What Investors Want in a Pitch Deck (And What They Don’t)

Your pitch deck is your startup's handshake. It needs to tell a story, prove traction, and show you can build something real.

The 10-slide pitch format:

1. Problem

2. Solution

3. Market Opportunity

4. Product Demo

5. Business Model

6. Traction

7. Go-to-Market Plan

8. Competitive Landscape

9. Team

10. Ask + Use of Funds

What to leave out:

• Overly detailed financials for pre-revenue startups

• Industry buzzwords with no substance

• Slides with no visuals or too much text

Telling your story: Keep your narrative simple. Focus on the journey: problem, insight, solution, growth.

Design tips:

• Use large visuals and minimal text

• Make every slide answer one key question

• Include a clickable product demo if possible

Investor pet peeves:

• Overpromising technology

• No clear revenue model

• Asking for money without showing traction

Final note: A good pitch deck is a teaser. It opens the door to a conversation.