How we build pitch decks.
A pitch deck is the executive summary of an investor decision. Twelve slides if you cannot make the case in twelve. Eighteen to twenty-two if the case needs IC Q&A appendix slides. Beyond that, you are losing the partner reading it on a Tuesday at 9pm.
The standard 12-section structure
Title, problem, solution, market, traction, business model, GTM, competition, team, financials, ask, appendix. In that order. Investors read decks in this order whether you arrange them this way or not; arranging them this way removes friction.
One claim per slide
Every slide answers one question and exits to the next. A slide making two claims is two slides. A slide making zero claims is a wasted page, cut it.
Design philosophy
Investor decks are read more than presented. Optimize for the PDF flip-through at 11pm, not the live presentation. White space, typographic hierarchy, deliberate sparingly-used illustration. No heavy animation, no stock photography, no clip-art icons. Custom illustration only where it earns the page.
Financial logic visualized
TAM viz with the assumption table next to it. Five-year P&L visualized as a chart with the underlying table linked. Numbers visible, math defensible. Investors who audit your deck will dig into the financials slide first.
IC Q&A appendix (Investor-Ready)
The ten questions a partner asks when they are leaning yes, pre-answered as appendix slides. This is what separates an Investor-Ready deck from a Standard one. It signals you have already thought through the diligence.
Scope boundaries
- Brand identity work, we use your existing brand or pick a defensible one for the deck.
- Heavy animation, 3D, video embedding, readability over theatre.
- Ghost-pitching the deck for you (some firms do; we do not).
Order the document built on this methodology.
Pitch Deck Standard
12-15 slide deck, custom designed. Standard investor structure.
A 12-15 slide investor deck with custom design and the standard 12-section investor structure.