truly engage VC's by capturing their curiosity. Mike taught us invaluable lessons on demonstrating credibility and market gap that makes out solution and trajectory more gripping. He really gets to the core of helping you tell your startup's origin story, which is a must for successful fundraising!
Amantha Bagdon
RxPost
Mike cuts through the BS with a crisp, clear approach to making a deck that investors want to read to the end. He breaks it down in a way that makes it straightforward to build a great presentation, and is both entertaining and engaging along the way.
Pete Cipollone
Turazo
Meet the founder

Hello from Buffalo, New York!

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My name is Mike Lightman. I’m the founder of Hate Your Deck and the person behind this course. I’m a startup ecosystem expert, fundraise storyteller and investor with over 15 years of experience, specializing with deep tech companies.

Over the years, I've worked with hundreds of brilliant founders with terrible decks. Together, we uncovered their unique market differentiation (often not what they originally had in mind) and helped them capture the interest of investors through effective storytelling.

I also designed global entrepreneurial education for the World Bank, led bootcamps and accelerator programs, and launched a $50M venture fund in NY & Singapore. I'm confident enough to know how to change your perspective and ultimately, your investors' perspective.

There are so many reasons why your business can fail. From a poor business model to a global pandemic. Let's make sure it doesn't fail because of the most redundant reason, bad storytelling.

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For startups Seed through Series A

Traditional Tech
Do you provide a marketplace or a SaaS solution, with the capability to navigate through any coding challenge, except for the intricacies involved in decoding investor feedback?
Deep Tech
Do you have 3 letters after your name but struggle to explain bio, material science, or how your carbon capture technology works?
CPG (Consumer Product Goods)
Do you have a great product that has a cult following, but investors keep asking, 'How are youdifferent?' or 'When will you have 1,500 retail locations?’
What you’ll learn

A practical framework for
building a deck that speaks to investors

Create a deck that not only communicates the idea, but also makes investors want to get involved.
Where do I sign up?
1
How investors think
Why investors hate your deck (and how to fix it)
Must-include deck content (not what you think)
How many slides are in a great fundraising deck
Bad storytelling mistakes every founder makes
The deck outline investors would enjoy reading
2
How to tell your story
Finding the best story to tell investors
The #1 formula for blending facts with story
How to make your pitch work in any context
Steps to translating your value into a price
The way to generate curiosity in your deck
3
How to brag
Building trust & credibility from slide one
What stats & success stories impress investors
How to design a team slide that stands out
Legit ways to show off when you have nothing
Decoding investor feedback about your deck
Bonus Toolkit

...And you won’t leave empty handed

Get access to additional tools and battle-tested templates, and apply what you learn
directly to your work.
The ultimate fundraising deck template
Nah… just kidding. But once you see it, you won’t believe how smooth the process can be.
Guest lectures from experts
Join live sessions and recordings with all the people who show you how to do it right the first time.
Feedback from the Hate Your Deck crew
Nobody expects you to build a perfect deck on your first try. We are here to help you refine.
Certification
A sales deck, a landing page, thought leadership, your strategy document, and more.

This course is for you if…

You're a self-made founder who understands the value of storytelling in fundraising decks.
You’re solving a complex problem, but are unable to explain it well enough.
Your industry is deep tech, climate tech, or any other that takes more than a second to get.
Your deck gets thrown out by investors despite being the perfect fit.
You have a DIY approach to your baby deck, you just need some step-by-step direction.
You've tried premium deck building agencies and weren't impressed (to put it nicely).
You want to add storytelling to your founder toolbox, long after you finish the course.
You want to get your story better and feel confident in the solution your company creates.
You’re in need of a practical framework that’s been validated. Ain’t nobody got time for gut.
Geez, you just want to improve your fundraising deck, fast. Ain’t nobody got time for fluff.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my accelerator / incubator / venture fund / program pay for this?
Possibly! We work with all sorts of programs and would love to work with yours. If you or your program are interested in working together, please email info@hateyourdeck.com.
Do you offer referral discounts?
Yes. Bring a fellow founder to the course and you get $250 and they get $250 off. And, if you get the accelerator or startup program you're in to offer the course to its portfolio, you'll get angel wings and the course for free. Drop us an email here about your referral and we'll take it from there.
Do you offer a money-back guarantee?
Yes. If you’re not happy with the course after giving it an honest try, just email info@hateyourdeck.com before the 30th day following your purchase. Maybe we're biased, but when you have your first aha moment, a couple of minutes into the course, you will realize that investing in your company by taking this course is 10X worth it.
If I join the Essential plan, can I upgrade later to the Premium plan?
Yes. You just have to pay the difference between the Essential and Premium plans at the time of upgrade (prices may change in the future).
What will I be able to do at the end of this course?
Short-term, you'll be able to create a fundraising deck that tells a story investors will love. Specifically, you'll be able to articulate the problem and solution in a way that speaks right to investors (not above or below), outline a deck that's fun to read (yes, fun!), and as importantly, brag about your success. Long-term, you'll understand how investors think, know what storytelling mistakes to avoid at all costs, explain what you do effortlessly in any context, and ultimately, build value for investors. If you're lucky, you'll even have the foundation for your next marketing campaign and landing page rebuild!
How is this course different?
It's all about the method and format. As for method, the course gives you a battle-tested, step-by-step framework for building a fundraising deck that stands out, which Mike's team follows whenever they work with founders. In terms of format, the core learning is divided into bite-sized videos that cut to the chase for our busy attention spans. Ain't nobody
How does this course work?
As soon as you complete enrollment, you'll have access to the entire course. You could then binge watch all core video lessons or follow the recommendation that divides the course into weeks. You'll also notice that there are challenges (fancy word for homework) that will push you to flesh out your fundraising deck using the templates provided.
Does this course apply to my specific industry?
Yes, as long as you need a fundraising deck. This course is designed to teach you how to tell your company's story so that it resonates with how investors think. Whether you’re a deep tech innovator or an old-fashioned Whiskey distillery. An investor's brain remains a human rain, and our job is to make your idea stick.
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