What is a pitch deck?

What is a pitch deck? A pitch deck can be defined as a concise presentation created specifically to convince investors to start funding a startup. Its main task is to present the startup to outsiders along with a unique final product. Most often, the slides show the problem the business is focusing on, how to solve it, the way of making money, and ultimately the specific expectations towards investors.

What is a pitch deck? – table of contents:

1. What is a pitch deck?
2. How to create a good pitch deck?
3. What should be included in a pitch deck?
4. Summary

What is a pitch deck?

A pitch deck must touch upon all key aspects for investors, providing a business plan for your startup. At the same time, however, it must not be too long or monotonous. Even the best and most innovative business idea needs to be presented creatively.

Preparing a pitch deck is about telling the story of your own business. Although originators have an excellent understanding of the various aspects of their startups, external investors need to deepen their knowledge on the subject. A pitch deck, therefore, becomes a helpful tool to convey the most relevant information about the structure of the business and its benefits.

How to create a good pitch deck?

A proper preparation for a meeting with investors actually affects the future of the entire business. When selling your idea in the form of a pitch deck, it is worth applying the rule of personalization. The first step should be to get to know your investors, their previous collaborations, and ongoing projects.

Such information will allow you to better understand the main principles that guide a given investor in the business. As a result, the pitch deck being developed can be tailored to their preferences, increasing the likelihood of arousing interest in your startup. However, a pitch deck is not just about individual slides, concentrating on substantive or visual aspects. Shaped by proper training, the presentation itself is equally important.

The investors’ final decision can be influenced by factors such as, for example, the dynamics of speech, the gestures made, the posture, the body language or even the general appearance. A presentation given with charisma, commitment, and confidence will show the entire startup in an even better light.

It is also a good idea to approach the topic creatively, evoking positive emotions among the audience, and introducing intriguing elements that will help you stand out from the competition. The very graphic design of the slides or the overall aesthetics of the presentation can influence the way your idea will be perceived by investors.

At the same time, there is not just one template for an ideal pitch deck. Everything depends on the specifics of the sector in which you operate, the main objectives of your startup or investors’ business preferences.

What should be included in a pitch deck?

Even though there is no universal template for a pitch deck, it’s possible to distinguish a few basic elements that particularly attract investors’ attention. What should a pitch deck include?

• Value proposition and vision – the first slide of the presentation should show the main concept of your startup in an interesting way, in order to attract the investors’ interest right from the start. It’s also worth highlighting the company’s mission and vision here, which will give a better understanding of its goals.
• Problem – here you should focus on showing a specific market need and identifying the niche you want to fill.
• Solution – your solution to the presented problem.
• Why now? – the slide is to show investors the urgency of meeting a particular need. A clear explanation of why now is the time to launch such a business becomes a motivation for them to collaborate.
• Target market – focusing on reliable data, it is possible to determine the size and define the market segment in which you wish to operate.
• Product – this is where all the most important aspects of the solution you offer are highlighted. Your product presentation must be concise, but comprehensive enough to attract the investors’ interest.
• Team – this slide is responsible for presenting the entire team while proving that there are talented and competent people behind the idea itself.
• Business model – is supposed to show investors how you intend to make money while building your startup.
• Competition – taking a slightly broader perspective also allows you to see the potential risks. By presenting the pros and cons of the competition to investors, you increase your own authenticity and make it easier to understand the idea of how your startup works.
• Funding – this is the part that investors pay special attention to. It’s no secret that each of them cares about making considerable profits. Therefore, when creating a pitch deck, do not forget to include realistic financial projections, e.g., planned expenses or earnings. At the same time, this is the best place to determine the exact amount you want from investors.

What is a pitch deck – summary

The ever-increasing competition in the market means that nowadays it is no longer enough just to have an innovative idea, but a creative presentation of the concept is also necessary. Investors are looking for out-of-the-box solutions that will allow them to get rich quickly. However, they first need to know and understand the main goals of a startup, and a properly designed and presented pitch deck enables them to achieve this even in a few minutes.

You’ve just read an article: What is a pitch deck? Read also: A business plan for e-commerce.

If you like our content, join our busy bees community on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest.