How do you make a great pitch deck?

1 Know your audience

Before you start creating your pitch deck, you need to understand who you are pitching to and what they are looking for. Different types of investors, partners, or customers may have different expectations, interests, and questions about your startup. Do some research on their background, goals, preferences, and pain points, and tailor your pitch deck accordingly. For example, if you are pitching to angel investors, you may want to emphasize your problem-solution fit, market opportunity, and traction. If you are pitching to venture capitalists, you may want to highlight your product-market fit, scalability, and competitive advantage.

3 Use simple and powerful language

A pitch deck should use simple and powerful language that conveys your message clearly and persuasively. Avoid jargon, acronyms, and technical terms that may confuse or alienate your audience. Use short and catchy sentences that highlight your main points and benefits. Use active and positive verbs that show your confidence and enthusiasm. Use numbers and data to back up your claims and show your credibility. Use stories and anecdotes to illustrate your problem, solution, and customer feedback. Use questions and challenges to engage your audience and spark their curiosity.

4 Design for impact

A pitch deck should design for impact that attracts and retains your audience's attention and reinforces your message. Avoid cluttering your slides with too much text, images, or graphics that may distract or overwhelm your audience. Use whitespace, contrast, and alignment to create a clean and balanced layout. Use fonts, colors, and icons that are consistent and match your brand identity. Use images, charts, and diagrams that are relevant and support your data and arguments. Use animations, transitions, and effects sparingly and only when they add value or clarity. Use a consistent and professional style throughout your pitch deck.

5 Practice and refine

A pitch deck is not a standalone document, but a tool to support your verbal pitch. Therefore, you need to practice and refine your pitch deck and your delivery until you are confident and comfortable. Practice your pitch aloud and time yourself to make sure you fit within your allotted time. Practice your pitch in front of different audiences and get feedback on your content, design, and presentation. Practice your pitch in different scenarios and prepare for possible questions and objections. Practice your pitch until you can deliver it with passion, clarity, and conviction.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?