If you’re an entrepreneur or startup founder, you’ll know that a good idea alone isn’t enough. You also need to secure funding from investors.
And a great way to convince investors is to use a pitch deck.
Pitch decks help you communicate ideas in a way that can get investors excited about your business. But you need to know a few tricks.
In this blog, I’ll dive deep into everything pitch decks — from what is a pitch deck to how to make one. I’ll also share real-life examples of pitch decks that have helped startups secure funding over the years.
By the way, you can create effective pitch decks in minutes using our Presentation Maker or by editing pitch deck templates.
Click to jump ahead:
- What is a pitch deck?
- Elements of a pitch deck
- What makes a good pitch deck?
- How to create a pitch deck
- The dos and don’ts of pitch decks
- FAQs
- Conclusion
- Pitch deck examples
What is a pitch deck?
A pitch deck is a concise presentation that helps investors and/or clients better understand a business plan, product/service, and/or growth strategy.
Pitch decks enable entrepreneurs to secure funding, but they can also be used to build partnerships and drive growth.
Here’s a great example of a pitch deck that shows the business case of YouTube.
Related:
Pitch deck presentation vs investor deck
An investor deck is a more comprehensive version of the pitch deck (concise summary of a business plan) and includes information on financial details, market analysis, competitive landscape, and strategy.
Here’s a brief comparison of pitch decks vs investor decks.
- Purpose: Pitch decks provide a high-level overview while investor decks are more thorough and detailed.
- Depth: Pitch decks are brief (10-20 slides) whereas investor decks go in-depth and focus on information like financial projections (20-30 slides).
- Audience: Pitch decks are meant for investors, customers, and the media, but investor decks are for investors who require a deeper understanding.
What does a pitch deck typically include?
Title slide
As the name suggests, the title slide in a pitch deck names the presentation and also usually includes the business name and a logo.
Problem and solution
The problem and solution slide in a pitch deck identifies a problem in the market and (sometimes) lays out how the business will solve it.
Market opportunity and size
This slide is all about the market — data about its size, growth potential and trends.
This is your opportunity to grab an investor’s attention and convince them how your business will succeed in a thriving market.
Product/service description
The product/service description is your opportunity to present the USP, features, and benefits your business will provide.
This is your chance to show investors how your product or service solves a problem.
Competitive landscape
The competitive landscape slide is an opportunity focus on the existing competitors.
A great way to do this is use comparison charts to highlight strengths and weaknesses, differentiation points, market positioning, and barriers to entry.
Go-to-market strategy
The go-to-market strategy slide in your pitch deck is all about action.
Here, you’ll want to transition from explaining the problem and opportunity to outlining the concrete steps you’ll take to reach your target audience and turn them into loyal customers.
Team introduction
The team introduction slide is your opportunity to put a human face behind your idea.
Use this slide to showcase the individuals driving your startup or idea forward to convince investors you have the right people in place to turn a vision into reality.
Financials
This slide is yet another transition point from your strategy to the numbers.
In this part of your pitch deck, you’ll want to convince investors that your business model is financially sound and has the potential to generate significant returns.
Call to action
The call to action (CTA) slide is the culmination of your pitch deck.
This is where you transition from informing and inspiring investors to prompting them to take concrete action (usually to fund your idea or business).
Traction and achievements
This slide is all about showcasing your achievements either as an individual or a business.
Here, you’ll want to provide concrete evidence that your business model is gaining traction and has the potential for future success.
Exit strategy
The exit strategy slide outlines how investors will ultimately realize a return on their investment.
This is important because you want to demonstrate a clear exit strategy (besides growth) which highlights your understanding of the investment landscape.
What makes a good pitch deck?
Storytelling
Your pitch deck should reveal a real business problem and your plan to solve it in a format that’s fun and easy to consume.
Use strong verbs and avoid technical jargon. Also, remember to focus on the human element to connect at an emotional level with investors rather than only focusing on facts and figures.
Clarity and concision
Remember, investors are busy people so respect their time.
Focus on the most important information and avoid cramming too much text onto each slide. Ideally, use bullet points to highlight key takeaways whenever possible.
Visual appeal
First impressions matter, so invest in design that is clean, modern, and visually appealing.
Good pitch decks have a consistent color scheme, font style, and high-quality images, charts, and graphs to enhance the message.
Data-driven
Facts and figures add credibility to your claims, so use data from reputable sources to showcase the market size, growth potential, and validation for your product or service.
Don’t overwhelm your audience with complex data sets though. Just focus on the most relevant metrics that support your narrative.
Compelling call to action
End your pitch deck on a strong note by telling your audience exactly what you want them to do next, whether it’s a request for funding, scheduling a follow-up meeting, or signing up for your service.
How to create a pitch deck?
Step 1: Sign up for Venngage
Sign up for a free Venngage account using your email, Gmail, or Facebook account.
Step 2: Choose a pitch deck template
Go to our templates page and look for pitch deck templates under the presentations category.
Step 3: Customize and proofread your pitch deck
Once you find a pitch deck template from our library, click on the “Create” button to open our editor (you’ll be asked to sign in or sign up if you haven’t already).
Here are some cool things you can do within the Venngage editor.
- Change the text, icons, layout, or graphics using a drag-and-drop interface.
- Add your brand colors to a pitch deck in a single click using My Brand Kit (only for Business users).
Step 4: Download or share
Once you’re happy with your pitch deck, download it as a PPT or PDF (Business users only) or share a link to it for free.
The dos and don’ts of pitch decks
When making a pitch deck, there’s several dos and don’ts to keep in mind to create and give an effective presentation.
Dos of pitch deck design:
- Keep it concise: Focus on key points and keep content to a minimum.
- Use high-quality visuals: Use professional images, graphics, and fonts to make your pitch deck visually appealing.
- Tell a story: Structure your pitch deck to guide viewers through the problem, solution, and impact.
Don’ts of pitch deck design:
- Don’t overload with text: Avoid cluttering slides with too much text. Instead, use bullet points and brief statements.
- Don’t use technical jargon: Use simple language wherever possible.
- Don’t ignore design consistency: Ensure fonts, colors, and styles are consistent throughout the pitch deck.
Great pitch deck design is only half the effort of an effective pitch deck — you also need to present it well.
Dos of pitch deck presentations:
- Practice beforehand: Rehearse your presentation to ensure smooth delivery.
- Engage you audience: Maintain eye contact, use expressive body language, and encourage interaction.
- Highlight key points: Emphasize critical information and insights to reinforce your pitch.
Don’ts of pitch deck presentations:
- Don’t read from the slides: Avoid reading directly from your slides. Instead, speak naturally.
- Don’t overwhelm with information: Keep information digestible and avoid overloading your audience with details.
- Don’t use filler words: Minimize the use of “um” and “like” to maintain a professional tone.
Pitch deck FAQs
How long should a pitch deck be?
A pitch deck should generally be 10-12 slides in length and delivered within 15-20 minutes.
What software should I use to create a pitch deck?
Popular software options to create a pitch deck include PowerPoint, Keynote, and online tools like Canva and Venngage. Choose one you’re comfortable with.
What’s the difference between a pitch deck and a business plan?
The difference between a pitch deck and a business plan is that the former is a concise presentation for a specific audience while the latter is a detailed document outlining your entire business strategy.
What are some common pitch deck mistakes to avoid?
Some common pitch deck mistakes to avoid include overloading slides with text, weak visuals, lack of storytelling, unclear target audience, and a weak call to action.
How much financial information should I include?
The amount of financial information included in a pitch deck depends on your audience. For investors, you’ll want to focus heavily on projections while pitch decks for clients should focus on the value proposition.
Should I include a lot of data and charts?
Yes, you should include data and charts in pitch decks but do so data strategically. Also, ensure your charts are clear and easy to understand.
How can I practice my pitch deck delivery?
To practice your pitch deck delivery, rehearse in front of a mirror, record yourself, or present to trusted advisors for feedback.
How can I tailor my pitch deck to different audiences?
To tailor your pitch deck to different audiences, understand their needs and challenges and highlight how your solution addresses their specific pain points.
What should I do if I get a question I can’t answer?
IF you get asked a question you don’t know how to answer during your pitch deck presentation, be honest and transparent. Offer to follow up with the answer later.
Where can I find more resources on creating a pitch deck?
For more resources on creating pitch decks, pitch deck templates, tips, and examples, look for articles by reputable publications and venture capital firms.
Conclusion: Create effective pitch decks in minutes and win investors over
If you want to close deals, use pitch deck templates to improve your odds. There’s no better way to make compelling and comprehensive pitches quickly and efficiently.
Head over to our pitch deck templates page today and get started!
Pitch deck examples
In this bonus section, I’ll sample through through examples of effective real-world pitch decks to serve as inspiration.
AirBnb pitch deck
The Airbnb pitch deck was clear and simple. It presented a compelling problem-solution narrative, strong market opportunity, and realistic financial projections
Tinder pitch deck
The Tinder pitch deck is a prime example of pitch deck that uses effective storytelling.
TransferWise
The Wise pitch deck is a great example of using visuals to illustrate market opportunity and traction.
