Top 9 slides for pitch decks

1. Opening Slide
   
2. Motivation
   
3. Sell the problem
   
4. Sell the solution/product
   
5. Market Opportunity
   
6. Traction
   
7. Business Model
   
8. Team
   
9. Objectives
   

1. Opening Slide - Logo & Catchy One Liner

   This is the slide that is on the projector the longest. It should connect your brand, logo, etc, with what you do.

2. Motivation - Why are you doing this?

   What are you trying to do? Get to this point right away. Tell a story.

3. Sell the problem - Know your audience (rich 10 year olds)

   Dont skip this. It is tempting to go to the solution but this comes first.

   If the audience doesn’t believe there is a problem, why would they invest in a solution?

   The audience may not understand the problem like you do. Show how important the issue is. Do it in a simple way so that anyone with a basic education can understand.

4. Sell the solution/product - convince them THEY are right!

   Again, easy to understand, even if it is complex. If it is easy and obvious, all the better.

   Live demo is great. It should look spontaneous but be well practiced. Don’t do audience requests.

5. Market Opportunity - Your market is growing (just add CAGR Compound Annual Growth Rate)

   Demonstrate the market is growing and has opportunity.

   Show two things: market potential and startup position.

   How are you different? The four quadrant chart works well here. Another way is to compare features, you versus competitors.

   Market slide is required. Position slide is not.

6. Traction - Momentum and proof of execution over time (not just revenue & subs)

   Gold standard is revenue and customers. But can be the perfect co-founders, putting a winning team together. It can be research into customers. Timeline is the simplest and best.

   How many new users? How long / how much are they using? What is revenue? Show what puts you in the best light. Retention and activity is what to show.

   Traction overrides everything else. Even if audience doesn’t understand problem or solution, traction will convince them your product/team is worthwhile.

   Make charts tall not wide. Looks better.

   Investors love the growth flywheel. Put in resources and the system keeps growing.

7. Business Model - The business case of how you will monetize

   Don’t focus too much on a 5 year financial forcast. Create a simple business case. Give a simple understanding of the industry. Give highlight figures.

   Even if you are pre-revenue, you have to have a plan to make money.

8. Team - You are the right team or will hire the known unknowns (are you the ones to pull it off?)

   This is one of the most important. If you are a single founder, show that you know your weaknesses and will hire to cover those. Ask if anyone is going to pull this off, is this the team.

   Doesn’t need to be complicated. Show qualifications.

9. Objectives - The Ask - What can the audience do for you?

   Investment? Join the team? Fundraising plans and objectives.

   ps. Founders, know your numbers and connect yourself to your brand. Dress in branded stuff.

Stages:

How much of the presentation should be dedicated to each section depending on the stage of the startup?

	IDEA	ANGEL	SEED	A	B	C
Motivation	25%	20%	15%	10%	0%	0%
Problem	20%	20%	15%	10%	10%	5%
Solution	20%	20%	20%	20%	10%	10%
Traction	0%	0%	10%	20%	15%	15%
Market	5%	5%	5%	5%	5%	5%
Business model	0%	5%	5%	10%	30%	35%
Team	30%	30%	25%	20%	20%	20%
Objectives	0%	0%	5%	5%	10%	10%