A pitch deck is a brief presentation providing your audience a quick overview of your business. With regards to startups, founders are pitching for funding from angel investors and VCs. This can occur at various stages, but typically happens when cash becomes a constraint to your growth. The deck is a vehicle to either get to the first meeting or a follow-up to an interested investor. These slides are my advice on what early stage startups should consider to include when pitching to investors.

1. How To Master The Pitch Deck
Harry Alford
Humble Ventures
h

2. How to Master the Pitch Deck | June 2018
Agenda
What Is A Pitch Deck
Why Pitch And To Whom
How To Stand Out
Challenges
Tools
Outline

3. How to Master the Pitch Deck | June 2018
What Is A Pitch Deck
A brief presentation or overview of your business
Structure may vary based on audience (teaser, in-person,
email)
10-20 slides

4. How to Master the Pitch Deck | June 2018
Why Pitch And To Whom
Regardless of stage, a pitch deck
is typically used to raise funding
and awareness about your
business
The founder is the best person to
present the deck as she knows
the ins and outs of the company
One person should be pitching
Used for pitching to:
• Accelerators
• Investors
• Mentors
• Customers
• Partners
• Employees

5. How to Master the Pitch Deck | June 2018
How To Stand Out
Hook them from the start
Tell a story supported by right outline
Name a big change in the world
Simplify your message
Be persuasive
Help the audience understand
who the customer is, what you are
doing for them and how you are
doing it
“We give everyone access to a
private driver by tapping the app
and getting a ride.”

6. How to Master the Pitch Deck | June 2018
Challenges
Whether in private or in front of a large audience
at demo day:
• Risk of losing control of narrative
• Investors are looking for holes and areas to
disprove your business model
Angels invest in 2.5% of the companies they
evaluate
Venture Capital firms invest in 1% of
companies they evaluate
Investors have limited time so avoid:
• Sharing too much information
• Sounding like a used car salesman
• Emailing repeatedly
• Putting too much content on each slide
• Making it too long
• Being unprepared
According to Gust software for angel groups

7. How to Master the Pitch Deck | June 2018
Tools For Creating Pitch Deck
Software:
• PowerPoint
• Keynote
• Prezi
Delivered by email:
• Dataroom
• DocSend
• PDF
Face-to-face, share screen, online meetings:
• Google Hangout
• Zoom
Additional Resources:
• Pitch Creator
• David Teten’s checklist
• Pitch Deck Template
• Flat Icon
• Lean Canvas

8. How to Master the Pitch Deck | June 2018
Pitch Deck Outline
1. Introduction
2. Vision
3. Problem
4. Solution
5. Product Demo*
6. Business Model
7. Market Opportunity
8. Differentiation/Competition
9. Traction*
10. Milestones/Roadmap
11. Team*
12. Ask
13. Contact
14. Appendix (optional)
*Satisfy at least one of these categories

9. How to Master the Pitch Deck | June 2018
Introduction
First slide should clearly indicate who you are and what
your startup does …“We are x for y”
Display logo in the center followed by your mantra
Contact info w/ website and email

10. How to Master the Pitch Deck | June 2018
Vision
This slide can be as simple as an
image or a one-liner
Vision represents how you see
the world and why you even
launched this startup

11. How to Master the Pitch Deck | June 2018
Problem
What’s the problem you’re trying to solve?
Demonstrate that it is in fact a problem worth solving
Support reasons with data

12. How to Master the Pitch Deck | June 2018
Solution
Tell us how you’re solving the problem
Whether you’re building a new
technology or new approach to
existing business model, be specific

13. How to Master the Pitch Deck | June 2018
Product Demo
Show how your
product/service works
Consider displaying
screenshots of how a
user navigates through
the app from left to right
Help investors better
understand the UI/UX
without actually using
your app

14. How to Master the Pitch Deck | June 2018
Business Model
How are you generating revenue and making a profit from
startup operations?
Tiered pricing options?
Describe metrics you’ll need to hit to be cash flow break
even

15. How to Master the Pitch Deck | June 2018
Market Opportunity
What’s the size of your market?
How many can you reach?
Who will be the likely buyers?

16. How to Master the Pitch Deck | June 2018
Differentiation/Competition
Who are you competing
against for market share?
What makes you different from
the other players?
Startups typically do matrices
or x/y axis
You can also convey
differentiation with logos and
one-liners

17. How to Master the Pitch Deck | June 2018
Traction
Traction is evidence that your business model is working
and a sign that you have at least prodded in the market
Highlight:
• Revenue
• Key metrics
• Changes in growth
• Customer testimonials
• Traction channel

18. How to Master the Pitch Deck | June 2018
Milestones/Roadmap
A timeline of where you’ve come from and where you’re
heading helps better illustrate your path and achievements

19. How to Master the Pitch Deck | June 2018
Team
Background information on impactful team members
Previous startups launched
Domain expertise
Where you went to school
Who your advisors are
Not a full Résumé

20. How to Master the Pitch Deck | June 2018
Ask
Always close with an ask:
• Funding
• Mentorship
• Connections
• Partners
How much are you raising,
what’s your financing to date?

21. How to Master the Pitch Deck | June 2018
Contact
Complete your pitch with similar format as your opening
slide
There’s always the risk someone doesn’t know your
website or where to reach you

22. How to Master the Pitch Deck | June 2018
Appendix (Optional)
Reserve all other analytics and deep financials
Good option to have in case your audience has follow-up
questions
One to 10 slides

23. How to Master the Pitch Deck | June 2018
How To Master The Pitch Deck
For More Information Contact
Start@humble.vc