How to Present a Pitch Deck [A Practical Guide]
- Ink Narrates | The Presentation Design Agency
- Aug 22, 2024
- 6 min read
Updated: Jul 28
A few weeks ago, Jessica (one of our clients) asked a question right in the middle of reviewing her investor deck:
“How do I not bore the room when I present this?”
Our Creative Director didn’t miss a beat. He said,
“By remembering the deck isn’t the hero — you are.”
That one line sums it up. As a presentation design agency, we work on a lot of pitch decks throughout the year. Tech startups, product teams, founders prepping for Series A or even just testing the waters with angel investors — we’ve seen them all. And in the process, we’ve noticed one common challenge: people treat presenting like reading instructions aloud.
So, in this blog, we’ll show you how to present a pitch deck like you’re telling a story that matters — not narrating a manual.
Let’s get into it.
In case you didn't know, we specialize in only one thing: making presentations. We can help you by designing your slides and writing your content too.
Why Presenting a Pitch Deck Is a Skill You Can’t Skip
Let’s get one thing straight. A pitch deck doesn’t win funding. The way you present it does.
You could walk in with the cleanest-looking slides and the strongest numbers, but if your delivery falls flat, none of it will stick. Investors aren't just evaluating the idea on your slides. They're watching you. How you think. How you simplify. How you handle pressure. How you talk about risk without sounding like you're trying to dodge it.
That’s why how to present a pitch deck is a skill founders need to take seriously — and not just as a final step. It’s not some cherry on top. It is the presentation.
But here’s what we keep seeing: people lean on their slides like a crutch. They use the deck to talk for them. They forget that a pitch is a conversation, not a narration. And that one shift in mindset? It changes everything.
Because when you stop hiding behind your slides, and start leading the room, the pitch stops being a slideshow — and starts being a story worth betting on.
How to Present a Pitch Deck
Alright. So, you’ve got your pitch deck. The slides are sharp. The numbers are solid. The story holds together. Now comes the part everyone underestimates: the actual presentation.
Let’s break this down practically — what to focus on, what to avoid, and what actually moves the room.
1. Stop Reading. Start Framing.
You are not there to narrate what’s already on the slide. If people can read your deck, they don’t need you standing in front of them doing the same job. Your role is to frame the content, not echo it.
For example, let’s say your slide says “$4.8M revenue in Year 2.” Don’t repeat that.
Say: "We saw almost 5 million in revenue last year, and here's what that number doesn't tell you — the pace of growth came from just one product line. That’s what we’re doubling down on now."
See the difference? You’re giving context. You’re leading the thought process. That’s the job.
2. Your First 2 Minutes Are Everything
Most founders burn the first few minutes talking about themselves or going through the agenda slide. Big mistake. You’ve got two minutes — maybe less — before people decide if they’re going to mentally stay with you or not. So lead with clarity and confidence.
Start with something that frames the opportunity:
“We’re solving one of the biggest headaches for logistics teams: manual routing.”
“There’s a gap in the market that no one’s touching, and it’s costing mid-size retailers millions.”
That’s what hooks people. Not your background. Not your team bios. Lead with the problem and show that you’re locked in on it. That’s what earns attention.
3. Don’t Let the Slides Steal the Show
We see this often. Founders over-design their decks or pack them with data, hoping the visuals will carry the weight. But here’s the thing: if your slides are more interesting than you, something’s off.
A good deck supports the story. It’s there to underline what you're saying — not replace it.
Our rule: your slides should be like backing vocals. Helpful, clear, and always one step behind the lead — which is you.
4. Know Your Transitions Cold
Where most people stumble isn’t the content — it’s the transitions. They finish one slide, pause, and say, “Okay… so the next slide...” And that pause, that tiny bit of hesitation, chips away at confidence.
You need to know exactly how you’re moving from one slide to the next. Treat your transitions like they’re part of the message.
For instance:
“So that’s the market gap. Now here’s how we’re solving it.”
“We’ve covered the product. Let’s talk traction.”
“Before we get into the numbers, I want to show you what adoption looked like.”
These are clean, controlled handoffs. They keep the energy intact. And most of all, they make you sound like someone who’s done this before — even if it’s your first time pitching.
5. Answer the Questions They’re Thinking
You’re going to get questions during or after the pitch. That’s a good thing. What’s not good is being surprised by them.
So, here’s what we always recommend: before you present, do a dry run with someone outside your team. Someone who’s smart, but not deep into the business. Let them interrupt. Let them ask. Take notes on what confuses them or triggers follow-up questions.
Then tweak your script. Pre-empt those questions in your delivery.
For example, don’t wait to be asked:
“What’s your moat?” Say: “Here’s why we’re hard to copy.”
“What if a big player enters the market?” Say: “We’ve looked at how the majors are positioned. Here’s why we’re not worried.”
Anticipation shows you’re thinking ahead. And it builds trust.
6. Make Eye Contact, Not a Performance
Here’s a weird paradox: founders try so hard to look polished that they end up looking rehearsed. Which then makes them seem less trustworthy.
The goal here isn’t to give a performance. It’s to have a high-stakes conversation. So ditch the robotic delivery. Don’t try to memorize your lines. Know your flow, your key points, and speak like you’re talking to a real human — because you are.
And make eye contact. Not the creepy kind where you hold a stare too long. Just natural, honest eye contact. Especially when you’re saying something you want them to remember. It signals that you mean it.
7. Speak to the Room, Not at the Deck
We’ve all seen this. Someone stands next to the screen and half-turns toward their slides the whole time. Not only does it disconnect them from the room, it sends a subtle message: “This deck knows more than I do.”
Don’t do this.
Your laptop or screen is your prompt. Not your leader.
Stand so you can see your audience and your slide at the same time — without turning your back. Speak to the room. Not at your slides. And definitely not into the laptop.
8. Tell the Truth. But Own the Room.
You don’t need to exaggerate. You don’t need to inflate. Investors have seen it all. What they remember is someone who knows the landscape and still believes in their direction.
If there’s a weakness in your model, don’t avoid it. Name it. Then explain what you’re doing about it.
For example:
“Yes, we’re pre-revenue. And we know that’s a hurdle. Here’s why we’re confident we’ll clear it — and what we’ve lined up for our first paying customers.”
“Yes, competitors exist. But they’re going after a very different segment. Let me show you why that matters.”
Owning the hard stuff earns way more credibility than pretending everything’s flawless.
9. Time Yourself Like It’s a TED Talk
One of the worst things you can do in a pitch is run over time. It screams unpreparedness. It forces rushed endings. And it often leaves no room for discussion — which is where the real magic happens.
Here’s the fix: treat your deck like it has a time limit. If you’ve got 20 minutes, aim to finish in 15. That gives you breathing room. It also shows respect for the room.
Practice with a timer. Record yourself. See where you drift or ramble. Tighten the story.
Efficiency builds trust. Waffling kills it.
10. Close Like You’ve Already Earned the Meeting
Your close is not where you go soft. Don’t end with, “So yeah… that’s pretty much it.”
End like someone who knows their value and is ready to move forward.
Say something like:
“We’re raising $1.2M to get through the next 18 months, focused on user growth and strategic hires. If you're excited about what we're building, we’d love to talk further.”
“We’re not just looking for capital. We're looking for sharp partners. If that's you, let’s set up a deeper conversation.”
This isn’t arrogance. It’s clarity. It tells the room you’re here for business — and you’re ready.
Why Hire Us to Build your Presentation?
If you're reading this, you're probably working on a presentation right now. You could do it all yourself. But the reality is - that’s not going to give you the high-impact presentation you need. It’s a lot of guesswork, a lot of trial and error. And at the end of the day, you’ll be left with a presentation that’s “good enough,” not one that gets results. On the other hand, we’ve spent years crafting thousands of presentations, mastering both storytelling and design. Let us handle this for you, so you can focus on what you do best.