In the world of startups, a well-designed pitch deck can be the difference between securing funding or falling flat. After all, investors spend just 3 minutes and 44 seconds on a pitch deck, and that’s not a lot of time to make an outstanding impression! So every slide, every sentence, and every image counts.
To help you beat the challenge of impressing investors quickly and effectively with pitch decks, we’ve listed out the steps to help you learn how to design a pitch deck. So, keep reading to become a master in the art of designing a lucrative pitch deck that gets the funds flowing in.
Importance of a Well-Designed Pitch Deck
A pitch deck is a concise presentation that provides prospective investors with an overview of your business. It covers key points such as the problem your startup is addressing, the market opportunity you’ve identified, your team’s expertise, and your execution plan.
A well-designed pitch deck is not just about aesthetics, it’s about clearly and concisely conveying your business idea. It’s about storytelling, presenting your vision, and demonstrating your potential for growth. Let’s now dive into a stepwise guide on how to design a pitch deck.
Guide to Designing a Pitch Deck
You must start by researching your target investors to understand what they are looking for and how you can convince them. Then, choose an expert or a pitch deck design agency to work with and explain your brand and target investors to them. Make sure to check the portfolio, budget, and terms to ensure you are on the same page with them. Then, work together to create the key slides, which we will discuss now-
Title Slide- This is the first slide that sets the scene for your business ideas. It should be minimalistic, containing your name and your business’s name and logo. But don’t hesitate to add a snappy tagline if you have one ready!
Introduction Slide- This slide is where you introduce yourself to build interest credibility. You can also use this slide to briefly communicate your unique selling point (USP) or value proposition and describe what your business is and what it does. In general, short and concise introductions are more impactful, so you should include only the major points to give context to investors.
Problem Slide- This is where you start building your story. Use visual cues to showcase your problem in the best possible way. You can start with a story that puts your investors in your customers’ shoes. Make sure you communicate your target buyer’s problem in a clear and relatable manner to show your understanding of the market.
Solution Slide- Once you’ve presented the problem, it’s time to follow up with a viable solution, which is your service or product. You can introduce your solution by explaining or demonstrating how it addresses the problem and offering key details to prepare viewers for the coming slides.
Market Size, Opportunity, and Trends Slide- Here, you can explain the market size, current opportunities, and future trends. You can simply use the key numbers, or apply data visualization tools like a pie chart or bar graph to emphasize your point. Remember to focus on the market potential and justify why it’s the right time for your business to come into the picture.
Product Comparison Slide- If your offering has competitors, you’ll want to pull up a comparison slide to make a visually engaging case for how your solution compares to others. Showing that your product or service exceeds existing options will naturally convince investors about your business’s potential to stand out and attract new customers.
Testimonials Slide- Adding customer testimonials brings social proof to the table, and this is a great way to impress your audience, increase trust and further build on the need for your product or service.
Team Slide- If you already have more than one person involved in your company at this point, you’ll also need a slide that introduces your team in a positive light. This is useful because investors are often more interested if they feel the team is competent, transparent, and reliable.
Traction Slide- In this slide, you can show investors what you have achieved till now. If you already have a growing user base, you can visually show it with the help of a line graph. Take your time with this slide, as showing existing traction effectively will likely build confidence and raise the chances of funding.
Financials Slide- This slide features your business idea’s financial projections in a simple format. You can present complex financial details and projections using charts, graphs, tables, or use other data visualization tools here to make the information easier to digest.
Sales & Marketing Strategy Slide- Interested investors will also want to know the plan you have to reach the goals and financial projections you’ve highlighted — this is where your sales and marketing strategy comes in.
Call-to-Action Slide- Finally, you’ll need a slide that makes the ask. You may summarize the key points and make a reasonable ask for funding in this slide. If you’ve formed a convincing narrative and then made a justified CTA in line with the evidence you provided, investors will likely keep in touch and invest in your company.
You now know how to design a pitch deck per slide, but you must make adjustments to string them together and ensure your pitch deck tells a story. It should take investors on a journey from the problem you’re solving, through your solution, and to your vision for the future.
Moreover, a great pitch deck is not just about the slides. It’s also about how you present them. Practice your presentation delivery, maintain eye contact with your audience, and speak with confidence. Effective delivery is always key to hitting your funding targets.
Examples of Successful Pitch Decks
There are many examples of successful pitch decks that you can draw inspiration from while learning how to design a pitch deck. Here are two effective examples of pitch decks that raised crucial investments for their startups:
Airbnb
Airbnb is a popular online marketplace that connects people who wish to rent out their property with others who are looking for accommodations. Their pitch deck is a comprehensive presentation that concisely communicates the problem-solution, market validation, business model, competition, traction, and financial projections. By explaining all these key aspects clearly, they successfully showcased the company’s growth potential and captured the attention of potential investors.
https://www.slideshare.net/PitchDeckCoach/airbnb-first-pitch-deck-editable
It also used basic infographics, logos, and images while following the brand’s color scheme to create a visually appealing and easily understandable pitch. Airbnbb’s pitch deck is commonly used as a perfect example for those learning how to design a pitch deck.
It’s rather hard to imagine a world without Facebook today. But back in 2004, 21-year-old Eduardo Saverin was just another entrepreneur trying to convince people to put money into a growing company called thefacebook.com. Facebook’s original pitch deck found success by simply and effectively communicating the platform’s vision, growth potential, and unique features to investors.
https://www.slideshare.net/startuphome/facebook-pitch-deck-87761364
It highlighted the problem-solution, market potential, product roadmap, monetization strategies, and competitive advantage in a compact and clear format, resulting in successful fundraising and platform expansion.
Conclusion
Designing a pitch deck is an art. It requires a clear understanding of your business, your market, and your audience. But with careful planning and design, you can create a pitch deck that not only catches the eye of investors but also tells the story of your business in a compelling and engaging. Above all, remember that your pitch deck is your best opportunity to make a strong first impression on investors, so you must make it count by partnering with seasoned design agencies.If the large number of pitch deck design agency options is confusing you, just count on our team of experienced designers who can help you create a professional pitch deck that effectively communicates your business idea. Check out the Infobrandz pitch deck portfolio to get an idea of our proven abilities and make the best choice for your company. Happy fundraising!
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