We were approached by High Water Venture Partners, a UAE-based venture capital firm with global roots, to design a PowerPoint presentation that would help them communicate who they are, what they do, and why it matters. They needed a slide deck that could speak directly to institutional investors, family offices, and high-net-worth individuals, while maintaining credibility, clarity, and a sharp visual identity.
The presentation had to do more than just look good. It needed to work. It had to guide the audience through High Water’s investment strategy, show their track record, and explain how they source top-tier deals in early-stage US companies—especially those that aren't easily accessible to MENA investors.
This project was high-stakes. And High Water didn’t want a generic deck—they wanted a clean, confident, and persuasive presentation built for serious capital conversations. That's where we came in.
Project Goals
From the start, the objectives were clear:
- Communicate High Water's unique position in the VC landscape
- Break down a complex investment model into something simple and digestible
- Build investor trust through design consistency, structure, and data clarity
- Highlight High Water’s ties to influential US and UAE family offices
- Visually explain sector focus, deal sourcing, and portfolio results
- Support future fundraising efforts with a deck that feels polished and professional
We weren’t just making slides. We were shaping perception.
What We Created
We designed a fully branded, investor-ready PowerPoint presentation that delivers a clear narrative and strong visual impact. Each slide was built with intention, eliminating clutter and focusing on what matters most to the investor audience: returns, credibility, and deal access.
Here’s what the final deliverable included:
- Custom master slides and layout structure for easy reuse
- Infographics and data visuals for MOIC, IRR, and sector allocations
- Branded icons and consistent color palette tied to their logo and identity
- Minimalist formatting to keep the focus on the message
- Slide flow that mirrors the typical questions investors ask
We made sure every chart, number, and bullet point earned its spot on the page. No fluff, no filler—just solid visual communication.
Deck Breakdown: Key Sections
We split the presentation into logical sections that mirror a typical investor conversation. Here’s how the content flows:
1. Introduction & Background
The deck opens by positioning High Water as a cross-continental bridge: a UAE firm leveraging an elite US network to access deals that most in the region can't touch.
It outlines how the team’s network includes investors from Sequoia, TPG, and names like Eric Schmidt, Reid Hoffman, and Peter Thiel. That section also introduces the firm’s roots in two powerhouse families—Wasserstein (New York) and Al Fahim (Abu Dhabi).
We kept the design understated here—letting credibility do the talking.
2. Why High Water
This section breaks down what makes them different. We highlighted:
- Access to over-subscribed deals alongside top-tier US firms
- A 5-year track record with a blended IRR of 41% and MOIC of 3.4x
- A lean, experienced team combining science, finance, and international investing
- A family office approach focused on capital stewardship—not just quick flips
We used a two-column layout here: one side for text, the other for callouts and icons. Clean. Efficient. Easy to read.
3. Team Bios
This was all about showing the depth of the leadership. We profiled Dash Wasserstein, Philippe Becker, and Maha Al Fahim with short bios that balance academic chops with hands-on investing.
Rather than cramming resumes onto a slide, we distilled their backgrounds into 2–3 tight paragraphs each—just enough to earn trust without overwhelming the viewer.
4. Strategy and Focus Areas
Here’s where we got more visual.
We built sector maps and icon-based layouts to show their focus on high-growth areas: AI, HealthTech, AgTech, Logistics, FinTech, and Advanced Manufacturing.
Each industry was paired with a “thesis” statement, so investors could immediately grasp why it mattered and how it aligned with macro trends.
We used colored icons to draw the eye and break up the text blocks. This slide has become a conversation starter.
5. Deal Sourcing & Investment Process
High Water's edge lies in how they find and vet deals. We turned a complex multi-step process into a clean, linear flowchart showing how they:
- Source deals through personal networks
- Screen for founder quality, valuation fit, and tech depth
- Analyze the competitive landscape and growth potential
- Work with co-investors on validation and follow-on capital
- Create deal memos and secure unanimous committee approval
We used arrows and segmented layouts to keep it punchy. It’s one of the cleanest visual processes we’ve done for a VC firm.
6. Track Record & Case Studies
This was the heart of the deck.
We built out a slide showing their full portfolio across 12+ companies with original investment amounts, current valuations, and return multiples. It gave investors a clear picture of capital allocation, sector diversity, and performance.
We then followed up with a few case study slides featuring companies like:
- A streaming tech company acquired for a 2x return in under 2 years
- A solar-electric aircraft startup with government contracts
- A health logistics company using AI to streamline emergency services
Each case study had a one-sentence investment thesis, deal details, and outcome.
7. Fund Terms & Expansion Plan
Here’s where we got tactical.
We summarized the fund’s structure: target raise ($50M), GP commitment (10%), fees, return expectations, and timeline. We formatted this into a tidy table, so everything’s visible at a glance.
We also added slides on co-investment opportunities, access to pre-IPO deals (like Airbnb and SpaceX), and plans to expand into late-stage strategies.
8. Advisory Board & Team Support
Finally, we introduced High Water’s high-profile advisors—names from Stanford Endowment and UC Berkeley’s FinTech Institute.
We also showed their back-end structure: legal, fund admin, and audit support teams. These are small details, but they build confidence in operational quality.
Results & Client Feedback
The deck got the thumbs up. The team at High Water felt it hit the mark in tone, structure, and delivery. It gave them a reusable asset they could use for investor pitches, LP meetings, and capital raising conversations.
They appreciated how we turned complex financial strategy into clean, readable storytelling—and how the design never got in the way of the message.
Final Thoughts
Designing for venture capital is about more than just looks. It’s about trust. The visuals have to back up the numbers. The layout has to guide attention. The message has to land fast and hard.
With High Water Venture Partners, we built a deck that speaks to serious investors—and still leaves room for vision and ambition.
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