Pitch Deck

Create investor-ready pitch decks that get meetings, pass AI screening, and tell your story without you in the room.

Pitch Deck vs. Presented Deck

| Aspect | Presented Deck | Pitch Deck | |--------|---------------|------------| | Text density | Minimal — speaker adds context | Higher — must stand alone | | Structure | Flexible narrative | Expected frameworks (Sequoia, YC) | | Traction | Discussed verbally | Shown prominently with charts | | The Ask | Built to naturally | Explicit dedicated slide | | Length | Flexible | 10-15 slides max | | Reading speed | 3 sec/slide (glance media) | 30-60 sec/slide (studied) |

The 10-Slide Framework

Slide 1: Title

Company name, one-line description, contact info, optional traction hook.

Slide 2: Problem

The pain point — who experiences it, why it's urgent. Lead with customer quotes or data. If the problem isn't real or urgent, nothing else matters.

Slide 3: Solution

Product in 30 seconds. Show transformation ("Before → After"), not feature lists.

Slide 4: Traction

Charts over text. Revenue, users, growth rate, milestones, customer logos. Move this earlier if numbers are strong.

Slide 5: Market Size

TAM, SAM, SOM with clear definitions. Bottom-up calculation preferred. Why now?

**TAM:** $X global market
**SAM:** $Y — target segment in target geographies
**SOM:** $Z — specific niche you're capturing now

Slide 6: Business Model

How you make money. Pricing structure, unit economics (CAC, LTV, payback), path to profitability.

Slide 7: Competition

Competitive landscape (matrix or quadrant). Your differentiation. Never say "no competition."

Slide 8: Team

Photos, names, one-line credentials. Why this team wins. Key advisors if notable.

Slide 9: Financials & Roadmap

Revenue projections (realistic), key milestones, use of funds preview, path to next round.

Slide 10: The Ask

Amount, use of funds breakdown, milestones it unlocks, clear CTA.

**Raising:** $XM [Stage]

**Use of Funds:**
- 50% Product (core features, AI capabilities)
- 30% Go-to-market (sales team, partnerships)
- 20% Operations (support, infrastructure)

**Next step:** 30-minute call to discuss partnership

Writing for Async Reading

Headlines: Bold but complete

Bad:  "Traction" (too sparse for async)
Good: "1,000+ Customers, $10M ARR, 10% MoM Growth"

Body text: More context, still scannable

2-3 bullet points per section, each a complete thought
Bold the key phrase, explain after

Data: Always visualize

Charts > Tables > Bullets > Paragraphs

The "Forwardable" Test

If an associate forwards this to a partner with no context, does it make sense?

AI Screening

Modern VC firms use AI to screen decks. Optimize for extraction:

Clear slide titles matching expected categories
Metrics in text, not just images
Consistent formatting so data can be parsed

Common Mistakes

| Mistake | Why it fails | |---------|-------------| | No clear ask | Investors don't know what you want | | Features over benefits | They care about outcomes, not specs | | TAM fantasy | "$1T market" without credible math | | No traction proof | Words without evidence | | Too many slides | 20+ signals lack of focus | | No team photos | Feels impersonal, forgettable |

Format Guidelines

10 slides ideal, 15 max. Appendix slides clearly separated.
PDF for sending — under 10MB, named Company - Stage Deck - Month Year.pdf
High contrast for data visualization, readable at 50% zoom (how VCs often review)

Workflow

Clarify the raise — stage, amount, use of funds
Identify traction — what's the strongest proof point?
Choose framework — Sequoia (story-driven) or YC (traction-driven)
Draft 10 slides — one idea per slide
Apply forwardable test — does each slide work standalone?
Cut ruthlessly — every slide must earn its place