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Research suggests that the average investor will spend just 3 minutes and 20 seconds looking at your pitch deck. 😮
That means you have mere moments to grab attention, make an impact, and convince your audience your startup is worth investing in.
Here we talk you through some tips to capture attention and get that funding.
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A pitch deck is a concise and visual way to introduce your company and its potential to investors. The main goal of a pitch deck is to teach someone about your business in a short space of time and showcase all the things you're good at.
A good pitch deck should answer the following questions:
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Tip: When designing your pitch deck, aim for 10–15 slides. Anything shorter may leave out key information, while anything longer suggests you can’t clearly communicate your offering.
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Below, we’ve outlined some key slides to include in your pitch deck.
Keep in mind, there’s no single “correct” order for a pitch deck. The content and structure should depend on your audience and what they’re looking for. What’s most important is presenting your story as clearly and compellingly as possible, no matter who you’re pitching to.
<aside> <img src="https://prod-files-secure.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/a75b9758-9d88-4a04-b2a2-1996334fa57f/11e1a83f-8d78-4d1d-9d40-bf3e465d29d6/canva_logo.png" alt="https://prod-files-secure.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/a75b9758-9d88-4a04-b2a2-1996334fa57f/11e1a83f-8d78-4d1d-9d40-bf3e465d29d6/canva_logo.png" width="40px" /> We recommend using Canva for your pitches. It is super intuitive to use and helps you to build fun and engaging pitches with their built-in template library.
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Even strong businesses can lose interest if the deck is messy or confusing.
The most common pitch-killers are:
❌ Vague or poorly defined problem
❌ Overloaded slides with walls of text
❌ Missing “traction” or a clear ask
❌ Generic statements with no evidence
❌ No urgency around market timing
❌ Inconsistent or sloppy design
❌ Hard-to-read fonts, charts, or visuals
A pitch deck should be sharp, credible, and easy to scan., the reader should grasp the main point your trying to make in seconds.
Focus on:
✅ One idea per slide – every slide should have one takeaway message
✅ Evidence your points– specific numbers, traction, and proof points matter more than buzzwords
✅ Visual storytelling – charts, diagrams, and graphics should highlight your message, rather than paragraphs of text
✅ Consistency – align fonts, colors, and design elements across the deck
✅ Readability – use large fonts, high contrast, and simple layouts (if a reader has to zoom or squint to read it, then you’ve lost them)
✅ Flow– Tell your story in a clear way: problem → solution → traction → opportunity → ask
✅Read it through – double-check spelling, formatting, and data accuracy; small mistakes erode trust
How To Perfectly Pitch Your Seed Stage Startup With Y Combinator's Michael Seibel
Kevin Hale - How to Pitch Your Startup
How Pitching Investors is Different Than Pitching Customers - Michael Seibel
The Best Pitch Deck Examples | Pitch Deck Hunt
Startup Pitch Deck Collection - www.alexanderjarvis.com
How to design a better pitch deck : YC Startup Library | Y Combinator
How to Create a Compelling Market Size Slide (With Examples)
The Only 10 Slides You Need in Your Pitch - Guy Kawasaki
How to build your seed round pitch deck : YC Startup Library | Y Combinator
Free Template for Great Startup Pitch Decks, Direct from VCs