Pitch Deck Structure: What Investors Expect Slide-by-Slide

Creating a pitch deck isn’t just about visuals; it’s about telling the right story in the right order. Most investors spend less than 3 minutes reviewing your deck, and they see hundreds of decks a year. They know exactly what they’re looking for and how long they’re willing to spend on each slide (spoiler: not long). If your deck isn’t clear, compelling, and well-organised, you risk losing them before you even get to your demo.

We’ve built a free pitch deck template, structured to match exactly what early-stage investors want to see. Download the free pitch deck template here and follow along as we walk through each essential slide below.

1. Company Purpose

Start strong. This is your “elevator pitch”, one bold sentence that explains what your company does and why it matters.

Investors want to see clarity and ambition here. No jargon, no fluff. Just your mission in plain English.

2. The Problem

What’s the pain point your target customer is experiencing? This isn’t about abstract ideas — it’s about real, tangible frustration.

Frame the problem clearly and make it relatable. If investors don’t feel the urgency, they won’t care about your solution.

3. Your Solution

Now it’s your time to shine. How exactly do you solve the problem, and why is your approach better, faster, or smarter?

Use simple language and visuals (screenshots, diagrams, or mockups). Keep the story focused on outcomes, not just features.

4. Why Now?

Timing is everything in startups. Is the market shifting? Is new tech enabling this solution?

Make the case for urgency. Show investors why now is the moment to build and back this business.

5. Market Size

You may be solving a real problem, but is it a big enough opportunity?

This slide shows investors the potential upside. Include your TAM (Total Addressable Market), SAM, and SOM with credible sources.

6. Competition

Who else is solving this problem, and how are you different?

This isn’t about pretending you have no competitors (hint: you do). It’s about showing where you stand and what gives you an edge.

Use a matrix or quadrant chart to make your positioning crystal clear.

7. Product

What are you actually building? This is where you show off the core product visually, if possible.

Whether it’s screenshots, a live demo, or a short product video, investors want to see what they’re investing in.

8. Business Model

How do you make money?

Spell out your revenue streams, pricing strategy, and early traction (if you have it). Investors want to know your path to profitability or at least scalability.

9. Team

Why you?

This is one of the most important slides, especially at the early stage. Investors are backing founders just as much as ideas. Highlight the experience, credibility, and passion your team brings.

Include bios, relevant wins, and any notable advisors or supporters.

10. Financials

Last but not least, the numbers.

Give a 3–5 year view of revenue, costs, and runway. Keep it high-level, and be ready to explain your assumptions.

Even if you’re pre-revenue, show that you’ve thought it through.

Don’t Start From Scratch, Use Our Free Pitch Deck Template

Crafting an investor-ready story takes time, and honestly, founders have enough to do already. That’s why we created a free pitch deck template, built on the exact structure above with pre-formatted slides, guiding prompts, and a design that investors expect.

Investors won’t give your pitch deck a second chance. Make the first impression count.

👉 Grab the free template now and start building your winning deck in minutes not weeks.

P.S. If you need professional help bringing your presentation to life, our network includes pitch deck designers who’ve helped YC companies and billion-dollar unicorns create presentations that secure funding. Find a designer here.

Raksha

When Raksha's not out hiking or experimenting in the kitchen, she's busy driving Twine’s marketing efforts. With experience from IBM and AI startup Writesonic, she’s passionate about connecting clients with the right freelancers and growing Twine’s global community.

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