How can you make your pitch deck more inclusive for a diverse audience?

1 Know your audience

Before you design your pitch deck, do some research on who you are pitching to. What are their backgrounds, interests, values, and expectations? What are their pain points, goals, and challenges? How can you tailor your pitch to address their specific needs and concerns? How can you demonstrate that you understand their perspective and context? Knowing your audience will help you choose the right tone, language, and visuals for your pitch deck, as well as avoid any assumptions, stereotypes, or biases that might undermine your credibility or rapport.

2 Use clear and inclusive language

The language you use in your pitch deck can make a big difference in how your audience perceives your startup. Use clear, concise, and jargon-free language that explains your idea, your solution, and your traction in a way that anyone can understand. Avoid acronyms, technical terms, or slang that might confuse or exclude some of your listeners. Use inclusive and respectful language that avoids gendered, racialized, or otherwise discriminatory terms or expressions. For example, instead of saying "we target millennials", say "we target young adults aged 18 to 35". Instead of saying "we are the Uber of X", say "we are a platform that connects X with Y". Instead of saying "we are disrupting the Z industry", say "we are creating a new value proposition for the Z industry".

3 Choose diverse and relevant visuals

The visuals you use in your pitch deck can also have a significant impact on how your audience engages with your startup. Choose visuals that are relevant, high-quality, and consistent with your brand and message. Avoid visuals that are irrelevant, low-quality, or inconsistent with your brand and message. Use visuals that reflect the diversity of your target market, your team, and your stakeholders. Avoid visuals that reinforce stereotypes, marginalize, or exclude certain groups or individuals. For example, instead of using stock photos of generic people, use photos of real customers, users, or team members. Instead of using charts or graphs that are hard to read or interpret, use charts or graphs that are simple, clear, and highlight your key metrics or achievements.

5 Practice and prepare

Finally, the most important tip to make your pitch deck more inclusive is to practice and prepare for your pitch. Practice your pitch in front of a mirror, a camera, or a friend, and record yourself or ask for feedback. Pay attention to your voice, your body language, your eye contact, and your timing. Make sure that you are confident, enthusiastic, and respectful in your pitch. Prepare for any questions, objections, or challenges that your audience might have, and have ready answers, examples, or evidence to support your claims. By practicing and preparing, you will be able to deliver your pitch with ease and professionalism, and impress your audience with your startup.

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?