What is a Pitch Deck? Tips, Examples & Best Practices (2023)

A pitch deck is a concise presentation used to introduce a business or project to potential investors or clients. It typically includes key information about the company, its products or services, market opportunities, and financial projections. The goal is to capture interest and persuade the audience to take further action, such as investing or forming a partnership.

When Do You Need a Pitch Deck?

A pitch deck is typically needed when you want to present your business or project to potential investors, partners, or clients. It is commonly used during fundraising efforts, startup competitions, business meetings, or networking events where you need to showcase your idea, value proposition, and growth potential in a concise and compelling manner. The pitch deck helps communicate your vision, market opportunity, and competitive advantage to generate interest and support for your venture.

Slides Your Pitch Deck Should Include

A typical pitch deck should include the following slides:

1. Title Slide: Introduce your company or project with a captivating title, your logo, and a brief tagline.
2. Problem Statement: Clearly define the problem or opportunity that your product or service addresses, highlighting its significance and impact.
3. Solution: Present your solution and explain how it solves the problem identified in the previous slide. Focus on the unique value proposition and differentiation of your offering.
4. Market Opportunity: Describe the market size, potential growth, and target audience for your product or service. Use data and statistics to support your claims.
5. Business Model: Explain your revenue generation strategy, pricing model, and how you plan to monetize your offering. Include information on key partnerships or distribution channels if relevant.
6. Technology or Product: Showcase your technology, product, or prototype, highlighting its features, functionality, and any intellectual property you may have.
7. Traction: Share any achievements, milestones, or traction you have gained so far, such as customer acquisition, partnerships, or revenue. This slide demonstrates progress and validation.
8. Competition: Identify your competitors and analyze their strengths and weaknesses. Explain how your product or service stands out and why customers would choose you over alternatives.
9. Marketing and Sales Strategy: Describe your go-to-market strategy, marketing channels, and sales approach. Outline your customer acquisition plan and how you intend to reach your target audience.
10. Team: Showcase your core team members and their relevant expertise, highlighting their accomplishments and qualifications. Investors want to see a capable and well-rounded team.
11. Financials: Present key financial projections, including revenue forecasts, expenses, and profitability. Highlight key metrics and milestones that demonstrate your path to financial success.
12. Investment or Funding: Clearly state your funding requirements, how the investment will be used, and what you offer in return (equity, convertible note, etc.). Summarize your funding history if applicable.
13. Contact Information: Provide your contact details, including email, website, and social media handles, so interested parties can reach out for further discussions.

Important Documents to Include With Your Pitch

When submitting a pitch, it's essential to include the following important documents alongside your pitch deck:

1. Executive Summary: This concise document provides an overview of your business, summarizing key points from your pitch deck. It highlights your value proposition, target market, competitive advantage, and financial projections.
2. Business Plan: A comprehensive business plan outlines your company's mission, vision, goals, and strategies. It includes detailed information about your product/service, market analysis, marketing and sales strategies, operations, financial projections, and more.
3. Financial Projections: Include a separate document that provides detailed financial forecasts, including revenue projections, expense breakdowns, profitability analysis, and funding requirements. This document helps investors assess the financial viability and potential return on investment.
4. Market Research and Analysis: Present a document that showcases in-depth market research, including industry trends, target market demographics, competitive analysis, and any relevant market insights. This demonstrates your understanding of the market landscape and opportunities.
5. Team Bios: Include individual resumes or bios of key team members, emphasizing their relevant experience, expertise, and accomplishments. This helps investors evaluate the capability and credibility of your team.
6. Intellectual Property (IP) Documentation: If you have any patents, trademarks, copyrights, or other forms of intellectual property protection, provide supporting documentation to demonstrate the uniqueness and value of your offering.
7. Customer Testimonials or Case Studies: Include any positive customer testimonials, case studies, or success stories that validate the effectiveness and value of your product or service. This helps build credibility and trust.
8. Milestones and Achievements: Create a document that highlights key milestones, achievements, and notable accomplishments your company has achieved thus far. This can include product launches, partnerships, awards, press coverage, and user adoption metrics.
9. Due Diligence Documents: Prepare any legal or due diligence documents that may be required for further evaluation, such as articles of incorporation, contracts, licenses, permits, or regulatory compliance documents.
10. Appendix: If you have additional supporting materials, such as market research reports, user surveys, technical specifications, or any other relevant documents, include them in an appendix for reference.

Pitch Deck Best Practices & Design Tips

When creating a pitch deck, consider the following best practices and design tips:

1. Keep it concise: Limit the number of slides to around 10-15. Use clear and concise language to convey your message effectively. Avoid overcrowding slides with excessive text or information.
2. Tell a compelling story: Structure your pitch deck like a narrative, with a clear beginning, middle, and end. Capture the attention of your audience from the start and maintain their interest throughout.
3. Focus on key points: Highlight the most important aspects of your business, such as your unique value proposition, target market, revenue model, and growth potential. Keep the focus on what makes your company stand out.
4. Use visuals: Incorporate relevant visuals, such as images, charts, and graphs, to illustrate your points and make your pitch deck visually appealing. Visuals can help convey information more effectively and engage the audience.
5. Maintain consistency: Use a consistent color scheme, font style, and formatting throughout your pitch deck. This creates a professional and cohesive look and helps establish your brand identity.
6. Keep it visually balanced: Avoid cluttered slides by maintaining a good balance between text and visuals. Use white space strategically to enhance readability and highlight key elements.
7. Use a clear and legible font: Choose a font that is easy to read, even from a distance. Stick to standard fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Helvetica to ensure compatibility across different devices.
8. Incorporate a compelling opening slide: Your opening slide should grab attention and provide a clear overview of your business. Consider using a powerful image or a compelling statement to make a strong first impression.
9. Practice and rehearse: Familiarize yourself with the content of your pitch deck and practice presenting it. Rehearse your delivery to ensure a smooth and confident presentation.
10. Customize for the audience: Tailor your pitch deck to the specific audience or investor you're presenting to. Highlight aspects that align with their interests or priorities, demonstrating that you understand their needs.
11. Proofread and edit: Thoroughly proofread your pitch deck to ensure there are no spelling or grammatical errors. Edit the content to make it concise, impactful, and free of jargon.
12. Seek feedback: Share your pitch deck with trusted advisors, mentors, or colleagues and ask for their feedback. Incorporate constructive criticism to improve the clarity and effectiveness of your presentation.

At WOWS Global, our pitch deck creation service includes the following scope of work and deliverables:

1. Pitch Deck Design: Our expert team will design a visually stunning and professional pitch deck tailored to your specific requirements and target audience.
2. Content & Layout Advisory: We will provide guidance on structuring your content and optimizing the layout to ensure a cohesive and impactful presentation.
3. Evaluation of Core Messages: Our team will assess your core messages and value proposition, offering insights and recommendations to strengthen their clarity and resonance.
4. Pitch Guidance: We offer valuable guidance on delivery techniques, storytelling, and presentation skills to help you deliver a compelling pitch that engages your audience.
5. Up to 2 Rounds of Iteration: We provide the opportunity for up to two rounds of iteration, allowing you to provide feedback and collaborate with our team to refine your pitch deck.
6. Less than 7 Days Turnaround: We understand the urgency of your business needs, and our dedicated team is committed to delivering your pitch deck within a turnaround time of less than seven days.

Ready to Implement an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)?
At WOWS Global, we specialize in creating custom Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) that set your company up for success. Our team manages every step of the ESOP setup process, from policy creation to employee onboarding, ensuring it aligns with your business objectives.

To find out more, visit our ESOP Services page or schedule a no-obligation chat with one of our experts today to discuss how we can assist with your company's ESOP needs.