VickyTurning your startup idea into an investor-ready pitch deck is one of the most daunting early steps for any founder. You’ve done the hard work of building the product, refining the vision, and assembling a team. Now it’s time to communicate all that to someone who doesn’t know you—and might only give your deck a 2-minute glance.
Your pitch deck is more than a collection of slides. It’s your story, your proof of traction, and your chance to get a foot in the door with investors.
To make things easier, we’ve created two free resources to help:
- A fully customisable pitch deck template you can plug your startup into
- A curated list of 101 real pitch decks from successful startups, for inspiration
→ Download the free pitch deck template now to follow along as we walk through exactly what to include.
1. Why Your Pitch Deck Matters
Pitching isn’t just about being persuasive, it’s about being clear. Investors see hundreds of decks a month. If yours doesn’t get to the point fast, it will be closed even faster.
An effective pitch deck:
- Tells a compelling, cohesive story
- Shows you understand your market and customer
- Highlights traction and momentum
- Makes it easy for investors to say, “Tell me more”
It’s not about flashy design or clever animations. It’s about clarity and confidence.
Our free pitch deck template gives you a proven structure designed to hit exactly what investors want to see.
2. What Investors Look For in a Deck
Every investor is different, but the best pitch decks all answer the same questions:
- What problem are you solving?
- Why now?
- How big is the market?
- What’s your unique insight or advantage?
- What have you built so far?
- How will you make money?
- Why are you the right team?
- How much are you raising, and what will you do with it?
Investors aren’t looking for perfection. They’re looking for potential. A good pitch deck is like a trailer for your startup, it gets people excited to learn more.
Our pitch deck template is built around these questions. Download it and plug your startup in.
3. The 11 Slides Every Great Pitch Deck Includes
While there’s no one-size-fits-all approach, most winning decks follow this general structure:
1. Title Slide
Your company name, logo, and a one-line tagline or elevator pitch. Set the tone. Keep it simple.
2. Problem
Clearly explain the pain point your customer faces. Make it relatable and urgent. Avoid jargon.
3. Solution
How does your product solve the problem? Use visuals or a quick walkthrough if possible.
4. Why Now
Why is this the right time for your solution? Is there a shift in technology, behaviour, or regulation?
5. Market Size
Investors want big opportunities. Define your TAM (Total Addressable Market) and back it up with data.
6. Product
Show off the product. Include screenshots or a product demo. Make it tangible.
7. Business Model
How do you make money? Is it recurring revenue? Transactional? Licensing?
8. Traction / Milestones
Demonstrate momentum. Users, revenue, partnerships, or product launches—anything that proves progress.
9. Go-to-Market Strategy
How will you acquire customers? What channels, tactics, or partnerships will drive growth?
10. Team
Highlight your core team. Emphasise relevant experience, passion, and ability to execute.
11. Financials + Ask
Basic projections for the next 12–24 months, and your funding ask. Be clear on how much you’re raising and what it’s for.
Tip: Don’t try to say everything. Your deck should open the door to conversation, not close the deal.
→ Our free pitch deck template includes pre-structured slides for all of the above. Designed to keep your story focused and investor-ready. Download it now and customise it to fit your startup.
Need help bringing your pitch deck to life?
If designing a professional-looking deck isn’t your strength, or you simply don’t have time, consider hiring a pitch deck designer on Twine. Our freelancers have helped countless startups build investor-ready decks that stand out. It could be the smartest way to speed up the process and make the best possible first impression.
4. Real Examples from Funded Startups
Want to see how others have done it? Download our curated list of 101 real pitch decks from companies like Airbnb, Uber, Front, and dozens of others across different industries and funding stages. It’s the perfect resource for inspiration and benchmarking your own deck.
Looking at real decks helps you:
- See how different companies structure their narratives
- Benchmark your own slides against successful examples
- Get unstuck when you’re unsure how to explain something
Whether you’re early stage or scaling fast, there’s a deck in there that mirrors your situation.
→ Browse 101 pitch decks from real startups—download the full list now.
5. Mistakes to Avoid When Creating Your Deck
Founders often make these common mistakes when building their first deck:
- Too much text: Keep it visual and scannable.
- Being vague: Use numbers, evidence, and specifics.
- Skipping key slides: Don’t omit your business model, team, or traction.
- Over-explaining: Save the detail for the meeting. Let the slides breathe.
- No clear ask: Always include what you’re raising and why.
Our free pitch deck template is designed to prevent these pitfalls, giving you a clean, professional layout with prompts for each section.
Conclusion
If you’re serious about fundraising, your pitch deck is one of your most important assets. But building one from scratch takes time, and if you’ve never done it before, it’s easy to overthink every slide.
Start with structure. Start with examples. Start with our free pitch deck tools.
Give your startup the best shot at getting funded. Let your deck do the heavy lifting.
Raksha
