In the startup world, there's no shortage of tips on creating visually appealing slides and crafting compelling stories with images. However, what often gets overlooked is the fundamental starting point: understanding the concept of pitch deck writing and learning how to create your engaging narrative.
It's not just about aesthetics; the words you choose for your pitch deck are just as critical as the design.
As a presentation design agency, our initial focus, before delving into the design of a pitch deck, is to ensure its content is well-crafted. In this article, we'll walk you through the steps we follow in our projects to write pitch decks that are not only visually appealing but also communicate seamlessly.
What is pitch deck writing?
To start, let's begin with a formal textbook-style definition for those who appreciate technical terminology. Following that, we'll get into simplified examples for better clarity.
Pitch deck writing is the strategic process of crafting a compelling narrative for a presentation, focusing on selecting and structuring content to effectively communicate key messages and value propositions. The goal is to engage and persuade target audiences, such as investors or stakeholders, to achieve specific business objectives like securing funding or partnerships.
Now, let's understand this with an easy & practical example...
Imagine you have a brilliant idea for a mobile app that helps people learn new languages through interactive games. Pitch deck writing, in this context, involves creating a presentation that tells the story of your language learning app to potential investors.
In your pitch deck, you'd start by introducing the problem: the challenge many people face in finding engaging and effective language learning tools. Then, you'd present your solution—the app—explaining how it uses innovative game mechanics to make language learning fun and effective.
You might include slides about the market opportunity, showcasing the growing demand for language learning apps. Through well-crafted content, you'd highlight what makes your app unique, perhaps its user-friendly interface, personalized learning paths, and real-time progress tracking.
How can you write a pitch deck [DIY Method]
Let's stick with the app example for better understanding; feel free to tailor it to your specific requirements.
Step 1: Tailoring Your Composition
Seed Funding
Focus: Validate the problem, showcase market potential, and ignite excitement for your innovative solution.
Length: Keep it lean and mean, around 10-15 slides.
Content: Prioritize problem validation through customer quotes, early traction (if any), and a clear differentiation from existing solutions. Highlight your team's passion and expertise, but keep financials light.
Goal: Capture investor interest and secure initial funding to prove your concept.
Series A
Focus: Demonstrate your ability to execute and scale, showcasing a clear path to profitability.
Length: More in-depth, around 15-20 slides.
Content: Deep dive into your business model, go-to-market strategy, and detailed financial projections. Quantify customer acquisition costs, lifetime value, and projected revenue growth. Emphasize your team's proven track record and relevant advisor contributions.
Goal: Secure significant funding to fuel aggressive growth and expansion.
Step 2: Crafting Your Slide-by-Slide Outline
Seed Funding
Problem & Market: Size of the problem, underserved pain point, customer validation.
Solution & Product: Unique features, technology, competitive advantage.
Team & Advisors: Founding team expertise and passion, relevant achievements.
Market Opportunity & Traction: Market size, growth potential, early traction (e.g., beta users).
Go-to-Market Strategy: High-level overview of customer acquisition channels.
Financials & Projections: High-level revenue model, funding request, future growth potential.
Call to Action: Investment amount, desired partnership model.
Series A
Problem & Market: Deeper analysis of the problem, competitive landscape, and customer segments.
Solution & Product: Product roadmap, future development plans, differentiation from competitors.
Go-to-Market Strategy: Detailed marketing and sales strategy, customer acquisition cost, and lifetime value.
Financials & Projections: Detailed financial model, unit economics, break-even analysis, multi-year projections.
Team & Advisors: Expanded profiles, track record of success, and specific contributions to the startup.
Traction & Metrics: User acquisition, engagement, retention, revenue growth, key performance indicators.
Exit Strategy: Potential acquisition targets, IPO plans, and future vision for the company.
Call to Action: Specific funding amount, desired investor involvement (e.g., board seats, mentorship).
Step 3: Conceptual Copywriting for Easy Understanding
Simplify and translate jargon: Break down complex terms using relatable examples and analogies.
Focus on "why" not "what": Explain how your product improves lives and quantifies the value proposition.
Storytelling and visuals: Weave a captivating narrative that connects with investors on an emotional level. Use impactful visuals to reinforce key points.
Concise and impactful: Strong verbs, active voice, and clear sentence structure are key. Eliminate unnecessary fluff.
Bonus Tips
Adapt the level of detail based on your specific stage and audience.
Practice your delivery and anticipate potential investor questions.
Get feedback on your pitch deck and refine it iteratively.
Use beautiful design elements to make your presentation visually appealing and engaging.
Work with us
Feeling overwhelmed by your pitch deck? Don't let presentation jitters dim your startup's shine! We're a pro agency crafting captivating pitch decks that ignite investor excitement and secure the funding you deserve. Let us unleash your startup's story with a presentation so powerful, it leaves investors begging for more!
Explore our pitch deck design agency
A simple and easy guide. Thanks for writing this article!