How To Create A Pitch Deck That Captivates Investors

As an entrepreneur, having a brilliant business idea is just the beginning. The real challenge is securing the funding to bring that vision to life. And, it’s a challenge that often feels insurmountable.

Many startups have a difficult time finding investors. The lack of guidance on how to get the capital they need can be frustrating, but there is a solution to this problem – crafting a pitch deck.

What is a Pitch Deck?

A pitch deck is a concise presentation that outlines your business idea and convinces investors to invest. This presentation should be clear, engaging, and persuasive.

• It lays out the problem you are solving.
• It describes your solution in detail.
• It showcases your market opportunity.
• It explains your business model.
• It includes your investment ask.

6 Essential Elements of a Pitch Deck

These elements are crucial for creating a compelling pitch deck that resonates with investors.

• Problem Statement: Highlight the pain points that your target market faces.
• Your Solution: Clearly explain how your product or service solves the problem.
• What Sets You Apart: Differentiate your solution from existing alternatives in the market.
• The Market Opportunity: Show investors the size and potential of your target market, including data on market trends and growth.
• Your Business Model: Present a realistic plan for how you will generate revenue and become profitable.
• Your Investment Ask: State the amount of funding you need, how you will use it, and the potential return on investment.

Pitch Deck Design - Key Takeaways

A well-designed pitch deck can leave a lasting impression on investors. Keep the design clean and engaging to capture and hold their attention.

Don’t make it too complex! Focus on simplicity, using about 12-15 slides.

Key Slides to Include

Every slide should serve a purpose. Use the slides to tell a story, not just to show numbers. Here’s a helpful breakdown of what to include on each slide.

• Slide 1: A one-sentence summary of your product.
• Slide 2: Visuals of your product(s), exactly what you are selling.
• Slide 3: The market opportunity, including potential customers and projected revenue.
• Slide 4: How you will build your business and your path to success.
• Slide 5: Your financial plans and projections.
• Slide 6: Proof of concept, including traction to date and any revenue already generated.
• Slide 7: Your customer acquisition strategy and product rollout plan.
• Slide 8: Your competition and why you are different and better.
• Slide 10: You and your team – their experience and expertise.
• Slide 11: Investment request, including how the funds will be used.
• Slide 12: An appendix to address common questions and provide additional information.

Pitch Deck Examples

For inspiration, you can find many successful pitch deck examples from companies like Facebook, Airbnb, and LinkedIn, all of which have raised billions of dollars.

These companies used their pitch decks to communicate their vision and secure investment. There is a lot you can learn from these examples, but don't just copy them – create something unique that showcases your own entrepreneurial spirit and vision.

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Building a successful business doesn’t have to be lonely. The Foundr+ membership provides entrepreneurs with resources and a community to help them navigate the challenges of launching and scaling a business.

Foundr+ membership offers access to:

• World-class instructors
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The membership provides everything you need to build a successful business.