How to Create a Pitch Deck That Will Get You Funded: 10 Slides You Need

Since my first angel investment in 2004, I’ve seen thousands of pitch decks. A typical investor at a VC firm will likely review around 500 decks a year. This means that, even though you’ve been working day and night on your business and put in extra effort to perfect your slide deck, you may only have a few minutes to convince an investor to take a meeting with you. It’s a tough reality, but it’s one every founder faces when pitching for funding. My goal with this post is to help you secure that first meeting!

Change Your Mindset

First of all, you need to shift your mindset! When startups present their pitch deck to investors, the objective isn’t just to showcase the company. Instead, you need to craft a compelling argument for why your company deserves an investment. All too often, I see pitch decks overflowing with product and market details but lacking a clear narrative or strategy that demonstrates to investors why it’s a solid investment.

Slide Argumentation

Let’s look at how you can improve your slide argumentation. Take this example: "New legislation is coming." This title does not make a convincing case for investment. But if you reframe it to: "Our company is perfectly positioned to capitalize on new legislation," you not only state the fact but also highlight why your company is a valuable opportunity. As an investor, I need to see that you’ve thought about how external changes impact your business and how you’re positioned to benefit from them.

You should assume that investors are, at the same time, lazy, easily distracted, and always thinking in boxes. Yes, you’ve done your homework and know the strategic focus of the VC firm you’re pitching to, so ensure they can quickly slot you into the box labeled "Within our investment strategy." Be upfront about key details like your monthly recurring revenue (MRR), current business model, and other relevant facts such as your founding date.

Your goal is not just to present your company; it’s to quickly grab the attention of your audience and build a compelling case for why they should invest. Here, I’ll share a framework to help you create a world-class 10-slide presentation that can open the door to investor meetings and put you on the path to securing the funding you need.

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1. Title Slide – Who You Are Start simple. Your first slide should introduce your company’s name and logo, along with a short tagline that clearly explains what your company does. Remember, investors may not know you yet, so clarity is key. Sometimes it’s more effective to be the "Airbnb for X" rather than using an obscure slogan that no one understands.

2. Problem – What Problem Are You Solving? Investors need to know that your company is addressing a real, significant problem. Describe it clearly and concisely. Use data or real-world examples to illustrate its scale and importance. Make sure the problem you’re highlighting is something investors can either relate to or understand intuitively backed by data.

3. Solution – Your Product or Service This is where you explain how your product or service solves the problem. Keep it simple and focused. Avoid overwhelming investors with too many technical details at this stage - save those for follow-up conversations if needed.

4. Market Opportunity – How Big is the Market? You must demonstrate that there’s a large and growing market for your solution. Use numbers and visuals to showcase market size and growth potential. Investors are looking for big opportunities. They need to see how they can 10x their investment, so make sure the market you’re addressing is not only relevant but also scalable.

5. Business Model – How Do You Make Money? Investors want to know how you plan to generate revenue. Clearly explain your revenue model in a way that’s easy to understand. Whether it’s subscription-based, transactional, or something else, it must be obvious how your business will make money. Too often, I see founders clutter this slide with too many business models. Stay focused on your primary model or the one you’ll prioritize in the future.

6. Go-to-Market Strategy – How Will You Reach Your Customers? A great idea is only half the battle. If you’ve achieved product-market-fit at your current level (see this post for more ), show it and explain how you’ll scale. What is the most critical strategy for your company to succeed in achieving its KPIs for the next funding round? Is it tech development, marketing, sales, or partnerships? Be specific.

7. Traction – What Have You Achieved So Far? If you already have traction—whether it’s users, revenue, or partnerships—this is where you show it. Speak with concrete numbers and results. If you’re still early-stage, focus on how you’ve validated your idea and market.

8. Team – Who Are You and Why Can You Execute This? Team, team, team! Investors don’t just invest in ideas—they invest in people. Introduce your team and highlight their relevant experience. Show why your team is the right one to solve the problem, both now and in the future.

9. Financials – What Does the Future Look Like? Present your financial projections for the next few years. Show your expectations for growth in terms of revenue, costs, and profitability. Be realistic, but ambitious. Remember, most investors will monitor your progress for 3-6 months before investing, so you need to demonstrate consistency.

10. Ask – What Do You Need and Why? End with a clear ask and a call to action. How much capital are you seeking, and what will you use it for? VC investors are looking for businesses that can scale quickly. Show which KPIs need to be achieved for the next round. This lets the VC know you understand their process and can be trusted to raise future funding.

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Summary

A well-structured pitch deck should not only inform but also engage and convince investors. Every business is unique, so you might need to emphasize certain areas of your pitch, but following this 10-slide template will help you create a pitch deck that VCs expect to see. Getting an investment is much more about communication than many realize. Once you’ve secured the meeting, the real work begins!

Co-founder of the e-book company Riidr.com , which was sold to JP/Politikens Hus in 2014. Co-founder of Pubfront, developer of digital publishing technologies, sold to the current management in 2017. Investor and CEO of Blueprint Learning, today one of the EU's largest EdTech companies within mandatory continuing education for professionals. Sold my ownership shares in connection with the merger of Blueprint Learning and the Dutch company eWise in 2022. From 2022 to 2024, I have been in Corporate Venture Capital at Coop Invest Venture. I have started or been a business angel in 14 startup companies and have participated in board roles in five of them. I hold a cand.merc from Copenhagen Business School (2008) and specialized in Disruptive Strategy, taught by Prof. Clayton Christensen from Harvard Business School (2015).