What is a Pitch Deck?

A pitch deck is usually the first communication tool which provides an external audience with an overview of the business. The main goal of the pitch deck is to raise funds for the startup.  It is a brief presentation that gives an overview of the business to potential investors. The presentation is often created using software such as PowerPoint, Keynote, or Prezi. The pitch deck, in essence, is the summary of your business plan.

Purpose of a Pitch Deck

A pitch deck is used for face-to-face and online meetings with potential investors, customers, and partners. It is a representative tool for the external audience that displays the business model and structure. The pitch deck briefly showcases the structure, idea, and metrics to external audiences. To learn the differnece between a pitch deck and business plan read our detailed article, Pitch Deck vs Business Plan.

How to make the perfect Pitch Deck

1. Each slide should be limited to express one idea.
2. There should be consistency throughout the presentation. The font, size, color, and theme should remain the exact same.
3. Remember, the pitch deck needs to have only the essentials. 
4. Both the pitch deck and delivery should be impecable. 

The three key elements to successful pitches are clear and simple, compelling, and easy to act on.

What makes a Pitch Deck?

The pitch deck should tell a story about the business. Before creating a pitch desk think from the perspective of the investor. What would an investor want to know? What would get the investor craving for more? Best practices dictate that the pitch should start off by stating the problem, include the business model, and lastly, it should mention the future projections. To read a detalied article on parts of a pitch deck, you can read our article here.

Your pitch deck should NEVER exceed 19 slides.

A 3-Minute Ptich

A 3-minute pitch = Problem + Solution + Competition + Market + Team + Future

This is a common format used by VC to weed the good from the bad. Expect most venture capitalist to grant three minutes to pitch the idea. If they like what they hear, they will follow up with either a more detailed presentation or ask for the business plan. 

Sentient Solutions has helped many clients prepare pitch decks, consult with our experts by following this link.