The other day, during a discovery call with a startup founder, she expressed an interest in having a PowerPoint presentation created.
Me: What specific type of presentation are you looking for? Is it for learning and development, a corporate profile, a conference, or another purpose? As a presentation design agency, we handle various presentation types, so if you could provide more details, it would help us better tailor our discussion.
Founder: We need a presentation to pitch to potential investors, like private investors and venture capital firms.
Me: Got it, so you're looking to develop a pitch deck.
Founder: Yes, I suppose it's a pitch deck, although I'm not entirely familiar with the terminology. Out of curiosity, what distinguishes a regular business presentation from a pitch deck? If you could shed some light on that, it would be beneficial for our future interactions.
Me: Certainly! Let's break it down step by step.
If you've found your way to this article, chances are you have similar questions to the founder. That's why we've decided to create an informative article that explores the differences between a pitch deck and a presentation.
Pitch Deck Vs Presentation [What are the main differences?]
Diving deep into 'Pitch Deck vs Presentation,' we'll highlight the crucial differences for a broad understanding. Our focus will be on 7 key distinctions that define these two communication tools...
1. Purpose
Pitch Deck: A pitch deck is primarily created to secure funding, investments, or partnerships. It aims to convince potential investors or stakeholders of the business's viability.
Example: A startup founder creates a pitch deck to persuade venture capitalists to invest in their new tech company.
vs.
Presentation: A presentation is a broader term used for various communication purposes, such as informing, educating, or entertaining an audience.
Example: A teacher uses a presentation to educate students on a historical event.
2. Content Focus
Pitch Deck: The content of a pitch deck is highly focused on business-related information, including the problem, solution, market, competition, and financial projections.
Example: A pitch deck for a social media startup highlights user acquisition strategies and revenue projections.
vs.
Presentation: The content in a general presentation can vary widely and covers diverse topics, from academic subjects to storytelling, with content determined by the context.
Example: A presentation on climate change covers various aspects, including scientific data, environmental impacts, and potential solutions.
3. Audience
Pitch Deck: The primary audience for a pitch deck consists of potential investors, lenders, or business partners who are interested in financial opportunities.
Example: Entrepreneurs present their pitch decks to angel investors at a startup pitch competition.
vs.
Presentation: The audience for a presentation can vary widely, including students, colleagues, or the general public, depending on the context.
Example: An author gives a presentation about their latest book to an audience of book enthusiasts at a literary event.
4. Length
Pitch Deck: Pitch decks are typically concise and structured to be brief, usually containing 10-20 slides to maintain the audience's attention.
Example: A pitch deck for a tech startup may consist of 15 slides that convey the business concept, market potential, and financial projections succinctly.
vs.
Presentation: Presentations can vary in length depending on the purpose and context. They can range from a few minutes to several hours.
Example: A keynote presentation at a conference may last for 45 minutes, while a short presentation during a team meeting may last for 10 minutes.
5. Design & Visuals
Pitch Deck: Pitch decks often have a professional design with a focus on visual appeal and storytelling, as they are used to persuade investors.
Example: A pitch deck for a fashion e-commerce startup incorporates high-quality images of products and user testimonials.
vs.
Presentation: Presentations may vary in design, from simple slides with bulleted lists to visually engaging designs, depending on the presenter's style and purpose.
Example: A scientific presentation may feature graphs and charts to explain research findings, while a motivational speech may use inspirational visuals.
6. Call to action
Pitch Deck: The main goal of a pitch deck is to end with a clear call to action, such as an investment request or partnership proposal.
Example: At the end of a pitch deck, the founder asks investors to commit funds to the startup.
vs.
Presentation: Presentations may or may not have a specific call to action. They can be informative, educational, or entertaining without direct solicitation.
Example: A presentation on endangered species might conclude by encouraging the audience to support wildlife conservation efforts.
7. Outcome
Pitch Deck: The desired outcome of a pitch deck is typically financial support or investment, with the aim of securing funding for a business venture.
Example: A successful pitch deck results in securing $1 million in venture capital for a tech startup.
vs.
Presentation: The outcome of a presentation varies widely depending on the presentation's goal, which can include increased knowledge, awareness, or engagement.
Example: A presentation on healthy living may aim to inform the audience about the benefits of a balanced diet and regular exercise.
A Pitch Deck is a Subset of a PowerPoint Presentation
All pitch decks can be presentations but not all presentations can be pitch decks. While both pitch decks and general PowerPoint presentations share commonalities in terms of design and structure, a pitch deck serves a narrower, more focused goal.
Work with us
In case it hasn't been emphasized enough, we specialize in crafting pitch decks and a wide range of presentations. As a presentation design agency, it's our forte. If you require assistance with any of these services, please don't hesitate to get in touch with us.
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