For many founders just starting out, raising money usually begins with one big hurdle: explaining their business in a way that’s both clear and compelling. Most of the time, this happens in the form of a pitch deck. Think of it as a focused presentation you use during fundraising conversations, whether those are in person or online. The goal is to quickly show investors what your company does, why it matters, and how you plan to grow from here. Unlike a lengthy business plan, a pitch deck is brief and visual, spotlighting only the most essential points. If you’re putting together your first pitch deck, you’re in the right place—here’s an overview of what to include, how to organize it, and strategies to help your message resonate.
What Is a Pitch Deck and Why It Matters
A pitch deck is a short, visual presentation designed to introduce your company to potential investors. Usually, it runs about 10 to 15 slides, highlighting your product, target market, business model, team, and growth plans. The real aim is to give investors a clear snapshot of your business and spark a conversation that could lead to funding.
Pitch decks show up in all sorts of settings: fundraising meetings, demo days, and even digital outreach. They often rely on charts, images, and concise text to help investors quickly grasp the opportunity you’re offering. For founders looking to master the fundamentals, understanding how to create a pitch deck that effectively communicates your value proposition is crucial for fundraising success.
A good pitch deck serves a few key purposes:
- Communication tool: It lays out your business in a way that makes sense to investors and addresses common questions they have
- Thought organizer: Putting one together forces you to clarify your market, business model, and overall strategy
- Fundraising asset: You’ll use it to secure investor meetings and create interest in your company
Core Slides to Include in an Investor Pitch Deck
There are certain slides that every strong pitch deck should have. Together, they build a story that helps investors determine if your company fits what they’re looking for.
1. Problem and Solution
Begin by describing the problem your business solves. Be specific—who has this problem, and what’s wrong with current solutions. After that, introduce your solution and explain how it improves on what’s already out there. Instead of something broad like “People waste time scheduling meetings,” try “Professionals spend 4.8 hours each week scheduling meetings, costing businesses $37,000 per employee each year.”
When you present your solution, spotlight what sets it apart:
- How it’s different from competitors
- Why customers would choose it
- Any unique technology or approach it uses
2. Market Size and Business Model
Investors want to know your market is big enough to support a valuable business. Key market sizes to include are:
- Total Addressable Market (TAM): The size of the entire market for your product
- Serviceable Available Market (SAM): The segment you can realistically target
- Serviceable Obtainable Market (SOM): The share you can likely capture soon
For your business model, explain clearly how you make money. This could be your pricing, revenue streams, or (if you have them) your unit economics.
3. Traction and Team
Traction shows the progress you’ve made. This might be:
- Number of customers or your growth rate
- Revenue stats or projections
- Partnerships or pilot programs
- User engagement numbers
If your startup isn’t earning revenue yet, highlight early validation: signups, letters of intent, or completed pilots all count. For the team slide, focus on why your founders and key members are the right people for the job, especially if they have experience related to your market or problem.
4. Financials and Funding Ask
Add a simple financial forecast that covers revenue, expenses, and cash flow over the next two or three years. Keep your projections realistic and explain the assumptions behind them. Be clear about how much money you’re seeking and what you plan to do with it. Tie your funding request to milestones you expect to reach before your next round.
How to Make Your Pitch Deck Stand Out
A standout pitch deck isn’t just about what you include—it’s how you present it. The way you tell your story matters just as much as the facts.
Tell a Clear Story
The strongest pitch decks follow a logical, easy-to-follow story. Start with the problem, lay out your solution, explain the market opportunity, and show why your team is the one to deliver. Use a consistent thread throughout the deck so each slide builds on the last and leads naturally to the next. This helps investors follow your thinking and understand your vision.
Use Visuals Effectively
Visuals can turn complex ideas into something easy to grasp. Rather than long paragraphs, try:
- Charts and graphs to highlight trends
- Screenshots or product mockups
- Simple diagrams for processes
- Icons to call out key concepts
When building charts, pick the format that fits your data:
- Bar charts for comparing values
- Line graphs for showing trends over time
- Pie charts for breaking down parts of a whole
- Radar charts for comparing several variables
Keep It Concise
Investors see a lot of pitch decks, so clarity and brevity are your friends. Make each slide focus on a single main idea. Stick to three to five bullet points per slide, and use headlines that state your point clearly. Cut out any details that don’t add real value. Many founders follow the “10/20/30 rule” from investor Guy Kawasaki: aim for 10 slides, 20 minutes, and nothing smaller than 30-point font.
Tailoring Your Pitch Deck for Different Funding Stages
The pitch deck you need will depend on where your company is in its journey and what kind of investors you’re pitching.
Seed Stage Focus
At the seed stage, investors know traction is likely limited. They pay close attention to:
- How big and important the problem is
- What makes your approach unique
- Why your team is especially suited to succeed
- Any early signs of customer interest
A seed pitch deck should lean heavily into your long-term vision and the size of the opportunity. Include any proof points you’ve gathered, whether that’s customer interviews, prototype feedback, or even a waitlist.
Growth Stage Emphasis
For Series A or later rounds, investors expect to see evidence your business is working. Your pitch deck should highlight:
- Steady growth—metrics that show momentum
- How you acquire customers and what it costs
- Data on retention and user engagement
- Details about your unit economics and path to profitability
At this stage, you’ll want more data and fewer assumptions. Investors are looking for proof that you’ve found a model that works and are ready to scale.
Common Pitch Deck Mistakes to Avoid
Many founders fall into similar traps when putting together their pitch decks. Here are a few to watch out for:
- Too much text: Investors won’t read long paragraphs of small print. Use bullets, visuals, and plenty of white space
- Jargon overload: Not every investor knows your industry’s lingo. Explain ideas simply and skip technical terms unless absolutely necessary
- Unsupported claims: If you say “the market is booming,” back it up with data and sources
- Inconsistent design: Mixing fonts, colors, or styles makes your deck look unprofessional. Stick to a clean, consistent look
- Product tunnel vision: While your product matters, investors are even more interested in the business opportunity. Balance product details with market and business model insights
Building Your Pitch Deck: Practical Tips
When you start building your pitch deck, a few practical steps can make the process smoother:
- Sketch an outline of your main points before you start designing slides
- Look at strong pitch decks from other companies in your space for ideas
- Ask mentors, advisors, or founder friends for feedback
- Prepare a shorter version (5 to 7 slides) for initial outreach
- Create a more detailed version (12 to 15 slides) for meetings
You don’t need advanced design skills to create a good-looking deck. Tools like PowerPoint, Keynote, and Canva offer templates that make the process simple, even if you’re new to design.
Powering Your Next Fundraising Journey
A thoughtful pitch deck does more than cover the basics—it clarifies your business opportunity, explains why your solution matters, and shows you have the right team to make it happen. It covers the essentials: the problem, your solution, market size, business model, team strengths, and funding needs.
Creating a compelling pitch deck requires significant time and expertise to get right. For founders who want to ensure their presentation meets investor expectations while they focus on building their business, professional startup pitch deck services can provide the strategic guidance and design expertise needed to create presentations that truly stand out in competitive funding environments.
Once your pitch deck is ready, the next step is finding the right investors. That’s where Qubit Capital can help. Their AI-powered platform connects startups with investors based on factors like industry, stage, and strategic fit. With over 20,000 investors in their network, they’re focused on helping founders find partners who share their vision.
FAQs About Creating a Pitch Deck
How many slides should my investor pitch deck contain?
The sweet spot is usually 10 to 15 slides. That’s enough to cover all the essentials without overwhelming investors, and it fits well into a 20-minute presentation.
What software works best for creating a professional pitch deck?
PowerPoint, Keynote, and Canva are all solid choices. PowerPoint is widely compatible, Keynote is great for Mac users who want polished design tools, and Canva offers user-friendly templates you can customize.
How can I demonstrate traction if my startup hasn’t generated revenue yet?
Show other forms of validation—user signups, waitlist numbers, completed pilots, letters of intent from potential customers, or engagement stats from beta users all work.
Should I create different versions of my pitch deck for different investors?
Yes, it helps to tailor your deck to each investor’s interests, focus area, and preferred stage. Keep your main content consistent, but spotlight the points that matter most to each audience.
How do I handle confidential information in my pitch deck?
Leave out highly sensitive details from your initial pitch. Save anything confidential for later discussions, ideally after you’ve established interest and discussed an NDA.
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