best investor presentation decks

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30+ Best Pitch Deck Examples, Tips & Templates

By Ryan McCready , Jul 04, 2023

A startup is, by definition, a fast-growing company. And to grow you need funding.

Enter the pitch deck.

Haven’t created a winning pitch deck before? No worries. You’ll find a ton of pre-made pitch deck templates and designs inspired by the examples throughout.

Then, use Venngage’s Presentation Maker to easily edit the templates — no technical expertise required.

A well-designed pitch deck is vital to convincing investors that your company has massive growth potential, so you can get the resources you need to scale.

In this post, we’ll look at the best startup pitch deck examples from heavy-hitters such as Guy Kawasaki, Airbnb, Uber and Facebook. We’ll also uncover the secrets of their successful startup pitch decks, and how you can leverage them to attract investor dollars, bring on new business partners and win new client contracts.

 Table of contents (click to jump ahead):

• What is a pitch deck?

What is the purpose of a pitch deck?

What makes a good pitch deck, best pitch deck examples & sample pitch deck templates, what is the difference between a pitch deck vs business plan, pitch deck faq, create a pitch deck in 4 easy steps, what is a pitch deck .

A pitch deck is a presentation created to raise venture capital for your business. In order to gain buy-in and drum up financial support from potential investors, these presentations outline everything from why your business exists, to your business model, progress or milestones , your team, and a call-to-action.

The best startup pitch decks can help you:

• Prove the value of your business
• Simplify complex ideas so your audience can understand them (and get on board)
• Differentiate your business from competitors
• Tell the story behind your company to your target audience (and make that story exciting)

What is a pitch deck presentation?

A pitch deck presentation is a slideshow that introduces a business idea, product, or service to investors. Typically consisting of 10–20 slides, a pitch deck is used to persuade potential investors to provide funding for a business. It serves as a comprehensive overview of your company, outlining your business model, the problem you solve, the market opportunity you address, your key team members, and your financial projections.

The purpose of a pitch deck presentation can be to generate interest, secure funding, form partnerships or gain clients. A well-crafted pitch deck can greatly support a pitch deck presentation by effectively conveying the key messages, engaging the audience , and enhancing the overall impact of the presentation.

Great. Now let’s take a look at the elements of a good pitch deck.

To summarize, some of my favorite pitch deck design tips include:

• Adding icon headers to your most important insights
• Use similar charts and graphs for easy comparisons across slides
• For longer pitch decks, switch up the slide layouts
• Pick a consistent theme for your presentation background images
• Don’t just list your ideal users, create visual personas
• Use a timeline to show how your company has grown
• Always do the math for your audience

Now let’s take a look at some of the best startup pitch deck examples out there. 

1.  Sequoia capital pitch deck

How much did they raise? Sequoia Capital is actually a Venture Capital firm. According to TechCrunch , they’ve raised almost $1B for later-stage U.S. investments.

Key takeaway : “If you can’t tell the story of the company in five minutes, then you’re either overthinking it or you haven’t simplified it down enough.” – Mike Vernal, Sequoia Capital

VC firm Sequoia Capital has its own  10-slide pitch deck format to rival Guy Kawasaki’s famous example that we’ll take a look at a little later on. Its highly-curated, clarified format shines a spotlight on innovative ideas.

As the video above suggests, effectively communicating your mission, not just listing features, is key. Below is our take on the Sequoia Capital pitch deck example; you’ll find it clean, clear and easy to create.

Design tip : Click the blue background and select a new color from our color wheel (or one of your own brand colors via My Brand Kit, available with Venngage for Business ) to create a pitch deck with your branding.

Related:  How to Make Successful Financial Pitch Decks For Startups

Blue and pink iconics pitch deck

Ready to try it for yourself? Add a pop of color to your version of the Sequoia pitch deck template with this pink and blue slide deck. The contrasting colors will make your information stand out.

2. Airbnb pitch deck

How much did they raise?  $20k at three months and $600k at eight months (seed), according to Vator .

Key takeaway: A large marketplace, impressive rate of traction and a market ready for a new competitor are the factors which made Airbnb stand out early on, says Fast Company. The organization’s slide deck clearly demonstrates these points.

Your pitch deck should explain the core information in your business plan in a simple and straightforward way. Few startups have done this as well as Airbnb.

We’ve re-designed Airbnb’s famous deck as two light and airy sample pitch deck templates. The focus here is on engaging visuals, with minimal text used.

Airbnb fundraising slide deck

This type of deck is also called a demo day presentation .  Since its going to be viewed from a distance by investors while you present, you don’t need lots of text to get your message across. The point is to complement your speech, not distract from it.

Another great thing about Airbnb’s fundraising slide deck format is that every slide has a maximum of three sections of information:

As one of the most popular presentation layouts , the rule of three design principle has been drilled into my head. And for good reason!

Here’s one of the slides that demonstrates why this pitch deck design tip works:

VIDEO TUTORIAL:  Learn how to customize this pitch deck template by watching this quick 8-minute video.

Minimalist Airbnb pitch deck template

This simple sample pitch deck template is clean and incredibly easy to customize, making it perfect for presentation newbies.

Don’t forget to insert your own tagline instead of the famous “Book rooms with locals, rather than hotels” slogan. Hint: your tagline should similarly convey what your business offers. Airbnb’s pitch deck offers up tantalizing benefits: cost savings, an insider’s perspective on a location and new possibilities.

Design tip : Click the text boxes in our online editor and add your own words to the pitch decks. Duplicate slides you like, or delete the ones you don’t.

Related:  How to Create an Effective Pitch Deck Design [+Examples]

3. Uber pitch deck

How much did they raise? $1.57M in seed funding in 2010, reports Business Insider .

Key takeaway : Successful pitch decks clearly highlight the key pain point (the inefficiency of cabs) and a tantalizing solution (fast, convenient 1-click ordering).

Uber co-founder Garrett Camp shared the company’s very first pitch deck from 2008 via a  Medium post .

While there’s a surprising amount of text, it still manages to hit on every major part of their business plan succinctly — including key differentiators, use cases and best/worst-case scenarios.

Want something similar? We’ve updated the classic Uber pitch deck template with a sharp layout:

Uber investor deck

Many of the best pitch deck presentations out there are rather brief, only covering a few main points across a handful of slides. But sometimes your deck needs to provide more information.

There’s nothing wrong with having a longer investor pitch deck, as long as you switch up the slide layouts throughout — no one wants to see basically the same slide (just with different metrics or points) 25 times over.

This sample pitch deck template we created based on the infamous Uber deck has 20 or more slides and a diversity of layout options:

Design tip : Replace the photos with your own or browse our in-editor library with thousands of free professional stock images. To do so, double click any image to open our “replace” feature. Then, search for photos by keyword.

Blue Uber slide deck

In this navy version of the Uber pitch deck template, we’ve added bright colors and creative layouts.

Again, it’s easy to swap out the icons in our online editor. Choose from thousands of free icons in our in-editor library to make it your own.

Related : 9 Tips for Improving Your Presentation Skills For Your Next Meeting

4. Guy Kawasaki pitch deck

How much did they raise?  Guy Kawasaki’s Garage Capital raised more than $315 million dollars for its clients, according to one estimate .

Key takeaway : Avoid in-depth technical discussions in your pitch deck. Focus on the pain point you’re solving, how you’ll solve it, how you’ll make money and how you’ll reach custvomers.

Guy Kawasaki’s 10 slide outline is famous for its laser focus. He’s renowned for coining the 10/20/30 rule : 10 slides, 20 minutes and no fonts smaller than 30 point.

While you may be tempted to include as much of your business plan as possible in your pitch deck, his outline forces you to tease out your most important content and engage investors or clients within a short time span.

We’re recreated his famous outline in two winning templates you can adapt and make your own:

Gradient Guy Kawasaki pitch deck

This clean pitch deck template has all the sections you need and nothing you don’t.

Kawasaki’s format steers you towards what venture capitalists really care about : problem/solution, technology, competition, marketing plan, your team, financial projections and timeline.

Read our blog post on persuasive presentations for more design and speaking tips.

Design tip : Quickly add in charts and graphs with our in-editor chart maker. You can even import data from Excel or Google sheets.

Blue Guy Kawasaki pitch deck

This more conservative pitch deck template design keeps all the focus on the core information.

Remember: opt for a 30-point font or larger. This will force you to stick to your key points and explain them clearly. Anything smaller, and you’ll risk losing your audience — especially if they’re busy reading while tuning out what you’re actually saying.

5. Buffer pitch deck

How much did they raise?  $500k, according to Buffer’s co-founder Leo Widrich .

Key takeaway : The traction slide was key for Buffer: it showed they had a great product/market fit. If you have great traction, it’s much easier to raise funding.

What’s interesting about Buffer’s pitching process was the issue of competition, as that’s where many talks stalled. Investors became confused, since the social media landscape looked crowded and no one was sure how Buffer differed.

Eventually, they created this slide to clear the air:

To be frank, I’m still confused by this addition to the Buffer pitch deck, but perhaps their presentation would have cleared things up.

In any case, we’ve recreated Buffer’s pitch deck with its own traction, timeline and competitor slides, plus a clean new layout and some easy-to-customize icons:

Design tip : don’t forget to add a contact slide at the end of your pitch deck, like in the business pitch example below.

Because sometimes you’re going to pitch to a small room of investors. Other times, it will be to an auditorium full of random people in your industry. And I can guarantee that not everyone is going to know your brand off the top of their head.

You should make it extremely easy for people to find out more info or contact your team with any questions. I would recommend adding this to the last slide, as shown below.

Alternatively, you could add it to the slide that will be seen the longest in your pitch deck, like the title slide. This will help anyone interested write down your information as event organizers get things ready.

Related:  Creating a Pitch Deck? 5 Ways to Design a Winner

6. Facebook pitch deck

How much did they raise? $500K in angel funding from venture capitalist Peter Thiel (first round).

Key takeaway : If you don’t have revenue traction yet, lean heavily on other metrics , like customer base, user engagement and growth.  Use a timeline to tell a story about your company.

The best pitch decks tell the real story about your company or brand. You should not only want to sell the audience on your product but also on the hard work you’ve done building it from the ground up.

Design tip: Try data visualizations to relay a company or product timeline . Since people are familiar with the format and know how to read them quickly, you can convey the information impactfully and save room while you’re at it.

Here, Facebook’s classic pitch deck shows the incredible schools that’ve already signed on and describe when future launches will happen.

The sample pitch deck template featured below shows another example of a company or product timeline . This would have been a great fit in the Facebook pitch deck, don’t you think?

Plus you can summarize a ton of information about your brand on a single slide. Check out how well the timeline fits into this pitch deck template below:

If the designer wouldn’t have used a timeline, the same information could have been spread over five or six extra slides! Luckily, Venngage’s timeline maker can help you visualize progress across a period of time without any design experience required.

7. TikTok Pitch Deck

How much did they raise? $150.4M in funding in 2014 (back when TikTok was called Musical.ly), says Crunchbase .

Key takeaway : Use icons as visual anchors for written information.

(The full slide deck is available to Digiday subscribers , though you can view some of the key slides in this Medium post . Keep in mind: this TikTok pitch deck was created for potential advertisers, not investors. No other TikTok pitch decks are publicly available.)

What TikTok does really well in the above example is use icons as visual anchors for their stats. (I could write a whole article about using icons in your presentations correctly. There are so many ways you can use them to upgrade your slides.)

If you’re not sure what I’m talking about, just look at the slide deck template below.

Each of the main points has an icon that gives instant visual context about what the stat is about to the audience. These icons draw the eye immediately to these important facts and figures as well.

Design tip: Remember to use icons that have a similar style and color palette. Otherwise, you run the risk of them becoming a distraction.

8. Y Combinator pitch deck

How much did they raise? This startup accelerator has invested in over 3,500 startups to date, according to the company website . They state their combined valuation nears $1 trillion.

Key takeaway : Create clear, concise pitch deck slides that tell a story investors can understand in seconds.

The classic Y Combinator pitch deck is incredibly simple, and for good reason. Seed stage companies can’t provide much detail, so they should focus on telling a story about their company.

That means your slides should tell a story investors can immediately understand in a glance.

Note that one of Y Combinator’s key components is the problem (above) and solution (below) slides.

Explaining how your startup is going to solve a pain point is a vital part of any slide deck. According to Y Combinator , startups should use the problem slide to show the problem your business solves, and how this problem currently affects businesses and/or people. Additionally, if you’re starting a new startup, forming an LLC could be a great choice to launch your business in the right direction.

Without that information, investors are going to be left with more questions than answers.

The solution slide should show the real-world benefits of your product/service. I recommend using data visualization to show traction, like the chart above, with a couple of notes for context.

To ensure your problem and solutions slides are easily understood, use a similar layout for both, as shown below.

This will help the audience quickly recall the main problem you want to solve, and connect it to your solution (even if the slides are separated by a few other points or ideas).

9. Front pitch deck

How much did they raise ? $10M in Series A funding

Key takeaway : Use a simple flowchart to visualize a problem your product/service solves.

Not everyone is going to be able to explain their problem and solution as succinctly as the previous examples. Some will need to take a unique approach to get their point across.

That’s why I want to highlight how Front masterfully communicated the problem to be solved. They likely realized it would be a lot easier (and cleaner) to create a flow chart that visualizes the problem instead of text. (Did I mention you can make your own flowcharts with Venngage?)

Also, I really like how they distilled each down to a single phrase. That approach, combined with the visuals, will help it stick in investors’ minds as one of the best pitch decks.

Here’s another example pitch deck that uses a chart to convey their problem/solution:

It splits the competition slide right down the middle to illustrate the differences. It also shows exactly how the processes differ between the two entities using mini flowcharts.

Helping the audience make the right conclusions about your company should be an important part of your pitch deck strategy. Without saying a word, the visual choices you make can greatly impact your message.

10. Crema pitch deck

How much did they raise? $175K in seed funding .

Key takeaway : Choose background images carefully — making sure they have a similar color palette.

The best pitch decks keep things consistent, mainly because there are so many moving parts in any presentation. You want each of your slides to feel like they’re connected by a singular feeling or theme. An out-of-place presentation background image can throw that off.

Keeping things consistent when you use a solid background color or pattern isn’t hard. But things can get tricky if you want to use different photos for your backgrounds.

However, if you pick presentation background images that have a similar color palette, you’ll be fine. Check out the images Crema used in their startup pitch deck below:

If you’re struggling to find exactly the same colored photos, you can use a color filter to make things more uniform.

11. WeWork pitch deck

How much did they raise? $6.9M in seed funding in 2011, says Crunchbase .

Key takeaway : Put your metrics on display.

The behemoths at WeWork still have one of the best software pitch decks, despite recent troubles (layoffs, and a valuation that dropped from $47 billion to $2.9 billion).

In fact, this investor pitch deck actually helped them raise money at a $5 billion valuation.

My favorite thing from this is how their key metrics are on the second slide. They waste no time getting down to business!

A lot of the time brands hide these metrics at the end of their presentation, but WeWork made sure to put it front and center in their slide deck.

This approach puts the audience in a positive state of mind, helping them be more receptive to the pitch.

12. Crew (Dribble) pitch deck

How much did they raise? $2M in seed funding

Key takeaway : Start your presentation with a simple statement to set the tone.

Sometimes you have to set the mood of the room before you jump into your slide deck. A simple way to do this is by adding a powerful statement or famous quote at the beginning of your slides.

This may sound cliche, but the creatives over at Crew (now Dribbble ) used this approach well in their pitch presentation.

By claiming that every business is an online business, they instantly change the way that people think about the business sector.

Additionally, the designers used this straightforward statement to set up the rest of the presentation. In the next few slides, the potential market is explained. Without the statement, I don’t think these numbers would be as impactful.

Let’s take a look at the graphs and charts the Dribble team used in their slide deck. In the below business pitch example, you can see that the line charts use the same color palette, size, and typography.

One of my favorite tips from my presentation ideas roundup article states you should never make the audience do the math.

You can also use this mantra when you’re adding data visualizations to your slides. Make each slide extra easy to consume, as well as, easy to compare to other visualizations.

Below the pie charts use the exact same color palette, size, and typography as well:

If the designers would have used a different example, the audience would be distracted trying to decipher the information.

But consistent design across multiple visualizations will ensure your audience can make comparisons that lead to the right conclusions.

Pro Tip: You can use a comparison infographic to summarize key points you’re comparing.

13. Aspire Food Group pitch deck

How much did they raise? $1M from the Hult Prize in 2013 to scale their project.

Key takeaway : Simple graphics clearly illustrate the problem (food security), the size of the market and Aspire’s unique farming project (spoiler alert: it’s insects).

Nonprofits pitching donors or social enterprises pitching for funding have a slightly different challenge than other organizations. They need to present a unique solution and  make an emotional connection to their audience.

Aspire’s simple pitch deck graphics allow investors to grasp their unique business idea at a glance. Plus, by introducing the audience to one of their customers and describing how insect farming has impacted her food budget, the concept is made relatable to many.

Another simple design hack is to choose a unique background for your nonprofit or social enterprise pick deck. Take this sample pitch deck template:

There are millions of stock photos out there for you to pick from, so finding one that will work shouldn’t be too hard.

However, when you’re picking your presentation background images , it’s important to make sure it matches your message or brand.

In the above example, the pitch deck’s slightly crumpled paper background fits an eco-friendly startup well.   Especially because eco-friendly living and minimalism share similar tenants.

Another great example is this sponsorship pitch deck above. It elevates the message by opting for a simplistic background choice.

With a beautiful yet minimalistic slide deck like this, who wouldn’t want to donate?

Most of the time your pitch deck background images are supposed to be used in a supporting role. However, you can also design your presentation around the background images to create some of the best pitch decks out there.

As you can see in this pitch deck template, we added written content to the white space in each of the stock photos:

Plus no one can really copy your pitch deck layout, so you will instantly stand out from other companies.

Be sure to pick photos that share the same color palette and theme. Otherwise, the benefits of using these presentation backgrounds will be lost.

14. Mattermark pitch deck

How much did they raise? A total of $17.2M so far, says Crunchbase .

Key takeaway : Use screenshots in your pitch deck to show the problem you’re solving.

Highlighting digital problems is tough when you have limited space and time…like when you’re pitching your new digital product to a room full of investors.

That’s why some of the best pitch decks include screenshots of the problem being solved.

As you can see above, the people from Mattermark used screenshots to show how unorganized SAAS reporting was. At that time it was spread over a ton of different sites, with different reporting standards and values.

It would be difficult to sell an investor on their product just by talking about the market. Mainly because not a lot of people have experience in that specific niche.

But with a handful of screenshots, they were able to highlight the product potential almost instantly.

In terms of design, the team at Mattermark stuck to the rule of three (see slide below). This rule will help you keep your team from overwhelming the audience with a flood of stats or figures.

They also decided to make these figures easier to consume by highlighting them in different colors

Compared to a boring list of figures, it’s a lot easier to remember three distinct colored numbers. Plus because the background colors darken as they go, it naturally guides the reader’s eyes down the slide.

15. Dwolla pitch deck

How much did they raise? $12M in funding as of 2018.

Key takeaway : Give the reason your company was founded in one quick sentence.

In many of our own presentations, we talk about how Venngage started from humble beginnings before undergoing tremendous growth in just a few years.

That’s because people love origin stories — they help your audience connect with your brand and appreciate all the work put into it.

Take a look at the pitch deck slide from Dwolla above. In a single sentence, they outline their reason for doing business, and what they hope to solve.

Just be sure to talk about your company founding in the first few slides of your pitch. Otherwise, it won’t have the same impact.

On another note, as a design company, we always love to see people create great visualizations in their pitch decks — particularly when these visuals communicate key information well….like when it comes to your ideal users!

I have seen a lot of brands just talk about their users, but I recommend creating visual user personas instead. Our persona guides can help you with this!

As you can see above, Dwolla visualized their user personas for each use case.

These visual user personas allow audiences to put a “real” face to your user base. And if you have many ideal users (like Dwolla), it helps keep each group organized.

16. Kickfolio (App.io) pitch deck 

How much did they raise? $1M in seed funding.

Key takeaway : Go for huge graphs! The bigger, the better.

Be proud of your brand’s growth and metrics in your slide deck.

You worked hard to grow a company from nothing, and that’s a big achievement! So why would you want to make that growth hard to see?

However, I’ve seen a lot of people inadvertently hide their key metrics by using small graphs or charts.

The only solution to this problem is…get bigger with your graphs! And I mean huge, like the ones App.io deployed in the pitch deck above. Their graph is so large and imposing, every audience member could see it clearly.

Venngage’s  graph maker can help you do this for your own pitch decks too.

17. Yalochat pitch deck

How much did they raise? $15M in Series B funding, says TechCrunch.

Key takeaway : Use icons as illustrations to add instant context.

Icons have been making a comeback in the design world over the past few years. According to recent reports on graphic design trends , they’ll continue to be popular.

This presentation from Yalochat is one of the best examples of how to use illustrated icons correctly.

Each icon perfectly illustrates the point being made on each slide, giving instant context. They will definitely catch the eyes of any audience member.

Just remember to follow their lead and  use consistently designed icons !

18. Brex pitch deck

How much did they raise? $1.5 billion to date.

Key takeaway : Include a single slide about your team and highlight what makes them truly exceptional.

Another important part of your story is the people who helped you build your company. These people are the lifeblood of your brand, and what helps it stand out from the competitors.

Corporate card startup Brex does this well by using team member photos, and including their titles and company affiliations to build credibility. You can download the Brex slides for free, thanks to Business Insider .

Let’s tale a look at a sample pitch deck that employs a similar philosophy.

I’m guessing you already planned on adding something similar to your pitch deck. Again, I would recommend using only a single team slide like they did.

You can use a team photo if you want to talk about the whole team, or add an organizational chart instead. Alternatively, like Brex, you can highlight the most important individuals, like this business pitch example:

Whatever you choose to do, don’t forget to talk about your team on a team slide, and highlight the people who make your company truly great.

Read More:  12+ Organizational Chart Examples and Templates

19. Purple Go pitch deck

How much did they raise? Undisclosed.

Key takeaway : Use a contrasting hue to draw your audience’s attention to key information.

Color isn’t just about making your designs look good — it can also draw your audience’s attention to important information.

For example, take a look at this simple pitch deck from Purple Go . They contrast deep purple with white to help certain sentences pop.

This is a simple way to make your slides have a lot of impact; pick colors that contrast boldly with each other.

20. Mint pitch deck

How much did they raise? $31M to date, according to Mint.

Key takeaway : Add visual cues, such as illustrations and icons, to help explain your brand to investors.

I’m guessing your pitch deck is already going to touch on how you stand out from the competition. But just listing a few things that set you apart may not be enough on your slide deck!

You may need to add some visual cues to help the audience out.

We decided to redesign Mint’s original deck for a contemporary take on this.

In this minimalist pitch deck template, our designers used visuals to make the main company stand out even more. And best of all, it doesn’t distract from the minimalist theme.

This simple addition to your slides will help your information jump off the page, providing a rewarding visual break from related companies.

21. Park Evergreen (Plot) pitch deck

How much did they raise? $400k in seed funding.

Key takeaway : Give each metric its own slide.

Generally, slide decks are full of important metrics that you’re supposed to remember. But not all of those numbers are presented in a way that would make them easy to.

Some are hidden in long paragraphs, while others are smashed together with less important findings.

That’s why I’m a huge fan of how Park Evergreen (now called Plot ) included important numbers in this slide deck. As you can see below, each metric is given its own slide:

With this approach, the audience members place their full attention on that number. And they’ll be able to recall the information a lot quicker.

It may look overly simple to some, but the best pitch decks use this tactic a lot.

22. Hampton Creek (Eat Just) pitch deck

How much did they raise? $1.5M in Series A.

Key takeaway : Create a minimalist title slide to build anticipation for your presentation.

You probably know that presentations don’t always run as smoothly as planned. With long breaks and technical problems, the time between presentations can end up running rather long.

Translation: you might spend more time looking at the title slide than the actual presentation itself.

So if you really want to build some anticipation for your pitch, create a minimalist (some might even say, mysterious) title slide. As you can see, the team at Eat Just (once known as Hampton Creek) did just that.

The lack of information makes spectators want to learn more about your brand, effortlessly engaging them.

The only negative is that no one is going to know the name of your company — yet.

23. Sickweather pitch deck

How much did they raise? $2.6M to date, according to Crunchbase.

Key takeaway : Pull out the main metrics from your graphs and charts to make your slide a snap to understand.

Remember when I said: “Don’t make your audience do the math”?

Yeah. That’s because people hate doing math — so you never want to make investors try to calculate your data themselves. Especially when dealing with millions of dollars, tiny percent changes or other complicated numbers.

Out of all the tips in this article, this one might be the most important. Mainly because forgetting this idea all but guarantees your failure.

That’s why I recommend you “do the math” on every slide where you include a graph or chart — like how Sickweather did above.

By pulling out the main growth metrics from the graph, they made this slide a lot more consumable, and showed the audience exactly what they should pay attention to.

24. Dutchie pitch deck

How much did they raise? $35M in 2020, according to TechCrunch .

Key takeaway : Set the tone by putting your most impressive stat(s) in the introduction.

Dutchie, an all-in-one technology platform for eCommerce, POS and payments, wastes no time coming out the gates with one impressive insight: “10% of all legal cannabis in the world” is purchased through their product.

Now I don’t know about you, but that’s pretty tantalizing.

So it makes perfect sense they would pull it out from their market share figures and feature it in their introduction. By doing so, investors get an idea how successful and established Dutchie is right off the bat.

25. Studysmarter pitch deck

How much did they raise?  $15M according to TechCrunch .

Key takeaway : Illustrate your vision over several slides.

Rather than dedicate one slide to their vision for the company, digital learning company Studysmarter continuously brings up how their product will be understood in the future — as “the world’s central hub” for “lifelong” learning, becoming the “largest learning platform in Europe” by 2021.

While this visionary sentiment is not new to the pitch deck industry, it makes sense Studysmarter would want to focus much of their presentation slide deck on this idea: the idea of an unlimited target market and use cases.

Design wise, their illustrations are consistent, using visuals to illustrate their message and various target demographics.

These graphics build off the sleek, modern interface Studysmarter’s brand image invokes. It also illustrates what they want investors to envision for the future of the brand.

26. Clearbanc (Clearco) Pitch Deck

How much did they raise? $70M in series A funding, according to TechCrunch.

Key takeaway : Use flow charts to communicate complicated processes.

As a company that offers startups “growth capital for the new economy” through non-dilutive revenue-share agreements, Clearco (previously known as Clearbanc) wins big by communicating how the process works in less than a slide’s time.

That’s right: the company uses a flowchart .

For complicated business processes that would normally take several slides of text to communicate, a flowchart is a smart way to visualize a process while saving space and keeping your audience engaged.

Particularly for a company like Clearco, this is key for getting investors up to speed. Then you can move on to the other facts and figures they’ll surely want to hear.

27. Foursquare Pitch Deck

Key takeaway : Show how the end-product looks in your presentation.

Okay look, I get it. This slide deck from 2009 is certainly behind on times when it comes to design tips in this current day and age…

BUT take it back to more than a decade ago, and you’ll see why Foursquare’s pitch deck won big with investors.

As one of the first businesses to employ gamification, the company lets this selling proposition shine by using an iPhone graphic to show how the app’s points and badges look to the end-user. These visuals communicate the appeal by showcasing exactly how consumers will interact with, and understand, the product.

In essence, it takes the guesswork out of their pitch.

So while the text-heavy aspect of this sample pitch deck isn’t exactly ideal, their use of visuals can teach us a lesson.

28. TalentBase pitch deck

How much did they raise?   $330K to date.

Key takeaway : Let the numbers do the talking.

Rather than take up a ton of slide space in this pitch deck example, TalentBase, an affordable payroll solution , focused their real estate on the real deal-closers: the numbers.

While this won’t work for every business, as you may need to add more slides to truly explain the environment your organization exists in and your processes, TalentBase uses their positioning to drive forward a captivating narrative.

And this narrative utilizes only numbers to connect the dots in the mind of potential investors about the value TalentBase offers, in terms of market capture.

29. Peloton pitch deck

Key takeaway : Discuss both the tangible and intangible benefits your product offers.

In 2018, back before the real pandemic hey-day of this tech unicorn, Peloton dazzled in a funding round and managed to capture in $550M funding.

Part of this can be attributed to Peloton’s emphasis on the benefits it brings customers.

Across multiple slides, the exercise equipment and media company highlights how customers’ lives are improved in various emotional and functional ways. Since this connection lays the groundwork for long-term B2C relationships, investors can immediately identify the value encompassed by this modern fitness tool.

Looking to try something similar? Check out the below Peloton sample pitch deck, reimagined by our Venngage design team.

EDIT THIS PITCH DECK

30. Ledgy pitch deck

How much did they raise? $ 10M in September 2021.

Key takeaway : Cut down on space with text and graphics that follow a clear logical narrative.

In just seven slides, the equity management and investor relations platform, Ledgy, was able to convince their audience that their product was worth investing in.

By putting their mission first, and following it up with engaging visuals, the company tells a story despite using minimal text.

Yoko Spirig, CEO and co-founder of Ledgy, echoed this sentiment in an interview : “Starting with the ‘why’ lets you build the business case for the product, and create a logical narrative that investors can follow.”

That’s why, design-wise, this is one of the cleanest pitch deck examples in the bunch. It’s one of the shortest too.

I also appreciate how their brand colors are used in conjunction with white to keep everything consistent (something that Venngage’s automated branding feature My Brand Kit can help you out with).

A pitch deck and a business plan serve different purposes in the world of entrepreneurship, each playing a crucial role in showcasing and strategizing a business venture. The main distinction lies in their format, level of detail and intended audience.

Pitch decks typically consists of a series of carefully crafted slides, highlighting key aspects of the business such as the value proposition, target market, revenue model, competitive advantage and team expertise.

The goal is to pique interest, generate excitement and secure further engagement or funding opportunities. A pitch deck emphasizes storytelling, persuasive visuals, and concise messaging to create an impactful impression.

On the other hand, a business plan is a comprehensive and detailed document that provides an in-depth roadmap for the entire business venture. It outlines the company’s mission, vision, goals, market analysis, marketing strategies, operational details, financial projections and risk assessment.

A business plan serves as a strategic blueprint, guiding the entrepreneur and internal stakeholders in executing the business idea effectively. It tends to be more exhaustive, often spanning several pages or even chapters, and is typically presented in a written format.

What should a pitch deck contain?

A well-crafted pitch deck should contain key information that effectively communicates your business concept, value proposition, and growth potential. While the specific content may vary depending on your industry and target audience, here are the essential elements that a pitch deck should typically include:

• Problem statement
• Market opportunity
• Business model
• Competitive analysis
• Marketing and sales strategy
• Team members
• Financial projections
• Milestones and timeline
• Investment opportunity

Not a graphic designer? No sweat — creating your own pitch deck is a breeze using Venngage’s Presentation Maker . (We’ll go over the basics here; for a more in-depth look, check out this article .)

Step 1: Sign up on Venngage for free using your email, Gmail or Facebook account. If you already have an account, log in to access the platform.

Step 2: Browse through our selection of professionally designed pitch deck templates and select one that suits your needs and preferences.

Step 3: Once you’ve selected a template, start customizing it to match your branding and content. Venngage’s drag-and-drop editor allows you to easily modify every aspect of the template, including colors, fonts, images and layout. Replace the placeholder text with your own content, such as your company information, product or service details, market analysis and financial projections.

Note: there are hundreds of templates available that you can design and share for free. If you want to access certain designs, take advantage of in-editor features like My Brand Kit/Team collaboration .

Step 4: Once you’re satisfied with your design, you can download it in various formats such as PDF or PNG. Alternatively, you can use also Venngage’s sharing options to present your pitch deck directly from the platform or share it with others via a generated link.

To leave a lasting impression on your audience, consider transforming your slides into an interactive presentation. Here are 15  interactive presentation ideas  to enhance interactivity and engagement.

Now that you know how to create the best pitch decks to communicate your ideas, present your startup or raise venture capital, take action and start designing your own pitch deck today!

And if you want to learn more, there are a ton of other presentation design resources you can take a look at next:

• 20+ Business Pitch Deck Templates and Design Best Practices
• 120+ Best Presentation Ideas, Design Tips & Examples
• 15 Presentation Design Statistics to Know For 2019
• 7 Tips for Designing a Persuasive Presentation [Presentation Design Guide + Templates]
• 20+ Consulting Proposal Templates

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33 Legendary Startup Pitch Decks and What You Can Learn From Them [+10 Free Templates]

A startup pitch deck is a brief presentation that provides investors with an overview of your new business and/or startup idea through presentation slides.

It usually focuses on showcasing your product, sharing your business model, giving a look into your monetization strategy, and introducing your team.

A startup pitch deck is an essential fundraising tool for successful startups, whether you’re looking to raise funding from $50,000, $500,000, or $50 million. However, an investor pitch deck is just one of the best pitch decks and examples we will share below.

Despite the brevity of the successful startup pitch decks, which usually run for 10 slides or less, creating a pitch deck that wins investment is not an easy task.

What Does a Successful Startup Pitch Deck Cover?

A great pitch deck covers key points through visuals and bullet points and usually has a competition slide, a problem slide, and a solution slide to explain your offering and the market.

Additionally, a business model slide and a team slide (if your business is developed enough to present these) can turn a good deck into a great startup pitch deck.

Don’t forget, a simple pitch deck is a good pitch deck—and you’re about to learn how to nail it.

In This Legendary Startup Pitch Deck Article You Will Find:

• Examples of 33 successful pitch decks
• Takeaways that you can apply when creating your own startup pitch deck
• Editable templates of 10 pitch decks that you can use for free

Looking for a winning pitch deck template ASAP to present in front of potential investors?   Try our free template created in collaboration with HighSpark – an agency that has helped more than 500 startups raise cumulatively over $80 million in funding. 

Here is the list of 33 of the best startup pitch deck examples that we will go through:

• ZenPayRoll (Now Gusto)
• Wealthsimple
• AppVirality
• Shape Integrated Software
• Ooomf (now Crew)
• Sequoia Capital

These startup pitch deck examples were created by top brands in tech. At the time, they were all small startups (seed stage companies) looking to raise money or venture capital through potential investors and grow their businesses. Sound familiar?!

We hope that their business idea and investor pitch decks will inspire you (and of course, potential investors).

If you are more of a visual learner than a reader type, you can watch a video summary of the first 10 startup pitch deck examples mentioned in this blog post:

Alternatively, if you’re ready to create your own pitch deck, we’ve added some startup pitch deck examples and pitch deck templates to the bottom of this article. You can go straight to them by clicking here . Or get access to Piktochart’s online design tool by signing up for a free account and choosing a presentation template to get started easily.

From behemoths like Facebook and YouTube to superstars like Buffer, together these startups have raised millions of dollars and are now worth billions!

It’s time to see how they did it.

33 Legendary Startup Pitch Deck Examples

1. facebook pitch deck.

Here’s a fun fact: Peter Thiel, the billionaire venture capitalist, and entrepreneur, was the first outside investor in Facebook back in 2004. That’s when Mark Zuckerberg first set out to turn his dorm room project into a lasting business. Zuckerberg received $500,000 from Peter Thiel.

Facebook’s pitch deck was more of a media kit  of sorts. It was containing the company’s value proposition, key metrics, and marketing services that were used to sell ads to potential clients.

Favorite takeaway : The focus of the startup pitch deck was based on solid numbers such as user engagement, traffic, and growth trajectory.

2. Airbnb pitch deck

Airbnb is a platform that allows people to list, find, and rent lodging.

This company is one of the greatest startup success stories of our time.

The now famous Airbnb pitch deck has become one of the best pitch decks for inspiring entrepreneurs around the world.

Favorite takeaway: The intro. It’s all about hooking your audience. You need to describe your business using as few words as possible. Imagine telling a 5-year-old what your business is about. If you can’t do that, it’s time to put some time into nailing it down.

3. Buffer pitch deck

Buffer is a social media scheduling platform that helps you schedule content for Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.

The almighty startup pitch deck that helped Buffer to raise half a million dollars gained popularity by becoming one of the first pitch decks openly shared online. The founder decided to put it up to help other startups to raise funds.

Favorite takeaway: Similar to Facebook, the deck was based on solid numbers from Buffer’s users (e.g., 800 users, $150,000 annual revenue run rate, etc.)

4. Square pitch deck

Square is a company that allows merchants to accept mobile credit card payments via a dongle.

Favorite takeaway : Social proof! It doesn’t hurt to promote the management team if they’ve been with Twitter, Google, LinkedIn, PayPal, and more. It shows that your management team’s experience is an armor to the company. This detailed startup pitch deck outlines Square’s business model and a simple financial model that portrays its annual revenue and five-year growth rate.

5. LinkedIn pitch deck

Founded in 2002, LinkedIn is the top business-oriented social networking platform.

The company’s pitch talks a great deal about company values, the power of networking, and how it’s different from other social networks out there.

Favorite takeaway : The deck also provides an extensive analogy to showcase to investors what LinkedIn is. For example, it talks about “Web 1.0” vs. “Web 2.0”: Alta Vista was “Search 1.0”, and Google was “Search 2.0”. The deck talks about how LinkedIn is “Networking for Businesses 2.0”.

6. Mint pitch deck

Mint is a personal financial services tool that helps people track their spending and find ways to save money.

This startup pitch deck example was used in a competition and was never used for raising money, but it’s still a powerful deck that startups can learn from.

Favorite takeaway : This simple deck provides a clear value proposition to customers and investors. The creators of this deck also understood that one of the key concerns of an investor is the exit mechanism of his or her investments. I love how the deck highlights a number of exit strategy options.

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– Claudia Bayod Borrego, Head of Internal Communications at Arval BNP Paribas Group – Create a professional visual in Piktochart with no graphic design experience. Online.

7. MapMe pitch deck

MapMe allows users to create universally accessible (i.e., on smartphones, tablets, and computers) maps of anywhere they want with no coding required.

This startup deck was used to raise $1 million in seed funding.

Social proof almost always works. The deck showed that the startup had over 20,000 unique visitors, 18,000 monthly alerts, and12 minutes average sessions on the site.

Favorite takeaway : The pitch deck has fewer than 13 slides but provides investors with knowledge of the traction the site got going viral on social media and its go-to-market strategy.

8. LaunchRock pitch deck

LaunchRock allows users to create landing pages and quickly get their startups known through social media, even before the launch of their full site.

Favorite takeaway : As a more creatively designed pitch deck example, this pitch deck had only 15 slides but showed how the product works and the different ways it can be used. They also utilize an analogy similar to what LinkedIn had in their decks.

9. Mixpanel pitch deck

Mixpanel is an advanced analytics platform for mobile and the web. They not only measure page views but also analyze the actions people take. This is the series-B startup pitch deck for Mixpanel that helped them raise over $65 million.

Favorite takeaway : This pitch deck example started off with a problem: people guessing their analytics. It followed up by providing its solution to that problem and, ultimately, its competitive advantage. One of the best pitch decks, this is a great example of showing the problem and solution.

10. Moz pitch deck

Moz started out as an SEO company but has pivoted to support marketers across all inbound marketing strategies.

This is the series-B startup pitch deck for Moz which they used to raise over $18 million. If you’re an established startup, this is a great example of an investor pitch deck, and you can follow this guide. The pitch deck is packed with information about the company since it was founded five years prior to this pitch.

Favorite takeaway : Because the company had already been in operation for five years, they were able to present an accurate estimated revenue, revenue run rate, average customer lifetime value, cost of paid acquisition, etc.

11. Buzzfeed pitch deck

We all have a love-and-hate relationship with Buzzfeed, don’t we? I’m sure you’ve stumbled on their pages or watched their videos before. As of today, BuzzFeed has managed to raise over $240 million in investor capital (another great example of an investor pitch deck).

Favorite takeaway : SOCIAL PROOF! It doesn’t hurt to start a pitch deck with big numbers the company has, like the millions of users visiting the website on a monthly basis and quotations from large organizations such as CNN.

12. YouTube pitch deck

YouTube was acquired by Google in 2006 for $1.6 billion. Like Facebook, this company doesn’t require any introduction. Unfortunately, this is not the original deck. This is YouTube’s pitch deck to Sequoia Capital (one of the most established VC investors who’s often regarded as one of the industry’s best), which was released through a legal proceeding.

Favorite takeaway : The company wanted to be the primary outlet for video content, and it succeeded in doing just that. It goes to show that if you know what your product can do, are able to show its potential, and build on the momentum gained through early investments to create that, then you can achieve its potential. If you’re aiming to build an investor pitch deck to land a VC like Sequoia Capital, this presentation slide deck is a great template for you!

13. Manpacks pitch deck

Manpacks is a platform that delivers men’s essentials such as underwear, razors, grooming, and other products.

The company raised $500,000 with this pitch deck.

Favorite takeaway : This deck stands out! They clearly understand who they are, and they stayed that way throughout the entire presentation. The startup pitch deck is filled with a fun tone that helps explain the product well.

14. Foursquare pitch deck

Foursquare is a mobile platform that helps you find the best places to go in your area.

Favorite takeaway : This pitch deck does a great job using screenshots of social proof that the app already has from its users sharing tweets of them being the ‘mayor’ of a particular area.

15. Flowtab pitch deck

Flowtab was an app that allowed people to order drinks quickly at a crowded bar. Despite shutting down, the founders still made an effort to help other startups.

Favorite takeaway : Simplicity. This pitch deck example does well explaining critical information like the problem, the solution, their business model, and traction. You can’t really go wrong with this pitch deck.

16. Dwolla pitch deck

Dwolla is a payment solution that allows users to send, receive, and request funds from other users. This 18-slide startup pitch deck landed the company $16.5 million.

Favorite takeaway : Most startups are founded because of a problem they faced, but not many people tell their story well through their pitch decks. In their slide deck, Dwolla shared a great story of how the founder paid $50,000 a year in credit card fees and then created a solution for never doing it again.

17. ZenPayRoll  (Now Gusto) pitch deck

Gusto (previously ZenPayroll) is a cloud-based solution tool for small businesses to pay employees.

The company raised $6 million with this pitch deck.

Favorite takeaway : This isn’t just a startup pitch deck. It is a template that you can use and replicate easily by filling in the blanks.

18. Bliss pitch deck

Bliss provides metrics for coders and allows them to collaborate easily.

The company raised over $400,000 using Angel List.

Favorite takeaway : The pitch deck was well composed with a clear understanding of the product and the investors they were pitching to. This is one of the best pitch decks to use if you know your target market.

19. Adpushup pitch deck

Adpushup allows companies to maximize ad revenues through advanced A/B testing. They raised more than $632,000 in investments.

Favorite takeaway : This slide deck proves that going back to the basics works. This pitch deck has basic principles like a great introduction, an outline of problems, potential solutions, market opportunities, products, case studies, milestones, traction, and a future plan.

20. Wealthsimple pitch deck

Wealthsimple is Canada’s first online investment manager. They raised more than $2 million in seed funding with this slide deck.

Favorite takeaway : The startup pitch deck is sweet and short but effective. Our favorite part is the transformation of the industry, which is laid out in a table format.

21. AppVirality pitch deck

AppVirality allows app developers to grow their platforms using growth method techniques proven by other startups.

Favorite takeaway : Our favorite takeaway is how the flow of the pitch deck goes through the problem, the proven solution, and how it works within their app to their target market in multiple slides.

22. Shape Integrated Software pitch deck

Shape Integrated Software is budget management software that helps PPC analysts manage various budgets across different channels.

Favorite takeaway : When you have the traction to back your startup, use it. Shape clearly took advantage of it and presented it clearly in their pitch deck.

23. Podozi pitch deck

Podozi is an online e-commerce platform based in Nigeria.

Favorite takeaway : Most startup pitch decks work well when they’re short and sweet, in multiple slides, like Podozi’s. The best takeaway is the working partnership with large brands that this platform already has.

24. Fittr pitch deck

Fittr is a platform that designs custom workouts tailored to equipment, access, time management, and goals.

Favorite takeaway : As a user of this platform, we love the investment goals and the purpose of what the company is planning to use it for.

25. Swipes pitch deck

Swipes is a task manager app to help its users increase their productivity.

Favorite takeaway : One of their pages used social proof of quotations from The Next Web and Lifehacker. You can’t go wrong with that.

26. Canvas pitch deck

Canvas replaces paper-based processes with affordable and easy-to-use mobile apps and forms. They raised $9 million with these decks.

Favorite takeaway :  Instead of saying what they do, the second slide in their pitch deck shows how their startup helps businesses. No words are needed.

27. Ooomf  (now Crew) pitch deck

Crew (formerly Ooomf & then PickCrew) is a freelancer marketplace that connects mobile and web developers with projects or work. This deck was used to raise over $2 million dollars.

Favorite takeaway : Well-designed with an easy-to-understand flow.

28. Cubeit pitch deck

Cubeit is a mobile application that allows users to aggregate content from anywhere. Cubeit used this 13-slide deck to raise seed funding before they even had a finished product.

Favorite takeaway : A strong introduction will get investors to pay attention. Their deck starts out with a clear message, which was that “owning more devices doesn’t make your life easier”. I can’t help but pay attention to how this company will help.

29.  Castle pitch deck

Castle was a startup that let rental owners put their properties on autopilot. This was the deck Castle used to raise $270,000 for their startup.

Favorite takeaway : Great design and easy to digest.

30.  Sequoia Capital pitch deck

Sequoia Capital is one of the leading investment firms in Silicon Valley. This deck is a template they recommend following.

Favorite takeaway : It’s like having the keys to the kingdom. You don’t have to guess what this investment giant is looking for. They tell you straight away.

31. Uber pitch deck

When Uber hit the scene, they fundamentally reimagined urban transportation. Their pitch deck tells this audacious story perfectly. Simple yet impactful, it illustrates the problem of expensive taxis and car services, then introduces Uber as the affordable, tech-driven solution.

They use stark data points to highlight the financial opportunity, a vital touch for potential investors.

As you create your pitch, remember Uber’s two key strengths: painting a clear problem-solution scenario and using compelling data to underscore their market potential. This strategy not only shows understanding of their market but also communicates their transformative vision effectively.

Favorite takeaway : The deck is clean and minimalist. The flow is easy to follow, and you get a clear idea of what’s the problem they’re trying to solve, and how they solve it.

32. WeWork pitch deck

WeWork’s pitch deck beautifully encapsulates its community-driven approach to shared workspaces.

They use visually appealing slides that mirror their innovative, modern brand. Their pitch deck deftly articulates the benefits of shared workspaces in today’s economy, setting the stage for their unique value proposition.

Favorite takeaway : what we do, who we do it for, why we do it; the deck walks you through their company vision with smart visuals and copy. We loved how they generated urgency by highlighting how co-working spaces were a fast-growing trend and investors could miss out on a profitable investment if they didn’t act quickly.

33. MatterMark pitch deck

MatterMark’s pitch deck is a testament to the power of storytelling. utilizing clean visuals to aid comprehension and coupled with succinct copy to keep the narrative engaging. The 30-slide deck earned the platform $6.5 million in seed A funding.

Favorite takeaway : Strong visual storytelling through the use of charts and graphs. In just a few moments, you can see where the majority of their revenue comes from compared to their other revenue streams.

Summary of Pitch Deck Template Takeaways

To sum up, a strong startup pitch deck not only serves to reinforce your brand to the target audience or investors, but shows your business plan and unique offering through the slides presented; using a problem slide, a solution slide, and a traction slide including concise bullet points. 

The best startup pitch deck also shows off your company’s personality, through the inclusion of a team slide or similar in the next few slides, to be presented after your business plan is clearly outlined.

As your company grows, you’ll probably start thinking about the next stage of growth. You can use these successful pitch decks can as the foundation to make an investor deck for your next round of financing.

Look at the takeaways from these startup pitch decks as a guide to help you in your quest to raise funds and venture capital for your own startup for an investment round.

Here are some of the key takeaways from our pitch deck examples:

• Pitch decks don’t have to be formal or beautiful.
• A great pitch deck will provide an impactful intro or slogan.
• Keep your deck short (less than 20 pages).
• Use analogies to back up the points that you’re making.

After going through so many startup pitch deck examples, we recommend that to make your pitch presentation stand out you should:

• Start with a strong intro/vision.
• Show problems and offer solutions.
• Identify market opportunities.
• Showcase products/services clearly.
• Digest your business model
• Highlight financials
• Add social proof/case studies.
• Differentiate from competition.
• Show an experienced management team.

Designing a strong pitch deck could turn your business idea into a reality after convincing investors to provide support financial support to your project.

If you’re looking for additional information, DocSend shared lessons  they got learning from 200 startups who raised $360 million from their first pitch deck.

10 Pitch Deck Templates for You to Try

The following pitch decks are free templates available in Piktochart that you can use. This makes it easy to work on your slides without having to worry about design. We took care of that for you.

If you don’t have an account yet, just sign up for a free Piktochart account here and then click on one of the templates below.

To learn how the online pitch deck creator works, watch this on-demand demo .

1. Investment Pitch Deck Template With HighSpark

2. Finance Pitch Deck Template

3. Business Pitch Deck Template

4. Startup Pitch Deck Examples

5. Tech Pitch Deck Examples

6. Business Keynote Template 

7. Product Pitch Deck Template

8. Product Pitch Deck Template

9. App Product Presentation Template

10. Product Website Pitch Deck Template

Ready to create your own pitch deck?

Sign up for a free Piktochart account and edit a template right away.

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30 of the Best Pitch Decks That We’ve Ever Seen

Every founder hopes to launch the next unicorn startup . However, billion-dollar businesses usually require millions of dollars in funding to scale. Creating the best pitch deck possible could be the difference between fundraising success and failure.

A pitch deck is a critical tool in a startup’s fundraising journey. However, not every pitch deck is equally effective. The best pitch decks strike multi-million deals, while the worst fail to capture investors’ interest.

I’d bet that you’ve already searched on Google and realized that hundreds of presentation and pitch deck templates are available. However, when approaching investors, the goal is to stand out. Unfortunately, most pitch decks fail in the fundraising process. Instead of standing out, they blend into the crowd like a drop of water in the ocean.

By studying examples of successful startups that raised millions, you can learn what investors look for in the best pitch decks. In this article, we’ll introduce you to 30 of the best pitch decks we’ve seen over the last few years. Furthermore, we’ll explain why we believe they were successful and what you can learn from them.

Dropbox is a cloud storage service that lets you save files online and sync them to your devices. The platform makes it simple for users to share files and folders with others without attaching large attachments to an email.

The team introduced the product at Y Combinator’s Demo Day in 2007. Since then, Dropbox has acquired hundreds of millions of customers. The company has also become an example of how to build a startup from the ground up.

The Dropbox team utilized its pitch deck to showcase its innovative product, explain its traction, and validate its business model. Investors quickly displayed interest, and Dropbox struck its first investor deal shortly after its Demo Day appearance. 

The Pros of Dropbox’s Pitch Deck

Dropbox’s presentation may seem outdated compared to many modern pitch decks. It could use more graphic design, but the information is clear and presented in an easily digestible manner.

The use of the slide, “In a perfect world…” is unique and effective. With this slide, Dropbox connected readers to the problem and encouraged them to imagine life without struggling with digital storage issues. At the time, consumers weren’t aware that one could have “your files available wherever you are, on any device.” In 2023, this value proposition probably doesn’t seem so unique.

Still, in 2007, forgetting your USB dongle at home was a thing of nightmares. It was impossible to access your files without having your physical drive handy. Ultimately, Dropbox changed how the world stores and shares files, and its pitch deck validates this point.

The Drobox pitch deck encourages engagement from the viewer by presenting questions like “Why Now?” and “Why Better?” The team identified which questions the audience was likely to ask. Then, the founders used the deck to take the viewer on a journey by answering their questions at the ideal moment.

Some may find these slides outdated, but we love the no-fluff approach that Dropbox took with its deck. The text is large enough to read, and each slide gets straight to the point. Every word has a purpose, and every sentence is intentional.

Dropbox’s Lifetime Funding

The Dropbox team leveraged its pitch deck to raise a $1.2 million seed round in 2007. The company raised over $1.7 billion in funding over 11 rounds.

WeWork is an American commercial real estate company that provides flexible shared workspaces for technology startups and other businesses. The company designs and builds physical and virtual shared spaces and offices for companies of all sizes.

Over the years, WeWork has suffered from a damaged reputation due to bad leadership and overfunding. However, its failures don’t take away from its ability to rank in our best pitch decks list. The team produced several pitch decks since its earliest stages. However, its Series D presentation is a great example of showcasing traction and explaining future plans.

Why It’s On Our Best Pitch Decks List

Unlike DropBox, WeWork’s pitch deck is design-heavy with a modern aesthetic. The slides follow a predictable theme with a bold title, a short text blurb, and a simple but informative graphic. The color scheme (black and yellow) is consistent across every slide, which makes it visually appealing to the audience.

But when creating our best pitch decks list, graphic design is only one component. It takes skill to present this amount of information without overloading the slide. Yet, WeWork figured out the perfect balance to provide information while peaking the audience’s curiosity.

Instead of “warming up” the audience, the team immediately gets to the meat of the presentation – traction. The Company Overview slide showcases their stats upfront, with impressive metrics that investors would find difficult to ignore. Few investors can look away when a company presents statistics like 109% CAGR and revenues of $121.4 million.

While visual aesthetic is less important than content, WeWork’s design stands out. Every slide draws viewers in with complex information simplified through charts and familiar logos. The team slide is streamlined, showing authentic images of its founding members. If a picture speaks 1,000 words, it speaks a million in a pitch deck.

A Validated Hypothesis

The pitch deck tells the story of how work is rapidly shifting away from the office. Even before the pandemic, the founders realized that remote working was the future. Across multiple slides, WeWork showcases how millennials approach work differently, choosing freelance work and WFH options over the traditional office.

By the way, they were right – today, more people work from their homes and shared office spaces than ever before.

Although its technology is a massive part of WeWork’s offering, the founders only gave the technology a single slide. The bulk of the pitch deck showcases the problem and details WeWork’s plans for taking advantage of an emerging market opportunity.

WeWork’s Total Funding

The founders raised $335 million in investor funding with its Series D pitch deck. In total, the company raised $4.45 billion over 11 rounds from 14 investors.

3. Copper Cow Coffee

It can be challenging to make coffee sound exciting when competing for capital against innovative tech startups. Copper Cow Coffee’s pitch deck shows how it will innovate a market that has minimally advanced over the last several decades.

Copper Cow Coffee offers sustainably-sourced, all-natural coffee, sold in a kit that includes coffee and creamers. The company had humble beginnings but has expanded rapidly. CCC’s products are now on the shelves of major retail stores, including Whole Foods, Walmart, H-E-B, and Sprouts.

Despite the rapid success, Copper Cow Coffee’s journey began with a simple but impactful 11-slide pitch deck.

Why It’s An Awesome Pitch Deck

Entrepreneurs often overlook simplicity during investor pitches, but Copper Cow Coffee proved that less is more. For comparison’s sake, there are more words in this paragraph than in the company’s entire pitch deck. The team streamlined all the information into simple but powerful statements like “Craft coffee for anyone, anywhere.”

Unlike other decks on this list, the founders didn’t use complex graphs and charts to present information. Instead, they showcased the opportunity in a way that even a kindergarten student could understand. For example, the team used a few words to describe market size, not bar charts and line graphs. With the statement, “32 billion – American Coffee Industry,” anyone could quickly visualize how large the market is.

Some would debate that Copper Cow’s pitch deck is too minimal . However, when pitching an idea, you want the audience to pay attention to the presenter, not the slides. Copper Cow used a minimal approach so audiences could grasp the concept of each slide without needing long text explanations.

Did Copper Cow Raise Funding?

Copper Cow Coffee participated in 500 Startups and raised over $1 million in seed funding. In total, the company has generated $11.5 million in investor funding.

4. Purple Go

(Click the image to view Purple Go’s pitch deck)

Purple Go is an iPad-based platform that allows eyewear retailers to streamline online operations. The all-in-one platform automates tasks throughout the sales process, freeing up staff members and maximizing operations efficiency. Although Purple Go serves a niche and uber-targeted audience, startups can learn a few lessons from their pitch deck.

Pitch Deck Highlights

Purple Go utilized a sleek design and approach, telling its story with simple statements and highly-focused slides. While most startup pitch deck templates suggest a Problem Slide , Purple Go decided to forego this recommendation.

Instead, the deck tells a story of how Purple Go’s clients feared the impact of tech-enabled competitors. But, by adopting Purple Go’s mobile-connected stores, they multiplied their revenue by up to 10x.

The pitch deck includes several Solution slides, but they don’t display every feature. Each slide displays a short statement with a visual that explains how the product solves the customer’s problem. Phrases like “Cut Time to Sale in Half” explains the value proposition without using bullet points or paragraphs. The slides focus on the specific functions that heighten the value proposition without wasting space on less impactful features.

The team proves its Traction with a few hard-hitting statistics, such as “Pilot Store – $150k Annual Revenue.” Purple Go gives the audience the “what” of the solution but gives room so the presenter can fill in the blanks.

Did Purple Go Raise Funding?

With this pitch deck, The Purple Go team raised $150,000 in seed funding from 500 Startups .

5. Blue Wire

Blue Wire is an audio-centric media company that hosts more than 120 podcasts with athletes, influencers, and professional sports franchises. The founders recognized that millennials preferred digitized media (like podcasts) over traditional sports radio. With only nine slides the company proved a growing need for its solution in the market.

Why Do We Love This Investor Pitch Deck?

This pitch deck successfully displays how sports fans’ habits have shifted from one extreme to another. Specifically, Blue Wire explains how television loses 150,000 subscribers per month while podcasts have grown by more than 90 million listeners.

The team also proved its future potential by showing the combined follower numbers of its influencers. It also displayed logos from dozens of creators seeking to partner with the company. The deck validates a demand for the solution by showcasing notable statistics. For example, the brand received 2.5 million listens over 11 months and doubled its user base monthly.

The Company Raised HOW MUCH!?

Using this pitch deck, the company raised $150,000 in pre-seed funding. To date, Blue Wire has raised $9.9 million in funding from angel investors and venture capitalists.

6. SnapChat

It seems like Snapchat has been around forever, but it launched just over a decade ago. In 2010, it was just a new social media platform hoping to find its first capital partner. The company had a great concept, a cult-like following, and clear competitive advantages. The company had many positives, but the team still needed a stand-out pitch deck to capture investor attention.

About Snapchat’s Startup Pitch Deck

Pitch decks have many use cases outside of impressing investors. For instance, Snapchat created a sales deck to reach brands with its advertising and marketing services.

The Snapchat pitch deck sacrifices a title slide to get right to the value proposition. It opens with a bold and confident statement, “Snapchat is the best way to reach 13 to 34-year-olds.” This statement immediately draws advertisers’ attention – especially those targeting young millennials. The risk of grabbing viewers’ attention with this approach is that after making the statement, the next slides must prove it.

Snapchat validates its opening statement on the following slide. The team added a message that explains its penetration level for its targeted audience. The slide reads, “More than 60% of 13 to 34-year-old smartphone users are Snapchatters.” Then, it follows up with another intense metric – “2+ billion video views every day on Snapchat.”

There are several lessons you can take away from Snapchat’s pitch deck. First, eliminate the fluff and focus on meaningful statements. Fill your deck with strong statements that captivate your audience and back those statements with accurate data and actual metrics.

The Sales Deck Impact

The sales deck set the foundation for Snapchat’s advertising services. The company now earns more than $2.62 billion in advertising revenue each year.

Snapchat’s sales deck did not influence its fundraising activities. But in case you wondered, the company has raised more than $4.9 billion in investor capital since its inception.

The home fitness equipment industry continues to reinvent itself with new equipment and products. From ab stimulators to workout video series, there’s always some new brand claiming to help you achieve your dream body.

However, in 2012, Peloton launched as an innovator in the fitness hardware and technology spaces. The company combined traditional fitness equipment with modern tech solutions. Its solution includes internet-connected stationary bikes that enable subscribers to participate in at-home classes through streaming media.

How Peloton Made Our Best Pitch Decks List

The Peloton team knew that its product wasn’t for every person interested in fitness. With a high price tag, Peloton’s customers meet a specific demographic, lifestyle, and income bracket.

The Customer slide outlines Peloton’s ideal customer. These consumers are high net worth, married, and already spending more than $150 per month on fitness. Peloton customers earn a high income and are willing to use their disposable income to achieve their fitness goals.

Peloton’s investor deck shows that the team has deep knowledge of competitors. The team used several slides to explain its competitive advantages over other brands. Statements such as “We are not a gimmicky fitness brand” make a huge impact. The simple sentence puts distance between the brand and those with laughable fitness products (yes, I mean you, Shake Weight).

The pitch deck refutes viewers’ objections immediately and removes the “bad product” stigma often associated with fitness products.

The Venture Capital Raise

Peloton raised $400,000 from investors in the seed round. In a later round, they used their Series A pitch deck to raise $3.5 million. Throughout its lifetime, the company raised $1.9 billion, participated in six acquisitions, and went public (2019).

8. Transferwise

Transferwise (now called Wise) launched in 2010 and emerged as a leader in global payments. Wise, a money transfer platform, allows individuals to send money overseas quickly. The founders realized that millions of people around the world faced high fees for remitting money. By solving this issue for millions of people worldwide, the company earned billions of dollars.

What Stands Out in Wise’s Pitch Deck?

We gave praise to some earlier examples for their minimal approach to text and design. However, we believe Wise has the perfect amount of text for each slide. The deck provides enough information to understand the concept without overloading each slide.

The How It Works slide clarifies how easily users can send money using the platform. In this slide, Wise simplified the remittance process into four steps.

Wise simplified its Competition slide by listing each competitor category and the companies within each group. This approach allows the founders to explain each competitor group during the pitch, instead of comparing each individual company.

How Much Did Wise Raise?

Wise has one of the best seed pitch decks among the unicorn startups of the last decade. With this deck, the company raised $1.3 million in seed funding from IA Ventures and Index Ventures. To date, the company has raised over $1.3 billion from investors.

9. Kickfolio

Kickfolio (now App.io) launched with an innovative marketing tool that allowed iOS applications to run in the browser using HTML5 technology. The technology helps brands promote their applications, find new users, and engage their audience with an interactive application demo.

What Can You Learn From This Pitch Deck?

This pitch deck is an excellent example of how a brand can use visuals to engage viewers with its story. Instead of explaining the solution with bullet points, the team uses product images to demonstrate its functionality. For instance, Kickfolio showcased its traction with a simple but large graph. The team strengthened the slide by explaining user engagement, with a statement that says, “2000+ signups in 6 weeks.”

The company also added real reviews to the pitch deck so investors could see its value proposition in action. By doing so, Kickfolio made it clear how the solution impacts the lives of actual users.

How Much Capital Did They Raise?

With a world-class pitch deck, the founders raised $1.2 million in seed funding from investor partners.

Alan is a unique and innovative digital health insurance platform. The company improves the health insurance process by focusing on the user experience and providing cost-affordable plans. The team successfully established the business as an insurance company by providing top-level customer service and a competitive product.

Here’s Why We Love This Deck

To be clear, Alan’s pitch deck is more than double the length we’d recommend to our clients. Despite the length, several qualities stand out.

First, the visual presentation is masterful. When it comes to presenting a heavily designed pitch deck, Alan is a great model to follow. Alan’s branding is strong and consistent throughout the deck. It utilizes the brand’s colors and maintains a theme that draws viewers into the presentation.

Alan’s deck begins with an elevator pitch, allowing the audience to understand its product offering immediately. The team also added a slide that explained their purpose for raising Series A funding. With the funding, they plan to expand in Europe and transition into a healthcare platform.

We’ve seen the minimal approach used in several other presentations. Alan definitely did not take this approach. The deck is longer than we recommend, but it gives enough information to stand alone without a presenter. Still, the length of the deck would bore the audience during a live investor pitch.

Alan’s Series A Round

The company raised €23 million during its Series A round. In total, Alan raised over $558.2 million from angel investors and venture capital firms.

Castle is an innovative and process-shifting real estate solution for rental property owners. Castle operates under a memorable slogan that reads, “Put Your Properties on Autopilot!”

Ultimately, Castle exists to help owners manage properties without the common landlord headaches. Since Castle serves a niche target market , likely, you’ve never heard of them. However, its pitch deck has several shining qualities that any founder can learn from.

What Can You Learn From Castle?

Castle’s presentation is a great example for founders wondering what a great pitch deck looks like .

The design is modern and exciting, utilizing a constant theme, graphics, product images, and icons. The icons highlight each point, bringing the viewers’ eyes directly to the most critical points of each slide.

Castle’s format is similar to most pitch deck templates. However, the pitch deck uses this familiar structure to its advantage. The startup immediately showcases the primary customer problem. They present a problem statement that reads, “Rental property owners want to make money without the work of being a landlord.”

Each subsequent slide enhances the overall story and gives the audience another layer of information. The flow leads to a concise elevator pitch – “Automate landlording through software and on-demand labor.”

What lessons can your startup take away from Castle’s pitch deck? The best pitch decks don’t just present data and statements. Instead, they present the right information at the right time to support the story and capture viewers’ attention.

Did Castle Raise Funding?

Since its inception, Castle has raised $3.3 million in seed funding from angel investors and venture capitalists.

Adpushup is a successful startup that streamlines the process of optimizing ad placements. The solution enables publishers to improve ad performance by testing different ad placements, sizes, and types. While the design of this sample pitch deck is minimal, the information the team presented was critical to its funding success.

What We Like About Adpushup’s Slide Deck

Many entrepreneurs believe revenue is the only attractive metric, but Adpushup proved that other metrics are equally important. For example, the Traction slide validates its rapid growth, using impressions as a metric. This metric enabled them to prove a high demand within the market, even though the business hadn’t earned any revenue.

In addition to describing prospective customers, the deck displays the solution’s impact through existing customer experiences. It includes a case study showing its product’s effectiveness in a real-world scenario. Social proof isn’t just gold for attracting potential customers; it also helps to sell your pitch to investors.

Did Adpushup Raise Seed Money?

Since its inception, Adpushup has raised approximately $632,000 from partnered investors.

13. LinkedIn

(Click the image to view LinkedIn’s pitch deck)

The LinkedIn Series B pitch deck is ancient compared to others on our list. Still, it’s excellent study material for startups looking to develop a compelling investor pitch.

LinkedIn launched during the social media craze, when many new social network platforms entered the market, and competition peaked. As a result, LinkedIn took a different approach and established a notable unique selling proposition by serving a professional audience.

LinkedIn’s deck uses too much text to compete with modern seed round pitch decks. However, it is a fantastic example of how a seed round pitch deck may differ from a later round deck.

The Takeaway for Social Media Startups

Seed-round startups should refrain from using as many slides as LinkedIn used in its pitch deck. For seed-round startups, brevity is critical to success. However, in later rounds, more robust decks are often necessary.

By its Series B round, LinkedIn had members, user engagement, referral metrics, case studies, and a revenue plan. The company had to translate all of these accomplishments into a digestible pitch deck.

Since LinkedIn already had investors’ attention, it didn’t face the same restraints as a new startup. New startups have to earn the audience’s attention. Investors won’t give them the same attention as a later-stage startup with a notable reputation.

In terms of content, LinkedIn’s pitch deck clearly defined its priority – establishing the network. Furthermore, it explained why this task is critical to achieving its growth objectives. Winning pitch decks identify how the team will utilize the investment to progress, scale, and expand the business and its success. The deck also showcased significant traction, showing how the company’s actual growth and user engagement far out-scaled projected metrics.

How Much Capital Did LinkedIn Raise?

LinkedIn raised $10 million from Greylock Partners during its Series B round. Over its lifetime, LinkedIn raised over $154.8 million in investor funding. The company grew its valuation to $352.8 million by the time it went public in 2011.

Canvas provides a business solution that allows corporations and organizations to digitize their paper assets. The solution aims to eliminate paperwork by transitioning business processes through mobile applications.

We selected Canvas as one of the best startup decks because of how it used imagery to draw the audience’s attention.

What Caught Our Eye About This Investor Deck?

Canvas starts its deck with simple visuals that explain how the world has moved from analog to digital. For instance, books changed to eBooks, and CDs transitioned to MP3s. Now, according to Canvas, document storage will shift because of its solution.

In the next slides, the company expresses the top five most significant issues faced by companies with paper-based processes. With this approach, Canvas shows the audience’s specific challenges. Furthermore, it proves that the time is right for a new solution to enter the market.

We also appreciate Canvas’s Competitive Landscape slide. Most startups use a table with checkmarks. In contrast, Canvas compares the approach of its solution against competitors. According to the deck, competitors focus on the what , while Canvas focuses on the why.

Canvas Raised How Much!?

Canvas’s pitch deck and investor pitch proved successful. As a result, the company raised $24.1 million in investor funding.

15. SickWeather

Sickweather is an app that analyzes data to predict and forecast population health. The app claims to accurately predict illness outbreaks 91% of the time and two weeks before the CDC on average. Sickweather’s sample pitch deck explains the importance of trust and credibility. These factors are especially critical when your clients are some of the most respected brands in the world.

Sidenote: Sickweather became even more relevant after the pandemic. In April 2020, the company launched a COVID-19 scoring feature, becoming a leading predictor of which cities would experience COVID outbreaks.

Sickweather’s Pitch Deck Takeaway

The first thing that caught our attention was the addition of a video on one of the slides. Shorter videos work well during a live pitch, while long videos can help enhance the deck during the introduction stage.

Early in the deck, Sickweather lists previous and existing clients. The mentioned brands are well-known and credible, immediately giving the startup a high level of authority. Furthermore, the team used visual graphs to showcase impressive monthly recurring revenue growth.

Lifetime Capital Raise

Sickweather has raised $2.6 million in investor funding since its inception.

16. Match Box (Tinder)

Match Box is the original name for Tinder, a dating app used by millions of people worldwide. Even with many competitors, Tinder overtook the market by implementing a gaming aspect to its platform. Instead of just adding friends, individuals could swipe left or right to express interest in another user. Match Box’s startup deck is an excellent example of balancing creativity and simplicity to generate investor interest.

What We Like About Match Box’s Pitch Deck

Match Box became Tinder, and Tinder went on to become the most successful dating app ever. However, success started with its pitch deck – and there are several reasons why the slides worked so well.

Match Box’s slides are rather minimal compared to most startup pitch decks. However, it introduces a real-world scenario to explain the problems daters face (fear of rejection). The pitch deck uses each slide to tell a story, and half of the deck simply includes screenshots of the application.

The deck heightens its effectiveness by introducing the customer, showcasing their problems, and proving that the solution can solve the problem.

Finally, the last slide shows a transparent revenue model. Many dating apps struggle to generate revenue. But in its deck, Match Box showed how it would leverage its customer base to create several income streams.

Match Box’s Lifetime Funding

In September 2016, Tinder received an investment of $1.4 million. Since then, the company has participated in three separate acquisitions.

If you’re an avid traveler, it is probable that you have heard of or used Airbnb. Founded in 2008, Airbnb is a web service that allows people visiting other cities to book rooms from locals.

Airbnb provides a classic marketplace platform that enables renters and travelers to transact. For travelers, it provides a streamlined process to book a room or a property, often offering more amenities than a hotel. Property owners act as hosts on the platform, using Airbnb to find renters and earn income from their vacant properties.

With a compelling pitch deck, Airbnb conveyed its advantages against the competition and expressed its unique market position.

The Upside of Airbnb’s Deck

First-time founders often focus all their attention on the presentation’s design and visuals. Unfortunately, while the slides look great, they often lack the essential qualities of a good pitch deck. Over-designing can cause distraction and pull your audiences’ focus to the wrong elements. As Steve Jobs once said, simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.

Airbnb’s pitch deck is the perfect representation of effective simplicity. The deck successfully explains the customer problem (such as the price of hotels) and uses statistics to prove market potential. It defines the challenge entirely before beginning its introduction to the company’s product, service, and feature offering.

Airbnb relies on technology to perform its service, but the deck only vaguely mentions the platform itself. One slide explains the technology, but the rest of the deck focuses on the market and the go-to-market strategy.

The founders represented the solution with only seven words – “ Search By City. Review Listings. Book It!” Our team fell in love with this approach.

Commonly, entrepreneurs spend the entire pitch explaining the product itself. Yet, they don’t spend enough time on the things important to investors, such as the strategy and ROI potential.

Airbnb – A Fundraising Success Story

Before this pitch deck, founders Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia had no fundraising experience. However, even without expertise, they closed a $600,000 seed round led by Sequoia Capital. In total, Airbnb raised $4.4 billion over several financing rounds.

Need more information? Check out our full breakdown of Airbnb’s pitch deck .

Tea is one of the world’s most popular commodities. However, obstacles exist in the supply chain process, slowing down the transfer of goods from farms to individuals. Furthermore, the market relies on middlemen to distribute products, which drives up prices for the final consumer. As a result, tea farmers have to deal with low-profit margins, and consumers can’t access high-quality tea options.

TeaLet exists to streamline the supply chain. The company directly connects tea growers with wholesale buyers and retailers using blockchain technology and a web-based application. As a result, TeaLet has tripled the profits for tea farmers while reducing consumers’ prices for top-quality tea.

TeaLet’s pitch deck enabled the team to achieve its objective of attracting and striking a deal with its first investors.

About TeaLet’s Killer Deck

TeaLet’s pitch deck immediately presents the most important information. The presentation starts by displaying its most vital metric – We’ve sold 100,000 cups of tea in 20+ countries. By quickly showcasing traction, TeaLet’s pitch deck gives the team massive credibility. Furthermore, it grasps the audience’s attention early on in the pitch.

One of our favorite qualities of this pitch deck is the use of hard numbers. The slides use hard numbers to prove the market opportunity. By showcasing market activities (such as acquisitions by similar companies), TeaLet creates FOMO among potential investors.

While content is more important than design, TeaLet’s design theme stands out against many other startup pitch decks. It is rather design-heavy, but the visual adds drama to the message instead of distracting from it.

How Much Funding Did TeaLet Raise?

With a great product and a well-thought pitch deck, TeaLet secured a $240k seed round from angel investors.

19. Moz (SEOmoz)

Moz, formally known as SEOmoz, is a SaaS company that provides a suite of inbound marketing and SEO tools. Gillian Muessig and SEO influencer Rand Fishkin launched Moz in 2004 and transitioned into SEO SaaS software in 2008.

By the end of 2017, Moz served more than 36,000 businesses worldwide. During this period, users crawled more than 168 million URLs and researched over 4.3 million keywords.

Building a leading software solution like Moz is no easy feat. Nevertheless, Moz’s founders created an impactful pitch deck that impressed investors and provided the capital needed to thrive and scale.

Why is Moz On Our Best Pitch Decks List?

Rand Fishkin has become the Michael Jackson of SEO. He is well-known as a marketing legend now, but he had to build his legendary status over several years. Moz’s pitch deck explains where the business started and how Rand built the company from inception without outside funding.

Moz used its slides to explain how the founders leveraged free traffic through inbound marketing to build and expand the business. By showcasing its success with these methods, Moz validated its abilities since its software helps clients grow with the same techniques.

This pitch deck is longer than a standard startup pitch deck. However, when the team designed it, Moz had already completed an initial seed funding round and had significant traction. Therefore, in later series rounds, additional slides are often necessary to effectively showcase the growth of the business.

Did Moz Reach Its Funding Objectives?

A strong pitch deck and a validated product allowed Moz to raise $29.1 million over five funding rounds.

According to its founders, Front is the “first inbox meant for teams.” By using Front, organizations can organize emails, route them to team members, and maximize collaboration. The company launched in 2013 and quickly grew its dominance in the corporate email sector. Today, Front serves over 5,000 businesses and has more than 100 employees.

Explaining Front’s Pitch Deck

The overall aesthetic of startup pitch decks has evolved over the years. Front introduced several elements that you likely won’t find in older pitch deck examples (like Facebook or LinkedIn’s deck).

For example, Front uses a plot graph to showcase how each competitor fits into the landscape. This graphic element is easy on the eyes and makes a complex concept simple to understand. The use of graphics continues with well-placed charts and graphs throughout the deck. Front showcased its traction and growth clearly while maintaining a minimal and clean appearance.

Front’s Fundraising Outcome

Front’s pitch deck enabled the company to reach its funding goals. To date, Front has raised over $79 million in venture funding.

21. Mixpanel

Mixpanel is an analytics provider that tracks and monitors web and mobile apps. Leveraging its toolset, app owners can compare new campaigns with A/B tests, execute user surveys, and build funnels.

The Pros of Mixpanel’s Pitch Deck

This presentation made it on our best pitch decks list because of its simplicity. Compared to other pitch decks, it is relatively minimal and utilizes text more than visuals. However, in a time when most pitch decks are over-designed, Mixpanel’s lack of graphic design stands out.

The founders created a great storyline within the deck that keeps viewers engaged. It begins by clearly stating the market’s problems in a single sentence. Then, it explains the solution with minimal text.

With a dark non-distracting background and white font, the message is clear. Instead of cluttered slides with non-connected visuals and many ideas, Mixpanel’s slides contain singular, focused, and notable concepts.

Mixpanel’s Funding Rounds

The company achieved its financing goals and raised $77 million over five investment rounds.

22. Facebook

If you’re old enough to remember the launch of Facebook, you might recall that it first launched as “thefacebook.” Facebook is a social media platform that Mark Zuckerberg launched in 2004. Over the last 20 years, Facebook has grown to become one of the world’s top-earning companies. The platform has billions of users and an estimated $140 billion valuation.

Pitch Deck Lessons for Social Media Startups

Since Facebook launched in the early 2000s, its pitch deck is now ancient. The startup landscape has significantly changed since Facebook’s early days. Gone are the days when pitch deck slides included entire text paragraphs.

Still, Facebook’s pitch deck accomplished its objectives. It showcased the features, explained the launch strategy, and presented traction. In addition, Facebook added a media quote on several slides that further validated its impact and showcased its rapid traction.

Facebook’s Fundraising Success

Facebook raised over $1.3 billion before going public in 2012.

23. Buzzfeed

BuzzFeed is an industry-leading internet media, news, and entertainment company that has brought new trends to digital journalism. John Peretti founded the platform in New York in 2006, focusing on viral content like articles, lists, videos, and quizzes.

BuzzFeed exploded over its first few years and now hosts several brands, including Nifty, Goodful, As/Is, and Tasty. By 2018, BuzzFeed Video’s YouTube channel had generated more than 13.8 billion views and 17.2 million subscribers.

The Best Aspects of BuzzFeed’s Pitch Deck

BuzzFeed utilized screenshots of the platform throughout the deck, visually engaging viewers and investor audiences. The team used the designs to explain the solution and display important information, such as the revenue and business model.

In addition, the Competitive Analysis slide is exceptional. The slide shows how the company merges the benefits of the advertising and media sectors.

BuzzFeed’s Lifetime Capital Raise

The BuzzFeed company raised over $496 million and has participated in five acquisitions since its inception.

24. Ooomf (Crew)

Ooomf launched in 2012 as an app discovery platform. After raising $500,000 in a seed round, Ooomf pivoted as a marketplace for digital freelancers.

Ooomf rebranded as Crew, the first marketplace where handpicked creators can work on the projects they love. Some of the world’s largest companies like Apple, Google, Uber, and Dropbox have hired freelancers on Ooomf’s marketplace.

Learning From Ooomf’s Pitch Deck

Ooomf made our best pitch decks list because we appreciated its ability to tell a story with minimal text. Each slide is well-designed and suggests a single point of focus. The company used graphics to show the simplicity of creating a project on the platform. It also offers social proof by presenting direct quotes from the platform’s freelancers.

Ooomf’s Fundraising Activity

Ooomf (Crew) raised $9.9 million from 14 investors before participating in an acquisition by Dribbble.

25. Task.ly

Task.ly is a task management tool that helps professionals organize and manage their work lives. The app allows users to track project progress, collaborate with team members, and manage deadlines. The software aims to replace unorganized sticky notes, emails, and tracking docs with one simple-to-use platform.

Task.ly Pitch Deck Lessons

In our opinion, Task.ly’s pitch deck is too long and includes too many slides. With 28 slides, it is more than double the recommended length for startup pitch decks. Fortunately, the team used only a few words on each slide. Therefore, viewers can still flick through the entire deck quickly without spending an excessive amount of time.

Every slide contains a graphic, but the screenshots, images, and icons support the story and enhance the overall investor pitch. Furthermore, the designers condensed the text into short statements – most slides have less than six words. 

The company hasn’t released any funding information, so we are unsure whether it raised capital and how much it raised.

Pendo is a no-code platform that allows businesses to learn how customers behave while using a website or mobile application. By leveraging the solution, users can monitor page loads, clicks, focus points, and form submissions. Once the system collects enough data, it draws insights and makes suggestions to improve user engagement.

What Do We Love About Pendo’s Pitch Deck?

As we explained previously, Series B pitch decks are often significantly longer than early-stage ones. By this stage, the business has covered more ground and achieved more milestones. As a result, Series B businesses must represent more information on their slides.

Regarding design, Pendo’s presentation is one of the best pitch decks we’ve come across. Some of the most effective pitch decks lack visual appeal. Still, Pendo squeezed a tremendous amount of information into its slides without compromising the design. Furthermore, the company used visuals wisely by inserting graphs and charts to explain concepts quickly instead of relying on text.

Pendo’s Fundraising Success

The team created several decks to raise $108.3 million over seven funding rounds. Furthermore, the company participated in two acquisitions.

27. Coinbase

Coinbase is a secure platform that makes it easy to exchange digital currencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum. As the largest digital currency trading platform, the company earned over $1 billion in revenue in 2017. Since launching in 2012, it has scaled to offer digital asset transactions and storage in over 190 countries.

Lessons from Coinbase’s Pitch Deck

The founders faced a significant hurdle when creating a pitch deck. In 2012, most investors were clueless about Bitcoin and the challenges faced by the small community of crypto investors. Therefore, the pitch deck had to educate investors on digital currency and explain why the solution was necessary for the market.

Coinbase’s startup pitch deck explains why other solutions are ineffective and difficult to use. It follows that message with evidence to position the company as the ideal solution for the market’s challenges. Furthermore, the pitch deck validated the existence of demand by showcasing rapid growth in user registrations, user engagement, and annual revenue.

Coinbase’s Fundraising History

Coinbase raised $547.3 million over nine funding rounds and participated in 12 acquisitions.

28. Contently

The Contently solution strives to address the three critical elements of content marketing: strategy, platform, and storytellers. The platform makes content marketing manageable by combining an expert content strategy, a marketing services platform, and a global talent network.

The platform now serves over 200 enterprise clients, hosts over 140,000 creatives, and has paid over $40 million to its contractors.

Pros of Contently’s Pitch Deck

This Series B financing deck immediately presents impressive statistics explaining an existing market problem – brands fail to achieve their marketing objectives. The pitch deck uses platform screenshots to showcase its effectiveness and displays client logos to validate its recent traction.

Contently’s Fundraising Activities

With an excellent pitch deck, the founders raised $19.3 million in capital over seven funding rounds.

Yaydoo is a procurement automation platform that allows companies to streamline their purchasing processes. With Yaydoo, businesses can negotiate with several vendors simultaneously and with one click. Furthermore, the platform enables these companies to save on recurring purchases and reduce their team efforts.

Why Do We Love Yaydoo’s Pitch Deck?

Yaydoo effectively got its point across and validated the potential of its solution using only nine slides. The first slide is the most impressive, providing the fine details of the company’s sales over two years. It also displays logos of previous clients to give the brand more credibility. With significant social proof, it is easy to understand the company’s potential and ability to exceed customer expectations.

How Much Did Yaydoo Raise?

Yaydoo succeeded in raising seed funding. However, no public information is available expressing the amount of capital secured.

30. Backstartup

Backstartup is an all-in-one platform that allows startups and SMEs to manage their legal, accounting, and payroll processes easily. The founders launched Backstartup in Columbia in 2014, and the business now employs over 50 team members.

Lessons From Backstartup’s Pitch Deck

Backstartup’s investor pitch deck is another example of great design. The deck utilizes pops of color and well-designed visuals to engage the audience and pull them into the presentation. The deck begins by showcasing the projected market size. Then, it goes into the product and explains the company’s traction.

The Backstartup team only used 11 slides to impress potential investors. Yet, each slide captures the details of the business with a consistent and visually appealing design theme.

Backstartup’s Fundraising History

Backstartup held three funding rounds, raising a total of $905k throughout its lifetime.

Elements of a Fundable Pitch Deck

Combined with an impressive pitch, a startup pitch deck is essential for successful fundraising. Great ideas with sloppy presentations that leave key questions unanswered usually fail in the fundraising process. To impress investors, brands need a proven idea, a confident pitch, and a memorable startup pitch deck.

Thousands of startups send their pitch decks to investors every day. In other words, if you seek investor capital, you’ll need to stand out among the competition. Many startups add every detail they can fit in the deck. They describe the number of users, monthly growth, revenue, feature concepts, and more.

However, the best pitch decks provide an organized presentation with a story-like flow. They present the right information, in the optimal order, with supporting visuals that maximize impact.

Pitch decks can help you raise serious capital if done right. Some entrepreneurs utilize pitch deck writers to create the best presentations. But if you’re creating your own deck or using a startup pitch deck template, there are some tips that will help. Check out the infographic below so you can create a pitch deck worthy of investment.

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35+ Best Pitch Deck Examples from Successful Startups (2024 Update with Editable Templates Included)

There’s no single recipe for creating a successful investor pitch deck. Many authors, venture capitalists, startup founders, and evangelists have created different versions of the required content structure for successfully pitching investors. The reality is that different industries, company stages, and round sizes require slightly different approaches to business storytelling.

We’ve compiled a list of the 35 best pitch deck examples from successful startups, accelerator programs, and industry experts (updated to 2024), in the hope that it helps you craft your next investor presentation.

Quick access to our best templates:

• Airbnb Pitch Deck ‍
• The Startup Pitch Deck Template ‍
• Investor Deck Template by 500 Startups ‍
• Investment Proposal ‍
• Uber Pitch Deck ‍
• Business Plan Template ‍ ‍
• Sequoia Capital Pitch Deck ‍
• Doordash Pitch Deck ‍
• Facebook Pitch Deck
• ‍ Ycombinator Pitch Deck Template ‍
• Guy Kawasaki Pitch Deck Template ‍
• Youtube Pitch Deck ‍
• Slidebean Pitch Deck
• ‍ Peloton Pitch Deck
• Go To Market Strategy Template
• Elevator Pitch Deck Template
• Tinder Pitch Deck Template ‍
• WeWork Pitch Deck Template
• Snapchat Pitch Deck Template
• Linkedin Pitch Deck Template
• Lunchbox Pitch Deck Template
• Buffer Pitch Deck
• Cannabis Pitch Deck Template
• Aircall Pitch Deck
• Intercom Pitch Deck Template
• Cryptocurrency Pitch Deck Template
• Copy AI Pitch Deck Template
• Splitwise Pitch Deck Template
• 3 Minute Pitch Deck for Demo Day Template
• Sparkcharge Pitch Deck
• Dwolla Pitch Deck Template
• Evervault Pitch Deck Template
• Vettery Pitch Deck Template
• Dutchie Pitch Deck Template
• Sololearn Pitch Deck Template

100+ pitch deck templates here

These are our best 35+ startup pitch decks:, 1. airbnb pitch deck template.

The Airbnb Pitch Deck is one of the most searched references on the internet, probably because it’s a company so familiar to us all. This is a classic 10-slide Investor Deck template that many startups find useful to fit their startup into. We’ve reimagined the original deck and created our fill-in-the-blank template.

• Industry: Travel, Hospitality, Technology
• Business Model: Online marketplace for lodging and travel experiences
• Amount Raised: $500K Angel Round
• Location: San Francisco, California, USA
• Website: airbnb.com

USE AIRBNB TEMPLATE

2. the startup pitch deck template.

What you should include in your pitch deck is a question that entrepreneurs have been asking themselves for years. The template we created, distilled from benchmarking dozens of venture-backed startups, takes this into account so all users will have more clarity on where their strengths are!

USE STARTUP PITCH DECK TEMPLATE

3. investor deck template by 500 startups.

500 Startups is a leading global venture capital seed fund and startup accelerator headquartered in Silicon Valley with over $350M AUM.

This investor deck template is ideal for initial VCs and Angel Investors. If they ask to see your pitch deck , this is what you want to send.

The outline of the investor deck mainly focuses on your startup's growth metrics and traction.

• Industry: Capital market company
• Website: 500.co

USE INVESTOR DECK TEMPLATE

4. investment proposal template by nextview ventures.

An investment proposal is the driving tool during a meeting with potential investors. This investor deck contains all the information they require. It was created based on the NextView Ventures template.

• Industry: Venture Capital company
• Location: New York, New York, USA
• Website: nextview.vc

USE INVESTMENT TEMPLATE

5. uber pitch deck template.

For the ninth anniversary of the founding of Uber, it's co-founder Garret Camp shared the first slides they created in late 2008. At the beginning, Uber was originally called UberCab, and it has evolved from a simple idea into a major platform that has improved the car service industry.

• Industry: Transportation, Technology
• Business Model: Ride-sharing and food delivery platform
• Amount Raised: $1.3 million
• Website: uber.com

Here you have Uber's 25 slide deck! There's a lot to be learned from their first ever pitch:

USE UBER TEMPLATE

6. business plan template.

The Business Plan is a crucial step in starting your own business because it represents the goals you want to achieve and outlines how they will be accomplished.

USE BUSINESS PLAN TEMPLATE

7. sequoia capital pitch deck.

Since Sequoia Capital has quite a reputation for investments, taking a page out of their book makes sense. The slides included in the Sequoia Capital Pitch Deck Template each have a specific purpose that leads them down the path of discovery into your pitch

• Website: sequoiacap.com

Related read : What is a pitch deck presentation

USE SEQUOIA TEMPLATE

8. doordash pitch deck template.

DoorDash is one of the most well-known food delivery companies in the United States right now. The Doordash investor deck is an excellent example of a pitch using traction to back up your business.  

• Industry: Food Delivery, Technology
• Business Model: On-demand food delivery platform
• Amount Raised: $2.4 million
• Website: doordash.com

USE DOORDASH TEMPLATE

9. facebook pitch deck template.

Facebook’s original pitch deck was a media kit containing the company’s value proposition, key metrics, and Online Marketing Services .

At that time, the company wasn’t making any money from The Facebook, so they bet on solid numbers such as user engagement, customer base, and growth metrics.

• Industry: Social Media, Technology
• Business Model: Social networking and advertising platform
• Location: Menlo Park, California, USA
• Website: facebook.com

USE FACEBOOK TEMPLATE

10. ycombinator pitch deck template.

YCombinator came out with a pitch deck template that's not aesthetically pleasing. We get it. They wanted to give you the “blank canvas” so your company branding could shine, but maybe they went too far. In any case, we've taken matters into our own hands and made some style changes for better aesthetics and more functionality. We hope this helps.

• Industry: Startup accelerator company
• Location: Mountain View, California, USA
• Website: ycombinator.com

USE YCOMBINATOR TEMPLATE

11. guy kawasaki pitch deck template.

Guy Kawasaki is a well-known Silicon Valley startup guru. He is the author of several books and was one of the original Apple employees. His 10 pitch deck slides have inspired many, and his 20-minute presentation format will help you get your point across efficiently.

USE GUY KAWASAKI TEMPLATE

12. youtube pitch deck template.

Youtube’s pitch deck was used in 2005 when it had less than 10,000 users. It was actually quite straightforward. They used an elementary version of a 10 slide pitch deck to go up in front of Sequoia Capital for fundraising. Still, the company was able to raise $3.5M in that Series A round November of that year. This cost around 30% of the stakes in the company.

• Industry: Video Streaming, Music, Internet
• Business Model: Ad revenue and user subscriptions.
• Amount Raised: $3.5 million Series A
• Location: San Bruno, California, USA
• Website: youtube.com

USE YOUTUBE TEMPLATE

‍ 13. slidebean pitch deck.

Our slide deck at the 500 Startups demo day was the culmination of 2 startup accelerator processes, hours of rehearsal, and dozens of adjustments thanks to feedback from our mentors. Pitching at a Demo Day event differs from pitching to an investor in a one-on-one meeting.

• Industry: Software, Design, Productivity
• Business Model: Presentation software with design support
• Location: New York City, New York, USA
• Website: slidebean.com

‍ USE SLIDEBEAN TEMPLATE

14. peloton pitch deck template.

Peloton broke the fitness industry with its stationary bike system, which connects users and trainers via the internet. Do you have a business idea for this industry in mind? We recreated the pitch deck Peloton used to raise their Series F.

• Industry: Fitness, Technology
• Business Model: Subscription-based connected fitness platform
• Amount raised: $500 million Series F
• Website: onepeloton.com  

USE PELOTON TEMPLATE

15. go to market strategy template.

The go-to-market strategy is a presentation that details how an organization will place its products in the market to reach maximum penetration and profitability. What is your go-to-market strategy? This template will help you summarize it engagingly!

USE GO TO MARKET TEMPLATE

16. elevator pitch deck template.

This is an elevator pitch deck template designed for initial approaches to investors. Share this template when they ask for your elevator pitch deck. With this template, you can effectively communicate your value proposition, market opportunity, key achievements, and financial projections, aiming to get the investors' curiosity and interest for further discussions.

Use this template

17. tinder pitch deck template.

10 billion matches later, Tinder has changed how people meet around the world. It’s so much more than a dating app. Tinder is a powerful tool for meeting people. Here’s the deck Tinder used in the IAC Hatch Labs Incubator in 2012.

• Industry: Social Media, Dating App
• Business Model: Subscription service, ad revenue
• Amount Raised: Approximately $50 million in total funding
• Location: West Hollywood, California, USA

18. WeWork Pitch Deck Template

WeWork fuels entrepreneurial spirit and corporate success with powerful real estate solutions. Founded in 2010, it has since blossomed into a buzzing global community transforming the way companies do business by providing physical spaces that nurture productivity, well-being, efficiency and growth - all backed up by an impressive $1 billion funding valuation of $10 billion!

• Industry: Real Estate, Coworking, Proptech
• Business Model: Office space rental
• Amount Raised: $42.8 million Series E
• Website: wework.com

GET THIS TEMPLATE

19. snapchat pitch deck template.

The Snapchat Pitch Deck Template helps you create a persuasive presentation inspired by Snapchat's successful pitch to investors. It offers visually engaging slides and a structured format for showcasing your business idea, growth plans, and revenue strategy.

• Industry: Social Media, Messaging, Technology
• Business Model: Photo-based social media
• Amount Raised: Approximately $4.9 billion in total funding
• Location: Venice, California, USA

20. Linkedin Pitch Deck

LinkedIn has skyrocketed to success, becoming the world's largest professional social networking site with a vast population of users growing daily. Reid Hoffman later publicly released his Series B pitch deck, which included advice on how it should be constructed so that other aspiring entrepreneurs would also have insight.

• Industry: Social Media, Networking, Technology
• Business Model: Professional networking site
• Amount Raised: $10 million Series B
• Location: Sunnyvale, California, USA
• Website: linkedin.com

Get this template

21. lunchbox pitch deck template.

With a mission to empower restaurants to compete in an increasingly tech-driven market, Try our Pitch Deck Template inspired by the one they used to raise $2 million in its seed round.

• Industry: Restaurants, Management Software
• Business Model: B2B Restaurant platform
• Amount Raised: $2 million Seed Round
• Website: lunchbox.io

22. Buffer Pitch Deck Template

This is the presentation deck Buffer used to raise $500,000 for their startup, as redesigned by Slidebean. The highlight of this deck is the traction slide, which the founders describe as the critical one for their success.

• Business Model: Social media management platform
• Amount Raised: $500K
• Website: buffer.com

USE BUFFER TEMPLATE

23. cannabis investor pitch deck template.

Leverage our Cannabis Investor Pitch, influenced by the CannaBusinessPlans deck, to effectively showcase the distinctive attributes and growth potential of your cannabis business. Utilize this tailored presentation as a powerful tool to attract essential funding from potential investors

24. Aircall Pitch Deck

A well-designed pitch deck can help an entrepreneur communicate their story in a clear and concise way and can be a key tool in securing funding. However, designing a pitch deck can be a challenge, as it requires distilling complex information into bite-sized chunks and conveying it in an engaging way. That's why we decided to redesign Aircall's pitch deck as an example. We wanted to show how a pitch deck can be both informative and visually appealing.

• Industry: Telecommunications, Technology
• Business Model: Cloud-based phone system and call center software
• Amount Raised: $65 million
• Location: Paris, France, and New York City, USA
• Website: aircall.io

Here's the result from our design challenge:

Use Aircall Template

25. intercom pitch deck template.

The Intercom Pitch Deck Template is your key to crafting a compelling pitch presentation, modeled after Intercom's own successful pitch.

It's your tool to create a persuasive presentation that mirrors Intercom's winning pitch style. This template empowers you to clearly communicate your business vision, product strategy, and growth prospects to potential investors.

• Industry: CRM, Marketing, Automation
• Business Model: B2B SaaS
• Amount Raised: $600K
• Website: intercom.com

26. Cryptocurrency Pitch Deck Template

A cryptocurrency pitch deck is a dynamic presentation outlining the unique attributes of a digital currency project. It showcases use cases, team expertise, and financial projections to attract funding and build investor confidence.

27. Copy AI Pitch Deck Template

Copy.ai offers the convenience of composing emails, website content, and heartfelt love letters. Here's the pitch deck that convinced investors like Wing, Sequoia, and Tiger Global to contribute $11 million in funding.

• Industry: SAI, Copywriting, Automation
• Business Model: SaaS
• Amount Raised: $11 Series A
• Location: Memphis, Tennesee, USA
• Website: copy.ai

28. Splitwise Pitch Deck Template

Splitwise makes it super easy to divvy up bills and expenses among friends or groups with their simple app. Check out our Pitch Deck Template, inspired by Splitwise's $20 million Series A round, to show investors what you're all about and kickstart your journey to success.

• Industry: FinTech, Billing, Personal Finance
• Business Model: Ad revenue, subscription service
• Amount Raised: $20 million Series A
• Location: Providence, Rhode Island, USA
• Website: splitwise.com

29. 3 Minute Pitch Deck for Demo Day Template

Demo days pack together dozens of pitch decks from wildly different companies. Communicating your value prop effectively and concisely is key. This template provides the structure to accomplish pitching your startup in under 3 minutes.

Use 3 Minute Pitch Deck

30. sparkcharge pitch deck.

Sparcharge is a startup that raised $7 million in seed funding, and Slidebean was responsible for writing and designing their pitch deck. The deck was very successful in conveying the company's value proposition and vision, and it helped them to secure funding from top venture capitalists. The design of the deck was clean and professional, and it made use of strong visuals to help tell the company's story. The slides were also easy to navigate, which made it easy for investors to understand the information presented. Overall, the pitch deck was an important part of Sparcharge's success in raising funding , and it served as a great example of the power of a well-designed presentation.

• Industry: Automotive, Energy, Technology
• Business Model: Electric vehicle charging infrastructure
• Amount Raised: $7 million Series A
• Location: Boston, Massachusetts, USA
• Website: sparkcharge.io

Check these Slides

31. dwolla pitch deck template.

Dwolla is advertised as "the best way to move money." 28-year-old Ben Milne has found a way to transfer money from the consumer or merchant to make a payment. This is Dwolla's Pitch Deck.

• Industry: Fintech
• Business Model: SaaS, transaction fees, partnerships
• Amount Raised: $16.5 million, Series C
• Location: Des Moines, Iowa, United States
• Website: dwolla.com

32. Evervault Pitch Deck Template

According to their website, Evervault's mission "is to make data privacy simple and accessible for all" by allowing developers to integrate data privacy in their apps. How did they gain their attention (and money)? Here's the pitch deck that made that happen, as redesigned by Slidebean.

• Industry: Encryption Software
• Business Model: usage-based
• Amount Raised: $3.2 million, Seed Round
• Location: Dublin, Ireland
• Website: evervault.com

Use Evervault template

33. vettery pitch deck template.

Here’s the Vettery pitch deck used to raise $9 million Series A on August 16, 2016, by co-founders Brett Adcock and Adam Goldstein.

• Industry: Hiring marketplace
• Business Model: SaaS, transaction fees
• Amount Raised: $9 million, Series A
• Location: New York, United States
• Website: hired.com

Use Vettery template

34. dutchie pitch deck template.

Dutchie is one of the fastest-growing cannabis companies in the world. They provide e-commerce and point-of-sale solutions for dispensaries across North America.

• Industry: Cannabis
• Business Model: 
• Amount Raised: $35 million Series B 
• Location: Oregon, United States
• Website: business.dutchie.com

Use Dutchie template

35. sololearn pitch deck template.

Sololearn, the Armenia-based instructional coding app, revolutionizes how people learn to code, with interactive lessons and peer-to-peer guidance.

• Industry: Ed-tech startup
• Business Model: Freemium, SaaS, Partnerships
• Amount Raised: $24 million Series B
• Location: San Francisco, California, United States ‍
• Website: sololearn.com

Use Sololearn template

What is a pitch deck.

A pitch deck is usually a simple 10-20 slide presentation designed to help founders raise venture capital.

It should give a brief and compelling presentation of a new business idea that entrepreneurs give to potential investors, customers, or partners. It's a chance for them to showcase their vision, explain their unique value proposition, and demonstrate their growth potential.

To create an effective pitch deck, it's crucial to cover a few key points, such as the problem the startup is addressing, the market opportunity it has identified, the team's expertise, and the execution plan. Moreover, highlighting the competitive advantage and potential return on investment can attract investors' attention and interest.

A successful pitch can lead to funding, partnerships, and growth opportunities. However, crafting one requires in-depth knowledge of the market, audience, and business model, as well as excellent communication and storytelling skills.

What should be in an investor deck presentation?

When creating a pitch deck presentation, it's important to remember that you only have a limited amount of time to capture your audience's attention and persuade them to invest in your company. Your deck should be concise and easy to understand, while still providing enough information to show that your business is worth investing in.

Some key things to include in your pitch deck are an overview of your business, information about your target market and competitors, your product or service, how you plan to make money, and a summary of your team. You should also have a section highlighting the risks and challenges associated with your business, as well as what sets you apart from the competition.

Most authors agree on the following investor pitch deck outline requirements :

• Market Size
• Business Model
• Underlying Magic
• Competition
• Better/Different
• Marketing Plan
• Traction / Milestones

If you're looking for more specific advice on creating a pitch the Slidebean team can guide you through the whole process.

Remember, investors have limited time, so be sure to prioritize key elements like the problem you're solving, your target market, the competitive landscape, your unique value proposition, and your financial projections.

More FAQs about pitch decks:

How to create a great pitch deck.

Your pitch deck is one of the most important tools in your arsenal. If you're pitching your startup idea or product, it's an opportunity to make a lasting impression on potential investors. And while there are many different types of decks out there, the best ones focus on three key points:

1. What problem do you solve?

2. How do you solve that problem?

3. Why should someone invest in you?

The presentation itself shouldn't take longer than 15 minutes, and it should be easy to follow along.

How to design pitch decks for investors?

A pitch deck is an important tool when pitching investors. It helps you present your business idea clearly and concisely, so they understand exactly why their investment will be profitable.

The first step is to create a list of all the things that need to be included in your pitch deck. For example, you may want to include:

- A clear description of your product/service

- An overview of your company's mission statement

- Your target market

- The benefits your product offers

- How much money you expect to raise

- Why your startup is unique

- What are your plans for growth

Once you have created this list, you can begin designing your pitch deck. You'll need to choose a template that best suits your needs. We offer over 100+ different pitch deck templates that can be used as inspiration.

How to write a successful pitch deck?

Mastering the art of creating an irresistible pitch deck can seem like a daunting task, but it shouldn’t. We're here to guide you through the process. First and foremost, you need a compelling narrative that showcases your business idea, market opportunity, and growth potential. Keep your pitch deck concise and visually appealing, with clear, simple language that gets straight to the point.

Now, if you're feeling a bit overwhelmed or simply want to supercharge your pitch deck, Slidebean's Agency Team is here to save the day. Our seasoned experts have a proven track record of helping companies raise more than $300 million in funds, and they're eager to help you reach the same heights. From crafting a compelling narrative to designing stunning visuals that captivate investors, our Agency Team will work with you every step of the way to create a pitch deck that not only looks great but also delivers results. With Slidebean by your side, you can focus on what you do best - building your business - while we take care of the rest.

Pitch Deck Presentation Service

Slidebean provides a premium service for startups, entrepreneurs, investors, and creatives who want to make better presentations. Our team of experts designs amazing slide decks every week. We want your audience to understand what you do and why you do it. If you want to start a new project, you can do it here: Slidebean Presentation Design Service

Besides the pitch deck examples we shared here, we have created, curated and redesigned several investor deck and set them as templates on our platform. Our presentation templates provide a fill-in-the-blank outline that can kick start your presentation workflow. Create a pitch deck that gets you funded. Browse templates from the most successful startups on the planet. Check them all here.

Get 100+ Templates

What is the goal of a company pitch deck.

The main goal of a company pitch decks is to:

- Attract investment from potential investors. - Clearly explain what the company does and why it's valuable. - Build trust in the team and business strategy. - Show the market opportunity and growth potential. - Highlight achievements and progress. - Present financial projections. - Request a specific amount of funding. - Spark interest for further discussions.

How much does it cost to make a pitch deck?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the cost of making a pitch deck will vary depending on the level of detail and complexity involved. However, on average, you can expect to pay around $1,200-$6,000 for a high-quality investor deck. You can check Slidebean's prices here.

What is a Demo day?

A demo day refers to an event where entrepreneurs and startups showcase their products or services to potential investors, industry experts, and the general public. It is typically organized by incubators, accelerators, or venture capital firms to provide a platform for startups to present their business ideas, prototypes, or early-stage products.

During a demo day, each participating startup is given a specific amount of time, usually ranging from a few minutes to around 10 minutes, to deliver a presentation or pitch. The objective is to captivate the audience, generate interest in their venture, and attract potential investors or partners.

The text you provided highlights some key considerations when preparing for a demo day presentation versus a pitch deck presentation. For a demo day, the emphasis is on delivering a visually appealing presentation with minimal text. Since the audience may be seated at a distance, it is important to focus on visual elements that can be easily seen and understood. The presenter plays a crucial role in conveying the information and engaging the audience.

In contrast, a pitch presentation that is intended to be emailed should be self-explanatory, as it may be viewed on a laptop monitor where smaller fonts can be read comfortably. It is beneficial to track the recipient's activity on the presentation, such as whether they have read all the slides, as this information can inform the frequency of follow-up emails and help gauge their level of interest.

These considerations and tools for tracking viewer engagement are particularly valuable when seeking investment opportunities. Startups can utilize pitch deck platforms that offer features to monitor investor activity, which can play a critical role in securing funding.

Create beautiful and simple pitch decks with Slidebean

Unlock your full pitching potential with Slidebean! Say goodbye to design headaches and hello to a seamless experience focused on your pitch content. With customizable templates, stunning visuals, and automated formatting, Slidebean ensures your pitch deck stands out from the competition. Don't waste another minute wrestling with design software. Try Slidebean now and take your pitches to the next level!

START YOUR PITCH DECK

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A pitch deck is the standard document used by startups to present their case to investors; it’s a brief deck of about 10 to 20 slides. See examples here.

Learn how to create a compelling slide deck for your startup. Explore how to use slide decks as aids for your presentation, and the most common uses for them.

This is a functional model you can use to create your own formulas and project your potential business growth. Instructions on how to use it are on the front page.

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14 Pitch Deck Examples That Win Where 99% Fail (+Templates)

See fundraising startup pitch deck examples that get buy-in. See company pitch decks, investor pitch decks, and product pitch presentations that sell your vision.

9 minute read

helped business professionals at:

Short answer

What to include in a startup pitch deck?

10 slides you should include in a startup pitch deck:

• 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

99% of fundraising pitch decks fail to secure funding.

You've poured your heart and soul into your startup and you’re confident that it will create waves in the market.

But here's the unsettling truth — without an outstanding pitch deck, your vision is like a ship without a sail. The hard fact is, 99% of startup pitch decks fail to secure crucial funding.

A poor pitch deck can leave you staring at someone else leaving the investor’s office with the funds you deserve, again, and again, and again…

You know that failing to secure investor funding will kill your venture before it begins. No matter how revolutionary your product or service is, without funds, scaling it beyond an idea is nearly impossible. That’s the game.

But I’m here to navigate you through these choppy waters.

I’ll show you the best startup pitch deck examples that have succeeded in securing investor funding. I’ll let you in on what they did to win, so you can steal their practices and secure your own success.

Let’s go!

Why do most pitch decks fail?

It's a hard pill to swallow, but most startup pitch decks don't make the cut. Despite the long hours, the painstaking research, and the passion poured into these presentations, still they fall short.

1) They don’t answer 9 critical questions

An effective company pitch deck is your golden ticket to answer the burning questions in every investor's mind. They're looking for solid evidence, not just sparkling promises.

9 critical questions any company pitch deck has to answer to persuade investors:

How do you know there’s a need for your solution?

What’s the competitive landscape like?

What’s your target market?

What’s your competitive advantage?

What’s your track record?

How are you planning to make money?

Is your customer base expanding?

Are existing customers satisfied with your solution?

How are you planning to spend the investors’ money?

If your deck doesn't provide clear, concise, and compelling answers to these questions, it may leave investors with more doubts than confidence.

It’s crucial to weave these answers into your story in a way that connects with investors and leaves them convinced about the potential of your startup.

To learn more about how to answer each of these questions, check out our post about the top pitch deck examples .

2) They don't present a narrative

A pitch deck sells a vision. If you already have traction and your future is secure you hardly need a pitch deck because you don’t need an investment.

Investors are on the lookout for a big idea. Something with the potential to disrupt a market and achieve the hyper-growth that their investment model relies on. They want to back a dream (a feasible vision), not another competitor in an already crowded market.

To give your dream substance and get investors excited, you have to weave it into a narrative with real-world examples, visualizations, and comparisons of how your vision takes form.

Scrollytelling is the best design approach for creating a narrative pitch deck.

3) They fail to stand out in their design

Pitch deck design isn't just about making decks look good. It's about making your information clear, engaging, and memorable.

Traditionally, pitch decks have been static, presented using slideshows. This classic approach is functional and familiar, but it won’t differentiate you from the hundreds of other pitch decks that investors sift through everyday.

But you can give investors a dynamic and immersive content experience that instantly hooks them in with our modern interactive pitch deck creator on your side.

You can see the difference between a static and an interactive pitch deck below:

4) They fail to track engagement and make informed iterations

One of our clients named Buzzer was an early-stage startup behind a promising sales enablement platform. They were struggling to get investors’ attention and decided to change their pitch decks to interactive Storydocs.

They made smart use of our deck analytics to track every step of investors’ interactions with their decks to see what resonated the most.

And they used what they learned to give investors what they craved and get the funding.

“I did a lot of A/B testing and optimizing, creating around a hundred versions along the way. With our investment deck, I was able to make tweaks that boosted the reading completion rate from just over 40% to almost 100%. "

—Assaf Klinger, CEO of Buzzer

Pitch deck advice from venture capitalists and angel investors

The best source for concrete examples of how to write your pitch deck naturally comes from investors.

They know what they’re looking for and they’ve seen a thousand ways in which founders mess up. Here’s what some of them have to say…

1) Tell a story

Founders should craft their pitch decks as a compelling story, keeping in mind that the audience is an investor, not a customer. The investor is trying to understand the potential return on their investment and the team's capability to solve the problem.

2) Research your investors and personalize

Entrepreneurs should research the investor they're reaching out to and understand why that particular investor is a good fit for their startup. This shows the investor that the entrepreneur has done their homework.

3) Make sure your content is relevant and authentic

The first slide is crucial and should convey the purpose of the startup. It should address the "why" behind the business.

The pitch deck should also highlight why the team or founder is the right fit to solve the problem.

Incorporating authentic testimonials from early users can be impactful.

Predicting and answering potential investor questions in the pitch deck shows preparation and understanding of the industry and potential objections.

The pitch deck should be simple and easy to follow. Overloading it with content can lose the investor's interest.

4) Get feedback and iterate

Entrepreneurs should constantly seek feedback on their pitch decks and iterate based on that feedback. They should have multiple versions tailored for different audiences.

5) Look for engagement and interaction

During the pitch, it's essential to keep the conversation interactive and engaging. If the investor isn't asking questions, they might have lost interest.

Founders should anticipate potential questions from investors and address them in their pitch decks.

6) Make the ask detailed and clear

Beyond seeking financial investment, founders should also highlight other forms of support or value they seek from the investor.

Types of pitch decks and how they differ

INVESTOR DECK

COMPANY DECK

PRODUCT DECK

STARTUP DECK

FUNDRAISING DECK

Investor Deck

An investor deck, also known as a pitch book or pitch deck, is a marketing presentation used by various entities, including investment banks and entrepreneurs, to provide information about a business or asset.

It is designed to present the investment considerations of a business to potential investors , aiding them in making a decision to invest or buy.

Company Pitch Deck

A company pitch deck is similar to an investor deck but is gauged at providing a company overview . It normally focuses on the company’s leadership, team, culture, expertise, and accomplishments.

It highlights the company's value proposition, financial figures, customer base, growth opportunities, management strength, and other relevant details to attract potential investors or partners.

Product Pitch Presentation

A product pitch presentation is similar to an investor deck but typically f ocused on the details of a specific product or service . It outlines the problem the product solves, its unique features, benefits, market potential, and how it stands out from competitors.

The aim is to convince stakeholders, including investors, partners, or customers, of the product's value and potential.

Startup Pitch Deck

A startup pitch deck is a critical document prepared by startups in their early stages of fundraising. It’s the same as an investor deck but focuses on things specifically relevant to startup investors, such as showing hyper-growth potential and disruptive technology.

It aims to convince potential investors of the startup's value and potential.

Key elements include an introduction to the business idea, the problem being addressed, the proposed solution, market opportunity, product details, initial traction, team composition, competition, financial projections, and investment usage

Fundraising Deck

A fundraising deck is a type of pitch deck specifically designed to raise capital. This could be for a company, a product, or a project . The sums being raised can vary greatly and the terms and stage of the company life cycle can vary as well.

It emphasizes the startup's or company's financial needs, growth potential, return on investment, and how the funds will be used. The primary goal is to persuade potential investors to provide the necessary capital.

Best pitch deck examples that outperform the rest

While visually appealing pitch decks can be eye-catching, they alone are not sufficient to secure the funding you need.

You require a deck that's designed not just for aesthetics, but for engaging your audience and closing deals.

Let's explore some inspiring investor deck examples including startup pitch deck examples, company pitch deck example, prodduct presentation examples, and other pitch deck types.

Uber funding pitch deck

What makes this deck great:

Grayed out content subtly directs the viewer's focus, ensuring that attention is drawn to the most crucial elements while still providing comprehensive information.

Narrated slides guide the viewer through the content with a clear and engaging voice, enhancing the overall storytelling experience.

Interactive data visualization elements transform static graphs and charts into dynamic and interactive experiences, making the data not only more accessible but also more compelling for the viewer.

Netflix startup pitch deck

Video placeholders are strategically placed to complement the content, allowing viewers to engage with the presentation on a deeper level.

A wide range of data visualization elements designed to present complex data in an accessible and visually appealing manner, making it easier to understand and retain information.

The competitors slide highlights key points of differentiation and revenue models, making it easy for investors to understand Netflix's competitive advantage.

Airbnb startup pitch presentation

The ability to embed and play videos straight from the deck allows potential investors to watch relevant content without leaving the deck, providing a seamless and immersive experience.

Running numbers slides , showcasing important statistics and growth metrics in a dynamic and visually engaging way.

The competitive matrix slide highlights Airbnb’s unique advantages and market position, helping potential investors understand the company’s strengths and differentiators.

Tinder startup pitch deck

The ability to add custom branded icons to enhance visual appeal and aid in storytelling.

Narrated slides with product screenshots provide a comprehensive understanding of how the app works, making the content more accessible and engaging.

Smart call-to-action (CTA) with an embedded calendar , allowing investors to easily schedule a second meeting directly from the presentation.

WeWork startup pitch deck

An interactive, uncluttered design , using ample white space to create a clean and focused presentation and enhance readability.

Easily customizable slides let you tailor the content to your specific needs within seconds, and make changes even after you've sent the deck.

The ability to add multiple CTAs at the end provides investors with clear next steps and lets you capitalize upon the momentum built throughout the presentation.

Slack company pitch deck

A timeline slide that visually represents Slack’s journey, providing a clear and engaging way to showcase the company’s history, growth, and evolution over time.

The ability to extract brand colors from the company website, ensuring a consistent and on-brand visual experience throughout the pitch deck and enhancing its professional look and feel.

Perfect balance of text, image, and video placeholders keeps the investors' limited attention and aids in the understanding of the content .

AI solution pitch deck

Logo placeholders strategically placed throughout the presentation reinforce your brand identity and, for SaaS companies, can be used to display the most important integrations of your solution.

AI assistant that can generate relevant visuals and copy based on the contents of your website or paraphrase the copy you already have.

User-friendly editor makes it easy for anyone to make modifications and customize the presentation regardless of their design experience.

VC investment pitch deck

Content grouped in tabs means that investors can easily navigate through different sections of the pitch deck without getting overwhelmed by information.

Including a video on the cover slide immediately captures the viewer’s attention and sets a dynamic tone for the presentation, boosting interaction by 32% .

Clean and minimalist layout a ccentuated with a pop of blue ensures that the focus remains on the content while adding a vibrant and professional touch to the pitch deck.

SaaS product pitch deck

Responsive design ensures that your pitch deck looks impeccable and functions seamlessly across various devices and screen sizes, which is crucial considering that a third of all decks are accessed on mobile .

The ability to embed a case study directly into the presentation. This lets you provide detailed examples of your work, showcasing your success stories and demonstrating the impact of your product or service.

Information on the average reading time on the cover slide sets clear expectations for the investors and can reduce the bounce rate by almost a quarter !

AI product pitch presentation

A variety of interactive elements that bring the content to life. This approach ensures that the viewer remains engaged and helps to convey complex information in an accessible manner.

Problem-solution framework helps to create a narrative that resonates with the audience, making the value proposition clear and persuasive.

Clear call-to-action helps to convert interest into action, driving engagement and potential investment.

Investor pitch deck

Strategic structure, starting with a strong introduction, followed by problem-solution framing, market analysis, competitive landscape, and concluding with a clear call-to-action.

Data-driven approach means that the deck effectively leverages data to showcase Unicornis’s market potential, user satisfaction, and growth trajectory to prospective investors.

Clear, comprehensive storytelling that guides the viewer through the problem statement, the unique value proposition, and the tangible benefits of choosing Unicornis.

Investor introduction pitch deck

Fresh and modern design makes your company pitch deck highly appealing to potential investors, particularly in trend-led industries.

Balanced text and visuals enable you to present all the essential metrics and data while providing the necessary context.

Scroll-based interactive storytelling design simplifies the process of explaining your solution to prospective investors by guiding them through a compelling narrative.

Modern pitch deck

Data visualization elements that can be tailored to your specific use case. Whether it's charts, graphs, or other visual representations, you have the flexibility to adjust them to best convey your data. Additionally, you can incorporate real-time variables into your charts, ensuring that the information remains up-to-date and relevant.

Interactive dynamic content that actively engages your audience. For example, you can embed an interactive ROI calculator that allows them to input values and determine if they're getting their money's worth.

Easy version management lets you make sure that your deck is unavailable once the investment round is over.

Creative pitch deck

Design optimized for engagement. With animated components and clickable elements, it has the power to transform casual scrollers into engaged readers.

A variety of visual and dataviz slides. This deck strikes the perfect balance between visual elements and data visualization slides. It allows you to showcase snippets of your portfolio in a visually appealing manner while emphasizing the most important metrics.

Dynamic variables allow you to effortlessly generate unlimited versions of your deck with just a few clicks, resulting in 68% more people inclined to read it in full .

Startup pitch deck slide examples essential for success

Transforming an innovative idea into a successful startup begins with the right pitch. Let's dissect the elements of a successful pitch deck, one slide at a time.

1. Introduction slide

In a fast-paced investor's world, your window of opportunity is narrow. Our research shows that you have merely 10 to 20 seconds to pique an investor's interest.

Tips for creating an introduction slide :

• Begin with a robust hook, a crystal-clear summary of your unique value proposition that reels investors in, transforming seconds into minutes of undivided attention.
• Swiftly follow up with a concise overview of your product or service. This should be a simple, jargon-free explanation that even someone outside your industry can grasp.

Here’s an example of an introduction slide:

2. Problem slide

Here's your opportunity to spotlight a market gap and how your solution fills it. Frame your argument around compelling user stories, highlighting common pain points, and why they must be addressed.

Tips for creating a problem slide :

• Present the problem in a way that highlights its urgency and its scale, ensuring it's significant enough to warrant a paid solution and common enough to offer a substantial market.
• Weave your problem statement into a relatable user story that reflects the pain points of your target customers. This adds depth to your problem statement, making it real, tangible, and impossible to ignore.

Here’s an example of a problem slide:

3. Solution slide

With the problem identified and its magnitude clear, it's time to unveil your solution. This is where you reveal your startup's unique superpower.

Tips for creating a solution slide :

• Your solution's description should be straightforward and concise. Avoid wordy explanations and choose punchy, impactful sentences instead.
• Visual aids such as product demos or interface screenshots can support your claims and keep investors engaged.

Here’s an example of a solution slide:

4. Market size and opportunity

Your market size and positioning within it offer investors a glimpse into your startup's growth prospects. This slide should convey that your startup is not just a bright idea, but a viable, profit-generating investment.

Tips for creating a market size and opportunity slide :

• Present a well-researched and convincing analysis of your target market and the opportunities within it. This acts as a crystal ball, providing investors with a glimpse into the promising future of your venture.
• Use data visualization tools to present complex data in an intuitive and engaging manner, helping investors understand your market landscape at a glance.

Here’s an example of a market size and opportunity slide:

5. Business and revenue model

Here, you define your financial trajectory, clarifying how you plan to turn your solution into steady revenue.

Tips for creating a business and revenue model slide :

• Outline your revenue model, whether it's rooted in direct sales, subscriptions, advertising, or a combination. Be clear and specific about where the money will come from.
• If you've already validated your revenue streams through market tests, share these results. This can dispel investors' fears about risk and enhance their confidence in your business model.

Here’s an example of a business and revenue model slide:

6. Traction and validation

Proof of progress can turn a skeptical investor into a believer. This slide is where you demonstrate your venture's momentum and growth.

Tips for creating a traction and validation slide :

• Highlight significant milestones that your startup has achieved. Whether it's sales growth, customer retention, or market penetration, use concrete figures that show an upward trajectory.
• Share your future roadmap, detailing how you plan to use potential investment to achieve your upcoming milestones.

Here’s an example of a traction and validation slide:

7. Marketing strategy

Every successful mission has a master plan, and in the startup world, this is your marketing strategy. This slide explains how you'll conquer your market and win over customers.

Tips for creating a marketing strategy slide :

• Discuss your marketing channels, explaining why they're the perfect choice for reaching your audience.
• Highlight the unique elements of your marketing approach that set you apart from competitors, giving investors confidence in your ability to stand out in a crowded marketplace.

Here’s an example of a marketing strategy slide:

8. Team slide

Behind every great startup is a dream team. This slide showcases the people who are turning your startup dream into reality.

Tips for creating a team slide :

• Share focused, relevant information about each team member, highlighting their unique skills and accomplishments that make them invaluable to your venture.
• This isn't about life stories; it's about illustrating why your team has what it takes to propel your startup to success.

Here’s an example of a team slide:

9. Financials slide

In the world of investments , numbers speak louder than words. Investors need an honest and detailed look at your startup's financial health.

Tips for creating a financials slide :

• Include at least 3 years of projections, including an income statement, sales forecast, and cash flow forecast.
• Be bold but realistic in your predictions. Nothing raises red flags faster than over-optimistic projections.

Here’s an example of a financials slide:

10. Investment and use of funds

Finally, we arrive at the climax of your pitch: asking for investment. This is where you communicate how much funding you need and how you plan to use it.

Tips for creating an investment slide :

• Clearly state the investment you're seeking. This isn't a time for ambiguity—it's your call to action.
• Elaborate on how you plan to allocate the funds. Show investors that you've thought this through and have a strategic plan for each dollar.
• Incorporate concrete projections and the key milestones that their investment will help you achieve. This helps investors visualize the growth and progress they'll be funding, making them more likely to invest in your startup's future.

Here’s an example of an investment slide:

If you want to learn more about what goes into each section, check out our blog post on what to include in a pitch deck .

Interactive pitch deck templates

Your company pitch deck is your startup's ticket to a brighter future. Instead of using static, snooze-inducing slides, why not make your pitch a memorable experience?

Turn your vision into an immersive journey, captivating investors from the first slide to the last by upgrading from PowerPoint to an interactive pitch deck creator.

Try Storydoc’s AI pitch deck maker and you’ll immediately see how easy it is to simplify complex information and weave it into a storytelling narrative that will resonate with investors.

Even better - grab a template and use it to create an irresistible startup pitch deck:

Hi, I'm Dominika, Content Specialist at Storydoc. As a creative professional with experience in fashion, I'm here to show you how to amplify your brand message through the power of storytelling and eye-catching visuals.

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31 Pitch Deck Slide Examples: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

• 14 min read

Jaclyn Robinson, Senior Manager of Content Marketing at Crunchbase

Now we don’t want to presume your investor pitch deck is bad, but if you are amongst the likes of LinkedIn , Uber , and YouTube – it very well might be. This post is going to dive into how to improve your investor pitch, specifically your pitch deck, using real pitch deck examples. Even if you are not the next YouTube, you need to be able to clearly and succinctly communicate your vision. And to do that, you need to design an amazing startup pitch deck; reviewing other investor deck examples can help you do that.

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To show you the imperative of having not having a bad investor pitch deck, here is a quick look at what you are facing as an entrepreneur. Even if your startup received seed funding, your startup faces a pretty big cliff with hefty competition. Note, only about 15% of startups in each stage get acquired.

Now we’re not saying that a bad investor pitch deck will doom you (most of the companies below raised money – and sometimes a lot of it), but investors want (and need) to be convinced by your investor pitch . And the best way to do that? Telling your story with a beautiful investor pitch deck.

To find out what makes the best pitch decks incredible , we are going to examine some of the best and worst pitch deck examples we’ve seen and investigate how they could have turned a terrible slide into an incredible one. These examples just might help you create your own pitch deck template.

Let’s dive in.

1. Complex Concepts

TLDR: You can have really complex products, you just don’t want your investor pitch deck design to be really complicated.

Moz 2012: Raised $18M Series B $29.1M in Total Funding Still Operating

Timelines are super complicated. Don’t put all that shit on your slide. You don’t need to tell me how your mom started your company in 1981, don’t tell me that you were in debt, don’t tell me when you bought the domain name. Nobody cares about the “before.” All of that doesn’t matter and is just distracting to the truly important information.

Hiding in this crazy Moz timeline is when they raised money and when they started charging for their products and services. A timeline should give that information upfront, there’s no need for any of the other unnecessary information.

Nutanix 2014: Raised $140M Series E $393.7M in Total Funding Went Public in 2016

This is an outright terrible slide made up of terrible stock art that plagues our nightmares. What is that splash thing at the bottom? Why don’t the boxes line up? Not only are do the visuals look like they’ve come out of Windows 98, but this slide also makes it impossible to know what the value prop is.

Without a clear value prop, associates at the investment firms will look at the slides and say, “NEXT!”

Airbnb 2009: Raised $600K Seed $4.39B in Total Funding Still Operating

Ahh, now a good slide. This Airbnb pitch deck took a complicated concept (TAM, the total adjustable market) and made it simple and digestible. You don’t need the rest of the deck to understand this slide – start with key numbers that are compelling enough for investors.

Cadee 2011: Raised Undisclosed Seed Undisclosed Total Funding Still Operating

Another pretty good one. This slide makes it obvious what Cadee does, without needing the rest of the pitch deck. Although there might be machine learning and algorithms behind the scenes, we don’t need all of that on a single slide. Cadee created a slide that keeps it simple, even if their concepts and execution are complicated. Thumbs up.

2. unreadable text.

TLDR: Make sure investors can read the text on your slide without having to whip out their monocle – that easy.

Standard Treasury 2014: Raised $2.7M Series A $2.7M in Total Funding Acquired by Silicon Valley Bank

“So what are these crazy little numbers?” “What costs are you not accounting for here?” “What do you mean?” (no, not quoting Justin Bieber) “What are you trying to say? What’s the point of this?”

A thousand questions cross an investor’s mind when they see this, and all this slide does it make it confusing. An investor can’t tell if you anticipate revenue or not. All this slide does is make it seem like you don’t understand your business or your cost structure.

Investors would hammer you on this slide, asking a number of questions that aren’t relevant and deviating you from your objective. Don’t put in slides because you know you have to, put in slides because you are adding value. Ask yourself, what is the story you’re trying to tell, even with your financial slide.

WeddingLovely 2011: Raised Undisclosed Seed Undisclosed Total Funding Still Operating

Again with the timelines.

Let’s just say while the investor is reading your slide, they get stuck on month six wondering what it means to send people an STD, and now they’ve totally missed the investor pitch. This could have easily been completed with bullets with touchpoints briefly summarized.

MetaCert 2016: Raised $1.2M Seed $1.94M in Total Funding Still Operating

This one is pretty good. So maybe a little wordy, but at least the content is valuable. I can understand what you are doing with this funding – but maybe next time doesn’t use full sentences.

Reduce words to short bullets to give interesting details on why you need the money while explaining why this is relevant to you as an investor.

3. Confusing Visuals

TLDR: Visuals should engage the investor, not confuse and distract them. Visuals need to add to your presentation not deter from it.

Square 2011: Raised $100M Series C $590.5M in Total Funding Public in 2015

We just need to get something off our chest real fast. Square raised $100 million with this deck. ONE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS. And it’s our least favorite slide showing you here, but our favorite to rip apart 😇.

First, Square built what we like to call a circle of life slide. Please read it. These things should ideally build off each other. At a closer look, none of these things build into one another and make no sense as a cycle. People put in these graphics into their presentation to make it pretty, but it just makes it confusing.

What’s worse? A purple cascading funnel on the same slide, to boot.

Think these things through, please. And don’t use purple gradients. It’s annoying.

Buffer 2011: Raised $400K Angel $3.9M in Total Funding Still Operating

Again with the cycle of life.

Buffer, we love you but we have a lot of questions for you. Which of these icons is actually your competitor? Is it Facebook , LinkedIn , Google ? Why are there small circles within the circle?

When you email this VC pitch deck design out, and you always will, investors will see this and not understand your competitive landscape and think that you have no understanding of who you are actually competing against.

Investors may also overlook you because your market looks way too big and you are going to inevitably get washed out or ignored.

TryM 2016: Raised $125K Seed $125K in Total Funding Stealth Mode

10 weeks to 3 minutes. 1 umbrella policy. All these numbers and graphics are easily understandable. This slide works – it’s is a great example of how to be compelling without being complicated.

4. Too Wordy

Tldr: now is not the time for your novel., foursquare 2009: raised $1.35m series a $207.3m in total funding still operating.

This is a prime example of a company that was neither precise nor intentional with their wording. What is “game mechanics?” Why are there four paragraphs to describe what is essentially an online check-in app?

And while we’re at it, make sure your logo makes sense and is a good fit for your business.

Claim Compass 2016: Raised Undisclosed Seed Undisclosed Total Funding Still Operating

Here is a great example of less is more. Your words matter, but you don’t need a lot of them. This compelling 5-second investor pitch makes me want to read the whole deck and is part of the super exciting power that fewer words provide.

You don’t have to explain everything right off the bat. Tease the investors in with a little hint as to why your company would be interesting to me, and then dive into the details.

Metacert 2016: Raised $1.2M Seed $1.94 in Total Funding Still Operating

This slide is another great example. Use headers to creatively ask questions and rely on visuals to tell your story and draw in your audience.

5. audience-not-in-mind.

TLDR: Think through who you are sending these decks to, and adjust accordingly. Something you think is funny might just be seen as offensive.

Gofiture 2016: Raised Non-Equity Assistance Undisclosed Total Funding Still Operating

This whole thing is weird. First of all, there’s an image of all of China, but this slide only draws attention to 3 million of those people. Also, what’s with this weird red and blue font and crazy capitalization? And doesn’t everyone want first-class healthcare? This slide is troublesome, to say the least.

Up All Night 2016: Raised $500K Seed $625K in Total Funding Still Operating

Not only does this slide wreak of bro attitude, but it’s also not what investors want to see. If you do find an investor who is interested in this imagery, it’s probably a red flag. Another point we’ll get back to is no one cares what you look like, we promise. Leave the full-blown pictures on your Tinder profiles and out of your pitch decks.

On the team slide, an investor wants to see those teeny blue letters. They want to know about your experience, plan and why you are a good fit for the job, not how you are a gangster-thief-mobster wannabe.

Uber 2009: Raised $200K Seed $11.5B in Total Funding Still Operating

So Uber ’s not great at a lot of things, but this slide is pretty good. There’s a clear description from an investor’s point of view and they managed to paint a compelling picture for potential investors .

6. Lots of Buzzwords

Tldr: buzzwords turn investors off – no one wants to hear how you are an “uber of” whatever. just don’t., fittr 2014: raised undisclosed seed undisclosed total funding not operating.

Workout generator. Supercomputing cluster. Extensive Database. Exercise Variants.

This slide contains an excruciating amount of unnecessary words. A simple visual and the mention of a “workout app” would have done just fine. How are businesses that struggle to explain their offerings in simple terms to investors ever going to sign customers and gain traction in the real world?

Carta , previously known as eShares 2015: Raised $7M Series A $67.8M in Total Funding Still Operating

We love this crisp title and description. The bullet points are entirely straightforward and have no jargon. They tear apart their competitor swiftly and succinctly to make you ask yourself “Why would I ever choose Solium?” That’s exactly what you want as a presenter.

7. Unusual Metrics

Tldr: be precise and transparent with your metrics., love with food 2012: raised $645k seed $2.09m in total funding still operating.

How Love With Food concluded that their TAM (total addressable market) is $50 billion is completely unknown. At this point, an investor would have completely discounted their entire slide as useless and not valuable.

A TAM slide needs to sell a story to help investors understand your idea and how you’re going to get your valuation while also showing compelling metrics.

Mapme 2015: Raised $1M Seed $1M in Total Funding Still Operating

However interesting it is to know how many people are interested in the cheese map of Belgium, this slide is impossible to quantify. If an investor cannot clearly determine how many people are in the target market, they will have no issue skipping out on your cheese maps.

YouTube 2005: Raised $3.5M Series A $11.5M in Total Funding Acquired by Google

This metrics slide does not tell a clear story. Retrospectively, metrics had flatlined for YouTube at this point so they decided not to show any for this slide, and the fact that they shared a slide like this shows us they must have had investors already in the pipeline.

It would have been better for YouTube to be transparent with their metrics and not be overly confident. Even if your metrics aren’t incredible, make sure to be clear about what they are with your investors – they’ll find out in the future with their due diligence anyways.

Soundwave 2012: raised $1m seed $2.9m in total funding acquired by spotify.

Soundwave has no context to where these numbers came from – for instance, where did this $5 billion spend come from? More than numbers, you should share metrics that help you tell your story.

Carta , formerly eShares 2015: Raised $7M Series A $67.8M in Total Funding Still Operating

Just the top headline alone lets you know why this metrics slide is valuable. Another great thing about this slide is that they aren’t afraid to show negative data. Talk through any negative metrics in your investor meetings . Your transparency will create trust between you and your investors and will show you truly do understand your business and metrics. If you’re searching for a good sample pitch deck, this slide is worth referencing.

Front App 2016: Raised $10M Series A $13.2M in Total Funding Still Operating

Talk about churn with your investors in your VC pitch deck! Even if your churn isn’t great, investors will discover it later on. Front App’s slide is another great example of honesty regarding metrics early on. Don’t leave anything hidden for investors to find out later.

8. ego flaunting.

TLDR: You’re raising money, not finding a date. Emphasize your qualifications and expertise, not your looks.

Crema.co 2016: Raised $325K Seed $325K in Total Funding Still Operating

This slide tells us nothing about the qualifications of the team, all we know is that you have a nice smile. Again, no one cares what you look like. A team slide should show investors your experiences and qualifications for the position, not be a blown-up selfie.

TalentBase 2016: Raised $150K Seed $150K in Total Funding Still Operating

This is a great team slide. Investors can see where people went to school and their past relevant experience. Team slides are all about creating trust between you and your potential investor. They should focus on your experience and explain why the investor should trust you with their limited amount of funds.

9. No Demo Videos

Tldr: don’t do demo videos – something can always go wrong. and even if it doesn’t it’s still awkward., cubeit 2014: raised $3m seed $3m in total funding acquihire by myntra.

Just the thought of this demo video gives us anxiety. For example, let’s say you press play, and the audio doesn’t work. Or someone video conferences in, and they can’t hear you. Or the WiFi goes down. All sorts of catastrophes await with demo videos.

Or let’s say everything goes well and the video plays – do you watch people as they watch the video (awkward), are you looking at your computer (everyone starts doing the same and checks their email) – so many uncomfortable times await.

Demo videos suck – just don’t do them.

Crew 2014: Raised $2.1M Seed $9.8M in Total Funding Acquired by Dribble

If you must do a live demo, use screenshots, or inVision to make it look like you are clicking a live website. A live demo lookalike without actually doing a live demo, what’s not to like! This investor deck example design is simple and to the point. 

Our best advice for presenting an investor pitch deck? Try to do a live demo every time, for example, if you have drones, show them the drones in the parking lot. Just no videos.

10. snoozefest, wealthsimple 2014: raised ca$1.9m seed $77.9m in total funding still operating.

There is absolutely nothing interesting about this slide, except that you are based in Canada. And as much as we like Canada, it’s just not that interesting. Make your pitch deck design fun and engaging, because chances are that this is the 100th pitch the investor has heard today, and maybe the 100th pitch you’ve done.

Make your slides dynamic so you can have fun pitching and inject that dynamism into your presentation.

LinkedIn 2004: Raised $10M Series B $103.2M in Total Funding Acquired by Microsoft

So we’ll hand it to LinkedIn. 2004 was clearly not a great year for sophisticated slides or the mecca of pitch deck designs. Additionally, this is an excellent example of a great concept, with an extremely boring slide. Moreover, this ultra-simple slide is not giving us the enthusiasm and excitement that it should, and would benefit from some visual aspects. This isn’t the deck template you’d expect from one of today’s leading social tools with millions of users.

Opendoor 2016; Raised $150K Seed $150K in Total Funding Still Operating

So this is a great slide and example pitch deck design. We are immediately drawn because of the compelling problem and the tangible metric. Additionally, investors can quickly see a pain point and a big opportunity. Opendoor also did a great job of picking a cool font and cool background that wasn’t too busy and still engaging. This slide gets investors excited, and therefore would ultimately get the pitcher fired up to tell the story and explain the pain points repeatedly.

10 Tenets of an Awesome Investor Pitch Deck

So finally we’ve walked through all the tenets of what makes a shitty investor pitch and walked through specific pitch deck examples. Now, to guide you the the process of creating your startup pitch template, here are all the tenets of what makes the best pitch decks:

• Easy to understand concepts
• Readable text
• Simple and clean visuals
• Audience in mind
• Relax on the buzzwords
• Thoughtful metrics
• Ego out the door
• No demo videos

“Just because you get funded does not mean you are successful.” – Vinod Khosla, Founder of Khosla Ventures

At the end of the day, hopefully, you’ll raise money, but remember raising money doesn’t mean that you are in any way successful, all it means is that you have another breath of air. A fresh round of capital for your technology, platform, software, etc. can come with new growth benchmarks, expectations of success, new management, and a host of other unique pressures and challenges. The difference between industry leaders (10%) and failed startups (the other 90%) often comes down to how you grow, secure and manage capital.

Once you do raise the money you’re looking for, be smart with how you spend it, and best of luck!

This piece is based on Crunchbase CEO Jager McConnell’s presentation on how to fix your bad investor pitch deck at WebSummit in Lisbon, Portugal 2017 and adopted for blog post format. You can see the full talk here . And be sure to check out the SlideShare here .

Did you know, Crunchbase’s all-in-one prospecting solution can help you find and connect with investors? With Crunchbase you can search for and follow investors, and even save investors you’re interested in to a list to track their activity with real-time alerts. When you feel confident enough in your business model to reach out, you can find contact information directly within Crunchbase. And, with our new engagement suite, you can include unique industry insights through snippets personalized to each recipient and send outreach emails directly from Crunchbase.

• Originally published April 16, 2019, updated April 26, 2023

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Investor pitch deck: what are they and how are they made?

Get your team on prezi – watch this on demand video.

Anete Ezera December 26, 2023

Let’s say you have a big idea – a new invention, a product launch, or a smarter way of doing things. To get your idea heard you need a way to showcase it to people. Not just any people – investors. They’re the ones who could potentially fund your new project or business. For this to happen, you need to be convincing and show them why investing is a good opportunity for them as well as you. This is what the purpose of an investor pitch deck is. What’s more, there are platforms out there that can assist in making your investor pitch, like Prezi . 

What is an investor pitch deck? 

An investor pitch deck is basically a presentation that entrepreneurs use when they’re talking to potential investors. The main idea is to show off your business or startup in a way that gets these investors interested. So, you create a presentation for investors that covers the key parts of your business.

You start off your investor pitch deck by introducing your business and then talking about the problem you’re solving. Next, you show how your product or service is the solution. You also include information about your target market, how you plan to make money, and your strategies for marketing and sales.

It’s also important to talk about who’s on your team and what makes them great for this business. Then, you go into the financial stuff – like how much money you expect to make and what you need funding for. The goal of an investor pitch deck is to make a strong case for why investing in your business is a good idea. It’s all about grabbing their attention and convincing them that your business has great potential.

How investor pitch decks have changed overtime

Investor pitch decks have drastically evolved. Fifty years ago, they were mostly verbal, using simple charts and focusing on substance over style. But as technology advanced, so did the way we present ideas. Now, tools like Prezi allow for visually engaging presentations, where we can include things like colors, themes, and graphics. This modern approach to investor pitch decks showcases ideas in a way that captures and holds the attention of investors, blending visuals with the core message for a more effective pitch. In the past, pitches were solely about how the presenters presented themselves, whereas now, we have the support of pitch deck presentations to back up our ideas. 

What makes a good investor pitch deck? 

To know how to pitch an idea to an investor, you need to know what goes into creating a good investor pitch deck. To resonate and persuade, be sure to include these key elements: 

A strong introduction

You need potential investors to be captivated from the very first slide. There are ways you can make them sit up, and come to attention. You can do this by asking a rhetorical question to get their brains ticking or using a dramatic statement to make them listen. It also helps if your opening slide is clear and straight to the point, so they know you mean business. 

Throughout your investor pitch deck, the information should be clear and precise. Not everyone in the audience will relate to industry-specific terms and phrases, so be sure to keep it simple. The last thing you want is to put investors off by confusing them with over-complicated language. 

Conciseness

Keep it brief. Cover all the essential points, but don’t overload your investor pitch deck with too much information. The simpler it is, the more chance of investors knowing exactly what you need and what your intentions are. They’re also more likely to remember brief content compared to overbearing information. 

Compelling story

The best investor presentations should tell a story. Your pitch deck should clearly show the problem, how your product or service solves it, and why it matters. Explaining your goals in this way is more likely to resonate with the audience, as people much prefer an interesting narrative rather than just listing facts and figures. 

This Prezi is a great example of a compelling story. The SMITH & STARR Elevator Pitch grabs our attention with its simple yet highly effective visuals and narrative. Not only does the presentation look good, but it starts by presenting a problem and then goes on to explain how they can fix it and what they plan on doing to achieve this. The way that each section contains a key block of information is really good for keeping the story easy to follow. This kind of storytelling is good for audiences, as they can keep up and understand what you’re trying to accomplish as a business.  

Solid market research

Show that you understand your market. Include data on market size, growth potential, and your target customers. This is one way to really wow your audience, and improve your chances of getting investments. If you don’t feel comfortable with this yet, then you need to do your research. Remember, data and figures can change all the time, so be sure to collect the most accurate information to date. 

Clear business model

In your pitch deck, you’ll want to explain how you plan to make money. Investors are really interested in seeing a clear path to profitability. So, you should lay out your business model in a way that makes it easy for them to understand how your business will generate revenue and become profitable. It’s about showing them that there’s a solid plan for making the business successful financially.

Competitive analysis

It’s important to acknowledge your competition and explain what sets you apart. Point out what they do well, but how you can do it better. Show what your plans are to dominate your specific field, this can help potential investors feel more confident in taking a chance on you. 

Capable team

Investors know the success behind any brand or business model is the team working behind the scenes. You should highlight your team’s strengths to show that they’re right for the job. If possible, include evidence of this. If your team is particularly good at making sales, show off real examples and figures that back this up. 

Realistic financial data

Provide realistic financial projections and clear explanations of how the investment will be used. Some entrepreneurs might think that falsifying figures is going to persuade investors, but this can turn sour as it’s going to raise questions and catch you out, which would cause your credibility to plummet. So stay honest, and keep your integrity. 

Visual appeal

When it comes to the design of your investor pitch presentation, visuals matter. This type of presentation typically includes lots of data information, so make it easy to digest by using graphics or charts. Be careful when selecting your designs, you want them to be appealing but not too flashy or distracting. Also, for entrepreneurs, think about which colors and fonts you want to associate with your brand, and incorporate them into your slides to create an identity for yourself. 

Take this Prezi for example . It’s a presentation by Max Lytvyn, the co-founder of Grammarly. It uses the well-known color scheme of Grammarly that aligns with the brand’s identity. He also uses compelling visuals and charts to showcase data which makes it easier to understand. Overall, the design is simple yet highly effective, which is important for keeping the audience focused on the message. 

Call to action

End your investor pitch deck with a clear call to action. What do you want from your investors? Be explicit about the funding you need. If potential investors can’t grasp what you’re asking for, they might not bother to invest. 

Remember, the goal of your investor presentation is to make them excited about your business and confident in your ability to deliver results.

Famous examples of investor pitch decks

Every business has to start somewhere, and it’s inspiring to think that some of the biggest companies that we see every day started with an investor pitch presentation. 

LinkedIn’s pitch to Greylock in 2 004 is a great example of startup fundraising, especially for its approach to overcoming challenges. At that time, LinkedIn faced a tough scenario – it wasn’t leading in any market trend, lacked substantial organic growth, and had no revenues. Despite this, the investor pitch led by co-founder Reid Hoffman proved successful. The deck’s effectiveness lay in its clear and strategic presentation. It began by explaining LinkedIn’s unique proposition as a network based on trusted connections, immediately setting it apart from other platforms. This clarity in defining the platform was pivotal.

Key to the investor pitch deck’s success was how it was structured. The investment thesis was presented upfront, laying out the essential beliefs needed for investment. The presentation methodically built up investor confidence, supporting each claim with data and projections. Even without a revenue model at the time, LinkedIn detailed potential revenue sources, focusing on the recruitment sector.

The presentation included a ‘show, don’t tell’ approach, which reinforced investor confidence and got them on board with LinkedIn’s vision. The pitch deck actively tackled possible challenges and stressed the importance of a different but effective approach, which was key to their business strategy. Hoffman highlighted that a good financing strategy is vital for a startup’s success. LinkedIn’s plan moved from building its network to making money, and then towards growing and making profits. This strategy is what led to their success in raising funds.

Basically, LinkedIn’s investor pitch deck teaches effective pitching and shows how important it is to plan strategically and communicate well to get investment and grow a startup.

Snapchat’s pitch deck in 2014 was quite interesting because it wasn’t really for investors. Instead, it was aimed at businesses to show them how Snapchat could be used for advertising. The deck gave a detailed rundown of how the app works, focusing on its unique feature where messages disappear after a short time. This was all about mimicking real-life chats.

By 2014, Snapchat had already grown to 46 million users and by early 2021, it was up to 280 million. They were pretty successful in raising funds too, pulling in $4.9 billion by August of 2018.

The investor pitch deck also showed how celebrities and other companies were using Snapchat. This wasn’t just about getting money- it was more about getting businesses on board with using Snapchat for their ads. The deck was quite text-heavy, which is usually more common in longer corporate presentations than in quick investor pitches. But it worked well for what Snapchat was trying to do – getting businesses interested in their platform.

Elon Musk’s pitch for Twitter is a good example of a strong and clear investor pitch deck. He bought the well-known social media company in 2022, and he had big plans for it, like making a lot more money by 2028 and bringing in new revenue streams from things like payments and a new product called ‘X’. He also predicted Twitter’s user base getting a lot bigger. What makes this pitch a standout example for entrepreneurs is the way Musk set out bold, clear goals and showed how different parts of his plan fit together. This kind of strategic thinking is key in winning over investors and mapping out a company’s future. 

These investor pitch presentation examples are a great source of inspiration if you’re about to create your first-ever pitch. Knowing that the outcome could be as successful as this is a great motivation. With this in mind, ensure you carefully plan your pitch deck and put everything you have into it- It may be your only chance. 

How Prezi can help in making your investor pitch deck

Prezi offers a unique way for you to create dynamic presentations. Its features are particularly useful for investor pitch decks. And here’s why:

Non-linear approach

Prezi’s quite different from traditional slide-based presentations. It uses a canvas instead of slides, which lets you move around freely between different points. This creates a more engaging story as you’re not just moving from one slide to the next, but actually navigating through your content. It’s a more fluid way to share your ideas.

Zooming interface

With this feature, you can zoom in to focus on the details and then zoom out to see the overall picture. It’s really helpful for clearly explaining complex ideas. You can show the finer points and then pull back to show how everything fits together, which makes understanding intricate concepts a lot easier.

Visual storytelling

Prezi allows for the visual storytelling of ideas and their links. This is useful for laying out business models and strategies, helping to show how different aspects relate and form a bigger picture.

If you don’t know where to start, Prezi offers a range of design templates that help you quickly create a professional-looking investor pitch. They are designed for ease of use, so you can focus more on your content without worrying about the design aspect. 

To find an investor presentation template that suits you, you can browse Prezi’s business templates here . 

Collaboration

With Prezi, you can collaborate in real-time on presentations, which is really handy for team projects. You and your team can work together on the pitch deck simultaneously, making it easier to combine ideas and make quick edits.

AI text editing features

Prezi now has an AI text editing tool that helps create the right content that matches your slides. This feature is especially handy if you struggle to explain points clearly, as it can easily generate and arrange text into readable and visually appealing segments.

These features help in crafting a pitch deck that not only looks good but also communicates your business idea to potential investors.

Using Prezi video for virtual investor pitch decks

Prezi offers more than just presentation creation, it also has a special function that allows you to present your investor pitch deck virtually. With Prezi Video , you can appear live on the screen right next to your slides. This creates a more personal experience for your audience. You can maintain eye contact and interact with your content as if it’s right there with you. This helps in keeping your audience’s attention and making a stronger and more persuasive pitch. 

Tips for presenting your investor pitch deck

Now you know how to make a business presentation for investors, it’s time to think about presenting one. Here’s some tips to help you master your pitch delivery:

• Body language: Your body language should convey confidence. Stand straight, make eye contact, and use gestures to emphasize points. Avoid crossing your arms or fidgeting, as these can look defensive or make you appear nervous.
• Voice projection: Speak clearly and at a steady pace. Vary your tone to keep the presentation engaging. Practice speaking loudly enough to be heard without shouting. A clear speaker is a confident speaker. 
• Tackling nerves: To manage nerves, take deep breaths and focus on your material, not on yourself. Remember, you’re the expert on your business.
• Question preparedness: Anticipate questions investors might ask and prepare clear, concise responses. This shows that you have thought through various aspects of your business.
• Show enthusiasm: Let your genuine enthusiasm for your project shine through. Passion can be infectious and may help to convince investors of your commitment and belief in the business’s potential.
• Practice: Rehearse your pitch multiple times. This is going to help you remember your content and ensure you’re comfortable with your delivery. Consider practicing in front of a mirror or recording yourself to check and improve your presentation skills.
• Use of pauses: Pauses can give the audience time to absorb information and help you emphasize key points. When used well, they can improve the overall delivery of your message. 
• Audience engagement: An effective way to make your audience listen is to address them. You can do this by making eye contact or using rhetorical questions or brief interactive elements. This keeps the audience involved and attentive.
• Use appropriate language: Depending on who your potential investors are, you’ll need to use a language style that’s universal and simple to grasp. Avoid using overly complicated words and technical phrases- this can be off-putting rather than impressive. 

By combining these tips and using the help of Prezi to create a stand-out investment pitch presentation, you’re bound to make a glowing impression on possible investors. 

Final thoughts on creating and presenting investor pitch decks

Wrapping up, a strong investor pitch deck is crucial for entrepreneurs to properly communicate their business ideas. From the clear, engaging introduction to the detailed financials, each element plays a key role. Notable examples like LinkedIn, Snapchat, and Twitter’s pitch decks show the importance of clarity, strategic planning, and a strong narrative. 

Prezi enhances this process with its unique features, enabling a dynamic, visually appealing presentation. Using Prezi Video adds a personal touch to virtual pitches, making them more engaging. Remember, successful pitching also depends on the presenter’s delivery – confident body language, clear voice projection, and enthusiasm are essential. By combining Prezi’s tools and following the presentation tips, you can create a pitch that resonates with investors and effectively showcases your business potential. 

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Crafting the Perfect Investor Pitch Deck for Startups: A Comprehensive Guide

12 Minute Read 

• October 23, 2023

Written by RBCx

How to create a tech startup pitch deck presentation that wins over investors

In the world of tech startups, securing investment is often the pivotal moment that can transform a budding idea into a thriving business. But before you dream the unicorn dream, the journey begins with a crucial step: crafting the perfect investor pitch. Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or have been bootstrapping your startup as a first-time founder, a compelling pitch can make all the difference in attracting potential investors. In this comprehensive guide, we walk you through essential components and strategies to create the perfect investor pitch deck, and offer expert pitch tips to help you nail the pitch presentation for your startup.

What is an investor pitch?

A startup investor pitch is a structured presentation or proposal made by an entrepreneur or founding team to potential investors or venture capitalists . The primary goal of this pitch is to secure financial backing for the startup in exchange for equity or other investment terms. It serves as a compelling and, crucially, concise narrative that outlines your business pitch or idea, market opportunity, competitive advantage, team, financial projections, and investment ask.

A well-crafted startup investor pitch not only communicates a startup’s potential but also aims to persuade top tier investors that their funds will be strategically used to drive growth and ultimately yield a return on investment. It’s a critical tool in the fundraising process, allowing entrepreneurs to showcase their vision and business acumen while addressing investor questions and concerns.

Investor pitch vs. elevator pitch — what’s the difference?

Although an investor pitch should be concise and to-the-point, it is distinct from an elevator pitch, which is designed to quickly capture the attention of anyone you meet, including potential customers, partners, and even investors. The elevator pitch, typically lasting around 30 seconds to two minutes, provides a high-level overview of your startup, emphasizing its unique value proposition and the problem it solves, aiming to help anyone understand what you’re trying to achieve and initiate a conversation. In other words, it’s the pitch before the pitch to spark enough interest to earn you a meeting.

An investment pitch, on the other hand, is a more in-depth and formal presentation, lasting around 10 to 20 minutes or more, that is specifically created to court investors and cut deals. It delves into detail about your startup’s business model, market opportunity, competitive analysis, financial projections, and the investment opportunity, backed up by comprehensive data and evidence to convince deep-pocketed investors to place their bets on you.

How to pitch to the right investors for startups

Before you even begin putting together your pitch, you need to know your audience. Different investors have varying preferences, risk appetites, and areas of interest; RBCx, for example, is a backer of Janet Bannister’s Staircase Ventures , which leads seed stage rounds in B2B software companies, and StandUp Ventures which focuses specifically on funding female founders.

Nicole Kelly —someone who has seen virtually hundreds of startup investor pitches over the course of her 15 year tech career, and as RBCx’s Head of Marketing—suggests that understanding who you want to fundraise from (and why) should be your most important consideration. “Is it because there is an alignment with their investment thesis, their portfolio, and how they see the world? Are they complementary to the space that you are operating in? Do they have a good reputation? What can they do for you? This is a back and forth to figure out if you’re going to be great partners together,” she explains. “The thing that makes a pitch stand out is the work that a founder has done before the pitch.”

“The thing that makes a pitch stand out is the work that a founder has done before the pitch.”

Moreover, tailoring your investment pitch according to the stage of your startup is essential for resonating with would-be investors and increasing your chances of success. In the pre-seed and seed stages, focus on your vision, the glaring problem you’re solving, and the uniqueness of your solution. For Series A, emphasize the unique product value compared to the competition, market traction, user acquisition, and scalability of your business model. As you progress to Series B and beyond, highlight revenue growth, profitability and other performance metrics, your go-to-market plan, ongoing product vision and how additional funding will accelerate your expansion and solidify your market leadership. Adapting your pitch to your startup’s stage demonstrates your strategic thinking and aligns your message with what investors are looking for at each startup funding phase.

What should be included in an investor pitch deck?

An investor-ready pitch deck usually includes 15 to 20 slides in a slide presentation (PowerPoint, SlideShare, Google Slides, etc). To create a strong, thorough, and engaging pitch deck for investors, here are some of the key slides/sections your pitch deck should have:

1. Company overview 2. The problem 3. The solution (the product) 4. The market opportunity 5. The competition 6. Business model 7. Traction 8. The marketing plan 9. The team 10. Financials 11. The ask

It’s okay to structure your pitch deck to suit your startup’s unique story and needs, but generally speaking, investors expect this type of presentation.

Pitch deck template: How to create the best investor pitch deck

Here are some of the most important details to cover in each section of your startup pitch deck:

The “company overview” slide of the pitch deck

The best pitch decks begin with a compelling narrative. Investors want to connect with your startup on a personal level, so start by sharing the background of your venture. This slide typically offers a snapshot of your mission, vision, and values as well as foundational elements like your company’s history, the founding team members, and its key achievements to date to help investors understand the business.

Slide one of a pitch deck also provides an opportunity to captivate your audience and set the tone of your presentation. For example, when a then-smallish-site named “The Facebook” pieced together its initial media kit-investor pitch hybrid deck, they kicked it off with a quote from The Stanford Daily student newspaper: “Classes are being skipped. Work is ignored. Students are spending hours in front of the computer in utter fascination. Thefacebook.com craze has swept through campus.”

It was an unusual but highly impactful choice because it demonstrated that the startup had an actual working product (as opposed to just a concept or prototype) that was gaining media coverage—one that’s forever enshrined in Silicon Valley lore. By taking a creative approach, you can create a sense of curiosity, prompting investors to lean in and learn more about your startup’s journey and value proposition.

“The problem” slide of the pitch deck

Investors invest in solutions, but first, they need to understand the problem you’re addressing and why it exists. Clearly define the pain point or challenge you’re tackling with credible data, statistics, and insights to help illustrate/quantify the severity of the problem, and why it’s worth solving. Conducting thorough market and customer research provides crucial validation that the problem is not only real, but also represents a genuine demand for the solution you offer, thereby bolstering your case for the startup’s viability and potential for success.

“The solution” slide of the pitch deck

Now that you’ve established the problem, present your solution. Explain how your product or service elegantly addresses the issue and why it’s superior to what’s out there. You should also address the key features and points of differentiation, why users care about the product, and what other product features are planned. Remember to keep it simple and avoid jargon that might confuse potential investors.

The “market opportunity” slide of the pitch deck

Astute investors want to know that what you’re building is sustainable and that it has the potential to be a category leader. Provide data-backed insights into the market size (also referred to as the total addressable market or TAM), growth potential and trends, and highlight notable early customers your company might have. Show that you’ve conducted thorough market research and there is a product market fit and demand for your solution. “For me personally, you have to make a very compelling case explaining why now,” says Angela Tran , a San-Francisco based VC and General Partner of Version One, of which RBCx is a Limited Partner. “You have to really think about creating this urgency so that investors get FOMO (fear of missing out) so much that they don’t just want but need to invest.”

The “competitive analysis” slide of the pitch deck

Acknowledge your competition and explain how your startup stacks against them. Highlight your competitive advantages, such as intellectual property, technology, or a unique approach that’s difficult to replicate. Be honest about potential challenges and how you plan to overcome them.

The “business model and revenue strategy” slide of the pitch deck

Investors need to see a clear path to profitability. Outline your business model and revenue strategy. Explain how you will acquire customers, generate revenue, and scale the business. Investors want to know how and when they’ll see a return on their investment.

The “traction and milestones” slide of the pitch deck

Demonstrate that your startup is gaining traction in the market. Share key milestones achieved to date, such as user acquisition numbers, revenue growth, strategic partnerships or product launches, along with how the early traction can be accelerated. If applicable, you can also include any testimonials, press, and other accolades. These milestones validate your progress and show that you’re executing your plan effectively.

The “marketing plan “slide of the pitch deck

Investors are keen to understand your startup’s plan to create and capture value in the market. This slide delves into your distribution channels (paid search, social, email, TV, radio/podcast, etc.), early marketing tactics and channel success, customer acquisition costs, and any PR you’ll be using and/or media buzz you’ve earned.

The “team slide” of the pitch deck

Investors not only invest in ideas but also in the people behind them. This might seem obvious but in the absence of significant revenue or a proven business model, it’s the team—their skills, backgrounds, relevant expertise, unique experiences, track records of success—that VCs are ultimately backing. A strong, capable team has the ability to navigate challenges, pivot when necessary and execute the business plan effectively. Demonstrating that the startup has the talent and dedication required to bring your vision to fruition can inspire investor confidence, and indeed, may just be the deciding factor in securing funding for it.

The “financials” slide of the pitch deck

Provide realistic financials that showcase your startup’s potential for profitability. Include three- to five-year financial projections, forecasts, total revenue and expenses, your burn rate, EBITDA, and a clear path to break-even and profitability.

The key here, stresses Nicole, is to be prepared to explain your assumptions and methodology, especially if it’s an early-stage company that may not have much history or traction, much less revenue. “One of the biggest mistakes that I see is not having the numbers to back up what you’re claiming,” she says. “It’s great to be ambitious and optimistic, but when you’re going out to an investor, it has to be rooted in legitimate things that you can back up.”

“One of the biggest mistakes is not having the numbers to back up what you’re claiming. It’s great to be ambitious and optimistic, but when you’re going out to an investor, it has to be rooted in reality.”

The “investment ask” slide of the pitch deck

Clearly state how much funding you are seeing from investors (a range is fine). Break down how you plan to use the funds (e.g. new hires, tech and product development, etc.), how long the financing will last, and what milestones you aim to achieve with their investment. Be specific and transparent about the terms and conditions of the investment, such as equity or convertible notes, and highlight any notable existing investors.

“By the end of the presentation, it should be very clear what the problem is that you’re solving, why this team, and the investor should feel confident that this team is actually capable of tackling that problem,” says Nicole. “Nailing the pitch really comes down to your ability to tell the story of your business effectively, succinctly, and how you bring investors along the journey with you.”

How to design a pitch deck

A visually appealing pitch deck will go a long way to ensuring your story and message will be delivered succinctly. Use clear and concise slides with compelling visuals, charts, and graphics to illustrate key points.

“Your pitch deck shouldn’t be all glitz and glamour. Make the content count and ensure you’re leading with your story, not your design.”

Nicole emphasizes, however, not to get too hung up on the aesthetics; you want investors to be impressed by you, not your slides. “There are a ton of resources and tools online that can ensure you’re compiling a pitch deck that is crisp, clean, and formatted well—this should be an absolute given,” she explains. “It’s not all about glitz and glamour. Make the content count and ensure you’re leading with your story and not your design.”

How to prepare for a pitch

1. practice your presentation.

Entrepreneurs need to be supremely confident about their eventual success. In the lexicon of the startup world, they have a high kill rate. Once you’ve created your pitch deck, practice your delivery relentlessly. Rehearse in front of trusted advisors, mentors or peers to gather feedback. Focus on delivering a confident, engaging, and concise presentation that fits within the allotted time.

“It’s okay to be nervous, but as a founder/CEO, you’re signing up to be in hard situations and in places that are really going to stretch you as a leader,” says Nicole. “But if you can’t thrive under that pressure, it might plant a seed of doubt in the investors. Come to the table with conviction so that they trust and believe in you.”

2. Handle questions effectively

Expect questions from investors during and after your pitch, including ones that are meant to throw you off, and prepare thoughtful, concise responses.

Here’s a non-exhaustive list of common questions investors may ask during a pitch:

• How did you come up with the idea of your business?
• Why is the problem you’re addressing important?
• Why now? Why hasn’t this worked in the past?
• How are you validating the market opportunity? The value of your solution? Your valuation?
• What evidence of market traction do you have—user growth, sales, customer research, case studies, partnerships, benchmarks for similar businesses?
• What is your win rate against competitors? How do you plan to maintain your competitive advantage?
• Why hasn’t your company’s growth been stronger?
• Can you tell me a customer success story? Who is your ideal customer?
• Why are you fundraising at this stage and how will you use the money? Could you grow faster without the investment? What is your ultimate financial objective? What will happen if you run out of money?
• How long will it take to capitalize on my investment?
• What would happen if you were forced to stop or something unexpected happened?
• What are the biggest mistakes you’ve made so far in this startup and what have you learned from them?
• What would need to happen to make you fail a year from now? Five years from now? Why did you decide to do X, Y, Z (objections related to competition, market, expenses, financial projections, etc.)
• What makes your team the best to execute your business plan?
• What is the first step of your business plan?
• How do you plan to mitigate the risks and challenges your startup faces?
• How do you envision your startup evolving in the next three to five years, and what milestones do you aim to achieve?
• What other investors do you have and who else are you speaking to?

Don’t be afraid to admit when you don’t have an answer, but assure investors that you’ll follow up with the information. Whatever you do, says Nicole, do not try and fumble your way through it: “Think about the weak spots of your business and be prepared to have a non-BS answer for what you’re doing to solve for it. Just be ready.”

3. Build relationships

Investor pitches are not just one-off interactions; they are opportunities to build long-term relationships. Treat every meeting as a chance to connect with potential investors. Listen to their feedback and adapt your pitch accordingly. Even if a VC decides not to invest immediately, maintaining a positive relationship can lead to future opportunities.

“It’s never too early to build a relationship with an investor. They may not write you a cheque but it’s about building rapport, credibility, and bringing them along the journey.”

One tactic that Nicole recommends is to start a targeted distribution list that updates potential investors on major milestones. This makes it easier to stay in touch after the pitch, regardless of where they are in the investment cycle. “It’s never too early to build the right relationship with an investor,” she says. “They may not feel it’s the right time to write you a cheque but it’s about building rapport, credibility, and bringing them along the journey.”

4. Learn from rejection

It’s an unfortunate truism that rejection is a common part of the fundraising process. Don’t be discouraged by a no. Instead, view each rejection as a learning opportunity. Ask for feedback from investors who pass on your pitch and use their insights to improve. “There are a thousand reasons why you might get a no from an investor, including some that are beyond your control,” explains Nicole. “As a founder, you need to go in with the mindset that a no right now does not mean no forever.”

5. Iterate and refine

Remember that the perfect startup investor pitch is a work in progress. As you gather feedback, iterate and refine your pitch accordingly. Continuously update your pitch deck and narrative to reflect your startup’s progress and evolving goals.

Dos and don’ts of a successful startup pitch

• Pre-pitch, do a brand audit; look at your company’s digital footprint—including your website, your social media platforms, and the founders’ LinkedIn—to ensure they’re up to date and reflect a professional image.
• Do send the deck as a PDF to potential investors in advance of your meeting.
• Do use a consistent design including font size, colours, header styles, and layout throughout.
• Do be prepared to do a product demo; showing it in action is your one chance to really captivate investors.
• Do a fast follow-up with interested investors after the pitch, providing additional information as needed.
• Don’t overwhelm them with excessive data or details; that information can be added to the appendix if necessary.
• Don’t add too much text; your pitch deck is a visual aid that shouldn’t be read verbatim.
• Don’t get bogged down with the nuts and bolts of your product; customer tastes change and an early-stage business will likely iterate.
• Don’t neglect timing; going over your allotted time can leave a negative impression.
• Don’t forget to include a disclaimer in the footer of your pitch deck cover page: Confidential and Proprietary. [Name of your company]. All rights reserved. While your early-stage company might be pre-copyright, and the disclaimer may not be legally-binding, it is a common practice.

Final thoughts on creating the perfect pitch

Crafting the perfect investor pitch for your startup is a challenging yet essential part of your entrepreneurial journey. Remember that your pitch is not just about securing funding; it’s about conveying your vision, passion, and commitment to potential investors. By understanding your audience, telling a captivating story, and addressing key business elements effectively, you can increase your chances of attracting the right backers who believe in your startup’s potential to succeed and make a significant impact in the market. With practice, perseverance, and a compelling pitch, you can take your tech startup to new heights.

RBCx backs some of Canada’s most daring tech companies and idea generators. We turn our experience, networks, and capital into your competitive advantage to help drive lasting change. Speak with an RBCx Advisor to learn more about how we can help your business grow.

Things our lawyers want you to know

This article offers general information only and is not intended as legal, financial or other professional advice. A professional advisor should be consulted regarding your specific situation. While the information presented is believed to be factual and current, its accuracy is not guaranteed and it should not be regarded as a complete analysis of the subjects discussed. All expressions of opinion reflect the judgment of the author(s) as of the date of publication and are subject to change. No endorsement of any third parties or their advice, opinions, information, products or services is expressly given or implied by Royal Bank of Canada or its affiliates.

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How to Prepare The Best Pitch Deck for Investors in 2024

February 26, 2024

Do you have the best pitch deck?  Could you improve your pitch deck? Are you ready for a winning investor pitch?

When tennis champion Roger Federer walks on to Centre Court, he doesn’t know the speed, angle or direction his opponent will serve, volley or return. Yes, he can research who he’s playing and observe that person in previous matches. But he cannot predict what they will do. This is the opposite of a professional wrestling match, where every move is pre-determined. The two sports require dramatically different preparation. Professional wrestlers plan, rehearse and fine-tune. Tennis players, however, need to prepare for the unpredictable. Preparing a top investor pitch deck for your business or fund is like tennis. There is no one winning formula.

How to create the best pitch deck for investors? Prepare for the unpredictable

Investors will slam tough questions over the net that you need to return with a poised volley. It can be intimidating. Many of our clients have told us that answering investor questions is the part they dread most. It is, however, essential to the investment process. After all, any investor pitch suffers from information asymmetry – one party knows a lot more about the deal than the other.

Successful investor pitch decks come in all shapes and sizes.   But underpinning all of them are a few basic truths.

We’ve been creating and polishing winning investor pitch decks for 15 years and over that time have learned what makes the difference between the just good enough and the great.  And while investors are becoming more selective, it is more important than ever to create great pitch decks and give winning investor pitches.

This advice combines what our coaches say and what we have heard from investors on panels we have chaired at SuperReturn conferences.

Check your own investor pitch deck against our essential tests. Here you will learn what makes a good pitch deck and how to impress investors

15 Top Tips for Creating the Best Pitch Deck for Investors

1. do not even think of opening powerpoint yet.

PowerPoint is the worst tool f or preparing the best pitch decks. While it can be great for displaying information, it will not help you plan your investor pitch or write a powerful pitch deck.

Instead, you want to start your investor pitch from basics. Get your messaging right . Analyse your investor audience and understand what they need. And you need to have a powerful investor narrative running through your pitch deck.

We can help you with all this. Our Messaging Cracker Process is the bedrock upon which all the best pitch decks are built.  

2. Summarise your investment story in one line

A great elevator pitch shows that you understand what is important in your business and that you are good at getting to the heart of the matter.

Creating a simple one line that summaries your investment proposition is the hard part of creating a powerful investor pitch deck. But if you start the process of creating your investor pitch with a clear one line investment proposition and then a few investment sub-messages to back that up, you will be much more successful.

Contact us for a free consultation on your coaching needs

3. The best pitch decks always keep it brief

Investors tell us they crave brevity. They don’t want to be taken though your 150-slide deck.

They’re looking for a 1-minute overview, a 3-minute overview and a 20-minute high level overview followed by discussion. Saying less, in a memorable, engaging and succinct way, is better than blasting investors with too much detail.

Get across the heart of your strategy in three points , each backed up with evidence. Show your strategy in action, through stories about the impact you delivered. Finally, don’t build up to a big reveal on slide 48. You may never get to it.

Takeaway: Write out everything that you want to say, then hack it right back. Edit ruthlessly until you are left with a compelling investment narrative, backed by evidence. The rules of brevity apply to your pitch deck.  The shorter, simpler and clearer your pitch deck, the more powerful it is.

4. A winning investor presentation deck gets a clear story across

Your business is complicated and your market is ever changing.  You could probably spend hours just describing one aspect of your business.  But for an outsider – an investor – complexity is a problem.   Because, if an investment sounds complicated, it is off-putting.  We all know the old investor adage:  “only invest in businesses you understand”.

So, it’s your job to make your investment story easy.    We’ve seen great results for our clients just by simplifying their equity stories and simplifying their pitch decks.

For example, after a recent Capital Markets Day coaching session we saw 7% added to the share price of a £1bn chemicals business.  This was after we stripped back their CMD messages and simplified the investor presentation.  The result was a series of analyst notes that all reinforced what the company wanted to say.  That’s $70m of value created just through a simple investor presentation deck.

5. Explain the problem you are solving in your investor pitch

Every business solves a problem. Starbucks, Amazon, Google, Warren Buffett – all started with a problem in mind.

Whether you are raising money for a new Venture Capital fund, if you are growing a business that sells products to consumers, or if you are selling a B2B business, the clearer that you can articulate the reason that your business exists and why people buy from you, the easier it is to write a compelling investor presentation.

For example, can you explain why people are buying from you?  So many people forget the most important part of a good pitch is a real understanding of your customers.

• Who are they?
• Why do they buy from you?
• How do you reach them?
• What options do they have?
• Why is your pricing right?
• How do you stand out from the competition?
• Who are not your customers?

The better you can answer these simple questions about your business and your customers, the stronger your investor pitch deck will be.

6. Explain how you make money in your investor presentation

How does the money flow through the business ? Where does it come in? Where does it go out?

What makes sure you have a growing income stream and that you can defend your business from competitors. If your pitch deck teaches investors about your business and what makes it successful, you’ll be more likely to impress them.

6. Demonstrate what you have achieved so far: your progress and traction

Ideas are all very well, but what counts is how you make it work.

Success to date is a good way to test the quality of management. Your investor pitch deck should emphasis this. Whether you use stories, KPIs or customer testimonials will depend on your business.

But what’s important is that you can demonstrate to your investors that you understand what you have achieved and how this success will continue going forward.  That’s what all the best pitch decks have.

7. Describe the competition and how you are different in your pitch deck

A healthy respect for the competition, and an understanding of both direct competitors and substitutes shows that you have your feet on the ground.

We use a number of models in the investor pitch decks we create that help people better grasp the market, market dynamics and why your business stands out against the competition.

8. Better investor presentations explain what makes you special

“For us it has to be very clear what exactly you do to create value, ” said Marc der Kinderen. “What’s the return driver? What is your ‘trick’ that you can do repeatedly? We’re looking for groups that can explain to us what they are very good at, and go into case studies. Then our team can sit together and compare notes in a systematic way.”

Investors tell us that many propositions look the same. Naturally, they all forecast promising returns. But as past performance is no guarantee of future returns, even business with strong histories of market-beating growth need to demonstrate more than a good track record.

• What does your team do differently?
• What is your repeatable ‘trick’?
• How will you consistently drive above-average performance?

Takeaway: Your best pitch deck needs to convince investors that your team and your business or fund are more attractive and transactable than the alternatives. What is your unique difference and how does it fit with what the investors are trying to achieve?

9. Great pitch decks showcase your team

Investors may be used to seeing the CEO, CFO and Head of IR, but shouldn’t they also get to hear from a wider team?  When investors see the strength and depth of the management team, they feel more confident.

One way to make the whole team look particularly impressive is to create a consistent Red Thread Message and run it through your pitch deck.   And, for larger businesses, you should give those who don’t regularly speak to investors the training and coaching they need to give a great performance.

10. Improve your investor pitch by using stories

Stories are the secret weapon of winning investor pitch decks.   The best meetings use stories extensively.

How do you do that?  Spencer Miller told us, “I want to understand who they are; what the strategy is. Private equity fund teams can bring this to life by using case studies about investments. “Case studies answer questions around competition, market positioning, strategy and value.” When you learn how to tell great business stories you can make a better impact in your investor meetings.

Review other examples of great pitch decks to see how successful pitch decks use stories to get their messages across.

11. Show you understand what is difficult

Some people are consistently successful – based on what they say in their pitch decks. Bad deals are excised from track records, performance is adjusted in infinitely creative ways) and simple questions receive vague, elusive answers. Several investors told us they’ve terminated pitches immediately after encountering the above tactics.

Your investor pitch deck is the start of what will hopefully become a long-term relationship. That requires mutual trust, which can only come from transparency and honesty.

Describe the risks, and what you are doing to address them.  In a winning investor presentation you share the challenges facing your business and have an honest discussion about the industry.  In this way, the investor sees a business that understands its weaknesses as well as its strengths.

That helps build confidence and credibility.

It can feel counter-intuitive to be completely honest and open, but you’ll find that investors will respond well to someone who shows they understand the weaknesses in their business as well as its strong points.

Takeaway: Investors know that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Acknowledge what you haven’t done so well. Talk through what you’ve learned from it or how you’ve changed your strategy as a result.  Then, when you speak about your successes, you’ll have far greater credibility.

12. Think conversation, rather than broadcast

Investors tell us that those who pitch, often ask what the investor wants to cover in a pitch meeting… but then default to their standard spiel anyway. Or investors ask a question, and are told that it will be answered later on in the presentation. More often than not, the question never gets addressed.

Whereas, the best pitches are conversations. In fact, the more interaction the better, as this helps the investors feel engaged and interested.

Takeaway: Think of your pitches as conversations or discussions, rather than formal, one-way broadcasts. Ask questions, act on the answers and respond to questions from investors as and when they arise.

13. A great investor pitch answers tough questions

Some investors love to ask tough questions.  And they may be asking those questions for different reasons.

For example, they may want to see how you react to an unanswerable question. They may want to show off to their colleagues. They may want to test how you behave under pressure.  Or they may just want a simple answer.

It’s the investor’s job to ask tough questions.  Investors have a duty to peel back the curtain and look behind-the-scenes before reaching a decision, like financial detectives conducting a forensic exam. That’s because the stakes are high. If investors hear a defensive or aggressive response they will get wary. They worry that you’re hiding something, and that the deal could backfire. So how do you prepare for questions you can’t predict?

When you work with us, your coach will pose a tough question and you respond. Your coach asks a second question and you respond, and then your coach gives feedback on your first few answers. You discuss potential stumbling blocks and your coach shares practical advice and insight that helps you shape a clear and coherent path through your thoughts. Your coach puts the first question to you again in a slightly different form, and you give a slightly more concise, confident and persuasive response.

Instead of wincing when you hear a particularly aggressive question, you relax and smile, responding honestly but positively.

14. A great investor pitch builds confidence

Confidence is built slowly and lost quickly.  The efforts you make towards building confidence will help you through tougher times. Your first investor meeting is key.

For example, work on the important things, like never over-promising; listening to investors and showing that you want more from them then just their money.

The relationship between an investor and investee is complex and you want to continually build confidence in you and your business.

“The final thing for me,” said Spencer Miller, “Is that … teams have got to have all the energy, enthusiasm for the meeting as if this is the first meeting of the day – even if it’s the last.” 

How you behave in your investor pitch is important.  Hence our final tip.

15. Coach your team for success

A great investor presentation is not the same as a great investor pitch deck. You want to be sure that every aspect of your investor meeting pushes your case forward. You want to build a relationship, to excite them and to reassure them. You want everyone on your team to impress.

Investors say one of their key tests is how well the pitching team interacts. Does the team present a united front, or do the individuals contradict, interrupt or ignore each other?

When one person is talking, do the others remain attentive and engaged ? Or do they thumb their phone screen or look impatient until it’s their turn to speak? Another warning sign for investors is when only the most senior person speaks. They want to hear from everyone in the room. Otherwise, why are you all there?

Our best clients use extensive role play to prepare for successful investor pitches. We play the part of different investors and help them tell the most compelling story possible. They learn how to handle tough questions and how to impress.

From your pitch deck to the start of the investor meeting to the very end of your pitch meeting, every part of your presentation has a role to play in pushing your investor case forward. Get it right, and pitching to investors is much easier.

Takeaway: Check if you are presenting as a team or a group of individuals. One way to do this is by role-playing different meetings and filming your pitch rehearsals. Analyse your team dynamics and polish your imperfections before investors see you.

What to do next to get the best pitch deck and best investor pitch

Give Yourself the Best Pitch Deck

We’ll help you pitch confidently, memorably and effectively, we’ll make sure your investor pitch is ripe and ready to impress investors. our team will strengthen every element of your pitch, including your:.

• Investor proposition
• Meeting performance
• Presentation materials and visual aids

Talk to us about your current situation and we’ll recommend the best way to get you and your pitch in shape. Call Louise on 020 7018 0922 or email her via the link below.

Transform your presentation skills with tailored coaching.

We can help you present brilliantly. Thousands of people have benefitted from our tailored in-house coaching and advice – and we can help you too .

“I honestly thought it was the most valuable 3 hours I’ve spent with anyone in a long time.” Mick May, CEO, Blue Sky

For 15+ years we’ve been the trusted choice of leading businesses and executives throughout the UK, Europe and the Middle East to improve presentation skills and presentations through coaching, training and expert advice.

Unlock your full potential and take your presentations to the next level with Benjamin Ball Associates.

Speak to Louise on +44 20 7018 0922 or email [email protected] to find out more and discuss transforming your speeches, pitches and presentations.

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SoftOx Solutions AS: Presentation deck and link for todays presentation

Please find attached the investor presentation that will be used during todayspresentation.

https://investorweb.no/ir-channel/SOFTX/events - Thursday the 18th of April 1pm.

https://newsweb.oslobors.no/message/616097