What slides should a pitch deck have?
Putting together a pitch deck can feel like trying to cram your entire business into a PowerPoint sandwich. Trust me, I’ve been there. You’re staring at a blank screen, wondering how to condense years of blood, sweat, and tears into a few measly slides. It’s enough to make you want to pull your hair out.
But here’s the thing – it doesn’t have to be that way. I’ve been in the trenches, helping startups like HealthJoy raise $106M and Adknowledge secure $240M. I’ve seen pitch decks that made investors’ eyes glaze over faster than a kid in math class, and others that had them reaching for their checkbooks before the last slide.
So, let’s break down how to create a pitch deck that’ll have investors chomping at the bit to fund your startup.
- The Problem Slide: What’s Keeping People Up at Night?
Start with the problem you’re solving. This isn’t the time to be subtle. Paint a picture of the pain your customers are feeling. When we were pitching HealthJoy, we talked about how confusing and frustrating healthcare can be. Make investors feel that pain.
- Your Solution: Be the Aspirin to Their Headache
Now, show how you’re swooping in to save the day. Don’t get bogged down in technical details. Keep it simple. For HealthJoy, we basically said, “We’re making healthcare easy to understand and use.” Boom.
- Market Size: Show Me the Money!
Investors want to know if there’s a pot of gold at the end of this rainbow. Use clear numbers to show the market size. But don’t just throw out big numbers. Break it down into TAM (Total Addressable Market), SAM (Serviceable Addressable Market), and SOM (Serviceable Obtainable Market).
- Business Model: How Are You Going to Make It Rain?
Explain how you’re going to turn your idea into cold, hard cash. Be specific about your revenue streams. If you’re not sure yet, that’s okay. Show that you’ve thought about it and have some solid ideas.
- Traction: Prove You’re Not Just Another Pipe Dream
If you’ve got early customers or users, now’s the time to brag a little. I remember our first MVP at HealthJoy? It was almost embarrassing. But we focused on the potential and the early adopters who saw that potential. That’s what got investors excited. We eventually ended up pivoting, but
- Competition: Who Else Is in the Ring?
Don’t pretend you don’t have competition. Investors aren’t buying it. Instead, show that you understand the landscape and explain why you’re different. Use a simple comparison chart if it helps.
- Team: Your All-Star Lineup
Investors aren’t just betting on an idea; they’re betting on people. Highlight your team’s strengths and how they complement each other. Don’t be afraid to address weaknesses too – it shows self-awareness.
- Financials: Show Me the (Future) Money
Be realistic but optimistic. Show projections for the next 3-5 years. If you’re pre-revenue, that’s okay. Focus on your plan to get to revenue and key metrics you’ll track.
- Go-to-Market Strategy: How You’ll Take Over the World
Outline your plan for getting your product into customers’ hands. Be specific about your channels and tactics. This is where having a solid brand strategy really pays off – it makes your GTM plan so much clearer.
- The Ask: What Do You Need to Make Magic Happen?
Be clear about how much money you’re looking for and what you’ll do with it. Tie it to specific milestones. This shows you’ve thought things through and aren’t just looking for a blank check.
Remember, your pitch deck is telling a story. It should flow naturally from one slide to the next, building excitement as you go. And don’t forget – your company mission and vision is the backbone of this story. It’s what ties everything together and gets investors excited about the future you’re building.
Now, knowing what goes into a killer pitch deck is one thing, but actually putting it all together in a way that captures your unique vision? That’s where things can get tricky. But don’t worry, we’re here to help. At BrandStrategy.vip, we specialize in helping founders like you nail down your company vision and turn it into a compelling story that investors can’t resist. We’ll work with you to clarify your brand strategy, which will make creating that pitch deck a breeze.
