pitch presentation definition

• Presentation Design

What is a Pitch Deck: Meaning, Example, and Guide

This article will help you understand the concepts and components of an effective pitch deck.

Throughout many years of helping startup founders navigate fundraising, we’ve come across many pitch decks. We can confidently say that we know a thing or two about writing good pitch decks. In this article, we’ll do a deep dive into the definition of a pitch deck and what the ideal pitch deck looks like.

Pitch Deck: What is It?

A pitch deck is a business presentation that tells your company's story. Depending on your stage and your particular journey, this ‘story’ can take different angles; solving a pressing problem, a unique business model, remarkable traction, revolutionary tech, or superhuman founders. Usually, a deck will have between 15-24 slides, but this depends on all the above factors and shouldn’t be taken as a rule of thumb. The deck's goal is clear: you need to persuade your investor audience to trust you and your solution so they want to invest their money in your company.

A pitch deck can be used for different purposes, such as emailing it to help you land investor meetings, pitching, and presenting in front of an audience. Depending on these scenarios and time constraints, the presentation can have more or less information, but the structure should generally be the same.

When will you need a pitch deck?

‍ You'll need a pitch deck throughout your journey as a founder and many stages of a startup’s life. For starters, almost every U.S. accelerator program will ask for a pitch deck during their initial screening process. Once you're in, get ready for the  "pitch practices." These spaces allow you to rehearse your pitch and refine your presenting skills. Rehearsing is crucial; it’s designed to prepare you for future demo days. An event where you present your business to a room full of key players—think investors and other program coordinators. 

However, this is not the most common use of your deck. The most common use for a pitch deck is whenever you and your team decide it’s time to seek external capital. Think of your pitch deck as your ‘presentation card.’ Often, what will determine whether you can sit in front of potential investors is if your deck has a clear and compelling story that can be understood . The presentation decks can also serve as a pre-meeting brief, allowing investors a sneak peek before a face-to-face conversation, or as a discussion tool during your meetings to walk them through your value proposition clearly and concisely. 

A pitch deck serves a dual purpose: not only does it provide investors with an overview of your company, making it easier for them to evaluate the investment potential, but it also helps you, as a founder, as a mental exercise into articulating the key aspects of your startup and pen key information and data about your company. 

The ideal structure 

Again, think of your deck as a story/journey your reader is going through. Throughout the presentation, the key questions the pitch needs to answer are:

• What market opportunity have you discovered? 
• What have you built to tackle it? How does it work, and who is it for? 
• How much are you growing, and will you continue to grow? 
• And why are YOU and your team THE right ones to change that status quo? 

These four guiding questions will frame the structure of your pitch deck .

First, you want to set the stage with your deck's introduction. This encompasses the cover slide and the status quo section. What’s the current landscape, and what isn’t working?

Next, we pivot to introduce your solution—think of it as the story's hero. This is where the narrative takes a turn. We focus on what sets your solution apart, its features, how it generates revenue, and its target audience. 

For seasoned entrepreneurs, this is also the point where we'd highlight any traction gained, demonstrating your understanding of your business's growth trajectory and your concrete plans for expansion.

Then, it’s time to size up the market. You should explore how the target market responds and how big it is—the stakes couldn’t be higher. But that’s not all; your audience will also be eager to learn about the competitive landscape and how you are better than your competitors.

Finally, we reach the climax of the pitch deck. Here we highlight the founding team, your unique competitive edges, or perhaps your innovative rollout strategy. We wrap up this section by clearly outlining your funding needs and providing a breakdown of how the capital will be used.

What should be in a Pitch Deck Presentation?

Many authors, venture capitalists, startup founders, and evangelists have developed various iterations of what they believe are the essential components for successful pitch presentations. There is definitely not one correct answer. However, there are certain best practices and highly recommended components the deck should have.

At Slidebean, we’ve created this visual to show how we visualize the ideal story arc of a pitch deck.

This fits perfectly into the ideal pitch deck structure we tend to use at Slidebean.

Pitch Deck Components:

Very broadly speaking, the key elements that fit this structure are listed below. This doesn’t mean the deck should have no more than 13 slides. Depending on your particular case, many of these sections should be expanded into more than 1 slide. 

• Market Overview
• Product/Features
• Revenue Model
• Go-To-Market
• Market Size
• Competition
• Fundraising/Use of Funds‍

These core sections of a pitch deck are intentionally designed to flow from broad to detailed, starting with the business opportunity and gradually zooming in on why this particular company is poised to fill a gap in the market.

If you're on the hunt for some pitch deck inspiration, check our gallery of successful pitch deck templates right here .

I want to take a moment to re-emphasize that this structure is, by no means, a rule of thumb. Every company has its own story, and whoever is creating the pitch deck will adapt these slides into the order that produces the best possible story, given their strengths. Early-stage startups, who usually don’t have relevant traction, lean heavily on the problem-solution fit, the market potential, and being first to market. More mature companies, in contrast, tend to emphasize their traction, KPIs, unit economics, and how additional funding can accelerate their growth.

Regardless of the size of the company or the milestones to date, the ultimate goal of a pitch presentation is to provide a broad overview of how the startup works, its strengths, and future growth opportunities.

Are there different types of pitch decks?

More than different decks per se, the main factor to consider is that there are different scenarios in which you’ll use a deck, so we definitely need to adjust the narrative to fit these different time constraints and content requirements. While there’s no one-size-fits-all guide to the types of pitch decks, here are some commonly encountered decks:

Elevator pitch deck :

This is a deck that should, as the name suggests, be able to deliver a pitch for 1-2 minutes during an elevator ride with a potential investor - figuratively speaking. Nonetheless, these sorts of decks are highly condensed versions of your pitch. Focus on the most essential information: problem, solution, traction, market, use of funds, and growth. 

Demo day pitch deck:

Usually a bit more detailed than an elevator pitch but still on the shorter side. These pitch decks are common on demo days when many startups present sequentially, and the time limit is sacred.  Here, founders usually have no more than five minutes to present. These pitches are often presented in large auditoriums, and the focus is yourself, so the deck itself should have little-to-no-text and be heavy on visuals to capture your audience’s attention.

Full investor deck:

‍ This is what you normally find when Googling “What is a Pitch Deck” or “Pitch Deck Meaning”. A full investor deck is the archetypical pitch deck and also the most commonly used. Typically, it showcases your company for potential investors to review and assess if it is venture-backable or not. This is a more in-depth look at your startup's aspects, from business model and go-to-market strategy to financial projections and fundraising needs. These decks have between 15-24 slides and are also called “email decks,” meaning they are sent to help you land investor meetings. They can also be used to guide in-person meetings and help you highlight traction and data that would otherwise be trickier to explain verbally.‍

Investor data room :

Beyond a pitch deck, an investor data room includes all the due diligence materials of a startup as the closing of an investment approaches. It goes deeper than the pitch deck, including crucial documents that confirm your company’s credibility and back up the claims made in your presentations, particularly regarding your financials. This setup is particularly valuable during acquisitions, as it allows investors to verify the essentials like legal structure, contracts, stock vesting agreements, trademarks, and financial records. For more information on this topic, you can check this article .

Key components for a solid pitch deck

• Good Story Structure - Storytelling Arc: In pitch decks, the order in which you present your information is crucial—almost as critical as the content itself. Your information should follow a logical order that paints an overall business picture and has a story arc that makes sense. Most storytelling techniques in public speaking also apply to narrating your business story.
• Easily Understandable: This point goes hand in hand with the structure and order of the deck and, honestly, is quite obvious. Readers need to understand your company and the deck, regardless of them being unfamiliar or unrelated to your industry. The typical trap in which many fall is getting too technical and using jargon that many of us simply - don’t understand. Try to tell the story clearly, compellingly, and concisely so that anyone* can understand the deck and get excited about your company. 
• Human-Centered & Relatable: It’s tempting to focus too much on the solution you created and give lengthy explanations of your product’s super cool features. The reality is that the best business idea is meaningless if it doesn’t solve a genuine human problem. The deck needs to convey that there is a clear problem/solution fit. Make things relatable by providing proof of the user's pain points, quantify the problem, and mention how your solution improves their lives - and why your team is the only one that can do it. If your audience can’t relate to the problem, convincing them of your solution will be hard.‍
• Compelling Visual Resources: While your presentation's content is vital, your slides' visual look is critical in engaging your audience. People get bored quickly, and a visually dynamic presentation can help you maintain their interest. We process images much more efficiently than text; use this to your advantage by crafting visually striking slides that enhance your message. And please, remember that this is not a business plan. You shouldn't have everything in your deck. This is a high-level document that has to paint a solid picture of your company. There will be a time and place to deep dive into different areas of the company; the slide deck is not the place.
• Traction-Oriented Slides : If you have the traction, brag about it. Results and actual data tend to be more relevant than anything else. They demonstrate you’ve found or started to find product/market fit, and that your addressable market has been identified and defined. Nothing gives you more credibility than actual, measurable success with paying customers. Bonus points: you must be prepared to discuss these metrics and unit economics once you present them, so make sure you know and understand them. 
• A Healthy, Exponentially Growing Business: The simple (and hardest) truth of crafting a solid and compelling pitch deck is that it depends on your company’s performance. Revenue-generating businesses, low-churning products, exponential and sustained growth, and consistent usage… these are the things that investors are looking for, and that will charm them. The reality behind the startup fundraising world is that investors want a 10x return for their investment. Despite the reputation of being risk-takers, they ultimately look for their investment to yield results. 

A pitch presentation is valuable for founders and investors to assess collaboration opportunities. A solid deck can take you really far, and a deck full of red flags can deter you from even having the opportunity to pitch in person to investors. It is a good exercise because it forces you to do a conscious exercise to articulate your story in a compelling manner, as well as a format that is compatible with the majority of investors around the world. By no means is it an easy task, but the exercise of writing it will help you understand your company from an external perspective and force you to understand key aspects of the narrative you have: growth, metrics, solution, problem, etc.

I hope this article has clarified what a business deck is and the components of a 5-star deck. 

For more insights, feel free to explore other articles on our blog about pitch deck basics.

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What Makes a Great Pitch

• Michael Quinn

It’s all about reading the room.

A good pitch is a balancing act that can be adjusted to the currents in the room. A recent survey of HBR readers found — at least in this community — how important it is to understand not just what you are pitching, but who you are pitching to. The reason? The more senior your audience, the less you should rely on your deck and the more you should expect your pitch to be a conversation, showing your team’s authentic passion for the challenge or problem and their resilience for solving it creatively, together.

Pitching for new business is a make-or-break moment for many teams. You want to win the pitch, and so you develop a detailed slide deck, tout your credentials, capabilities and successes (case studies), and select your strongest presenter – possibly the leader of your team or company — to do all the talking. Right? Wrong.

• MQ Michael Quinn is the founder of Minor Nobles, the NYC-based consultancy offering workshops, webinars, rehearsals and 1:1 training to help teams and leaders update their behavior to win more pitches for new business and investment. He is also a faculty instructor for the Association of National Advertisers and host of the podcast, “Own The Room,” where top executives discuss their own experiences pitching and what they wish people would do more often, or avoid altogether, in pitches to them.

Partner Center

What is a Pitch Deck & What Makes It Fundable (+Examples)

Learn about the definition of a pitch deck, what it includes, types of pitch decks. Get examples, templates, and tools to make a good winning pitch deck.

7 minute read

helped business professionals at:

Short answer

What is a pitch deck.

A pitch deck is a presentation showcasing your plan for a new business to investors or VC funds. Pitch decks are used fo r in-person presentations or as reading material. The purpose of a pitch deck is to convince investors to fund your endeavor.

A good pitch deck should include a clear definition of the problem you tackle, your unique solution, a compelling business model, and a go-to-market strategy.

What does a pitch deck look like?

There are many ways to put together a pitch deck, but most pitch decks will pretty much look the same - a 10-20 slides presentation with brand colors and visuals depicting atmosphere, a product or data.

Yet to stand out you have to do things differently.

Below is an example of what an outstanding deck looks like - a modern web story with multimedia and interactive content.

Why 99% of pitch decks fail

Pitch decks can feel intimidating because so much depends on this single document (especially if it's your first one).

Even if you’re not intimidated (good for you!) and you’re a true magician when pitching your business idea face-to-face, some investors nowadays ask for your deck by email as a preliminary step before they ever bring you into their office to meet them.

The challenge is making a self-sufficient deck that brings your idea and enthusiasm to life without your in-person help.

In this article, you’ll learn all there is to know about pitch decks, what they’re used for, who needs them, and how to make your own world-class deck as well as the effort and resources it will require.

By the end of this article, you’ll have critical information for success that 99% of your peers don’t have.

What is the purpose of using a pitch deck?

The main purpose of a pitch deck is to pique the interest of potential investors. The main challenge of a pitch deck is NOT getting investor buy-in , but rather avoiding being disqualified right then and there.

It’s a common mistake to think that a pitch deck is supposed to persuade investors to invest in your startup, project, or business idea, but in reality that’s still a ways away. You have to be considered for evaluation first.

Every investor or VC has their own investment criteria, and since investors are drowned by people asking for their money they are looking to disqualify you based on those criteria.

In the words of Gordon Miller , an entrepreneur and investor, “Investors aren’t looking to say “Yes”, they are looking to say “No.””

Who needs a pitch deck?

Pitch decks are used by startup founders or entrepreneurs to seek funding for their business ventures by showing high growth potential and a strategy for scaling their business (fast).

Who does NOT need a pitch deck?

1) You do not need a pitch deck if you don’t yet have any of the following planned out in detail:

A business model

Market analysis

Competitive analysis

Costs of building your business

A growth plan

A GTM (go-to-market) strategy

If you don’t have all of the above then no investor will take you, so don’t bother.

2) You don’t need a pitch deck if your business is too specific so that you have to hand-pick a handful of very particular investors. In that case, you should talk to them and prepare a document tailored to their specification.

3) You don’t need a pitch deck if you can fund your business on your own , whether through your own capital or because your business is already generating revenue (any money you take from investors will dilute your holdings in your company).

4) If you’re looking to close business deals and acquire new clients. Then you need a sales pitch deck or a product pitch deck, not to be confused with a pitch deck for investors.

What does a pitch deck include?

Some investors can be very particular about the pitch deck structure that they expect to see. Whenever possible, you should clarify the outline with potential investors and build your pitch deck accordingly.

That said, there are still some basic slides that are to be expected by most investors and VCs.

10 basic slides 99% of investors will require from you:

Introduction

The problem

Your solution

Market size and opportunity

Business and revenue model

Traction and validation

Marketing strategy

Team (authority, experience, and skills)

Investment and use of funds

For more information on this go read our post on the the nitty gritty details of what to include in a pitch deck .

Here's our recommended pitch deck storyline:

What types of pitch decks are there?

• Intro pitch deck: This is the initial investor deck you send to grab the interest of potential investors and secure a meeting.
• First meeting pitch deck: This is a detailed presentation for your first face-to-face with investors.
• Post-meeting pitch deck: This company overview deck includes in brief the main points covered in the meeting with investors with a focus on the interests and concerns investors voiced in the meeting.
• Subsequent meeting pitch decks: As discussions progress, your deck might need to evolve to address deeper questions and provide more detailed data. These pitch decks may include decks like Market research, Product roadmap, Marketing plan, Sales plan, and others.

You should know - there are many pitch deck types for different industries and use cases. You can find everything we have below.

Pitch deck sub-types (customizable templates)

Seed pitch deck VS Series A/B/C pitch deck

The seed pitch deck is the deck you present to investors when you’re looking to secure your first-ever round of funding.

A seed pitch deck is typically short and focused on presenting your business's grand vision and big idea. It attempts to answer “why an investor should be interested in what you have to offer?”.

A Series A/B/C pitch deck needs to be more financially heavy than a seed pitch deck since at this point you have been running your business for over a year.

A series pitch deck should include your current financial results and proof of traction, and conclude with ambitious yet realistic financial projections and milestones.

If in doubt, you can always reach out to a startup coach to help guide you through the process.

Static vs. interactive pitch deck

The main difference between static and interactive decks is that static decks follow the traditional format of text-based slides accompanied by images, while interactive decks enable you to create engaging multimedia content.

Another difference is that you can only insert old-school links or image links in static decks, whereas interactive decks allow you to embed lead-gen tools, including calendars, to get readers to book that next meeting straight from the deck.

Airbnb's static deck vs an interactive remake of the same deck:

Is a pitch deck the same as an investor deck?

Pitch deck and investor deck are terms sometimes used interchangeably. The term “pitch deck” in this context is used to describe a brief document containing basic information about your company and introducing your vision to someone with no prior knowledge of it.

The term “investor deck” is used to describe a more detailed deck with an in-depth analysis of your unique value proposition, market opportunity, and go-to-market strategy.

When in doubt, it can be beneficial to ask potential investors what they expect to see at any stage of the investment process.

Is a pitch deck the same as a sales deck?

The main 2 differences between a pitch deck and a sales deck are their purpose and audience. The purpose of a pitch deck is to convince potential investors that your company is worth funding by promising them the desired return on their investment (ROI).

The purpose of a sales deck is to get prospects to become paying customers of your company by presenting how it’s going to change their lives for the better.

If you want to expand your knowledge you can read our posts on how to create a sales deck that makes you irresistible to buyers , or check out some Unique Sales Deck Examples that Outsell the Rest .

Is a pitch deck the same as a marketing deck?

A pitch deck is a document used to gain investor buy-in during a funding round, whereas a marketing deck is an umbrella term that can mean a host of different things depending on the context it’s used:

A marketing pitch deck is a presentation shown externally to potential investors by founders of marketing agencies in the hopes of getting the necessary funding.

A marketing sales deck is a presentation shown externally to prospective clients of marketing agencies in order to educate them about your offering and close deals.

An internal marketing deck can be shown internally to the general managers and business owners, or to stakeholders to demonstrate a company’s marketing or advertising efforts and present key metrics.

How do you build a pitch deck?

In order to build a successful pitch deck, the design of your presentation needs to be as important as its contents.

There are 4 best practices that can make all the difference between whether an investor gets all the way down or bounces after the first slide:

1) Don’t overload investors with information

I know this sounds like a total cliché, but less is genuinely more when it comes to pitch decks. If you need an entire wall of text to get your point across, perhaps it’s not as clear as you were hoping.

Narrow it down to a couple of bullet points and skip that 5th table to show investors that you value your time.

2) Always personalize your decks.

Investors can smell generic from a mile away. Even if it’s the 100th deck you’re sending out this week, they need to feel like you crafted it specifically for them. By including a personal note, you can get 68% more people to read your deck in full .

3) Stay consistent

When your deck looks like you just haphazardly threw together a bunch of slides from different presentations you had on your disc, it doesn’t bode well.

Certain presentation makers , such as Storydoc, will auto-extract your branding information and automatically apply it to all slides.

You can keep your slides consistent by ensuring that the color combination, brand logos , fonts, spacing, and more retain the same format throughout your pitch deck.

4) Visualize your data

If investors need to make sense of your data to decide whether or not your business is a good fit for them, they’re not going to bother reading.

Instead, make the decision process easier for them by visualizing hard data with the help of charts and graphs.

Can I design a pitch deck myself or do I need to hire a professional?

You can absolutely design a pitch deck yourself using pitch deck designer tool like Storydoc on the market. If you already have a designer in-house, you can also get them to design your pitch deck.

If, however, there’s even the slightest chance your pitch deck could end up looking like it was created for a high school project, you may be better off letting a professional handle it.

When investors see a poorly designed deck, they’re already predisposed to disliking your entire presentation. Your chances of shaking that bad first impression are close to none.

How much does it cost to make a pitch deck?

Creating a pitch deck on your own depends on the tool or set of tools you use to create it:

Google Slides is free

PowerPoint is free with a Microsoft Office license

Canva Pro subscription costs $12.99 per month; the Basic version is free.

Pitch.com subscription costs $8 per member per month when billed annually, the Starter plan is free.

Storydoc subscription costs $40 per seat per month

You may also need design tools like Adobe Photoshop or Figma, which also come at a price.

Hiring a professional designer to create your pitch deck would cost around $100 per hour. The number of hours depends on your needs and the number of iterations you’ll require, but could take anywhere from 3-8 hours.

What is the best software for creating a pitch deck?

There are 3 different types of tools available on the market for creating a pitch deck:

1) Legacy tools

Such as PowerPoint or Google Slides , that allow you to create traditional slideshow presentations. They have limited integration and customization options, and typically follow pre-designed patterns.

2) Mid-way tools

Such as Pitch , Canva , and Visme , which come with a wide variety of templates to choose from and customize.

These are more aesthetically pleasing than your average PPT, but don’t offer anything truly new in terms of features.

3) Dedicated pitch deck creators

Such as Storydoc , that provide next-gen interactive templates optimized for engagement, conversions, and performance.

They let you design on autopilot, as well as customize and personalize your decks at scale. You can also include smart CTAs to get investors to book that next meeting straight away.

For more information, check out our ultimate list of the best presentation software .

Where can I see examples of pitch decks?

You can find the best pitch deck examples in this post with all the pitch deck examples worth taking inspiration from . The best part is that you can simply take any example on the page and use it as a template for your own pitch deck.

Where can I find pitch deck templates?

If you have itchy hands and can’t wait to start creating your pitch deck, I highly advise that you visit Storydoc’s pitch deck templates gallery .

These templates go way beyond looking pretty—they have been optimized for engaging investors regardless of whether they view your deck on desktop or their phone in-between meetings.

Just pick a templates from the gallery below.

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What is a pitch deck?

Table of contents

What is a pitch deck a quick guide.

A pitch deck is a presentation that provides an overview of a business, startup, or project to potential investors, partners, or stakeholders. It is typically a concise and visually engaging document that outlines key information — with the goal to communicate a compelling story about a project or new business and convince the audience of its viability and potential for success.

Pitch deck basics

A pitch deck, often considered the cornerstone of entrepreneur and investor communication, is a brief and visually compelling way to create a presentation that overviews your business. This invaluable tool provides a snapshot of your company's value proposition, market analysis, product details, and more. It's your golden ticket to securing the interest and backing of potential investors.

Understanding how a pitch deck works

Think of your pitch deck as your company's story condensed into a powerful narrative, the quintessence of your venture told through compelling visuals and concise text. This tool communicates the "what" and the "why" behind your business. It conveys your mission, vision, and strategy in an easily digestible format, ideally leaving investors intrigued and keen to know more.

What are the components of a typical pitch deck?

An effective pitch deck typically consists of the following elements:

Introduction : The essence of your company — what it is and what it does.

Team : Details about the skilled people driving your venture.

Problem : The issue your product or service aims to address.

Solution : Your unique value proposition.

Market analysis : Your target audience and market size.

Product : In-depth details about your product or service.

Business model : How you intend to make money.

Marketing and sales strategy : Your plan to attract and retain customers.

Financials : Current performance and future projections.

Ask : Your request from investors, whether it's funding, advice, or partnerships.

Advantages of making a pitch deck

The overall goal is to capture the audience's interest and generate enough enthusiasm for them to want to learn more or potentially invest in the business. A well-constructed pitch deck offers multiple benefits:

Clarity : By distilling your business into a pitch deck, you understand your venture more clearly, helping you articulate your vision effectively.

Investor attraction : An engaging pitch deck is a magnet for investors. It communicates critical details about your business and demonstrates your professionalism and commitment.

Guidance : A pitch deck provides a roadmap for investor presentations, guiding the flow of conversation and ensuring key points are addressed.

Successful pitch deck examples

To better understand how a good pitch deck should look, here are examples of 3 successful SaaS companies with great pitch decks:

Airbnb : Airbnb's original pitch deck succinctly outlined its unique value proposition, market analysis, and growth strategy. It effectively showcased their novel solution to a widespread problem, capturing investor interest.

Slack : Slack's pitch deck focused heavily on their product, using powerful visuals and simple explanations to communicate their platform's benefits. They underscored their unique selling points, clearly differentiating themselves from competitors.

Zendesk : Zendesk's pitch deck is a testament to the power of storytelling. They successfully used a narrative approach to guide potential investors through their customer service solution, making their proposition highly relatable.

How to make a pitch deck

Creating a compelling pitch deck involves thoughtful design, clear writing, and strategic storytelling. Here are some steps to guide you:

Understand your audience : Understand your potential investors' interests and concerns to tailor your pitch deck effectively.

Define your structure : Outline your deck using the key components mentioned earlier. This will serve as your pitch deck template .

Create your content : Keep your text succinct and impactful. Use data to support your statements and weave a compelling story around your business.

Design your slides : Use a clean, professional design. Leverage visuals and infographics to communicate complex information.

Refine and practice : Revise your deck, seek feedback, and practice your delivery. Remember, your pitch deck is not just a document — it's a presentation.

Tips and best practices when making a pitch deck

Less is more : Avoid cluttering your slides with text. Stick to key points and let your oral presentation fill in the details.

Consistency is key : Maintain a consistent design throughout your deck. This includes colors, fonts, visuals, and tone of voice.

Data-driven : Back your claims with relevant data. This demonstrates market understanding and adds credibility to your statements.

Tell a story : People connect with stories. Weave a narrative around your business journey, from the problem you're solving to the solution you're offering and your vision for the future.

Call to action : Make sure to include a clear 'ask'. Whether you're seeking funding, partnerships, or advice, be specific about what you want from your audience.

Creating a pitch deck might initially seem daunting, but with the right approach and tools, you can craft a compelling presentation that captures your audience's attention and leaves a lasting impression. Remember, your pitch deck reflects your business vision — it should not just inform but also inspire. Happy crafting!

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What is a Pitch Deck? Examples, Tips, and Templates

Businesses need adequate financing at every point in time for all their processes to run smoothly . However, most of the funding that a business needs to maximize its growth does not often come from business profits, personal coffers, or financial assistance from families and friends.

That is why you need to convey your ideas to potential sponsors. These sponsors or investors invest their money into your business with the expectation of a positive yield. The funding helps materialize whatever future business plans you have.

You will not get investors to put their money into your business if you do not have a solid business plan. Instead of just conveying your ideas in a drab manner; you have to convince financiers that your plans and projections are worth investing inside. Make them feel excited about the partnership.

There are several steps you need to take to get financiers to fund your business. All the steps and tips you need to know about creating a winning pitch deck will be discussed in this article. The pitch deck is the tool you use to capture the interest of potential investors.

In this article, you will learn everything about pitch deck from its definition to insightful pitch deck examples you can learn from. You will also learn about what is included in a pitch deck presentation, the do’s and don'ts of pitch decks, and how to create a pitch deck in three simple ways.

Let’s get started.

A pitch deck is a concise presentation (in the form of slides) that business owners create to boost the growth of their establishments. It refers to a collection of slides to express an overview of business plans . The display gives clients a wrap-up of business plans, products and services, and operations.

Pitch deck, also known as investor pitch deck , helps prospective sponsors to learn more about your business. The presentation in slides makes it more fun, and the clients won't go through the stress of reading generic texts.

Many business owners or sales executives make the mistake of thinking that the primary goal of the pitch deck is to acquire finance. The primary goal is not to acquire finance but to intrigue them and make them fix a time for an official partnership meeting. Acquiring finance is the end goal.

Getting financing is not a one-step procedure. It involves a series of steps in which the pitch deck presentation is the first. Of course, you have to give valid reasons why the investors should entrust their money to your business.

The pitch deck presentation is an effective business communication tool for meetings with potential clients, sponsors, and investors . This way, you can have an audio-visual appointment, resulting in a better understanding of the motive with fewer talks.

You can either host your pitch deck presentations in a physical or virtual space. If you choose the virtual space, there are tons of conference call services and web and video conferencing platforms you can choose from. They include RingCentral, Zoom, Zoho Meeting, ClickMeeting, Microsoft Teams, Webex, and other RingCentral alternatives .

Slides are what help you convey the compelling story of your business to your clients or investors . You need to use slides to help you achieve the desired results. Software packages like PowerPoint, Visme, Keynote, Prezi can help you craft a convincing presentation.

To gain the attention of your target audience, you can design two different pitch decks . The first will contain more text. The second will concentrate on visuals. People are always attracted to visual information; this will enable them to focus more on what you have to offer.

What’s Included in a Pitch Deck Presentation?

The pitch deck is a conversion tool to get your business funded. However, the sad reality is that some companies can create a pitch deck presentation and still not get sponsors. Why?

For your pitch deck to have a high conversion rate, it must have the following qualities.

• Easy to implement

A good pitch deck must not have more than 19 slides. Apart from being a general rule of thumb for pitch deck presentations, having more than 19 slides can make your presentation boring and uneasy for investors to follow through.

However, there are good pitch deck presentations that have more than 19 slides. Ideally, you should work towards finding that sweet point slide length where you have enough space to drive interest in your idea and do not bore your audience.

The information in every slide must be compelling and contain no fluffs and fillers . Ensure the information is easy to act on when studied.

There are so many opinions on the internet and in the business world about what the ideal pitch deck must contain. Simply from looking at examples of successful startup pitch decks, it is easy to see patterns on what a successful pitch deck must absolutely contain.

Here are the 10 compulsory key slides that every business and organization should have in their pitch deck presentation , irrespective of their industry, target audience , or offer.

Let’s take a look at these 10 key slides in detail.

Slide 1: Introduction

The first slide of your pitch deck is the most crucial of all your slides . For a presentation to have a high conversion rate, there must be a brief intro at the beginning to hint at what the whole thing centers on.

This slide is a crucial one; it is what determines the state of mind of the client. Are they getting excited? Are they already fed up? Do they want to know more?

The introduction is your chance to give a great first impression. If you fail to do it right here, you can lose the investor. Prioritize making the first slide as powerful as possible. Many investors or financiers are impatient and use the first few slides to judge your business.

Ensure you keep the first slide or introduction slide short and sweet. It is the slide where you can tell people about who you are and the reason why you are here.

You can also use the introduction slide to communicate the value proposition of your business. Ideally, your value proposition should be a single phrase or sentence long.

Examples of the perfect business value proposition include:

“We Make Happy Meals for Infants.”

“The Smartest Way to Get Around” – Uber

“The Experience IS the Product” – Apple iPhone

“Be More Productive at Work with Less Effort” – Slack

When you use a good value proposition, your audience will be eager to listen to the rest of your presentation.

How to Make Your Introduction Catchy

• Make Your Introduction Simple, Short, and Engaging: The introduction slide is where you introduce yourself, your business, and the reason why you are talking to the audience. Don't say unnecessary things here because you will probably bore the reader and set a bad template for the rest of the presentation. Make sure your expressions are as simple as possible and avoid complex grammar. Of course, you won't have them look up the dictionary every minute to get your point. Make your tone conversational too.
• Briefly Talk about Your Business: Communicate what your business is about in simple sentences. Business owners feel they get sponsors interested by saying more than they should. The truth is that, at this stage, they want to get a glimpse of what you do. For instance, if you cook meals and deliver to the aged people, you can tell them, ‘We make meals and deliver fast to the aged in their homes.’ With that simple sentence, you have communicated that you can deliver meals as fast as possible to the aged (the ones that can't cook themselves) in homes.
• Propose the Value of Your Business. You can present your business with a high value by making a valid comparison with a popular company. For example, if you sell email marketing services for small businesses , you can make comparisons with established email marketing software services such as HubSpot, MailChimp, GetResponse, Convertkit, AWeber, and MailChimp alternatives .
• Provide Ways the Investors Can Reach Out. This vital point shows that you are anticipating a positive response after they go through the slides. Update your contact information, like your phone number and your email , so that investors can reach out and fix a meeting. If possible, give your phone number to build strong personal relationships.

At the end of your introduction, the audience should know:

• You and Your Business
• Your Mission
• Ways to Reach Out to You

Everything about your intro should be top-notch and quality. The texts should be well organized and clear, avoiding the use of complex grammars. If you have to introduce visuals at any point, it should be a high-resolution image. The logo of the company must be legible and presentable too.

Slide 2: The Problem

The purpose of meeting with your investors is to solve a problem that finance can solve. Why must a pitch deck have a problem slide?

Investors fund businesses because they see a problem and feel they can find a solution to it. Entrepreneurship, at large, is all about solving problems. It would help if you had your laid-out plans on dealing with the problem, and that is what you will display in your slides when meeting the sponsors.

If your super business idea does not solve any actual problem, your pitch deck presentation is going to be a huge disaster.

In the problem slide, you highlight the market's problems and the relevance of your solution to their welfare. You should do your market research to find out this problem or gap that your target audience faces and the market is not addressing.

A good problem slide will reflect two or three problems your audience faces that your product or service solves. It does this without being long and boring.

If your business idea does not solve the problem, then you should not source for funds yet. Financing can only work out when acted on good and yieldable plans. You should find a problem affecting your target audience, draft a strategy that can solve the problem, and make plans known to the financier.

A good problem slide will highlight numerous problems that your product can solve. Avoid being too verbose while explaining your offer. Ensure you keep your texts centered on the issues affecting your target audience. This way, the clients don't get confused while trying to understand your point.

The problem slide is to explain what, why, and how you and your team will achieve the results. The problem must be a pressing need that the market currently lacks the solution to draw their attention or an improvement on the existing solution.

For example, some older people can't run around the busy cities to get food to eat. Some are too old to get into the kitchen and prepare something to eat; others are even bedridden without any human help. As a catering establishment, that is a problem that you can identify and bring up ideas to solve.

One thing you should be very careful about is the length of the texts on each slide. Learn to convey your ideas with fewer words.

While introducing the problem slide, it is advisable to make your audience emotionally attached to your story. That emotional connection increases the flow from you, the speaker, to the audience. It makes the rest of the presentation relatable.

Ensure you do not let out the solution to the problem entirely in this slide. I will discuss that in the next slide.

Slide 3: The Solution

After going through the problem slide, there must be an agreement between you and your audience that there is a problem to solve. This slide is where you make known your solutions to the problem. Providing immediate solutions to the issue shows how prepared you are for the presentation.

While stating the solutions, explain the strategies you and your team will utilize in making the plan work. Convince them that their contribution will hasten the whole process and generate desired results with little time.

Try as much as possible to make your solutions realistic and achievable. If your solution is a concrete product, introduce it during the presentation, let them hold and feel it. Nothing drives home your point than a visible test or trial.

Make your solution slide as brief and straightforward as possible. Long texts bore readers, especially the ones you are trying to convince into buying your idea.

For instance, a solution to the scenario I painted in the previous slide is something like this: You are to convince the investors that delivering the food to them at their doorstep is one of the best ways to help. Tell them how you plan to partner with Uber and other logistic companies to provide the food as fast as possible when they make orders. Tell them how this can encourage longevity (by reducing the stress of running around to get food).

In this case, you highlighted a problem and provided an immediate solution. You are also able to show the importance of your offer to the target audience.

You can summarize your intentions in a sentence boldly written and identifiable . Then, you can go on with a detailed explanation (brief one).

A good way of convincing your clients to buy your idea is to provide numerous solutions to the problems. Pick the best option and state why you chose that option. It shows the client that you have done thorough market research, and you have the best solution to that problem.

Instead of hammering on the uniqueness of your solutions, describe the proficiency of what you have and why you believe it is the best thing to do. The truth is that almost all possible solutions to the problem have been heard before. What makes the difference is how you implement yours.

Avoid monopolizing the solutions you have. In essence, avoid the phrase ‘we are the only ones capable of doing this.’ The investors you are talking to have probably related with countless businesses before yours, which also offered similar solutions to the common problem.

Your goal is to show the unique steps in providing your solution and why yours is beyond normalcy.

Slide 4: The Market Size and Opportunity

The slide that comes after the solution slide is the market size slide. The market size of your establishment determines if you win the heart of your financiers. If the size of your market is small and there are no huge opportunities there, you will struggle to attract quality investors.

Many investors don't want to partner with small-scale businesses because they feel that their gain would be small and the risk too high for such a small return. The primary aim of getting funding from investors is to use their money to earn more. These potential investors want a business that can multiply their contributions 10x within a space of 6-7 years.

If the market size of your business is highly appreciable, it would interest investors to fund you. Do your research on the potential of market growth in your field and back it up with correct numbers where necessary.

A good market size slide will map out the market growth of the business over the years of operation. You can also hint at your business plans for the future and how you intend to achieve them.

Make your potential sponsors see the proficiency of your product . Like every human, investors are moved when there are testimonies to back up their plans and proposals. Show them how you have been able to grow your project over the years and how it has affected your market's growth.

A good market size slide will tell the investors that you are the person for the job. With a productive market size slide, you will show investors opportunities associated with the plans, the options you have made use of, and the ones you are utilizing at the moment.

If your business is a new one and you barely have data to create a market slide, it might be challenging to produce a reasonable market size slide; but there is a solution.

What you need to do is to study other businesses in your niche . Create analogies from their market and introduce your ideas alongside them.

An excellent example of a company that used this strategy is Uber. While creating a pitch deck, they illustrated the market size of their competitor, the taxi market. However, they introduced the service they wanted to render to the masses, which is slightly different from the ones in existence.

The strategy worked and Uber got investors which helped it with funds it used to become a worldwide brand. Today, Uber is dominating every other private establishment in the transportation sector.

Slide 5: The Product or Service

The product or service slide is where you show off the product you sell or the service you offer. This slide is similar to the solution slide.

In this slide, you take the extra step of talking about what will provide the solution to the foreseen problem. Some pitch decks combine the two (the solution and the product or service slide) in one or even talk about one and leave out the other to avoid repetition.

If it is a physical product, include beautiful and high-resolution images of your product in the slide. If it is a multi-functional product, you can upload different angles of the photos of your product, showing the functions.

For complex products that you can fully explain their function in a 3D display, you can highlight a cutaway view and explain the essential parts. If your product is an application or an online website with tools, you can add screenshots of the app's usage or the website. The screenshots can highlight the unique and outstanding features of the app.

For example, if your product is a website builder for small businesses like Wix and Squarespace , you can take screenshots of how it builds high-quality business websites.

If it is a domain registrar such as Bluehost, GoDaddy, SiteGround, and other Bluehost alternatives , you can repeat the same process as above. Take screenshots of how it provides quality web hosting services for users and include them in the product or service slide. These are brilliant examples of you showing what you have to offer.

Your presentation in this slide should show that your product is competitive enough to challenge the big leagues of your market. In essence, your slide should tell how your product works, how it looks, and the satisfaction attached to its use.

If it's a physical product, you can bring it to the presentation for the audience to feel it. For businesses that offer services, you can upload photos of your workers while at work. For instance, if you head a logistics company, you can upload photos of your riders making deliveries to your client's homes.

As an add-on, you can do a video of the Display the video on your slide. Don't make long videos; a maximum of 60 seconds length is okay. Remember that you are still trying to convince them to fund your business model.

Slide 6: Traction

Everything that has to do with financial investments needs assurance. Investors want to relax their minds that they are not losing their money to some random Ponzi scheme. One of the slides that help reinforce their confidence in your business model is the traction slide.

The traction slide is where you show the investors everything about the growth of your business over the years. It is also where you show evidence that your business will be more successful.

You would be dealing primarily with numbers in the traction slide . Let them know the number of sales you have made and how massive your profits have been on an annual basis.

Tell them about the minor and major goals you have achieved and the ones you plan to accomplish in the coming years. This information will convince the investors that they are on the right track . It will also help them decide to release their funds to be a part of the bigger picture.

Most business owners represent their numerical values on a chart. The chart enables them to display a lot with a small space. What they could have created a long table of numerous rows and columns for, can be done easily with a simple bar chart or histogram chart.

Clients can get a quicker grasp of the business or startup’s current achievements with charts as opposed to tables. Show the essential figures when creating the slide.

The traction slide is an important one to include in your pitch deck presentation. To the financiers, it reduces the doubts they have about your business. They want to see proof that your business is worth investing in . They want to see evidence that your business model canvas is highly profitable.

Be mindful of the texts on this slide, the use of numbers can be a trap to stuff your slide. Conciseness is vital irrespective of whatever you are presenting.

Investors and financiers want to see the assurance that they are getting a high return on investment.

Slide 7: The Team

The team slide is to introduce your team to the investors. A famous saying goes, ‘show me your friend, and I will tell you who you are' .

These financiers want to see the people you are working with. They want to know the drive of these people, their commitment, passion, and why they are essential to your business. The team slide builds confidence in your team members.

This slide will be a bit comprehensive because you will have to introduce each key member according to their roles. Under each member's identity, state the member's achievements, educational background, the quota he/she has contributed, the work experience, and the titles.

You can also explain why they are vital to your mission and business plans. Also, talk about their virtues and the positive effect on your business is essential.

Ensure the information about your team members is in short sentences. Don't elaborate unnecessarily. You are to attract your audience's attention, not tell them the life stories of people.

Keep the display cohesive, list according to the rankings from top to bottom. It makes the slide easy to comprehend. Highlight the specific thing (maybe the title) about a member in a conspicuous color.

Photos will make your slide enjoyable. Add the pictures of your members along with their descriptions. You can also categorize the illustrations based on department. It narrows down the search for a member on the slide.

If a client has to refer back to a member's description, he/she can go straight to the section the member is in, if they have been appropriately categorized. It will be better than running your eyes around a large screen looking for a name.

The descriptions on the slide should be limited to the core members only. Externals and advisors should be left out. The team slide can introduce a few things about the founders of the business and the common goals they share. Some financiers care to know how the whole thing started.

Slide 8: Competition

There is hardly a business without competitors or rivals. Whatever idea you have to solve a problem, other people also have that same idea to solve that same problem. Competition occurs when both businesses try to convince the same target audience to buy into their concept.

The competition slide is to show the clients who your current rivals in the game are. List all your competitors for the audience to know you have done good research on your part. Describe how good they are and what they don't handle well.

Tell them how the competitors have been performing over the years and why you are different from them. Inform them about what made your business grow so big to compete with your top rivals.

From your speculations, tell them your position in the market among your competitors. It can wow the clients and increase their interest in your business model.

You can top up the information on the slide with the things you offer that your competitors don't. It gives you an edge on winning the heart of potential investors. Even the features you commonly offer with your rivals; show them how uniquely you do yours and how it has influenced your business growth.

Avoid painting your rivals badly in any way. Do not use the opportunity to tell lies about your competitors. If your investors find out you are telling lies in your presentation, you have ruined any chance of acquiring the needed financial support.

Bringing your competitors down doesn't take you up, instead, it shows you as too ambitious to possible investors. You have to watch the tone you use in this slide. Avoid sounding condescending; it is imperative.

You can introduce unique graphs to compare the products of you and your competitors in your presentation.

Slide 9: Financials

The financial slide is one of the few slides clients spend most of their time on. You have to make the most of it to give them another reason to fund your business plans. The financial slide will include your financial projections, cash flow statements, balance sheet and income statement , and other important information.

Just like the traction slide shows everything you have acquired over the years, this slide shows your business' future growth plan. Use this slide to show them what your company should achieve in the next three years (unless asked otherwise) using your business plans.

Tell them about your financial projections, business models, operations, and others in detail. The past achievements are proof that they can partner with you. Use it to prepare their minds on what they are to expect from your business in the future

You should also make use of bar and pie charts, histograms, etc. here. It makes your expressions compact and defined. Don't just create charts with plain-colored arcs and bars. Make the charts colorful, it gives more meaning and beauty to the slide.

Colors make charts and pictorial representations easily understandable and conspicuous. Colorful charts make your presentation attractive, unlike a long spreadsheet full of figures and numerical signs.

The information you provide in this slide is changeable as you move on. It is almost impossible to accurately determine where the business will be in the next five years. But financiers expect you to map out a business plan and have what it takes to achieve what you have outlined. That is what the idea of pitch deck presentation is all about.

You can also share your plans on how you want to channel the distribution of money provided and how you intend to reach your target income goals.

The financial slide can hint the investors on the strength of your company and how long your relevance in the market will be. If you just started your company, you can skip this slide and include just the traction slide.

Be realistic with your information, don't cook up unrealistic things to impress the audience. You might not be able to hit the point you want to during the given time if you do not manage your time well. Being realistic will make you not far away from what you envisioned.

Slide 10: Investment and Use of Funds

The previous slides have been about you introducing your business as an entrepreneur. This slide is where you tell the financiers what you need from them.

You must make sure this slide answers the questions:

• How much do you need?
• How do you want to use the funds?
• What do you want to achieve with the funds?.

There are a lot of ways to go about this, however, not all are effective. A lot of entrepreneurs get it wrong on this slide. Don't just ask for a certain amount of money, state what you want to use the money. Highlight your financial plan for them to know what their money is funding.

When you back up your requests with valid reasons, it builds their trust and confidence in you. Also, they would take your plans more seriously.

Ensure you are specific with your requests; let your clients know exactly what you want. Don't waste time by going through corners, be direct. It gives the investors an impression that you have done your calculations and analysis very well. Also, it tells them that you didn't just come to call any amount of money because you feel you have convinced them.

Make your requests real. Don't ruin all you have planned by aiming higher than you need. Remember, they have heard your plans and projections. They can tell if you are trying to be over-demanding.

Most entrepreneurs with successful pitch decks used a pie chart or bar chart to state the distribution of money. This way, investors have an insight into the execution of funds.

Let the investors know your expectations when you are funded. Tell them the heights you will reach. They have to see if they are capable of adding more money in the future.

These are the essential slides you need in your pitch deck presentation. Some specific businesses might require extra slides to introduce new things . Ensure there is cohesion among your slides, that is, one slide should lead to the next.

The next section will expose you to the things you should do and the ones you should avoid when creating your slides or presenting the contents on the pitch deck.

Do’s and Don’ts of Pitch Decks

While trying to create a perfect pitch deck presentation, there are some things you have to embrace and other things you have to avoid.

Do’s When Presenting

1. engage your audience.

While passing your information, engage your clients with narratives to express the problem, your solution to it, and how you want to go about it. Tell them how your plans will affect them.

Don't just read out everything like you are reading an English comprehension passage in front of a class. Ensure you carry the audience along as you explain the information on each slide.

Engaging the audience will get them to focus on you and follow the presentation from the start to the end. Also, engagement builds interests. They get more interested when they understand every bit of what you say.

Imagine you have to read this article without having examples to buttress my point? It can be daunting and tiresome. Tell short related stories in between your presentation to keep the conversation alive.

2. Strike a Balance Between Elaboration and Conciseness

As important as your content is, so is the way you present it to your audience. The style of presentation had made some entrepreneurs lose out on significant investments , even when they had the best plans and business models in possession.

How do your slides appear when creating your presentation? Do you over-deliver or under-deliver? Do you give out more or less than you should?

You need to strike a balance between saying too much and explaining yourself better. Don't cite instances unnecessarily.

If you have expressed yourself well on a slide, move on to the next slide without wasting much time. However, if you feel a narrative will do better in communicating your points, make it short, cohesive and relevant.

Don'ts When Presenting

1. don't base your presentation on pure statistics.

A presentation full of statistics will look like an account officer reading the company's financial report to the managing director. Can you imagine how boring that is? Yes, it is tiring.

Back up every stat you provide with a coherent narrative. Don't just focus on the statistics hoping that you are amusing the investors with 6-7 figures on the chart. Of course, you are, but narratives and life examples make it better.

Many people believe that you only need to engage your audience on slide one during the introduction. The truth is that you need to engage throughout the presentation, from the intro to the conclusion.

Statistics are vital but are not the only significant feature of a pitch deck presentation.

2. Don't Stare At the Slides While Presenting

Staring at the slides while presenting is a bad posture and shows a lack of confidence. Ensure your presentation is a conversational one , don't just stay glued to the slides while presenting. It is an inappropriate posture or body language for someone trying to win the heart of a group of people.

While presenting, move your eyes from the slides to the audience and vice versa at regular intervals . Doing this ensures that you engage them as your pitch deck presentation runs. Turning every minute to read from the slides can reduce the tempo and also bore the listeners.

When you address them without staring at the slides, it builds your confidence and reassures the audience that you know what you are saying . Also, it can clear doubts of improper preparation beforehand.

These financiers can also read what is on the slides. The essence of the presentation is for you to engage them.

Do’s When Designing Your Slides

1. reduce the texts on each slide.

When creating a pitch deck presentation, it is not advisable to choke your slides with texts . Make sure you can pass across the necessary information with little texts. Use lots of visuals like pictures, charts, screenshots, and short clips, to explain your plans in detail . Remember, long texts bore readers.

Likewise, while designing, strike a balance between elaboration and conciseness. It will help you a lot in engaging your audience throughout the presentation.

Also, use large font sizes and visible colors on the palette. It reduces the texts on each slide and makes your work legible.

2. Use Bullets to Introduce Critical Points

An excellent way to avoid stuffing your audience with texts is by bulletin. Use bullets on your slides, it organizes your work.

Don't just pack paragraphs together on the slides to present. In slides where you have to list things for your audience, don't separate them with commas. Instead, separate them with bullets to reduce the texts and give your workspace.

Stuffy slides are complex for the audience to comprehend. Your presentation has a short time frame, you wouldn't want to spend the whole time reading out long and boring paragraphs to the audience.

Cut them short with bullet points and make your presentation more enjoyable for you and your audience.

3. Add Your Contact Info

Imagine you meet a long-lost friend, exchange pleasantries, and fix a date to meet again, but you do not exchange contact details. There is a high possibility that you might not see each other for a long time and that the meeting will not hold. It is the same scenario when you don't include your contact details in your presentation.

Ensure you add your contact information at the end of the presentation slides so that your clients can always reach out after that meeting. Some clients probably have to bother with questions after the presentation; they need your contact info to reach out.

Furthermore, you can add a photo of yourself before the contact information. It gives your business a ‘face' that financiers can look up to when they need certain information.

One last thing, whatever contact details you use in your pitch deck presentation must be available all the time. Investors can quickly lose interest when they can not get a response on time, considering that you have competitors.

Don’ts When Designing Your Slides

1. avoid adding too many team associates.

In the team slide, where you have to introduce your team, introduce only the core members. Adding too many members can fill up the whole screen and leave the audience perplexed.

As you introduce your business plans and various backup data supporting your business idea, investors also want to know the main person captaining the ship.

Too many team members can make the mistake one for the other, especially when you have to add photos of each member alongside its description. For precision, the core members should not be more than seven. Anything above that is excessive.

How to Create a Pitch Deck in 3 Simple Steps

Knowing what a pitch deck presentation should entail is not enough, you need to know how to put them together.

Creating a pitch deck is easy if you have the necessary tools and templates. You can use free or paid pitch deck presentation templates to get one done quickly.

Some websites offer to create pitch decks for users such as Visme . Your pitch deck will be ready in a few minutes. Save yourself the stress of creating slides from scratch, you can pick from the templates available on the application. These templates are ready-made to suit different interests.

If you don't want to use a pitch deck website tool, you can create your slides from scratch. It can take your time, but you are sure to have what you want.

Another option is to hire the services of a freelance graphic designer in the event you do not have the graphic design skills needed to design killer pitch deck presentation slides. You can find these freelance graphic designers on freelance job websites such as Upwork, Fiverr, Guru, and Freelancer.

Here are the three steps you need to create the best pitch deck that appeals to investors and financiers.

Step 1: Choose a Pitch Deck Template

Templates are ready-made copies that you can use instead of creating from your pitch deck from scratch. There are lots of Pitch deck tools such as Google Slides, Visme, Canva, and Slidebean that help users create and design pitch decks. These tools provide tons of useful templates for users.

The first thing you need to do is to pick a template from the hundreds at your disposal. Avoid picking a template because you like it, you have to look for the one that suits your business model and contents. That is why there are different templates for different types of businesses.

In some cases, you might not find a perfect template for your business. The next best thing you can do is pick the closest you can get and modify it.

If you are not using a pitch deck tool, you can create your pitch deck presentation slides from scratch . You can use any graphic design software or the simple Microsoft PowerPoint to create your pitch deck from scratch.

Step 2: Customize your Pitch Deck Story

When you choose the template that fits into your business model, you can edit and customize it for better results. The template you pick is probably not the exact thing you want; that's why the edit option is available.

Most pitch deck software has editing tools to help you reshape your template to your actual desire. These tools are so diverse that you probably won't use them all before creating something attractive.

You can change anything you want to fit your style. Some apps even have the drag-and-drop function to ease your editing. With these tools, someone without foreknowledge of editing or presentation can even create something beautiful.

You can change font sizes and styles, texts and background colors, images and themes, and motion style of slides. You can add bitmap images from external sources to make the boring texts lively to read.

Furthermore, you can add animations, links, short video clips, and many more to beautify each slide. You can add, remove, replace, or rearrange slides the way you want.

This whole process won't take up a lot of your time if you use the right tools. It is immensely beneficial for you to do everything necessary to put out a perfect body of work. The pitch deck layout contributes to your chances of securing the funds.

Step 3: Download and Share with Investors

After customizing your pitch deck to a perfect taste, you can download it to your device. You can even share it online across different media using a link.

Pitch deck applications offer you a wealth of format options for download. You can download your pitch deck as an image to display the slides, side by side. Also, you can download it as a PDF format, or better still, as a PowerPoint file.

Another thing you can do with the finished pitch deck is that you can create a private link to share the pitch deck with specific people via mail.

There is the option of uploading it on the web to be available for people on search results on Google and other search engines. You can also put the presentation on the company's official website for the core members to access.

Insightful Pitch Deck Examples You Can Learn From

The process of creating a good pitch deck can be tiring. You need the inspiration to help you escape that dreadful fear stage and hit the right entrepreneurial mindset . Will my pitch deck presentation be a success or a failure?

There is no better way to escape the imposter syndrome that every entrepreneur faces than to get inspiration from companies who had successful pitch deck presentations. What is better than reverse-engineering the pitch deck presentation that successful companies like Facebook, CoinBase, Square, Uber, and Airbnb used to attract investors?

Here are some insightful pitch deck examples you can learn from.

Amount Raised: $500,000

Buffer is one of those awesome pitch decks that although does not hold much visual appeal but still won the hearts of investors. How did they achieve this? They had the captivating numbers to capture the mind of financiers.

Amount Raised: Seed – $3,000,000

Cubeit is an app that helps users to get unique content from anywhere . The company developed a simple, short, and compelling story for a pitch deck presentation. The presentation got them about $3 million from clients, and that was how they got to where they are today.

3. Contently

Amount Raised: $9,000,000 | 2014

Contently is an American technology company that is based in New York City. They create software that helps companies and brands connect to freelance writers, videographers, editors, graphic designers, social media marketers, etc.

This widely-known company created a pitch deck to show investors what plans they have for the future. They got an amount of $9 million from financiers.

4. Frontapp

Amount Raised: $10,000,000 | 2016

Frontapp is a company that handles the communication channels of its users. They manage their social media accounts, live chats, SMS, email address, etc. They created a pitch deck and focused on the critical numbers that are crucial to the business at that point. The pitch deck generated a sum of $10 million, and the rest is history.

Amount Raised: $600,000 | 2009

Airbnb is a digital marketplace for people to discover places for different purposes. They can book these places through their mobile phones, tablets, computers, etc. It could be a suite for relaxation, a penthouse for vacation, or a room to spend the night.

The platform connects people across over 180 countries. Airbnb, as we know it today, was once a group of people with ideas and no funds. They tried a pitch deck and made over $500,000 from investors.

Amount Raised: 14 rounds – $11.5 bill

Uber is a global transportation company that conveys users from their current location to their choice of destination with the help of online orders. It has its headquarters in California, United States of America.

The online cab company has undoubtedly made transportation easy over the years of operation. Not many people could jump into traffic all day. Uber saw this and decided to make things easy. They made a pitch deck from the start and raised close to $12 billion. Today, Uber operates in over 600 cities in the world.

7. Crew (fromely Ooomf)

Amount Raised: $10,000,000 | 2015

Crew is another technology company that connects individuals and agencies with freelance designers, content creators, media accounts managers , etc. Crew has worked with big companies like Eventbrite, Tinder, Dropbox, etc.

Crew's founder used a simple but powerful pitch deck to communicate his ideas to the public. He didn't have to say too much, went straight to the point, and raised $10 million.

Amount Raised: Series D – $335,000,000

WeWork is an American company that is headquartered in New York City. The company provides workspaces for freelancers, entrepreneurs, small and large-scale businesses, enterprises , etc. It was founded in the year 2010.

They have been able to develop lots of workspaces and still want to build more. During the start, they created a pitch deck, showing the right things investors needed to see. Today, they are dominating their market.

Amount Raised: $30,000,000

Dwolla is an American e-commerce company that provides a medium for online payments and mobile payments. It was founded in 2008. Dwolla helps users to send and receive funds from each other. It is located in Iowa.

Despite the massive and tight competition in the online payment system world, Dwolla still holds its stance. They are not the most successful, but they could attract financiers to the online payments industry with captivating ideas. They raised about $30 million from investors.

10. The Daily Hundred

Amount Raised: $1,000,000

The Daily Hundred is an app that gives businesses the chance to compensate customers by encouraging product endorsements and micro-level brand advertisements. It produced this alluring pitch deck that not many investors could ignore.

This pitch deck covered everything about the business, from the past operations to the plans. They made $1 million from the presentation that year.

11. Mixpanel

Amount Raised: $65,000,000 | 2014

Mixpanel is an advanced platform available on the web and mobiles. They help businesses and enterprises grow by making them understand their users. Also, the company uses its products to track people's behavior.

They created their pitch deck by focusing the contents on incredible numbers. Mixpanel also showed investors the reasons why they are different from their competitors in the game. Note, they didn't shame their rivals; they only highlighted some differences between them in their favor.

12. LinkedIn

Amount Raised: $10,000,000 | 2004

Virtually everyone operating a mobile must have heard of LinkedIn. LinkedIn is a networking app where people get business connections, seek jobs, recruit remote workers, and find clients .

This app also helps businesses to expand networks across countries. It was founded in 2002 and is headquartered in California. Over the years, users have been able to acquire knowledge and skills and even get business opportunities. LinkedIn was able to raise about $10 million from investors.

13. Foursquare

Amount Raised: $1,350,000 | 2009

Foursquare is a search-and-discover mobile app that satisfies user's quest to find visiting places . They provide personalized search results for users.

What the mobile application does is to recommend close places that you can see based on your current location. Also, they scan your browsing history data and orders to give you a clear choice. Interesting, isn't it? The operation is not an easy-to-explain one. For their pitch deck, they focused on explaining how the app renders its services.

14. Ad pushup

Amount Raised: Angel Round – $635,000

Ad pushup specializes in optimizing people's websites to increase the views rate and conversion rate of Ads. They also maximize the number of clicks without disturbing the visitors' user experience.

The company focused on the traction slide in their pitch deck presentation. This traction slide was peculiar to what they were introducing to their audience. They raised about $600k from financiers. You can impress your audience with great numbers.

15. WealthSimple

Amount Raised: Seed – $1,900,000

WealthSimple is a new kind of financial counselor that is brilliant, diplomatic, human, and affordable. They help users eliminate the guesswork from future investments. With this, users are on the right track financially.

The company also helps users achieve new financial goals. They are one of the premiers of digital financial advising . Also, WealthSimple has been able to explain the concept of the application to people (in a layman’s way) with the help of a pitch deck.

16. Manpacks

Manpacks is a digital service that delivers men's accessories, including grooming products, underwear , etc. These products are from popular brands like Gillette, PACT, Champion, Calvin Klein, Louis Vuitton, etc.

The company was able to get some traction over the years due to its friendly customer service experience. This method won the hearts of many investors, and they raised $500,000.

17. Snapchat

Amount Raised: Series C – $50,000,000

Snapchat is everywhere today. Almost everyone has the Snapchat app on their mobile. The app allows users to make videos and pictures with different filters and themes. It operates as a social media application.

When Snapchat came, despite the social media apps dominating the market like Facebook and Twitter, Snapchat could still create its space from that world with its unique features. Snapchat proved its ability to dominate a part of social life by understanding the market. They raised $50 million from a pitch deck presentation.

Amount Raised: $120,000

Podozi is a beauty tech that helps users find the right beauty products for people of different colors . It is an online e-commerce platform based in Nigeria. The platform helps customers discover authentic and reliable beauty brands from all over the world. Also, customers enjoy new shopping experiences all the time.

During the pitch deck presentation, they acquired many photos of their target audience (women of color) to show them. It made it easy for the audience to understand their intentions in no time, and they got funded from different sources.

Podozi showed their target audience the working partnership they already had with big brands in their pitch deck presentation. It helped them attract funds from investors.

Amount Raised: Venture – $79,000,000

Linio is like a business directory. It is an e-commerce company that offers various products online, ranging from gadgets and electronics to personal accessories .

The company was founded in 2012 in Mexico. Today, they work in Venezuela, Peru, Colombia, etc. Linio connects online retail services to the South-American markets.

20. Kompyte

Kompyte is an intelligence website tool designed to reply to strategies used by its users' rivals . The tool aims to study the techniques that competitors use and quickly respond to them.

Using high-resolution photos, Kompyte explained the concept of their services smoothly and shortly. In this case, visuals did the most work here.

21. Launchrock

Amount Raised: $800,000

Launchrock is a digital platform that allows users to create advertisement pages for their products and services with special tools . It helps its users compensate other people for advertising their products through different social media networks and email.

It was launched in 2011 in Philadelphia, United States of America. Launchrock used a short and straightforward pitch deck for its fundraising activities.

Amount Raised: Angel Round – $270,000

Castle helps landlords and landladies to manage their rental homes. It finds tenants, secures the rent dues, and oversees the affairs of the houses, helping reduce the burdens of property owners. The software was able to develop a solution that is quite different from what is dominating the market over the years. It enabled them to seize the attention of the audience right from the pitch deck presentation.

23. Intercom

Amount Raised: $600,000

Intercom is an American software company that provides a messaging channel for business. It is a platform that makes it easier for businesses to communicate with their new and existing customers personally.

You can use the platform to communicate through different social media accounts and email addresses. This famous company did not start big, the owners could craft a top-notch pitch deck that assisted the fundraising.

Amount Raised: $20,000,000

Pendo is a company that provides a digital platform for businesses and organizations to upgrade the product usage experience .

With this platform, companies can track customers' reviews and impressions, get feedback and provide solutions to their problems, all within one application.

Pendo created a pitch deck and raised $20 million! The pitch deck painted a future that is unavoidable for everyone and provided the necessary solution to the problems in the market.

Amount Raised: $4,230,000 till date – deck used to raise $200,000

Mandaê is a mobile app that helps Brazilians ship their goods. The company collaborates with postal services and other exclusive transporters that are not available for everybody (an add-on for Brazilians).

They created a powerful pitch deck that introduced the perfect solutions to inevitable problems, a strong team ready to solve the issues, and great numbers to back up their plans. They raised about $200,000 from prospective investors and materialized the beautiful plans they had.

26. Gaia Design

Amount Raised: $2,850,000

Gaia Design, a Mexican online store, sells beautiful furniture and home accessories at considerable prices . They make quality products that are available for every Mexican household.

The pitch deck might seem challenging to understand due to language barriers, but you can learn a lot from the pitch deck layout. Gaia Design was able to categorize the information into slides without stuffing each of them. Their target audience understood the messages, and they got funded with above $2.6 million.

Startup Pitch Decks FAQ

The length of your pitch deck presentation is one question that business owners regularly ask. There is no rule guiding the size. But with the wealth of past experiences available on the internet, it is advisable to make your pitch deck as short as possible.  The minimum number of slides you should have is 10, while the maximum number is 20. You can exceed the maximum of 20 but it has to be because it is worth it.  Depending on the type of business you operate, the number of slides you want to use for your pitch deck will vary from another. Business owners with the assistant of professionals determine what each slide contains. Ideally, the pitch deck should be as brief as possible to avoid unnecessary information. Although you want to maintain a few slides on your pitch deck, you must be very careful not to stuff each slide with contents. If 13 slides can explain everything about your business without stuffing the slides, go ahead to use 13. You don't need to shrink the number of slides at the expense of the overall organization. Also, irrespective of the number of slides you have, your presentation should not be more than 18-20 minutes. It would be best if you did everything needed within that time frame. If the audience wants you to stretch it, then it is okay.

What makes an effective pitch deck are a compelling story, conciseness, conversational tone, and engaging slides.  You must be brief with the contents of the slides and the presentation. Your aim for a pitch deck presentation is to introduce your business models and projections to financiers and get them interested in funding your ideas. Avoid boring them with information that is not needed at the moment. While presenting, you must be able to tell a convincing narrative. It is what determines if the audience will yield to your requests. Your ultimate goal is to convince your audience to fund your business . You do this by showing them all the benefits associated with it. It makes the difference between you and other entrepreneurs. Your tone while addressing the audience should be conversational. Don't read out the contents on the slide like someone reading out a novel. Remember, you are trying to convince people. You must carry them along while explaining what you have on the slides. Keep your slides engaging, one slide must link to the next. It makes your presentation organized and understandable.

The cost of buying a pitch deck depends on the professional approach. The prices of different pitch deck templates vary depending on the quality.  Hiring a designer to build a pitch deck for you will also cost you some money. The more experienced the designer, the more it will cost. You can opt to build a pitch deck yourself using free or paid pitch deck templates from websites such as Visme, it is fast and cheap that way. However, it might not be as perfect as what a professional graphic designer will create. Before buying a pitch deck, do your research first. Compare the range of prices from different individuals and agencies.  According to SlideGenuis , the cost of a pitch deck can be split into three categories: the low-end pitch deck, mid-range presentation design, and the upper-end presentation services. The low-end pitch deck costs between $1,000 to $3,000 and is suitable for those who want to revamp their existing pitch deck or create from scratch at a cheap price. At this price range, you can expect to get the bare quality.  The mid-range presentation design costs between $3,000 to $10,000 and the upper end presentation services cost $10,000 to $50,000. There is a huge difference between these two categories, the upper-end presentation services give you better appeal and a more refined corporate identity. Although you can hire freelancer designs from Upwork and Fiverr at a much lower price, you will hardly find pitch deck experts but just designers who can do a good job. Since your pitch deck is not just any design but one that has the potential to bring lots of capital for your business, investing in quality pitch deck services is worth it.

The financials in your pitch deck should include your present performances, plans, and projections. You can employ the use of bar and pie charts, histograms, tables, and other charts in a slide.  Your pitch deck should show the predictable monthly or annual gross and net profits. Show financials where the models you are proposing worked out as planned. Also, you can include your cash flow statement and financial projections.

Ready to Communicate Your Business Idea in Your Pitch Deck?

The pitch deck presentation is one of the best ways to introduce your business plans to potential investors. Over the years, many startups have used pitch decks to get funds from financiers for their businesses.

Many of these companies have grown to become giants in their fields. They are hardly recognizable from the companies that they were when they presented the pitch deck. Some good examples are Facebook, Square, Uber, WeWork, Airbnb, and Snapchat.

After reading this article, you are just about set to communicate your business idea into a pitch deck. The only factor delaying that is your action.

Perhaps you have tried communicating your business idea in your pitch deck with little success before. With the advantage of knowing the do’s, don’ts, and best practices of a pitch deck, what is included in the pitch deck, and insightful examples you can get inspiration from, you stand a better chance of securing the funding you need.

A pitch deck is a vital tool for getting funding from investors. How you create a pitch deck, the designs you use are just as important as the message you want to convey. Use high-quality and professional pitch deck designs even if it is going to cost you more.

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Martin luenendonk.

Martin loves entrepreneurship and has helped dozens of entrepreneurs by validating the business idea, finding scalable customer acquisition channels, and building a data-driven organization. During his time working in investment banking, tech startups, and industry-leading companies he gained extensive knowledge in using different software tools to optimize business processes.

This insights and his love for researching SaaS products enables him to provide in-depth, fact-based software reviews to enable software buyers make better decisions.

What Is a Pitch Deck? (And How to Make One)

It’s a tool that every startup business or entrepreneur needs – a great pitch deck . A pitch deck is a presentation that you’ll use to help explain or showcase your product or service and potentially drives sales or investment. It needs to be polished and professional to do the job well.

Today, we’ll take a look at what a pitch deck is, how to make one, and how to establish a design that will wow people who come in contact with your new business.

We’ll also feature a few stunning pitch deck templates along the way, to help you get started fast.

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What Is a Pitch Deck?

A pitch deck is a short presentation that startups or entrepreneurs put together to help explain a business concept or idea in hopes of getting funding from investors. A pitch deck needs to be simple and easy to understand, professionally designed and include a distinct action for users (potential investors) to take.

According to Forbes , the average pitch deck has just 19 slides (so there’s no need to overthink it) and include three keys: clear and simple, compelling and easy to act on.

Further, a pitch desk should explain why your startup is important. You should outline a problem and potential solution to investors. Then back it up with information about your product and market, how you will use funding, financial information for investors and a clear call to invest.

While you don’t have a lot of room in 19 slides to show everything about your company, think of this is a quick sales opportunity. You may or may not present the pitch deck in person. Remembering that users have limited attention spans, it is best to keep it short with just the most pertinent information.

5 Things Every Pitch Deck Needs

When it comes to creating the perfect pitch deck, where do you start? Great pitch decks have several things in common:

• Consistent and error-free design : Slides in the pitch deck must look like they belong together with a professional look and design that is free of errors. (Proofread it twice!)
• Something to hook the audience : Tell a story with words and visuals that engage people and make them want to be a part of your startup. You need to inspire them.
• Value proposition : What makes your company special, unique and valuable? What should investors expect as a return? Spell it out.
• Personality : A pitch deck should reflect your brand identity and personality.
• Template : Don’t reinvent the wheel every time you need to tweak or give your presentation to someone else. Create a template for your pitch deck (we have a few ideas below to help you get started and throughout this article) so that it’s quick and easy to prepare a presentation on the fly. You never know where the right opportunity might be waiting.

How to Create a Pitch Deck Design

When it comes to creating a pitch deck, the design rules are pretty simple and consistent with many of the design concepts you’re probably already familiar with:

• Pick a consistent set of elements to use throughout the design. This includes a color palette, two to three typography choices and an icon set. Set styles and hierarchies for slides so that headers are the same throughout as are body text, photo use and other design elements.
• Limit the number of slides and feature one thing on each slide. Think of a slide as a single idea with an image and small text element. That’s all.
• Pick a design that works where you will be presenting. Will it be on a screen in a dark room? Or on a computer monitor at a desk? Or on an iPad with just one person looking on? Ensure that the design works in the place where you will show it.
• Save slides in a universal format, such as PDF, that will look and open like you expect.

Slides Every Pitch Deck Needs

While every startup is different, there are a few slide types that almost every pitch deck needs to include. (Even if you aren’t using them all right now, it’s a good idea to plan for them as you grow and seek more funding.)

• Intro with company name/logo
• Vision and value proposition
• Problem that needs a solution
• How your company is that solution
• Target market and opportunities for growth
• Business model and roadmap
• Financials (with charts or graphs)
• Team members and bios
• Call for investment with how it will be used and benefits for investors

10 Pitch Deck Templates to Try

One of the quickest ways to do all of this – and create a stellar pitch deck – is with a template. Just pick a design that you like and customize it. Streamline the number of slides to just what you need and adjust colors, fonts and images to match your content.

A template can save you a lot of time, and there are so many professional and well-designed options out there, that there’s no reason not to try one. (Plus, the best pitch deck templates include slides for charts and graphs. Just fill in your data and share.)

Here are ten we like as inspiration for your pitch deck design.

Manola Presentation

BISC Keynote Template

Business Pitch Deck Keynote

Startup Pitch Deck Template

Corporate Business Plan

Union Keynote Template

Pitch Deck Google Slides

Secret: It’s Really Just a PowerPoint Template

If you haven’t figure it out yet, here’s the secret about pitch decks. They are really just PowerPoint (or Keynote) templates with a specific type of content included.

Need more inspiration? We have plenty more ideas for developing great presentations here .

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Discover how to craft a persuasive and visually compelling pitch deck with our comprehensive guide. Learn the essential elements, storytelling techniques, and common mistakes to avoid, ensuring your presentation captures investor interest and conveys your startup's potential for success.

May 24, 2024

What is a pitch deck? Simply, it’s the must-have presentation for entrepreneurs seeking investment. This impactful set of slides tells your company’s story, highlights your potential, and aims to convince investors to come on board. Our article breaks down how to create a compelling pitch deck that clearly communicates your vision and gets investors excited about your venture.

Key Takeaways

• A pitch deck is a concise, strategic presentation of 10-20 slides designed to capture the essence of a company’s business plan , highlight strengths, and pique investor interest, often using compelling visuals and narrative to convey key messages.
• The structure of an effective pitch deck typically includes the problem addressed, market opportunity, unique solution, evidence of traction, and team capabilities, and should be tailored to the specific audience and stage of funding to make a compelling case for investment.
• Visual storytelling is crucial in pitch decks, using high-quality images, graphs, and design consistency to reinforce the narrative and brand identity, while financials must clearly present revenue models, pricing strategies, and detailed projections to establish viability and growth potential.

Defining the Pitch Deck

So, what is a pitch deck presentation? A good pitch deck is much more than a simple slide show; it’s an entrepreneur’s strategic ally, designed to capture the essence of a company’s business and marketing plan, and spotlight its brightest prospects. Think of your investor pitch deck as the opening act of a play where you have mere minutes to make a lasting impression. This brief pitch deck presentation, often consisting of 10-20 slides, is your chance to solidify your first point of contact with investors and excel in pitch deck presentations. Utilizing a pitch deck template can help streamline this process and ensure a polished final product.

Given that investors may spend less than four minutes on each document, your pitch deck needs to be nothing short of perfect. It should succinctly convey your business concept, value proposition, and the growth potential that makes your venture an opportunity worth investing in.

Purpose of a Pitch Deck

The ultimate purpose of a pitch deck is to:

• Lay the groundwork for a conversation that could lead to funding
• Introduce potential investors to the inner workings of your enterprise
• Highlight your strengths and the promising opportunities that lie ahead

But the reach of a pitch deck extends beyond investors. It’s a versatile tool that can also entice new clients, partners, and stakeholders, showcasing your company as a dynamic entity poised for growth and innovation. Through your pitch deck, you’re not just asking for money; you’re inviting investors to become part of a journey, to share in the success of a business exists is solving real-world problems with ingenuity and drive.

Key Elements of an Effective Pitch Deck

Crafting an effective pitch deck is an art that balances information with persuasion. It’s not just about the data; it’s about presenting that data in a way that tells a compelling story. Your pitch deck should include:

• Clearly defining the problem your business addresses
• Presenting a unique solution that stands out in the competitive landscape
• Providing a snapshot of the market opportunity, including evidence of customer demand and potential for growth

And let’s not forget the power of visuals; well-designed graphics can turn complex information into clear, impactful messages that resonate with your audience. Whether you’re using bullet points to distill essential elements or charts to project financials, the key is to keep the entire presentation focused, informative, and, above all, engaging.

Crafting Your Story: The Structure of a Pitch Deck

The structure of your pitch deck is the scaffolding upon which your business narrative is built. Each slide must be a stepping stone that carries the investor along a journey from curiosity to conviction. Here is a suggested structure for your pitch deck:

• Company mission and the problem you are solving
• Market size and potential
• Product features and unique selling points
• Evidence of traction and revenue
• Team and their capability to execute the vision

By following this structure, you can effectively communicate your business story and capture the interest of potential investors.

The focus should be on storytelling, weaving a narrative that makes the technical details of your business accessible and compelling. With the recommended cap of about 10 slides, your pitch deck needs to respect the investors’ time while providing enough space for questions and discussions. By keeping the presentation brief and to the point, you ensure that the energy of the room is directed towards meaningful dialogue, allowing your story to unfold naturally.

The Opening Slide: Setting the Stage

The opening slide is your pitch deck’s handshake, the first impression that can either captivate or lose your audience. Begin with a statement that sets the tone, a tagline that encapsulates your company’s essence and piques curiosity. Take a cue from successful startups like Dutchie, which used their opening slide to highlight a remarkable feat: “10% of all legal cannabis in the world is purchased through their product”. Such a statement not only grabs attention but also positions the company as a leader in its field.

The visuals you choose for this initial first slide deck can range from illustrations that chart the product journey to impactful images that underscore the potential of your business. The goal is to have your audience engaged and eager to see what comes next.

Solution Slide: Addressing the Pain Point

After setting the stage, it’s time to delve into the heart of your business: the solution you offer. This deck is a presentation where you address the pain point head-on, showcasing the inefficiencies in the market and how your product or service elegantly solves them. Uber, for instance, highlighted the cab industry’s shortcomings and presented their 1-click solution as a game-changer.

Your solution slide should include the following elements:

• Unique value proposition
• How you intend to make money
• Target market
• Visuals such as product demos, flowcharts, or a brief video to illustrate your solution’s impact
• Pricing strategy that reflects market conditions and emphasizes feasibility and profitability

By including these elements, you can effectively communicate the value and potential of your solution.

Traction Slide: Showcasing Success

Your traction slide is the proof in the pudding, the tangible evidence that validates your business concept and entices investors to take a closer look. Presenting your marketplace size and growth rate, much like Airbnb did, demonstrates that the market is ripe for new entrants and that your company is well-positioned to capitalize on this opportunity. Visuals like large graphs can effectively communicate brand growth and key metrics, offering a visual testament to your company’s success and potential.

High-level milestones, customer base, and other market research and validation are your allies in solidifying investor confidence. Remember to keep the slide with metrics straightforward; let the numbers speak for themselves without complicating the narrative with excessive detail. If you’re still in the early stages without significant revenue traction, focus on other measurable factors such as user engagement or customer base growth to showcase your business’s momentum.

Knowing Your Audience: Tailoring the Deck

A pitch deck is not a one-size-fits-all proposition. Knowing your target audience is critical for fine-tuning your presentation to resonate with potential investors. Each investor comes with a unique set of experiences, interests, and investment goals, and tailoring your pitch deck to these nuances can make the difference between a nod of interest and an enthusiastic investment.

Research is your best friend here; uncovering common interests or shared experiences can help you form a personal connection with your audience. Adding social proof, such as endorsements from renowned brands or accolades, can significantly bolster the credibility of your pitch deck, especially if these align with the investor’s interests. Furthermore, customizing your pitch to include interactive demos can show a thorough understanding of the market and detail how your product addresses specific problems, creating a tailor-made narrative for each potential investor.

Investor Deck vs. Marketing Pitch Deck

When crafting a pitch deck, consider who you are speaking to and what their primary interests might be. An investor pitch deck outline is geared towards potential investors, focusing on the funding prospects and anticipated return on investment. In contrast, a marketing pitch deck aims to attract customers and highlight the benefits of the company’s offerings. These two types of pitch decks differ significantly in content because they serve different purposes: one to secure financing from venture capitalists and the other to expand the customer base.

Depending on who is in the audience, whether they are investors, co-founders , partners, or other stakeholders, the pitch deck may need to be adjusted to address the specific interests and goals of each group.

Seed Pitch Deck vs. Later Funding Rounds

The stage of funding your startup is pursuing will also dictate the focus and detail of your startup pitch deck. Seed pitch decks are about painting a picture of what could be, showcasing the startup’s market positioning and the overarching vision for the future. They are often more concise, focusing on the big picture and the massive opportunity at hand. To create successful startup pitch decks, it’s essential to tailor the content to the specific stage of funding.

Conversely, full investor decks used during Series A, B, or C funding rounds are more comprehensive, typically spanning 15-24 slides to provide an in-depth look at all aspects of the startup to potential investors. These later-round decks dig deeper into the company’s performance, market traction, and strategic planning, reflecting a shift from potential to actual performance metrics, strategic developments, and more sophisticated business models.

Visual Storytelling: Designing Your Pitch Deck

A pitch deck is more than a collection of slides; it’s a visual story that needs to be told with care and creativity. Consistent use of logos, colors, and a coherent visual narrative not only strengthens your storytelling but also reinforces brand recall. Applying a visual hierarchy draws the investor’s attention to the most important information, ensuring that the core message is not lost in a sea of text and numbers.

A well-designed pitch deck is as important as its content, as it significantly influences the investors’ perception and level of engagement. In today’s tech-driven world, tools like Storydoc are revolutionizing the way the best pitch decks and presentations are created, offering AI-driven capabilities that allow for the creation of interactive, web-friendly pitch decks without requiring coding or design expertise.

Importance of Visual Elements

Visual elements play a crucial role in communicating your pitch deck’s key messages. They have the power to capture and hold the attention of diverse audiences, ensuring that engagement levels remain high throughout the presentation. Images used in storytelling can evoke emotions and drive home ideas more powerfully than words alone, potentially swaying investor decisions.

Visual aids like icons and flow charts can simplify complex concepts, making them more digestible and aiding the clarity and persuasiveness of your pitch. Take inspiration from TikTok’s pitch deck, which utilized icons as visual anchors to enhance the delivery of key statistics and written content.

Selecting Images and Graphs

The images and graphs you select for your pitch deck can leave a lasting impression on your audience. High-quality visuals that relate to your business can make the pitch more memorable, helping your message stick in the minds of investors long after the presentation has ended.

Creative data visualizations, such as timelines, can narrate your company’s journey in an engaging way, making complex information more accessible. When you supplement interactive demos with charts and graphs, you enhance investor understanding of your product’s value, making the complex simple and the abstract concrete.

The Financials: Making the Numbers Talk

The financial section of your pitch deck is where you get down to brass tacks. It’s where you outline your revenue streams, pricing strategy, and provide detailed financial projections for the next 3-5 years. This slide must answer the crucial questions on every investor’s mind: How will the business generate revenue? What is the pricing strategy? These are key factors in effectively communicating the financial viability of your business.

Financial projections should include a detailed breakdown of key metrics and indicators, showcasing the startup’s potential for financial success and the robustness of the business assumptions.

Revenue Model and Pricing Strategy

When detailing your revenue model, it’s imperative to paint a clear picture of how your company plans to turn its business idea into a profit-generating engine. The revenue model slide should provide a descriptive overview of your operations and strategies for revenue generation, highlighting how different aspects of the business interconnect to create a sustainable income stream. It’s about showing the scalability of your startup and your ability to go to market strategy to tap into the market opportunity, ensuring that your value proposition is not just compelling but also profitable.

Additionally, incorporating diversification strategies into your financials can demonstrate a well-thought-out approach to maintaining and growing revenue streams, assuring investors of your business’s adaptability and long-term viability.

Projecting Financial Success

Financial projections in your pitch deck should serve as a beacon, guiding investors towards the future financial success of your venture. These projections should be more than just numbers; they should illustrate the revenue potential and growth strategies that underline the business model . Profitability metrics such as EBITDA, net profit, and gross margin are the signposts that show the company’s capacity to generate cash flow and sustain its operations.

Operational metrics like customer acquisition cost (CAC), lifetime value to CAC ratio (LTV/CAC), and average revenue per account (ARPA) are essential for showcasing the efficiency and growth potential of key aspects of the business model. Even if you’re in the early stages, discussing expected costs and investments provides a roadmap for financial viability and showcases a clear understanding of the path to profitability.

Remember, traction metrics can also serve as validation of your business’s viability, particularly if revenue is not yet part of the picture.

The Team Behind the Idea

The people behind the business idea are as crucial as the idea itself. Including a team slide in your pitch deck provides investors with a glimpse into the collective brainpower that powers your startup. This slide is your opportunity to build investor trust by showcasing the exceptional individuals who bring unique skills and expertise to the table.

An effective team slide includes:

• High-quality images
• Brief bios that highlight each member’s relevant achievements and experience.

It’s about demonstrating that you have a group of key team members who can not only dream big but also have the capability to make those dreams a reality.

Highlighting Key Team Members

Your team slide should serve as a testament to the more in depth look at and breadth of your startup’s human capital. Concise biographies provide a quick overview of each team member’s background, ensuring that investors grasp their importance to the company’s success.

These bios should underscore why each individual’s experience is not just impressive but also directly relevant to the business venture at hand. The goal is to affirm to potential investors that your team possesses the expertise and experience necessary to deliver on the business plan, making them confident in your ability to execute and succeed.

Demonstrating Team Synergy

Beyond individual achievements, your pitch deck must illustrate the synergy within the team, showcasing their ability to collaborate effectively towards a common goal. Diverse expertise among team members, such as software development prowess or marketing acumen, paints a picture of a well-rounded team that can handle a variety of challenges.

Narratives of successful past collaborations or projects reinforce the team’s proven track record of working together efficiently and achieving results. This collective strength is a potent signal to investors that your team is more than just a sum of its parts; it’s a cohesive unit poised for success.

Contact and Next Steps

The culmination of your pitch deck should lead to a clear call to action, guiding investors toward the next phase of engagement with your company. It’s crucial to end pitch presentation on a note that encourages further interaction, whether that means scheduling a meeting, requesting more in-depth information, or discussing potential investment opportunities. The final slide should be actionable, straightforward, and seamlessly bridge the gap between the conclusion of your presentation and the beginning of a potential partnership.

By combining contact details with an inspiring call to action, you ensure that the impression you’ve made resonates beyond the presentation, demonstrating an eagerness to address inquiries and explore new opportunities.

Crafting a Memorable Conclusion

The conclusion of your pitch deck is your closing argument, your final chance to make a statement that will linger in the minds of investors. An impactful final message solidifies the connection you’ve made throughout your presentation and leaves investors with a clear understanding of your startup’s potential. Crafting this message with precision and power can elevate your pitch deck from good to unforgettable.

Including interactive elements, such as dynamic charts or clickable links, can further enhance engagement and ensure that your conclusion packs a punch. With tools like Venngage, you can share your pitch deck interactively, making the final message dynamic and more likely to inspire action.

Providing Contact Information

The contact slide is your direct line to future dialogues with investors. It should include all the necessary information, such as email addresses, phone numbers, and social media profiles, making it easy for interested parties to reach out.

Embedding interactive elements like calendars directly into the pitch deck allows potential investors to book follow-up meetings with ease, ensuring a smooth transition from the pitch to deeper engagement. This proactive approach to facilitating next steps can be the difference between a fleeting encounter and the beginning of a fruitful relationship.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in a Pitch Deck

Lack of Clarity

One of the most significant pitfalls in creating a pitch deck is the lack of clarity. Ensure that each slide has a single, focused point to prevent your core message from getting lost in an overload of information.

Not Addressing the Problem

Failing to articulate the problem your business solves is a critical mistake. Your pitch deck must make it abundantly clear why your solution is necessary and superior to existing alternatives.

Ignoring the Competition

Overlooking the competition can result in a one-sided narrative that doesn't acknowledge the existing market landscape and competitive advantage. Always include and address your competitors in your pitch deck.

Overcomplicated Financials

While financial projections are essential, overcomplicating them can lead to confusion. Keep financial data straightforward and easy to understand to effectively communicate your business's potential.

Undervaluing the Team

Highlighting your team's expertise is just as important as showcasing your product or service. Neglecting to emphasize the skills and experience of your team can weaken your pitch.

Forgetting to Tell a Story

Neglecting to weave a compelling story throughout your pitch deck can result in a presentation that doesn't emotionally resonate with investors. Stories are crucial for making your business idea memorable and engaging.

Inadequate Practice

Underestimating the importance of practice can lead to a lackluster delivery. Rehearse your elevator pitch beforehand to ensure a seamless and confident presentation.

The Importance of Storytelling in a Pitch Deck

Storytelling is not just for novels and movies; it’s a critical component of an engaging pitch deck. A well-crafted story can captivate your audience, making your business idea not only memorable but also emotionally compelling. When investors are inundated with facts and figures, a narrative that weaves these elements into a coherent and persuasive tale can stand out significantly.

Consider the story of a customer whose life was transformed by your product, or the journey of your founding team overcoming obstacles to bring the company to where it is today. These concrete examples help potential investors visualize the journey of your business, empathize with the problem you’re solving, and become invested in the success of your solution.

For instance, if your company has developed a revolutionary education app, share a testimonial from a student who improved their grades and engagement thanks to your app. Or if your startup has created an innovative gardening tool, tell the story of a community garden that was able to thrive because your tool made gardening more accessible and efficient.

It’s about creating a connection that transcends the transactional nature of investment and taps into the shared human experience of overcoming challenges and achieving goals. By incorporating these storytelling elements, you transform your pitch deck from a simple presentation into a compelling narrative that resonates deeply with investors.

Top 5 Pitch Deck Examples: A Closer Look

Learning from industry leaders can provide valuable insights into crafting a successful pitch deck. Let's delve into the individual pitch decks of five iconic companies—Airbnb, Uber, Dropbox, Tinder, and WeWork—and explore what made each one effective. These examples act as a masterclass in pitch deck design and storytelling, demonstrating how to weave together information and narrative to captivate investors.

Airbnb: A Home Away from Home

Airbnb's pitch deck was instrumental in securing their initial funding. It focused on the concept of belonging anywhere, showcasing the unique value proposition of connecting travelers with local hosts. The deck was clear, concise, and visually appealing, emphasizing market size, growth, and the community-centric approach that set Airbnb apart from traditional hospitality services.

Uber: Revolutionizing Transportation

Uber's pitch deck presented a compelling vision for the future of urban transportation. It highlighted the inefficiencies in the taxi industry and introduced their innovative ride-sharing solution. By demonstrating the convenience and scalability of their platform, Uber successfully communicated the potential for explosive growth and disruption.

Dropbox: Simplifying File Sharing

Dropbox's pitch deck effectively communicated the frustrations of file storage and sharing at the time. With a clear problem statement and a demonstration of their seamless solution, Dropbox appealed to investors by showcasing user growth and engagement metrics, indicating a high demand for their service.

Tinder: Swiping Right on Connection

Tinder's pitch deck tapped into the universal search for connections, presenting a simple yet revolutionary way to meet new people. Their pitch deck templates emphasized the user-friendly interface and the gamification of the dating experience, which contributed to its viral growth and the transformation of the online dating landscape.

WeWork: Redefining Workspaces

WeWork's pitch deck introduced a new vision for the modern workspace. It focused on the growing trend of freelancing and startups, offering flexible, community-driven work environments. The pitch deck serves highlighted the benefits of their model, such as increased productivity and collaboration, and outlined their expansion plans to capture the market.

By examining these pitch decks, you can gain inspiration for structuring your narrative, designing impactful slides, and highlighting key metrics. Each company's approach to balancing information with storytelling ensures that every slide contributes to a cohesive and compelling narrative, providing a blueprint for your own pitch deck endeavors.

The question "What is a pitch deck" can be answered easily: It's a winning pitch deck is a blend of clarity, persuasion, and visual storytelling. It’s a tool that goes beyond mere presentation; it’s a strategic narrative that encapsulates your business’s vision, value proposition, and potential for growth. From the opening slide to the final call to action, each element must be meticulously crafted to engage potential investors and convey the essence of your startup. Remember to tailor your ideal pitch deck to your audience, whether that’s seed investors or venture capitalists in later funding rounds. Include clear financial projections, highlight the strengths of your team, and avoid common mistakes that could derail your pitch. With the insights from this post, you’re now equipped to create a pitch deck that not only stands out but also resonates deeply with those who have the power to turn your entrepreneurial dreams into reality.

A pitch deck is a versatile tool that can be used to communicate a startup's value proposition, potential, and goals to stakeholders such as investors, customers, and employees.

A well-crafted pitch deck should include key components such as an introduction, problem statement, solution statement, market analysis, business model, traction plan, financial projections, competition analysis, team introduction, and investment plan.

Tailoring a pitch deck to different audiences can increase its effectiveness. When pitching to investors, focus on financials and potential ROI. When pitching to customers, focus on the benefits and unique value proposition of the product. When pitching to partners, focus on mutual benefit. When pitching to employees, focus on the growth potential and unique culture of the company.

Common mistakes to avoid in a pitch deck include lack of clarity, ignoring the competition, overcomplicating financial projections, neglecting to tell a compelling story, and using poor quality visuals.

Storytelling can be a powerful tool in a pitch deck. It can help the audience connect with the startup on an emotional level, make the presentation more memorable, and communicate the unique value proposition in a clear and compelling way.

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What is a Pitch Deck?

Are you a new start-up hungry for investors? Or, are you an established business with a fresh new project that needs to be readily conveyed to stakeholders? Whatever the case, you'll need a clear way to spread your message and your plans.

If you're a business with new ideas and new plans, you'll probably be needing a sleek pitch deck. But what is a pitch deck? And how can you create the perfect one to convey your message clearly and succinctly?

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know. Using this guide, you'll be well on your way to crafting the perfect pitch deck for your needs. No problem.

What Is a Pitch Deck?

A pitch deck is a slide deck or presentation used to give potential investors or partners a brief overview of your company and its purpose. But, a pitch deck is much more than just a simple presentation . For maximum effect, it is important that your pitch deck be carefully prepared.

At the end of the day, a pitch deck is a sales technique. The purpose of a pitch deck is to secure funding or to help your product or company stand apart while in competition or at other events. The ultimate goal of a pitch deck is to grab and hold attention.

A pitch deck should be brief, but detailed. It is important to contain all the key information within just a few clean slides. You should always begin with a powerful, but descriptive, statement about your business and close with a call to action.

When you create a pitch deck, you should have a few goals in mind. You'll want to convey your message, but you also need to keep the conversation moving and get people excited. The pitch deck won't secure your funding, but it will be what gets your foot in the door.

What Is a Pitch Deck Used For?

Here's a secret: investors aren't actually all that interested in your company. They're interested in making their money back, and then some. Investors want to know they'll be making back a huge Return on Investment (ROI).

The purpose of your pitch deck is to convince them of your company's ability to do just that. You need to not only talk about your product or business, but you need to do so convincingly. Investors see thousands of product ideas, so you need to be sure that yours is the one that stands apart.

Of course, you want to highlight your idea or purpose. And you should. But, your ideas ability to become a successful and profitable business is even more important.

Having a great business idea isn't enough. You need to generate excitement. To do that, you'll need a presentation that is promising, interesting, and engaging.  

Remember, the pitch deck is the first step in the fundraising process . Your pitch presentation must tell a compelling story about your business and the direction it is going in.  

What Should You Include in a Pitch Deck?

When making your pitch deck, you're going to want to keep it brief. It can be tempting to dump all the information you can into your presentation. But, in order to keep it engaging, you're going to need to prioritize.

There is no "perfect" way to create a pitch deck. However, a good rule of thumb is to keep it around 10-15 slides, with a presentation of about 20 minutes. You should also make an effort not to bog your slides down with too much text.

Include only high-level information in your pitch deck. You'll want numbers, yes, but keep it simple. It can also be helpful to spruce your pitch deck up with animations and sleek graphics.

Using a pitch deck template when creating your presentation can definitely help take your pitch to the next level.

The Parts of a Pitch Deck

While there are many ways to create an effective pitch deck, most of them have a few things in common . Remember, a pitch deck is a story. It should have an introduction, discussion, and conclusion that calls your investors into action.

Every good story has a conflict. So, be sure to outline the problem that your product or business is the solution for. Then, provide your audience with the information they want: how your business tackles the problem.

Finally, most great stories have happy endings. You want to end your presentation with a call to action, but you also want to remain optimistic. If your product or business is the future, make sure it looks like a happy one.

Let's break down each of the parts in detail. Remember there is no singular way to order these. But, the information must be there and it must tell a great story along the way.

1. Introduction

Everybody knows the importance of first impressions. That rule is no different when it comes to your slide decks. Highlight your logo, company name, and a succinct but powerful description right off the bat.

The key to a powerful introduction is a powerful value phrase. You need to keep it short, but explanatory. The ability to summarize your company while still intriguing your audience is vital.

A good example of a great introductory phrase comes from AirBnB. The phrase was used in a 2007 pitch deck that earned the team $600,000. Their concise 7-word phrase was, "Book rooms with locals, rather than hotels."

A simple summary of your business or product is all it takes. This is the most high-level description of your company you can give. After all, this is your chance to hook your audience.

2. The Problem

After introducing your idea, you need to explain to investors where it comes from. Enter, the problem. The antagonist of your story, the problem should explain a void in the market that you are here to address.

Also important to include, is the magnitude of the problem. How many people does it affect? Why is it important this problem be solved, and why now ?

Again, it is important to keep it concise. It can be tempting to give a lengthy description of the problem. In fact, the first time you write it out, you'll probably have over 100 words of information.

It can be a process, but it's important to cut down your description. Try to keep it to 2 or 3 sentences, so it's easy for investors to follow. Using bolded keywords can be a great way to highlight the most pressing issues.

3. The Solution

Now, it's time to lay down your proposed solution. Talk about your product optimistically, but not arrogantly. Focus on how your product addresses the previously proposed problem.

You might start noticing a trend here. Once again, you need to keep this section short, sweet, and easy to follow. Again, try to stick to 2 or 3 main points.

When making a pitch deck, it's good to get familiar with the art of summarizing. Presenting information in layers, bit by bit, can be a great way to get it all out there. Focus on the most high-level information.

What do you really want your investors or audience to know? Highlight those key points.

4. Target Market and Opportunity

Your target market is key to determining your funding. Remember, investors are seeking a major ROI. If your market is too small or the demand is too low, they likely won't be chomping at the bit to invest.

Using your research, this slide can be used to graph out the past market growth and future market growth for your product's target. This will help investors visualize your product's marketable future. Having solid data can be incredibly helpful at this stage.

Start-ups often use the TAM SAM SOM analysis to estimate the size of their market. To do this, you'll need to calculate three key indicators:

• TAM - Size of the total market possible (Total Addressable Market)
• SAM - The market size you're able to serve (Served Available Market)
• SOM - The amount of SAM you estimate can become customers (Serviceable Obtainable Market)

Presenting this information in a graph can help make it visually engaging. It can also help present it in a clear, easy to follow way.

This is your chance to present your product or service. What is it you're actually selling? Again, it is important to be clear and concise.

If you're selling an actual physical product, make sure you include some photographs of the product from different angles. It is important investors get a good sense of what it is you're trying to sell. Highlighting the features and materials of your product can help engage your audience.

If you're selling an app or service, use this as an opportunity to show off some of the unique features included. Screenshots or other visual aids can be helpful, as they will allow your audience easy visualization. Video links can also be embedded into your presentation for a more in-depth look at your offering.

The key here is to generate interest. While the product itself likely won't win you the sale, it is important to convince your audience of its viability. It is also important to position your product or service as unique to help set it apart from any potential competition.

6. Plan and Strategy

How do you intend to market your product? What is your high-level growth strategy? This is the place to present this key information to your audience.

Remember, keep it simple. Focus on high-level goals and actions. Highlight the channels you'll use to market, how you'll engage the industry and other key points of your growth strategy.

This section can be split into two slides: one for business and one for marketing. However, if you can summarize it in one, even better. The ultimate goal here is to convince your audience of the viability of your growth.

Investors want that ROI. Here is where you can convince them that you'll achieve just that. Strategies should be thought-out, but simple so investors can understand them and be convinced by them in a snap.

You can also use a timeline or phase structure to present this information. This can help provide a clean, simplified outline that boils your strategy down to a few key points or goals.

7. Traction

This slide should only be included if you've already had some success or validation in the market. This is where you'll focus on the growth of your business. Highlight the sales you've made, goals you've achieved, and where you plan to go next.

For young companies, presenting your traction can make all the difference. Investors want to know that you're a valid product. This is your opportunity to show them.

You don't need much data here, as long as you know how to present it. A simple map or graph of your growth and projections can move mountains. Visual aids can be helpful in reducing the risk for investors.

The importance of this slide cannot be understated. Financial information is pivotal, but investors also want to be convinced of the capability of your team. Don't be afraid to highlight the abilities of each core team member.

What makes your team the right team for this business? What drives your team to be the solution? What is it about your team that ensures your product or service will be successful?

Investors want to know they can trust those they're investing in. Express what your team is good at. Highlight key members and what they're bringing to the table.

Use pictures and bullet points to introduce your team. Don't get too long-winded trying to elevate your team. Highlight a few key points for each member, focusing on the unique talent or ability they're bringing to your mission.

Stay focused on only the core members. Too many people on this slide can get overwhelming. Advisors don't need to be included here.

9. Competition

It might seem counter-productive to mention the other products or services addressing the same problem as you. But, it's important to address them and why you're a cut above any competition.

Investors want to see that you've done your research. Acknowledging your competition lets them know that you've done your market deep-dive. It also shows that if there are other companies addressing your problem, the demand for your product is high.

The key here is to know your market ecosystem and where you fit into it. Highlight the advantages of your idea. Make sure your audience can easily see what sets you apart from the competition.

10. Financials

This will likely be the most important slide to your investors. You'll need to include your projected growth over the next 3-5 years, as well as details about your business model and financial strategy.

Investors are looking for competency, as well as growth potential. Colorful charts and graphs can be incredibly helpful here, as they simplify information while allowing investors easy visualization. It is important the financial information comes from solid sources, not just wild guesses or projections.

Focus on real-world data and educated assumptions for potential growth. Investors want to see that you're a viable product and that you've done your homework.

11. Investment and Use of Funds

As you near the end of your presentation, it is important investors know what exactly their investment is for. Make sure it is clear what you're asking for and why. Justifying your ask can create a sense of security for your investors, letting them know their money won't be going to waste.

Your strategy is important here. Be realistic and don't aim too high. Make sure your bases are covered, and you'll be much more likely to land some financial help.

12. Acknowledgements and Call to Action

Don't forget to thank your investors for their time. Keep it simple here. A nice final slide can include just the words "thank you," your phrase from the opener, and a powerful call to action.

Every call to action will be different, depending on the tone of your presentation. What's important is that your audience knows you'll be expecting some form of response.

Pitch Deck Mistakes to Avoid

Every pitch deck is different. Now that you know what should be included, you should also know some common pitfalls that need to be avoided. An effective pitch deck will be clean, brief, and descriptive.

It can also be helpful to get a review of your pitch deck . This can help you create the cleanest possible deck. It can also set you up for a dynamite presentation.

Here are a few common mistakes that can be easily avoided:

Too Much Text

No one is going to want to read a wordy slide. Putting too much text per slide can lose the attention of your audience. Summarize with bullet points and use visual aids to help keep the focus on you and your presentation, not the slides themselves.

Too Much Information

A good presentation will focus on the high-level information. You won't be able to present every detail, so prioritize and highlight only the key points. Arrange your presentation so the most vital information stands out.

Niche Information

Never assume your audience will understand all the information you present. Your audience likely won't be as familiar with certain information as you are. Make your descriptions and summaries as clear as possible to avoid niche information audiences may not understand.

Not Tailoring Your Message

Not every audience is the same. Make sure your presentation is tailored for whichever audience you are presenting to. For example, a pitch deck presented in-person and a pitch deck sent by email will need to contain different structures and information.

Lack of Transparency

Metrics and explanations of data need to be clear. They also need to be honest. Having falsified or confusing information can destroy a great pitch in an instant.

Bad Endings

Your investors are going to remember your ending better than almost any other part of your presentation. Make sure it's a strong one. Don't forget to include a powerful call to action and thank your investors for your time.

Remember, the pitch isn't over until you walk out of the room. Let your audience know what it is you want. Leave with impact and investors will be sure to remember you.

Poor Time Management

Keep track of how much time you're spending on your presentation. Don't spend too long in the beginning, only to rush through the important information in the middle and end of your presentation.

Investors also don't want to listen to your pitch all day. Practicing your presentation is key to getting your timing just right. You want your presentation to be concise, fluid, and complete.

Pitch Deck Examples

When making your pitch deck, it can be helpful to look at examples from some of the top dogs of industry. Remember, every major company likely started with an effective pitch deck. Some pitch decks to check out include:

Launched in 2004, Facebook was originally marketed as "thefacebook." Today, the company has grown to a $140 billion valuation with over 360 million users. All of that began with a simple pitch deck .

This deck was particularly effective at showing what the platform was and how it became increasingly popular from university to university. They also included media quotes to validate the company and highlight its potential.

With over $14 in revenue in 2019 alone, Uber has quickly become the king of ride-sharing services since its founding in 2011. Their initial pitch deck was particularly effective at highlighting the solution Uber offered. By focusing on the problem the service was addressing, they positioned themselves as the app of the future.

Since its launch in 2003, LinkedIn has built a base of 630 million users in 150 different countries. Their lengthy pitch deck is a great example of a deck used to obtain seed funding . LinkedIn used their deck not only to convey its potential growth but the potential growth of the Internet itself.

A Pitch Deck for Every Enterprise

Now, you no longer have to ask yourself "What is a pitch deck?" If you've got an idea, a product, or a startup that needs investors, you need a pitch deck. Pitch decks clarify your business goals, messages, and offerings in an ever-changing world.

Our pitch deck services and templates can help you rise to the top of the global business class. Contact us today to begin crafting your perfect pitch deck. With our help, you might just find yourself at the top of the market.

Writer, content producer and SEO Julian Droste is the author and father of our entrepreneur-helping blog and website. Since the beginning of 2015, Julian has created over 400+ articles about a wide range of topics e.g., math, biology, chemistry, history, engineering, and many more. His passion for entrepreneurship, presentations, and speeches led him to basetemplates where he can share his experience in building a startup with future entrepreneurs.

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Pitch Presentation: How to Make the Case for Your Idea in Minutes!

You’ll probably have heard the word “pitch” in connection with PowerPoint and business ideas – but what exactly does it mean, and why is it so important in business?

This article will explain why pitch presentations are so vital , how to create a pitch presentation and what type of pitch might be suitable for your presentation goal.

So what does pitching, or a pitch, actually mean?

The basic meaning of pitching is throwing an idea at your audience, hoping to score a hit, as in baseball.  It can also be thought of in terms of music (like a pitch change), or electronics/science. In the context of PowerPoint presentations, a pitch is a special type of sales presentation. Read on!

What is a pitch presentation?

A pitch presentation is a short presentation in which you introduce your company, product or idea . You only have a few minutes to convince your audience and attract potential investors. So you need to plan what you want to say really carefully.

First impressions matter . While you’re preparing your pitch presentation, keep the time constraint firmly in mind. Pay special attention to getting your key messages across clearly and precisely, to achieve your goals.

Read more about this in our articles on Preparing a Presentation and Goal Setting . 

We at PresentationLoad have a range of professionally designed PowerPoint pitch presentation slides for you to use!

Your goal is to attract direct investment , or to be invited to further talks with investors.

Investors are looking for businesses that have growth potential. They want to see that your company is able to grow quickly, making profits. So when you prepare your pitch, you need to focus on your growth potential. Show investors why and how your company will grow quickly in the future, and why it is worth investing in.

To present your company vision and growth, we recommend slides from PresentationLoad !

How do I make a pitch presentation?

The most important thing is to keep your presentation simple . Investors don’t have time for complex presentations and explanations. They want facts, and to grasp what your company has to offer.

Keep your presentation as short and simple as possible and focus on the core elements that make up your company, market and product. The following structure is great for covering all the important information in your pitch presentation in the short time available:

Slide 1:  Title slide (Short, snappy dsecription of your business idea)

Slide 2:  The team (Who does what)

Slide 3:  Initial situation (What’s the problem?) Slide 4: Solution (What you are offering!)

Slide 5:  Your product / service (What exactly are you proposing?)

Slide 6:  The market (Is the market environment / target audience big enough?)

Slide 7: Added value / USP (Why is your solution better than others?)

Slide 8:  The competition (Who are the competitors? How do you differ from them?) 

Slide 9:  Your business model (What do the financials look like? How will sales be generated?) 

Slide 10:  Your business plan (How would the business model be implemented?)

Slide 11:  Funding requirements (How much money is needed, and for what?)

Slide 12:  Contact data  A good pitch presentation needs to be clear and concise, while getting the most important information over. Introduce your idea and the team briefly at the beginning. Follow this up with the most important facts and figures , as well as information on how you intend to implement your business plan.

BELIEVE in your business idea , and you’ll be effortlessly persuasive. If you believe in your company and its potential, so will your investors. Convince them that you are the next big thing, and that they should definitely invest in your company right now!

Types of pitch

• Elevator pitch

As the name suggests, this is one where you only have a very short time to get your ideas across . In an elevator ride, you only have a few minutes to talk to fellow passengers.

So an elevator pitch should be a meaningful, brief introduction to your idea. Be prepared for how little time you have! Introduce yourself, your company and your business idea. Your goal should be make a brilliant first impression in minutes.

Find more informations in our blog elevator pitch .

• Start-up pitch / business plan pitch

This sort of pitch presentation allows you to set out not only your business idea or product, but your business plan too. Good figures and future potential attract potential investors, particularly for start-ups. Make a convincing pitch, and you’re so much more likely to get the investment you need.

• Speed-pitching essions

Speed pitching is basically a fixed event where speakers have something like five minutes each to convince investors of their idea. You get the opportunity to present your idea to several potential investors. This concept is similar to speed dating.

• Sales pitch

As the name suggests, a sales pitch is about selling a product . Potential investors and customers need to be persuaded to buy. A good sales pitch is tailored to individual customers or small groups and should focus, for best effect, on what benefits your product will give them.

• Agency pitch

An agency pitch is a competition on a level playing field, putting marketing or new business ideas to a potential client . The goal of the pitch is for you to win the contract . This form of pitch is often seen in the architecture business.

A company will invite potential contractors to an agency pitch for a particular job, giving them a briefing. Proposals which appeal to the client are then developed into presentations.

The winner gets the job; everyone else goes away empty-handed. So if you’re participating in an agency pitch, keep in mind that you could also lose, using up time, money and resources. Tip: Weigh the pros and cons of the pitch, and read the briefing carefully.

• Job planning / production pitch

This sort of pitch is about smoothly linking phases of a job . In order to efficiently produce goods, without a hiatus, there need to be skilled workers, machines available, and sufficient raw material.

Timing everything appropriately can be highly complex, so your pitch needs to emphasize your company’s efficiency and experience.

Side note: Pitching like in Hollywood – The Pixar Pitch

Pixar is known worldwide for its mega successful movies. But how do they always stay at the top? It’s simple: they’ve found the perfect marketing formula. It’s not complicated, but punchy and unique – just like their movies.

Pixar movies are just incredible, keeping us spellbound from start to finish . Who doesn’t remember Marlin’s desperate search for his son Nemo, or Buzz Lightyear’s famous line, “To infinity and beyond…”?

They all follow the same, time-tested formula – the secret of their success. Every screenplay, every movie, and every good investor pitch can be put together following simple but archetypal story structures.

How does the Pixar pitch work?

And why on earth are we talking about a success formula for animated films here? Because, as Daniel Pink explains in his book “To Sell is Human”, the Pixar success formula can be applied to your business as well . And we’ll tell you how to use this technique to improve your pitches. The Pixar pitch is strongly grounded in storytelling . Nowadays, all the best TED Talks, Apple keynote speeches, and successful pitches use the storytelling principle to get their ideas across effectively.

This is because stories matter . They’ve been used since time immemorial to pass on facts and knowledge, from generation to generation. Why are we so captivated by stories? Because they evoke emotions in us, inspiring people to action, conveying values, virtues, humanity and morals. So we can use storytelling to create emotions that inspire customers and win their trust.

The structure of the Pixar pitch

The Pixar pitch consists basically of six consecutive sentences:

1. “Once upon a time…” …lets you start with a general description of the situation.

2. “Every day… ” …presents what is happening on the ground, letting you show what the problem is.  This is where you can elaborate on the habits, expectations, and general way of doing things of the user or consumer, adding statistics or evidence for them as needed.

3. “One day…” …this is the climactic, decisive moment. This is the catalyst. This is the reason that change is needed (the reason for what you’re proposing).

4. “Because of this…” … What happened? What started to be done differently?

5. “That’s why…” …. What changed as a result of this? What has the change done for the user or consumer?

6. “Until at last…” …this rounds up and highlights the essence of your message. A successful solution!

The Pixar pitch, using “Finding Nemo” as an example

1. “ Once upon a time … there was a fish named Marlin, who loved and wanted to protect his only son, Nemo.”

2. “ Every day … Marlin warned Nemo about the dangers of the ocean, and begged him to stay close when swimming.”

3. “ One day … Nemo ignored his father’s warnings and swam out into the open water.”

4. “ Because of this …. he was captured by a diver, ending up in a Sydney dentist’s aquarium.”

5. “ That’s why … Marlin set in motion a plan to rescue Nemo, enlisting the help of other sea creatures.”

6 . “ Until at last … Marlin and Nemo found each other again, learning that love depends on trust.”

Why is the Pixar pitch so effective?

Telling a story like this really helps to focus on the key points of your topic, attracting your target audience’s interest by playing to their innate human reaction to storytelling.

The vivid images you can create with this method allow you to present your audience with a short, dynamic pitch that will leave them wanting more!

Perfection is achieved, not wehen there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away. – Antoine De Saint-Exupéry

How will the Pixar pitch work for me?

The Pixar pitch is an effective way to s tructure short, relevant stories . Its framework makes it easy to set out ideas and develop them.

Presenting a pitch in this way is really effective because it works with the way our brain pays attention to and processes information.

Studies show that we can only remember a maximum of six items of information at a time – that’s why the Pixar pitch, with its six sentences, is so effective.

Conclusion: Pitch successfully to your audience

How about creating a Pixar pitch for your company, product, service or problem solving? It would be a great way to draw attention to your company and attract new customers! In just a few minutes, you can present the problem, introduce your solution and explain what makes it so special.

Before creating any pitch presentation, make sure you’re clear exactly what your goals are, and which type of presentation is needed.

Our tips for creating a great pitch presentation will ensure you’re well prepared and ready to face your audience with confidence.

Got more questions about pitch presentations or PowerPoint in general? Get in touch with us [email protected] and we’ll be more than happy to help!

You might also be interested in the following articles:

• Prepare PowerPoint Presentations: 11 Tips
• Define Your Presentation Goal
• Call-to-action for Your Presentations
• Storytelling in Presentations

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How to Make a Successful Business Pitch: 9 Tips From Experts

You’ve just had your lunch, and you’re about to get back to work. 

While making your post-lunch tea (or coffee), you can’t stop thinking about being your own boss. 

You wonder if it’s about time for you to turn your side hustle into a full-time business and become an entrepreneur. 

Or perhaps you want to propose the idea of a four-day workweek to your CEO. 

If you want to introduce investors and prospects to your business idea and convince them to take the plunge with you,  you need a strong and persuasive business pitch. 

How to create a persuasive business pitch according to experts 

The good news — it’s possible to craft a convincing and successful business pitch. 

Even better news: This Piktochart business pitch guide shows you how. 

Grab your drink of choice and take notes as we explore the different ways to pitch business ideas (from a sales-style elevator pitch to an innovative workplace pitch), as well as understand what makes a great business pitch. You’ll also get a glimpse into our business pitch templates, and learn expert advice from those who have pitched their way to success (and failure too). 

You can also watch the video below if you don’t have time to go over this guide. It’s also easier to follow along if you sign up for a free Piktochart account and edit the templates yourself (learning by doing).

What is a business pitch? 

A business pitch is a presentation of a business idea to a group of people who can help turn your idea into a reality.

You can pitch to: 

• Investors who can help fund your idea
• Potential customers who will pay for your product or service
• Advocates who will support your idea

In some cases, a business pitch doesn’t have to be all about presenting a new idea. You could be asking for more funding or continued support for an already established business venture. 

Whether through an investment, purchase, or advocacy, a business pitch becomes successful if you can convince people to believe in your idea or pique their interest and get them to learn more. 

Now that you understand what a business pitch is, let’s take a closer look at the different types of business pitches. 

Types of pitches in business

Your business pitch can be narrowed down to the following five types of presentations: 

1. Investor pitch

In this type of business pitch, you present a  persuasive presentation or pitch deck to a group of potential business partners and/or investors. 

Sign up for a free Piktochart account to get started on creating professional-looking pitch deck templates that you can edit in minutes.

An investor business pitch should typically last for 45 minutes . The best practice for this type of pitch is 20-30 minutes of presentation followed by discussion or a Q&A afterward.

Alternatively, business pitch competitions follow a different best practice. These presentations should last around five to 10 minutes and focus on pitching to investors.

Lastly, the most stringent type of business pitch is most commonly referred to as an ‘elevator pitch’, and should only last around 30-60 seconds.

Let’s dive in so you can learn how to make the perfect business pitch!

2. Sales pitch 

The goal of a sales pitch is to answer the question “What’s in it for me?” from the lens of the potential customer. 

The best and most effective salespeople can make a sales pitch in as short as one minute. Also known as the ‘ elevator pitch ‘, this type of business pitch should be able to be delivered in a single elevator ride (30-60 seconds on average). In this format, a short sales pitch should include four key components:

• Your unique product name and category
• The specific problem you are trying to solve
• The innovative solution you offer
• the unique selling point of benefit to your solution

3. Product pitch 

A product pitch is similar to a sales pitch, however, the spotlight should be on the product and/or solution itself. 

For example, a sales pitch for an email automation software will highlight one or two of its benefits. Meanwhile, a product pitch of the same automation software will focus more on its features, how it works, and how you can integrate the software into your existing setup. 

In a product pitch, you should aim to:

• Explain your product or offering clearly and concisely
• Identify and address the target audience and/or industry your product supports
• Specify the problem the aforementioned faces and how your solution can solve it
• Provide a realistic example of your solution in action
• Make sure to use accurate facts backed up by relevant and recent data

4. Job pitch 

If you’re applying for a job or internship and you’re wondering how you can stand out from the crowd (consisting of your peers and other qualified applicants), consider pitching yourself to a prospective employer. 

Applying the same logic used for a sales or product pitch deck; sell yourself!

A job pitch or personal summary pitch should be concise, personalized, and consistent. In a job pitch you should include:

• A brief introduction to you
• An explanation as to why you’re a great fit for the company and role
• Relevant experience and achievements
• Your goals and career aspirations

“It’s not about bragging or showing off — it’s about giving the other person evidence that you can actually do what you say you can do,” assures Starla Sampaco , TV news anchor at KCTS 9 and founder of Career Survival Guide .

5. Workplace pitching 

Do you have an idea or initiative that will help your colleagues and help boost the company’s profitability?  Pitch it internally within your workplace, to your team or boss! 

For example, you can pitch a  remote-first culture  or the four-day workweek to your HR, and/or the rest of the leadership team.

Another workplace pitch example? Maybe you might want to propose the creation of a new role in your team which can help advance your career and address a challenge in the organization at the same time. 

To do this, simply create a pitch deck including your main points, the benefits, and proposed next steps to turn your idea into a reality. Piktochart’s workplace pitch decks can help you get your point across through our workplace templates.

The structure of a successful business pitch 

If creating a business pitch sounds intimidating, the team at Piktochart has your back. 

You can address this worry by making sure that you have a business pitch structure that is sure to succeed, using our tips & templates. 

When you have a formulated pitch deck structure, template, and agenda, you’ll know exactly what you’re going to say next, taking the bulk of the stress out of presenting. Additionally, these best practice presentation structures make your business pitch more memorable to your audience and leave a lasting impression. Statistically, it turns out that people retain structured information up to  40 percent more accurately  than information presented in freeform. 

The WHAC Method

Whether you’re pitching to a group of potential investors or you’re selling real estate, use the WHAC method when structuring your perfect business pitch. 

The WHAC method is introduced in  The 3 Minute Rule   by Brandt Pividic, an award-winning film director and television producer. He wrote the book to detail his experience and tips as he made hundreds of pitches in Hollywood. 

This well-known WHAC method stands for: 

What is it and what do you offer? 

You start your business pitch by answering the questions: what is it, and what do you offer? 

At this point, you share your business plan and quickly outline the problem and solution you offer. For example, let’s say that you want to pitch the idea of having a UX researcher on your product team. 

You list down existing problems and challenges that your team and/or organization are currently experiencing without a dedicated UX researcher. Afterward, you propose your solution — hiring someone who can step in and do user research. 

How does it work? 

Next, explain your proposal. Provide a quick summary of the benefits of your solution. In our example, share how the UX researcher will help the product team accomplish its objectives.

It can be tricky explaining how your business idea works. Figuring out how to deliver this information in an entertaining and simple manner can turn potential investors into partners, as we’ve seen from some of the best startup pitch decks .

Since you don’t have much time and attention spans are short, the key is to boil down how your idea works into a few key points. Explain how it works from a high-level overview and weave this in as part of your compelling story.

Are you sure? 

Once you have provided the solution, the people listening to your elevator pitch are likely saying to themselves, “will it really work?”

This is the point where you have to provide solid proof in your pitch. You can use testimonials, a short case study, or statistics.

You should also mention financial projections in order to leave a positive impression. If your manager or potential investors will provide funding for your idea, they’ll want to know what the ROI is.

Can you do it? 

The final part of your pitch should answer this question.

Now that your audience has heard you talk about the problem, solution, and proof that it works, you need to show them how you’re going to implement the solution. Think of this point as the “actionable” part of your pitch. You can even provide steps to break down how this can be achieved in a certain timeframe.

“Show how you have thought about how to turn your idea into a commercial outcome or true partnership. This is really an opportunity to start or continue building trust and showing that you care about creating real value for the people in the room is the best way to put you on the right foot,” shares Michael Rosenbaum , CEO of Spacer ,  one of the biggest parking marketplaces in the U.S. 

Like any good sales pitch, you need to show how achievable the results are. At this particular stage, you need to tie in any additional information to show what resources or specific and unique skills are required to make it happen.

Being transparent about what’s required can build trust with potential investors.

How to persuade your audience with your business pitch 

Now that you know the best practice structure of a successful business pitch, take note of the following tips to help make your business pitch more interesting, relatable, and most of all, convince your audience to say “yes”. 

1. Understand what your audience wants from you 

It’s standard advice across all facets of industry to “know your audience”.  

However, if you’d like to become better at your business pitches, go the extra mile by understanding what your audience wants from you. 

There’s a  difference between understanding and knowing  your audience. Instead of just  knowing  where your client comes from, try to  understand  their pain points, goals, and motivation. 

How do you do this? 

Talk to them in advance, read about the things they publish online (tweets, blog posts), and understand what excites them. By doing so, you’ll be able to tailor your business pitch to their needs, wants, and preferences. 

For example, if you’re pitching to potential clients and investors who are eco-conscious at the same time, it makes sense to highlight how your idea can positively impact the environment. 

Stephen Keighery , CEO of Home Buyer Louisiana and Founder of Bald Eagle Investments USA, shares this tip when it comes to customizing your pitch to your audience: 

“Learn ahead and research about the company or the client you’ll be pitching to, just be sure that every information you obtain is for public knowledge. You can also observe their behavior and their words during the transaction; and perhaps while pitching, use the jargon they use to establish connection and a favorable impression to them.”

2. Have your elevator pitch ready 

Imagine this. You just bumped into Mark Cuban of Shark Tank at the airport lounge, and you can’t believe that you’re sitting next to him! He looks at you and asks you about yourself and what you do. 

This is when you need your elevator pitch handy! 

The Asana team recommends the following  elements of a good elevator pitch : 

• Introduction
• Value proposition
• CTA (call to action)

You don’t have to follow the exact formula. You can mix it up based on the situation, your personality, and the audience you’re pitching to. 

It’s also worth noting that you might not immediately notice the benefit of your elevator pitch.  Think of it as an opportunity for you to make a great first impression. 

3. Use visual aids

If you have the chance to present beyond the elevator pitch, you should never pitch with a presentation that’s filled with texts, numbers, or endless rows of data. 

As humans, our  brains are hardwired to love visuals   — from photographs to infographics to icons. 

When pitching an idea, product, or service, get your audience’s attention (and support!) by telling a story visually and adding a bit of creativity to your PowerPoint slides. 

Images trigger empathy  which in turn can make your audience understand your pitch better. 

The more they understand your idea, the greater the likelihood of angel investors, venture capitalists, and potential customers supporting or advocating for you. 

Another added benefit is that  visuals can elicit emotions  and emotions play an important role in decision-making. 

Watch these 10 legendary pitch decks for visual inspiration.

4. Explain your business model clearly

When pitching to investors, imagine them asking, “what’s in it for me?”. 

After learning about how your idea can help solve a problem, they’re interested in how you’re going to advertise to your target market and generate revenue consistently. 

Johannes Larsson , CEO of  Financer.com  explains that being able to articulate their business model was what made them successful in getting business partners on board. 

“We were relatively unknown in the industry, so it took us quite a few tries before we signed our first deal. After that, however, things became much easier — not just because we were building up a name for ourselves but also because we improved our approach. We learned that being able to clearly explain our business model was the key to earning potential partners’ trust. Once we mastered that, we focused on providing proof of fruitful partnerships. It was obvious that this information was what our affiliates cared about, so we made sure to gather evidence of our success and present it in every pitch.”

5. Weave your passion or story with your pitch

Your business pitch doesn’t have to sound like you’re reading it straight from a script that someone else wrote for you. 

When appropriate, add a bit of your personal touch.  In short, humanize your pitch and slide deck. 

It will not only improve your relatability factor but also make you feel less nervous. After all, you’re talking about something that you’re passionate about. 

Take it from Debbie Chew, an SEO Specialist at  Dialpad .

“As part of my hiring process, I had to pitch a marketing campaign idea. I started brainstorming a list of potential ideas and their projected impact to decide which one to go with. While doing this, one idea kept coming back to me, and I realized I was most passionate about pitching a campaign related to video meetings. People now spend so much of their time in video meetings, but how much time? And how can we have better meetings? So I built my pitch around this concept and really enjoyed pitching my idea (which also helped me feel less nervous),” shares Chew.  If you can share a personal story or something you’re passionate about in your pitch — while also tying it back to your audience — they won’t forget it. And yes, I got the job!” 

6. Put the spotlight on benefits

Once you have your audience’s attention, circle back to how your product or service will address customer needs and benefit business partners. 

For  Carsten Schaefer  of  Trust.io , it boils down to being able to share the benefits of your product or service from the get-go. 

“When I first had to get funding for my product, I had to deliver a sales pitch in front of a board of investors. It didn’t succeed, and I learned a lot from it. “Investors want cold, hard facts and the benefits to the end-user. In the end, they want to see if it makes money for them or not. I’m glad I failed because I learned that for an effective sales pitch, you really need to put yourself in the shoes of someone thinking about profit and pure common sense from a business perspective.

7. Highlight why you’re different from the competition

Your business pitch is also an opportunity for you to explain what sets you apart from other businesses or organizations, and essentially explain your unique selling point. What makes your idea different? Why is your business model unique? 

It also helps to address relevant competition head-on in your pitch. For  Brogan Renshaw  of Firewire Digital, this tactic shows clients and investors that you’re an expert on what you are talking about, giving them confidence in your offering.

“I notice that this is a part of my business pitches that completely wins the client over because it answers their questions and concerns on the market position of competitors,” says Renshaw. 

8. Share the story behind your team

Investors and business partners are also curious about the people, employees, as well as the team behind your idea. When creating this presentation slide in your pitch deck, don’t forget to include information highlighting your team and each team member’s relevant skills. 

“Investors want to know whether the founders have worked together before, if your startup’s early hires have complementary skill sets, and whether you’ll be flexible, open-minded, and willing to embrace different perspectives, “  writes  Lauren Landry ,  associate director of marketing and communications for Harvard Business School Online.

9. Have an impressive one-pager

As its name implies, a one-pager is a one-page document outlining your business plan and mission. Think of it as a business brochure . With Piktochart’s online brochure maker , you can easily create one within minutes.

Imagine that an investor or client is too busy to listen to your pitch, you can simply email or hand out your one-pager; your entire business pitch in an easy-to-digest format.  

According to Greg Cullen , Sr. Account Executive at Dialpad, your one-pager should have these three components: 

• What is the business pain?
• How the solution you’re positioning can solve said business pain
• The value of the solution accompanied by the resulting positive impact by moving forward with the platform

“This one-pager condenses everything that is important succinctly into an easy-to-digest easy to digest format for everyone to read – and it ensures that all parties are on the same page. And most importantly, this can be used by the champion you’re working with to sell this internally, whether it’s to the CEO, procurement, etc. The better you make this one-pager, the better the result you’ll have,” recommends Cullen. 

Get funding, win clients, and gain support with Piktochart’s pitch deck creator 

While it may be nerve-wracking, particularly if it’s the first time that you’re creating a business pitch, use the expert tips above as your guideposts for a successful pitch. 

You’ll eventually find your very own unique style and approach to business pitching as you do it more frequently.

If you need help creating any type of business or personal pitch deck, create your pitch deck quickly with Piktochart’s pitch deck creator. The first step is to get your free Piktochart account .

Want additional insight on how to better prepare and deliver a business pitch that you’ll be presenting online? Go to our guide to stress-free, engaging Zoom presentations .

We’re rooting for you and your business!

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Pitch: Techniques & strategies for effective presentation

Among all the communication techniques, the pitch presentation is at the same time one of the most iconic of the business world and also one of the most fundamental for any business leader. As a matter of fact, pitching can also be necessary for anyone trying to convince an audience to believe in their idea or project. Consequently, pitching techniques can apply to a sales context but also for an employee presenting a strategy or any creative work. In this article, we will first detail what is a pitch presentation, then we will focus on its essential stylistic aspects and finally we will tackle more specific tips to prepare and deliver a successful pitch presentation.

Pitch: Definition and structure

Definition & objectives.

Pitching is a metaphoric term which comes from baseball meaning throwing the ball. The metaphor was first used in television and cinema where writers and directors “throw” their ideas at key decision makers from major TV networks and Hollywood powerhouses.

Today, in most companies, regardless of their industry, the primary objective of a pitch meeting remains the same : secure funding for the development of the idea, rendering it both feasible and financially rewarding.

However, to accomplish this primary objective, your pitch presentation needs to serve these purposes :

• demonstrating the value proposition of the business;
• streamlining intricate concepts for easy comprehension ;
• setting the business apart from competitors ;
• narrating the captivating story behind the company to its target demographic, igniting intrigue and enthusiasm, in other words: story telling .

There are many ways to pitch a business idea. It can be done by phone or e-mail or if you want to stick to the Hollywood iconography on a restaurant napkin or in the proverbial elevator, but more seriously, pitching is usually done during a meeting , with a PowerPoint (or similar software) presentation.

This is why having a great pitch deck is so crucial if you want to raise the interest of potential investors : each slide will need to be carefully thought through. Now let’s review the 5 parts which make for all good pitch deck templates.

Eye-catching introduction

After the title slide, which is commonly used as a waiting screen, your first presentation slide introduces you and your business: who you are and what you do . Don’t hesitate to oversimplify and compact your business value proposition into a single sentence. For instance: “”We provide personalized financial coaching for millennials” or “We’re the Airbnb for camping enthusiasts.”

If you decide to compare your company with a high profile player, make sure it is relevant : at the very least a similar business model. Don’t just namedrop.

What you are trying to achieve here is just getting everyone’s attention and nothing else. It’s not because people agree to meet with you that they are going to actively listen, you have to give them a reason to care.

Presentation of the problem and target market

Your next slide should present what need your business caters to , what problem it solves. Of course you already hinted at this in your initial value proposition but now is the time to give specifics.

This section doesn’t need to feature each and every problem your product offers a solution to. Two or three items will do just fine. For instance:

• “Our app streamlines meal planning, saving busy professionals hours each week.”
• “Our software optimizes supply chain management, reducing costs and increasing efficiency for manufacturers.”

Following the problem, you want to introduce the target market and begin to conjure up the investment opportunity. In this new slide, elaborate on your ideal customer profile and quantify the potential market size.

Depending on your business context, it might be a good idea to segment your market to match your marketing strategy as well as your product offers. In any case, be cautious when you define your market : contrary to one might assume, investors tend to prefer to be presented with a specific and well-rounded target rather than a giant but unrealistic market. The more precise your market description, the more compelling your presentation will be.

Proposed solution or core idea

Now that you have laid the groundwork, you can introduce your product or service which will solve the afore-described problem. It’s important to follow this particular order as it reflects the target customer’s reality : a challenge arises, your solution helps them deal with it.

Even though you are proud, as you should be, of your product, try not to focus on its characteristics , because of two main reasons :

• it can easily be boring for your audience;
• how your customers will use it on a regular basis is much more relevant when it comes to evaluating if a business idea is worth investing in.

Indeed, it is a much better angle to pitch your solution through an evocative story or scenario. Try your best to make your audience able to picture themselves how it would work in a live situation. If you have actual examples, even better.

This section also needs to include slides about how your idea will make money , for you whomever invests in it. Here, you need to prove you have thought things through and are competent and serious about it. You will want to include a slide mapping your business or revenue model and at least another one with a short summary of your business plan. Also offer hard copies or URLs of the full business plan to every attendee, for further consultation.

Keep it short, a pitch is not meant to be exhaustive, you only need to get the potential investor’s approval for a second meeting.

Evidence of value and financials

Otherwise known as traction, this section of your pitch aims at giving tangible early results (if you have any) to prove that your idea is already partially substantiated by hard facts and data :

• growth potential;
• sales already made with a similar but less perfected product;
• margins, etc.

Then you absolutely need to have a few slides featuring your financial projections over the course of the next few years:

• sales forecast;
• income forecast;
• profit and loss statement (expenses vs earnings).

Your conclusion slides should not be a summary of your presentation. Otherwise it would be a summary of a summary. No, you want to conclude with the million dollar question: how much you need from them . With all the data you have already provided, how you intend to use the invested funds should be clear to everyone but be ready to answer any related question.

Key guidelines to a good pitch presentation

Clarity and conciseness.

Successful pitching heavily relies on you being the most clear and concise as possible. Remember : this is an introduction to your company or to your business idea or concept. You have been granted a limited amount of time to convey your message so make it count because there is no do-over.

Go straight to the point in an easily digestible manner:

• remember that from the investor’s perspective “ less is more ”, meaning that too much information will lose their attention and ultimately their interest;
• use large fonts and color schemes to ensure physical readability ;
• you never have enough time to go over each and every bullet point for your presentation so skip some of them ;
• always save enough time for questions , no exception.

Core message and value proposition

The core message and value proposition form the foundation of any successful business pitch presentation. You need to assert what makes your business unique and why it’s valuable to potential investors or stakeholders. If you want to perfectly set the stage for a compelling pitch, focus on highlighting your business idea’s strengths as well as its competitive advantages. By focusing on the problem your business solves and how it addresses the needs of your target market, you can effectively convey its value proposition.

Besides, setting you apart from your competitors and showcasing the potential for growth and profitability reinforces the core message of your presentation.

Emotional connection and storytelling

The most efficient and powerful way to captivate your audience and make your business pitch memorable is to create an emotional connection between them and your vision through storytelling :

• engage with your audience on a deeper level through a compelling narrative around your product or service, how you came up with the idea and how it can help your target customers or users;
• to add authenticity and relatability to your presentation, share personal anecdotes or experiences that highlight the significance of the problem your solution fixes;
• even though you need to present hard cold data to be credible, at least the first part of you pitch should strive to humanize your business and give it a relatable aspect;
• give actual instances or scenarios where your concept has an impact on somebody’s life.

Call-to-Action

A pitch meeting is not throwing an idea at a wall and seeing what sticks. It is a means to an end, it has to produce effects. This is why you want to include at the end of your pitch presentation a strong call to action, to guide the audience towards the next step.

That next step can be :

• investment;
• partnership opportunities;
• further discussions.

A clear call to action prompts action and engagement from your audience. Outline the specific steps you want your audience to take, such as: reaching out for more information or committing to fund investment.

To make sure that your call-to-action is effective and leaves a lasting impression, make it coherent with what you expect from your audience . For instance, don’t understate your need for funding out of timidity if this is what you asked a meeting for in the first place.

Just like with all the rest of your pitch presentation, maximize your effectiveness by being clear and forthcoming.

Our tips for writing an effective pitch presentation

Understand your audience

Before diving into creating the content of your pitch, take the time to thoroughly understand your audience. Ask yourselves questions like:

• What are they looking for specifically?
• How do they prioritize their investments?

Tailor your message to resonate with them on a personal level. To that end, researching your audience’s demographics, preferences, and previous investments can provide valuable insights to customize your presentation effectively. SBI feedback and NVC can also be helpful techniques to empathize with your audience.

Use simple and direct language

Avoid jargon and technical language that may confuse or annoy your audience. Instead, opt for clear and concise language that everyone can understand. Remember, the goal is to convey your message effectively, and using complex terminology can hinder comprehension. Keep your sentences short , and use plain language as much as possible.

Although, for the financial prospections and growth potential parts, favor accuracy and precision over simplification because this is the area of expertise common to all investors.

Focus on benefits rather than technical details

While it’s essential to demonstrate your own expertise, focusing solely on technical details can overwhelm your audience. Instead, emphasize the benefits and value proposition of your proposition.

Highlight the following aspects:

• how your solution addresses your target customer’s needs or solves their problems;
• how is it better than existing solutions;
• what is your marketing strategy ;
• how much can your investors expect in terms of growth and ROI .

By showcasing the tangible benefits, you can captivate your audience’s attention and make a compelling case for your pitch and appear as a trustworthy entrepreneur.

Stay authentic and passionate

Authenticity is key to building trust and credibility with your audience. Be genuine in your delivery and convey your passion for your idea or project. Authenticity resonates with people on a deeper level and can leave a lasting impression . Let your enthusiasm shine through and connect with your audience on an emotional level to make your pitch more memorable.

Don’t Omit the Call-to-Action

Granted, we already discussed the benefits and even the absolute necessity of including a Call-to-Action to at the end of your pitch presentation. However, you would be surprised how many pitchers forget to prepare a slide for that or just skip it to save time.

Anyhow, do not forget for any reason to ask for what you came to the meeting for, be it money, partnership or a business opportunity. Besides, be precise and transparent about how invested funds will be used , don’t’ wait for a question, just say it outright when calling to action.

Don’t underestimate preparation and practice

By now, you might have guessed: preparation and practice are essential components of a successful pitch presentation. And we’re not only talking about rehearsal time:

• validate your data and ensure you have substantiating evidence for your assertions;
• prior to your presentation, familiarize yourself with the investor’s past investment portfolio to tailor your pitch accordingly;
• anticipate potential inquiries and prepare thoughtful responses in advance (integrate them to the flow of your presentation);
• know your project well enough to deliver brief and confident responses to any question from the audience, whether it is a simple question, a binary question or even a real curveball.

In the end , when doing a pitch presentation you need to walk a fine line between keeping it short and ensuring your audience gets your message. Conciseness requires making compromises: you wish you could talk about your ideas for hours but you have to settle for much less. It can be harsh but it is an essential skill to have for any business leader or even team manager.

At CoachYZ , we hold a strong conviction that within every business owner and team manager lies untapped potential awaiting discovery. By embracing fresh perspectives and committing to self-improvement, individuals can unlock this latent capability. If you share our belief and aspire to maximize your leadership prowess, we invite you to experience your coaching journey !

Coaching remains an essential tool in our toolbox, despite the ever-changing professional world. In the digital age, our approach has evolved from simply informing journalists to delivering rich, engaging content directly to our target audience. Good coaching must be personalized, relevant and adapted to the digital world to ensure optimal online visibility. What’s more, the incorporation of multimedia supports such as videos, images and interactive links can considerably enhance its impact. 

Yes of course, in a business context there are different types of pitches : the pitch presentation for investors ; the elevator pitch which is a 30 to 60 seconds presentation of your business and your product or service ; the sales pitch, a longer variant of the elevator pitch, the live plan pitch where you write down and draw the plan as you speak, etc.

Save at least a third of the total allotted time for questions. As for the number of slides you should use, it is generally in the ballpark of 10 to 15. Use short sentences with bullet points as well as clear color schemes and relevant illustrations (especially for the financial section). Don’t hesitate to skip bullet points, you don’t need to be exhaustive to drive the message home.

In business, there are three main styles of pitching, depending on what type of investment you are looking for. Pre-seed pitch, for initial funding, briefly tackles all the aspects of the project; Seed pitch, for early stages of product or idea development, it focuses on traction and feasibility; Series pitch for further expansion.

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