If you’re raising money, your pitch deck is your startup’s first impression. And while every startup is different, investors tend to ask the same questions. For example:
- What’s the problem you’re solving?
- How big is the opportunity?
- Why you?
- Why now?
The best startup pitch decks anticipate these questions and answer them clearly – they don’t leave investors guessing about the important stuff. That’s why most successful startup decks follow a pretty similar structure. You don’t need to reinvent the wheel – you just need to tell a clear story using the right slides.
The 10 essential slides in every pitch deck
- Title: Establishes credibility and sets the tone for the pitch; clearly states who you are, what you do, and how to reach you
- Problem: Creates urgency by describing a real, pressing problem that demands a solution
- Market Size: Quantifies the opportunity by showcasing the size of the problem and the financial potential
- Solution: Demonstrates how your product or service addresses the problem (i.e., its value proposition) and provides a unique advantage
- Business Model: Explains exactly how you make money, who pays you, and your model to scale revenue (e.g., B2B subscription model)
- Competition: Maps out competitors in the same market and highlights how you will beat them
- Team: Highlights key team members, their expertise, and why they are the best fit to execute
- Traction: Provides evidence of real-world adoption, growth, or key milestones that validate the business
- Financial Projections: Maps out revenue forecasts, key metrics, and a path to profitability
- The Ask: Clearly states how much funding is needed, how it will be used, and what investors will get in return
Every example below comes from the PowerTools Startup Pitch Deck Template. It has multiple easily customizable PowerPoint slides for each of the ten categories. You can easily choose the one that fits your startup best and customize it using the guidance tips.
1. Title
This slide creates an instant impression with your name, tagline, and contact info. It sets the tone for your deck—clean, confident, and clear. A strong sample voiceover might sound like: “Good morning, I’m [your name], founder of [startup name]. We’re building [brief value proposition] to solve [major problem]. Our mission is simple: [mission statement].” Avoid too much text, unclear taglines, or cluttered designs that distract from your message.
2. Problem
Investors need to feel the pain. This slide makes the problem real by using data or stories that show who suffers and why current solutions fall short. You might say, “Every day, [target customers] struggle with [problem]. It’s inefficient, costly, and creates [specific negative impact]. Current alternatives fail because [reason].” Don’t be vague or rely on issues too niche or unsupported by data.
3. Market Size
This slide proves the opportunity is big and worth chasing. Break it down into TAM, SAM, and SOM to show your thinking. For example: “The global market for [industry] is valued at [$X billion], growing at [X]% annually. Our initial focus is [segment], worth [$X million].” Stay away from fluffy estimates like “if we capture 1% of China…” and back your numbers with sources.
4. Solution
Here’s where you show how you solve the problem and why your approach is better. Keep it simple and visual. A typical voiceover might go, “We’ve built [product] to [brief description]. Unlike [competitor], our solution [key differentiator], reducing [pain point] by [X]%.” Don’t overexplain or go too technical—focus on clarity and impact.
5. Business Model
Explain how you make money, who pays you, and how you plan to scale. Investors want to hear: “We operate on a [business model] with customers paying [pricing]. Our CAC is [$X] and LTV is [$Y], creating a strong return on investment.” Be precise—avoid vague plans and make your unit economics compelling.
6. Competition
This slide shows you know the landscape and how you’ll win. A good narrative might be: “While [competitor] focuses on [X], they fail to address [Y]. Our approach uniquely [differentiator], making us the preferred choice for [target audience].” Claiming you have no competitors is a red flag—use this slide to highlight your edge.
7. Team
Investors back people. This slide explains why you and your team are the right ones for the job. For example: “I’m [your name], previously at [company], and my co-founder [name] brings [expertise]. Together, we’ve built [past achievements].” Highlight founder-market fit and address any experience gaps.
8. Traction
Show proof that things are working. Whether it’s growth, partnerships, or pilot programs, you want to say: “Since launch, we’ve grown to [X customers], with [X]% month-over-month growth. We’ve partnered with [companies] and generated [$X revenue].” Avoid vanity metrics and make your traction undeniable.
9. Financial Projections
This slide outlines your path to profitability using 3–5 year projections. Say something like: “We project revenue of [$X] in year one, growing to [$Y] by year five. Our model is based on [key assumptions]. Our path to profitability is [timeline].” Keep it realistic and grounded in assumptions you can justify.
10. The Ask
Be direct about what you need and why. A clear ask sounds like: “We’re raising [$X] to achieve [specific goals]. This will allow us to [scale, launch, or expand], positioning us for [next milestone].” Investors want to know how their money will be used and what they’ll get in return.
Great pitch decks tell a clear, compelling story. These ten slides are your foundation—but remember, they’re just the beginning. The PowerTools Startup Pitch Deck Template gives you dozens more options for each slide type, so you can tailor your story while hitting every investor expectation.
