A strong pitch deck is one of the most important tools for any startup founder. It is the short pitch presentation that tells an investor who you are, what you do, and why now is the right time. If you want to raise money from a vc or angel investors, a clear set of slides can make the difference between a yes and a no.
In this guide, you will learn exactly what to include in a pitch deck, how each slide should work, and how to tell a story that keeps every potential investor focused.
This article is worth reading because it breaks down each part of your pitch deck in simple language, gives you a clear outline to follow, and helps you avoid the common mistakes that hurt investor confidence.
What Is The Purpose Of A Pitch Deck And Why Does It Matter?
The purpose of a pitch deck is simple: the deck is to get a meeting or a next step, not to close the entire deal. A good pitch deck must help an investor understand your business idea quickly so they become interested in your business and want to learn more. Your investor pitch should give your audience a clear starting point so they can decide if there is a real investment opportunity.
Every pitch deck also helps you as an entrepreneur. When you are creating a pitch deck, you force yourself to think clearly about your business model, target market, and revenue and operating models. This clear thinking makes it easier to tell your story, explain your product or service, and show why your startup is worth backing.
How Many Slides Should A Pitch Deck Have And What Should Each Slide Include?
A successful pitch deck is short and clear. Most of the best decks have around 10 to 15 slides. Each slide should cover one main idea and be concise so that the investor can follow your pitch presentation without getting lost. You do not need to include information that is not directly part of your pitch deck story.
Your title slide should introduce your company name, logo, and a short one-line value proposition. The first slide should give the audience a clear starting point and set the tone for the rest of the pitch deck presentation. After that, each slide might include a simple headline, a few bullet points, and one strong visual. This way, the deck needs to support you as you tell your story rather than replace you.
What Should The First Slide And Title Slide Show?
The title slide is the first slide an investor sees, so it needs to be clean and clear. At a minimum, this slide might include your company name, your name and role, a contact email, and a short line that explains your product or service in a simple way. It’s a good idea to think of this line as a headline that makes a potential investor want to hear more.
This part of your pitch deck does not need to be fancy. Investors want to see that you can be concise and direct. The first slide can also include your logo and maybe one image that hints at your market opportunity or target customer. More than anything, the title slide should make it easy for someone to remember who you are after they have looked at hundreds of pitch decks.
How Do You Explain The Problem You Are Solving And The Scale Of The Problem?
One of the most important parts of your startup pitch deck is the problem slide. On this slide, you explain the problem you are solving and why it matters. You should describe the pain point in clear language so that any investor or potential investor understands it, even if they do not work in your industry. The scale of the problem shows why your company will make a difference.
This slide might include a short story about a real target customer who feels the problem today. When you tell your story in this way, investors want to see that you understand both the product and your customer. Use simple charts or numbers to show how many people face this pain point and why the market size is big enough to support a high valuation and a successful exit later.
How Do You Present Your Product Or Service And Value Proposition?
After you explain the problem, you show how your product or service solves it. This slide in your pitch deck needs to include information that is easy to see and understand in just a few seconds. A screenshot, a simple diagram, or a photo of your products and services can help the investor see your solution quickly.
You should also explain your value proposition, which is why your solution is better than what exists today. Investors want to see that the product and your customer fit well together. This is part of your pitch deck where you can tell a story about how your startup saves time, saves money, or creates a new way of doing something. Keep the text concise so the slide supports your spoken pitch rather than repeating every word.
How Should You Talk About Market Size, Target Market, And Market Opportunity?
Investors care a lot about market size because it shows how big your company can grow. On the market slide, you explain your total market, your serviceable market, and your obtainable market, if you can. These numbers do not have to be perfect, but they should be based on real market research and reasonable business assumptions.
You should also define your target market and target customer in simple terms. This helps the investor understand if your business plan is focused or too wide. A clear market opportunity gives venture capital funds, vcs, and angel investors confidence that your business model has room to grow. When a pitch deck shows that the market is large and growing, investors want to see more.
How Do You Show The Competitive Landscape And Competitive Analysis?
A great pitch deck does not pretend that there are no competitors. Instead, your competitive landscape slide shows who else is in the space and how you are different. One simple way is to place competitors on a grid with two axes that matter for your industry and how you plan to compete. This kind of competitive analysis helps an investor see where you fit in the market.
On this slide, you can also list two or three key advantages that your startup has. This might include technology, a special team, unique market research, or a new business model. The goal of a pitch deck here is to show that you know your industry and how you plan to win. When you include information about competitors on a grid and your own strengths, you build investor confidence.
What Traction, Revenue, And Operating Models Should You Include?
Traction is proof that your idea is working. This might include user growth, revenue, partnerships, or early letters of intent. If you are an early-stage company, even small signs of traction can be powerful. This slide in the pitch deck needs to show clear numbers without too much detail so the investor can see progress at a glance.
You should also explain your revenue and operating models. This is where you show how the company will make money and how the business model works. For early-stage and pre-revenue companies, you can use simple charts to show future revenue and profit projections based on clear business assumptions. Even though these are just projection numbers, they help a potential investor understand the scale of the opportunity.
How Do You Present Financial Projections, Funding You Need, And Valuation?
Investors expect to see some form of financial projections, even if they know they are only estimates. A basic pitch deck might include revenue and profit projections over three to five years. You can keep this slide concise by focusing on high-level numbers and not every line item in a full business plan. The important thing is to show how growth could look if things go well.
On the same slide or a nearby slide, you should explain the funding you need, what the company will use that capital for, and your expected valuation. This is also where you explain how long the money will last and what milestones you plan to reach. When a VC or other investor sees clear use of funds and a realistic plan, they are more likely to feel interest from potential investors across the market.
What Should The Team Slide Include And Why Is It So Important?
The team slide is often one of the most important in a successful pitch deck because investors bet on people. This slide should show the founders, key team members, and maybe core advisors. Next to each person, list the skills and experience to bring that are directly related to the business idea. You do not have to list every job you ever had, only the parts that help the investor trust you.
A good team slide might include short bullet points about past startups, deep industry, and how you plan to use that knowledge, or major wins at other companies. Investors want to see that the people behind the startup can execute the business plan and adjust when needed. When your team looks strong, the whole pitch deck looks stronger.
How Do You Tell A Story And Make A Great Pitch Deck Flow?
A winning pitch deck is not just a collection of random slides. Instead, it should tell a story from start to finish. You begin by setting up the problem, then show your solution, then your market, traction, business model, team, and ask. When you tell your story in a clear order like this, the investor can relax and follow along. This is the heart of a great pitch deck.
To keep the flow smooth, each part of your pitch deck needs to connect to the next. It’s a good idea to practice out loud so the slides support your voice. Your pitch deck needs to be simple enough to send as a pre-read in pdf format, but also strong enough to use live in a room. When you focus on clarity, the best pitch decks feel natural and easy to understand.
Should You Use A Pitch Deck Template And What Might It Include?
If you are new to fundraising, it can help to start from a pitch deck template. A solid template shows you what to include in a pitch deck and gives you a basic order for your slides. While every pitch deck is different, a common template might include slides for title, problem, solution, market, traction, business model, financial projections, team, and ask. This gives your audience a clear starting point and ensures you do not forget a key part.
Of course, every pitch deck must feel like your own. A template is only a guide and not a rulebook. You can always adjust the order, remove a slide, or add a slide as long as the pitch remains concise and clear. The best pitch decks use a simple structure so investors can find exactly what to include and where to look without getting confused.
How Should You Share Your Pitch Deck With Investors And VCs?
Once your vc pitch deck is ready, you have to decide how to share it. Many entrepreneurs send their startup pitch deck as a short email attachment in pdf format with a quick note. Others share a link and then walk through the pitch deck presentation live on a call. Both ways work, as long as the slides are easy to read and the file opens quickly.
You should remember that investors and vcs see hundreds of pitch decks every year. This means your deck needs to be clear and respectful of their time. Keep the design simple, the text readable, and the main points obvious. When investors want to see more details, they will ask for a deeper business plan or a data room later.
Why Every Pitch Deck Needs Clarity, Simplicity, And A Strong Ask
At the end of the pitch presentation, your deck needs to include a clear ask slide. This is where you remind the investor how much you want to raise, what the funding you need will be used for, and what milestones you plan to reach. This slide is also a good place to repeat why now is the right time for your startup and why you are the right team to build it.
A clear ask turns a good pitch into a successful pitch deck. It helps the investor understand the next steps and what you expect. When your pitch deck must close with a direct and simple request, you show that you respect their time and know how to run a business. In the end, a strong ask can improve investor confidence and move you one step closer to a deal.
Final Thoughts
A pitch deck is a short, clear presentation whose purpose is to get a meeting or the next step, not to close the full deal. What makes a good pitch deck is concision and clarity: aim for around 10–15 slides with one idea per slide to support your spoken story. Start with a title slide and a first slide that gives a clear starting point and explains your value proposition in one simple line. Always explain the problem you are solving, the pain point, and the scale of the problem before showing your product or service. Back your claims with honest market research: show market size, target market, and obtainable market using solid business assumptions, and include a competitive landscape slide or grid to show how you will win.
Also highlight traction, revenue, and operating models, and basic financial projections, so investors can see progress and growth. Make your team slide demonstrate the skills and experience needed to bring the idea to life and reach a successful exit. Use a pitch deck template to remember key elements, but keep your own voice and story, and finish with a clear funding ask and simple bullet points that make investors want to learn more. Need an investor pitch deck? PPT Guru can build a professional investor-ready pitch deck to help you secure meetings and funding. Contact PPT Guru now to get started.
