If you’re a startup founder, you’ve probably heard this a hundred times: “You need a pitch deck.” But what no one tells you clearly is what that pitch deck should include and more importantly, what you should leave out. The truth is, investors, whether they’re venture capitalists or angel investors, see hundreds of pitch decks every month. To stand out, your slides need to be simple, clear, and full of value. This blog will help you understand exactly what investors want to see and guide you in creating a pitch deck that gets real attention.
Let’s break it down step by step, with clean paragraphs and easy words that even a school kid could understand. Because at the end of the day, if your deck isn’t easy to read, investors won’t even bother.
Start With a Simple One-Liner
The very first slide in your pitch deck should be super clear. It should tell investors what your startup does in just one short sentence. Think of this as your elevator pitch, you have only a few seconds to grab attention, so don’t waste them on big words or lengthy stories.
For example, instead of saying, “We’re revolutionizing digital commerce through AI-powered tools,” just say, clear, easy, and crisp, a one-liner like “We help local stores sell online in minutes” sets the tone by immediately conveying your business to investors, making them more likely to keep reading.
Focus on the Problem, Not the Buzzwords
Once you’ve clearly explained what you do, the next crucial question investors want answered is what problem you are solving and why it matters. It’s important to focus on the real pain points your target audience experiences and make them relatable, rather than overwhelming investors with numbers or industry jargon.
Instead, use a short story or a simple example that vividly illustrates the problem, helping investors to clearly understand the impact and urgency of the issue your solution addresses. This approach not only humanizes your pitch but also builds a compelling case for why your startup is worth their attention and investment.
If you’re solving a problem people face daily, be sure to say it, and if that problem is costing them time or money, highlight those impacts to demonstrate that your business idea isn’t just innovative, it’s essential.
Present a Solution That Feels Real
Now that you’ve captured investors’ attention by clearly presenting a real-world problem, it’s time to introduce your solution, but keep in mind that investors aren’t looking for a technical overload; they want a straightforward, easy-to-understand explanation of how your product or service effectively solves the problem. Use plain language and focus on the main benefit, avoiding unnecessary jargon or feature lists, and consider including a screenshot or simple mock-up to visually support your explanation. This slide isn’t about showing off complexity or impressing with numerous features, it’s about demonstrating that your solution works in practice and has the potential for significant growth, instilling confidence that your business can scale successfully.
Talk About the Market (But Keep It Real)
Next, investors want to understand if your idea has room to grow, which is where you discuss your market size but simply presenting a large number without context won’t suffice. Instead, clearly explain who your customers are, how many of them exist, and why they would choose to buy from you, providing a thoughtful narrative that walks investors through your reasoning. While you can mention industry terms like Total Addressable Market (TAM), avoid dropping numbers without explanation; for example, if your target audience is college students in India who purchase food online, state that explicitly.
This level of clarity not only demonstrates that you understand your market deeply but also builds trust with investors by showing that your strategy is grounded in real insight and focused targeting.
Explain How You’ll Make Money
This part is simple yet crucial: how will your startup generate revenue? Whether you plan to charge a subscription fee, take a cut from every sale, sell ads, or use another business model, clearly state it in one concise line. Then, illustrate what your revenue could look like as your business grows, providing projections that demonstrate scalability. If you already have revenue, be sure to share real numbers.
This not only adds credibility but also proves that customers are already willing to pay for your product, reinforcing investor confidence in your business’s potential to succeed.
Show That You’re Moving Fast (Traction)
If you’ve already made progress, now is the time to showcase it, as investors are drawn to momentum and value even small wins. Whether you have users, returning customers, media features, or your first 50 paying customers, these milestones demonstrate that your idea is gaining real traction. Use graphs or simple visuals to illustrate your growth, but avoid overcrowding the slide. One clear, impactful chart is far more effective than several weak ones. The goal is to prove that your concept isn’t just an idea in your head but a living, growing business that is capturing attention and generating interest in the real world.
Share Your Team’s Story
Investors want to know why you and your team are the right people to build this business because they invest in people first, so it’s important to introduce yourself and your co-founders by sharing relevant backgrounds, past experiences, and the skills each of you brings to the table.
Keeping this information honest and concise one slide is enough and if possible, include photos to add a personal touch, making your team feel more relatable and trustworthy while reinforcing confidence that you have the capability to lead the venture to success.
Add Some Financials (Don’t Go Too Deep)
While no one expects perfect forecasts, investors do want to see that you’ve thoughtfully planned ahead, so it’s important to share your basic projections for revenue, costs, and growth over the next two to three years. If you have early numbers, include them to add credibility and context.
Present this information using a clean table or chart, avoiding overwhelming spreadsheets, so you can clearly communicate where the business is headed and outline how you plan to achieve your goals. This transparency not only demonstrates your preparedness but also helps build investor confidence in your vision and strategy.
Ask for What You Need
Finally, be clear and specific about your funding ask by stating exactly how much money you are raising and detailing how you plan to use it; for example, you might say, “We’re raising ₹40 lakhs to expand our marketing efforts, build our team, and improve our app.” Breaking down the allocation such as 50% for marketing, 30% for hiring, and 20% for technology upgrades not only demonstrates that you have a well-thought-out plan but also shows investors that you are serious and responsible with their money, increasing their confidence in your ability to manage funds effectively and drive growth.
What You Should Leave Out
Investors aren’t here for jargon, long paragraphs, over-designed slides, deep tech talk (unless asked), or 20 charts that no one understands. What they really want is a story that makes sense, feels real, and gives them hope that this could be the next big thing.
Final Thoughts + A Quick Reminder
A great pitch deck isn’t about being flashy; it’s about being clear, confident, and valuable. The focus should always be on the story, keeping it short and ensuring that each slide has a purpose and a reason to be there.
Most importantly, it’s essential to think from the investor’s point of view, crafting a narrative that resonates with their interests and expectations. If you want help building a pitch deck that actually gets replies from investors, we specialize in helping startups create pitch decks designed to drive real growth and make a lasting impact.
Let’s talk! Connect with us on Instagram or drop a message on LinkedIn. So, that you can pitch smart and grow your business fast.
