Startup Pitch Deck Essentials

I’ve helped review countless pitch decks and have distilled some of the most impactful insights for founders looking to make a lasting impression on investors: - Start by building trust: Use facts to establish trust before jumping into future projections. Most decks I see start with a graph projecting future growth but it’s often dismissed by investors who are by nature, skeptical. Instead, focus the first 60-80% of your deck on factual data — your historical results and achievements. This will allow investors to trust in your story and understand your company’s track record before introducing future potential. - Keep your story clear and simple: Your pitch is essentially a story and it needs to be clear. Make sure investors understand who your customer is, the problem you’re solving, and how you’re uniquely solving it. Founders are often so deeply involved in their business that they tend to dive into the details without laying out the basics. - Use data: After each major point in your story, include a data slide to reinforce it. For instance, if your story is about helping clients succeed, show actual sales growth from customers using your platform. Real, historical data builds trust far more than speculative projections. - Market size: Investors want to know the size of the opportunity. But avoid saying statements like: “The market is $1 trillion, and we just need 1% of it.” The size of the overall market does need to be big enough to support an investment type company — but it’s often better to use a bottom-up approach to explain your potential. - The team: Your team is critical so instead of adding a team slide at the end with some LinkedIn profiles, highlight why you’re uniquely positioned for this business. Even if you don’t have high-profile credentials, you should still highlight your deep passion and relevant experience. - Customer focus: Be clear on who your customer is and what specific problem you’re solving. What other elements can’t be left out of a strong pitch deck? Any other approaches you’ve seen work well?

💡 We invested $1M into this enterprise software company — here’s exactly what their pitch deck looked like, slide by slide: Founders always ask what a winning deck includes. So let’s break down the 16 slides that this founder used to get a meeting with us, and then eventually get $1M. 1. Cover Page – Company name + one-line elevator pitch. Simple, confident. 2. Team – Right up front (my favorite, esp at pre-seed). 3. Product Development Overview – Shows the iterative build process toward scalable product-market fit. 4. Problem – One-liner on what’s broken in their space + visual of the messy status quo. 5. Discovery – How they uncovered the problem and validated the opportunity. 6-7. Platform Vision – Framing their solution as a platform play and mapping integrations around it. 8. Demo Slide – They bootstrapped for a year to build an MVP and included a live demo link. 9. Why We Win – Clear, strategic confidence. 10. Competition – Title: “The Competition Isn’t Focused.” (Chef’s kiss.) 11. Market Users – Personas + who they’re building for. 12. Market Opportunity – Active users today + total global market size. 13. Go-To-Market – Inbound, product-led growth. 14. Roadmap – 6, 12, 18, 24-month rollout plan. 15. Fundraise – Why, how much, and what outcomes they’ll drive. 16. Closing Slide – Company name + contact info. That’s it. 16 slides. Clear story. Confident execution. We wrote a $1M check. 💸 ____ 👋 Hi I'm Kate, co-founder & GP at Baukunst. We are a collective of creative technologists advancing the art of building companies. We lead pre-seed rounds in companies at the frontiers of technology & design, $500-$2M. Follow my page for #BTS of building a fund, startup life, working mom life, SF life, life life!

What makes a pitch deck “perfect”? After reviewing 350+ decks, this guide breaks it down with clarity and zero fluff. The essentials every deck must include: 1. A crystal-clear intro—what do you actually do? 2. A sharp problem slide—real pain, not just a gap 3. A focused solution—simple, scalable, and valuable 4. A big enough market—investors want 100x potential 5. Product visuals—screenshots > buzzwords 6. Real traction or validation—data > vision 7. A credible team—why you’re the ones to build this 8. Competition—yes, you have some (and that’s good) 9. Financial projections—realistic but ambitious 10. The ask—how much, what for, how long it lasts Also includes what to avoid (e.g., cluttered slides, “no competition” claims, or vague storytelling). If you're a founder raising capital, this guide is worth studying before you hit “send” on your next deck. #startups #angelinvesting #entrepreneurship

I've been an entrepreneur twice over, and I've heard countless pitches as a VC. Here are the 3 things I'm looking to hear in a pitch: (Before I get into the 3 things, it's important to remember that a good pitch revolves around solving a problem. Businesses exist to solve problems. Pitches, then, should center around problem solving.) As for the three characteristics: 1. Show why the problem is deeply and uniquely important to you I want to know why you care about the problem you're trying to solve. Why are you willing to dedicate a significant portion of your life and career to this? Why does the problem keep you up at night? I want to feel -- because it's more of a feeling than a numbers thing -- that you are deeply, maniacally obsessed with solving this problem. I want to feel that this is a problem you've uniquely seen. 2. Show just how huge the problem is (and bigger than anyone realizes) I want to be told just how big and pervasive the problem is, and learn the non-obvious ways the problem is even bigger than it seems on the surface. Additionally, I want to hear about the massive amounts of value that could be unleashed by solving this problem. The best pitches really help a venture firm understand the size of the problem at hand and dimensionalize this aspect of their pitch. 3. Show the unique, unfair advantage you bring to the table in solving the problem There's a lot of entrepreneurs (and incumbants) out there. There's a lot of venture firms out there. They also might be trying to solve the problem you're solving! So you need to be crystal-clear about why you have the upper hand: do you have distribution advantage? Do you have the advantage of perspective? Is your business model unique? Is your technology your edge? It's very important to unpack why you -- the entrepreneur -- are uniquely positioned to be successful in this space. #entrepreneurship #pitchdeck #startups #venturecapital

The worst pitch decks don’t fail because of bad ideas. They fail because of poor storytelling. Healthtech founders often think investors will “get it” if they just see their tech. Spoiler - they won’t. If your STORY isn’t clear, your pitch won’t land. Here’s how you can simplify it: 1. Start with the why, not the what Don’t lead with product features. Start with a real pain point investors can feel, not just understand. 2. Ditch the jargon If they can’t repeat what you do in one line, you’ve lost them. Say: “We help doctors detect cancer 3x faster” Not: “AI-powered clinical decision support system.” 3. Let numbers do the talking Don't claim your product is impactful - prove it. Instead of saying "We're improving patient outcomes," say "Reduced patient readmissions by 25% in 3 months." 4. Make your business model obvious Investors want returns. Who pays? How do you scale? Show the path to profit early - don’t hide it in slide 15. 5. Close with a vision, not just an ask Skip the boring close. Say: “We’re building a future where every patient gets the right treatment - starting with 500 hospitals in 2 years.” The best pitch decks aren’t just data dumps. They’re stories. And the founders who master storytelling don’t just raise money. They build category-defining companies. If an investor only remembers one thing from your pitch, what would it be? #startups #funding #founders #healthtech

In building Equals, we’ve learned so much from others. That’s why we pay it forward whenever we can. 2 weeks ago, we released the deck we used to raise our $6M Seed round with Craft Ventures. Today, we’re following up by releasing the pitch and data deck we used to raise our $16M Series A led by Andreessen Horowitz. Some lessons we learned along the way: 1️⃣ Own the narrative.  Your pitch deck is a punchy story about your startup that doesn’t get lost in the weeds. Your data deck tells that story in numbers, allowing you to dive into business drivers in detail. Master both so you can set the tone, and preempt rather than react to questions. 2️⃣ Build momentum.  Walk through the MVP you built and highlight how its features solve the core problem you’re tackling. Show how early adopters are responding to create a sense of momentum – this is just the tip of the iceberg. 3️⃣ Listen deeply.  You don’t need to be generating tons of revenue at this stage, but it is critical you demonstrate how you’re responding to market feedback. Iterating on your MVP and learning what works will eventually put you on the path to scale. 4️⃣ Don’t boil the ocean.  Hone in on the “hero” data points that drive the overall narrative of your startup. Make sure that every chart is digestible at a glance with a single takeaway that reinforces the story. We’re still early on our journey at Equals. We’re always learning, and we promise to keep sharing. If you found this helpful or want to share your own fundraising tips, let me know in the comments! Link to decks, our data deck template, and full post in the comments 👇

I review hundreds of pitch decks from African founders looking to raise from US/EU investors. Here's what I've learned works. The tweet is right - traction matters. But for African startups, it's about showing the right numbers in the right way. Think about it: "We have 100,000 users" doesn't tell the full story. "We got 20% of Kenya's mobile money agents in 6 months, just through word of mouth" - now that's interesting. Here's what stands out to US/EU investors: 1. Show the opportunity, not just the problem Instead of "Africa has millions unbanked" Try "We're capturing $X billion in daily cash transactions" 2. Your metrics tell a story - How do you get customers? - Why do they stick around? - What makes the business model work? 3. Local insight is your superpower Show investors: - Why you understand these markets - How you work with local partners - What makes your solution perfect for Africa Remember: Investors are backing you to build something special in markets they're curious about but don't fully understand. Make them feel confident, not comfortable. P.S. The best pitch decks don't follow templates. They tell stories investors haven't heard before. But that's a topic for another post... #StartupFunding #AfricanTech #VentureCapital

The fastest way to kill investor interest? A pitch deck full of fluff. "What VCs Actually Want" in pitch deck 1. Simple Problem Statement: ✓ "Companies waste 4 hours per week scheduling meetings" ✓ "Online stores lose $50K yearly to fraud" ✓ "Restaurants throw away 30% of fresh produce" ✓ "HR teams spend 6 hours per hire on paperwork" = Clear pain, specific numbers 2. Direct Solution Language: ✓ "We send AI emails to schedule meetings" ✓ "Our software spots fake transactions in 2 seconds" ✓ "Our app connects restaurants with local food banks" ✓ "Our form builder cuts paperwork to 10 minutes" = Anyone can understand it 3. Real Metrics That Matter: ✓ "Processing 10,000 transactions/month" ✓ "40% margins on each sale" ✓ "Growing 20% week over week" ✓ "90% customer retention after 6 months" = Numbers that show traction 4. Clear Revenue Model: ✓ "Charge $299/month per store" ✓ "Take 2% of each transaction" ✓ "Businesses pay $50 per user" ✓ "Annual contracts at $24K each" = Simple math anyone can do 5. Actual Customer Evidence: ✓ "50 paying customers" ✓ "3 enterprise contracts signed" ✓ "Pilots with Nike and Adidas" ✓ "$50K monthly recurring revenue" = Real proof, not promises What Actually Works? • Start with real customer insights, not just your assumptions. • Show traction—not potential—through metrics. • Simplify the narrative; your deck isn’t a novel. Remember: • VCs don’t invest in slides. They invest in proof, clarity, and conviction. 𝗠𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀: • Does your deck make investors say, “I want to learn more,” or “Next!”? Drop a 🚨 if you’re tired of decks full of fluff. #StartupAdvice #PitchDeck #VentureCapital

𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝟭𝟬𝟬 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽 𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗸𝘀 I’ve been through 100 teaser early stage pitch decks that led to investment. And tried to codify a template. The best decks I see just flow, implicit and explicit is balanced, and as an investor you ‘get it’ instantly. e.g. 1 message per slide, narrative based, no cognitive overload, and in places I’m educated, humoured, surprised etc. 𝗕𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴: 𝘍𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴. 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘹𝘵. 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺. In early stage startup land it’s mostly story, because there often aren’t that many meaningful numbers. Yet. Story telling is invoking feelings and emotion. Obvs. 𝗔𝗻𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗮 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿. Here’s a kicker - 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘦-𝘢𝘮𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘮 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘢 𝘴𝘭𝘪𝘥𝘦. (Or at the very least set a powerful scene - origin and vision with passion wins.) A key challenge I see for many founders is that they know too much about their business. I see it in decks all the time. So breath in grandpa / grandma mode before you walk in the room or open Zoom i.e. would it make sense to them? 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝘀𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗲𝘀, 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗣𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵 This is more positioning than pure pitch. i.e. Value version of ‘It’ plus differentiation. 𝗪𝗵𝘆 Origin story plus your vision works well here wrapped into why you exist. 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 No need for CVs, just short credible soundbites. Why you. 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲𝗱 Get creative and describe your purpose from the client’s perspective. It’s about them not you. 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 Stepped addressable market approach as missions. 1 - 2 - 3 boom. Global domination. 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 Any and all credible financial milestones. Package whatever you have. 𝗚𝗼-𝗧𝗼-𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 Strategy and tactics to get to market. KISSed with proof points. 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 An honest view of how you’ll beat the gorillas in the mist. 2x2s or grids are fine. 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗡𝗼𝘄 Timing and luck are key to success which is trends and insight packaged as FOMO. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝘀𝗸 What you need, from who and why. It’s a 2-way street taking investment. Define your ideal partner. Does this cover all the food groups, no. Is it exhaustive, no. But I see so many that miss basics, I'm hoping it's a useful sanity check, poke in the eye. Let me know your thoughts. #founders #startup #pitchdeck #investment #venturecapital #VC  

This pitch deck breakdown is absolute gold for founders. While every startup is different, the fundamentals of effective storytelling through slides remain surprisingly consistent. (I've also attached Vinod's walkthrough in the comments, worth every minute.) The core principles: - 5-second comprehension rule. Every slide should tell its story within 5 seconds of viewing. If investors have to hunt for your key message or do mental math to understand your traction, you've already lost them. - Front-load your metrics: Don't bury your 40% month-over-month growth on slide 12. Lead with progress that proves momentum, revenue curves, user acquisition, and market expansion. Make it impossible to miss. - Ruthless content curation: Everything non-essential goes to the appendix. Your main deck should be 10-12 slides maximum. The appendix can be 30+ slides for deep-dive questions, but the narrative flow should be crystal clear without it. - Visual hierarchy matters: Use appropriate font sizes, colours, and spacing to guide the eye exactly where you want it. Your most important number should be the biggest thing on the slide. Investors see 100+ decks monthly, and the ones that win funding tell compelling stories with data.