12 Slides You Must Include in an Investor Pitch Deck

📂 Want to see real-world examples? 

Grab our 90+ pitch decks (from top startups) + a bonus to perfect your investor pitch! 

DOWNLOAD NOW →

Why it matters:
This is your very first chance to impress. It shows your company’s name and sets a clear, strong tone. Investors form opinions fast, so make your slide neat and friendly.

What to Include:

• Clearly state your company name and any related branding identifiers.
• Include your official company logo.
• Write a short, memorable tagline that explains your core business idea.

Purpose: Introduce your company and what you do.

Example:

• ✔️ Good: A clean logo, company name, a short, catchy tagline, and your contact info.
• ❌ Bad: Too many words or a messy design.

Pro Tip: Keep it simple and use a strong image that represents your brand.

Check the title Title slide of Quora’s pitch deck for investors:

Why it matters:
This slide shows a real issue that people face. It helps investors see that there is a clear need for your idea. When you show a real problem, investors pay attention.

What to Include:

• Clearly describe the specific problem your target audience faces and why it matters.
• Provide key facts, figures, or statistics that show the problem’s scope and impact.
• Explain how the issue affects customer experiences or market dynamics.
• Use a brief, real-life example to make the problem tangible and relatable.
• Summarize the urgency for a solution by highlighting market needs and potential losses if not solved.

Purpose: Explain the main problem your product will fix.

Example:

✔️ Good: A clear statement with a few facts or a short story that shows the problem.

❌ Bad: Vague words like "big problem" without any details.

Pro Tip: Use a simple chart or picture to show the problem's size.

Here’s an example from Canvas pitch deck that helped them raise $9M:

Why it matters:
This slide tells investors how you fix the problem. It shows that you have a clear and smart answer that works.

What to Include:

• Clearly explain how your product or service solves the identified problem.
• Provide evidence or data that confirm the success of your solution.
• Highlight unique benefits and competitive advantages that set your solution apart.
• Summarize the expected outcomes and improvements customers can achieve using your solution.

Purpose: Describe your product or service and how it solves the problem.

Example:

• ✔️ Good: A short description with a picture or short video that shows your idea in action.
• ❌ Bad: A long, confusing explanation with too many technical terms.

Pro Tip: Show your unique idea in a fun way that makes it easy to remember.

Here’s how Quora positioned their solution with the platform:

Why it matters:
Investors want to know that many people need your solution. This slide shows the size of the market and why it has a big chance to grow.

What to Include:

• Define your total addressable market (TAM) with clear figures and data.
• Break down the serviceable available market (SAM) and the serviceable obtainable market (SOM) if applicable.
• Provide recent market growth trends and forecasted growth rates.
• Explain the potential customer base and market segments your solution targets.

Purpose: Show how many people can use your product and how fast the market can grow.

Here’s how (from Airbnb’s pitch deck):

Example:

• ✔️ Good: Simple numbers or charts showing the market size (like TAM, SAM, and SOM).
• ❌ Bad: Big claims without any numbers or facts to back them up.

Pro Tip: Use easy-to-read graphs that clearly show the market potential.

Why it matters:
Investors need to understand what you offer. This slide shows the main features and benefits of your product or service in a clear way.

What to Include:

• Provide a clear description of your product or service and its main functions.
• List the key features and technical specifications that define your offering.
• Include any unique technologies, patents, or innovations that your product uses.
• Explain how your product or service meets customer needs or solves specific issues.
• Offer measurable data or metrics that prove its effectiveness.

Purpose: Describe what your product is and how it works.

Example from Ola Cabs

• ✔️ Good: Clear images or screenshots with a few bullet points about key features.
• ❌ Bad: A long, technical description that loses the reader.

Pro Tip: Add a short demo or a clear picture so investors can "see" your product quickly.

Why it matters:
No idea is perfect. This slide shows you know who else is out there and what challenges you face. It builds trust by showing you have a plan to beat your rivals and manage risks.

What to Include:

• Identify your main competitors and list their strengths briefly.
• Explain how your product or service differs from and outperforms these competitors.
• Point out potential risks or market challenges that could affect your business.
• Describe the steps or strategies you will use to overcome these risks.
• Use data or analysis to support your claims and build investor trust.

Purpose: Compare your idea with others and list the risks with your plan to overcome them.

Example:

• ✔️ Good: A simple table or chart that shows your strengths against competitors and mentions how you plan to handle risks.
• ❌ Bad: Ignoring competitors or being too vague about the risks.

Pro Tip: Be honest and clear. Investors like founders who know the full picture.

Here’s how Airbnb showcased its competition using a matrix:

Why it matters:
Investors need to see how you will make money. This slide explains your plan to earn revenue and grow your business.

What to Include:

• Mention the current stage of your business (pre-revenue, post-revenue, growth stage, MVP stage, etc.)
• Explain the main revenue streams that drive your business.
• List the methods or channels you use to generate income.
• Describe pricing strategies and any subscription or recurring revenue models.
• Include technical details such as sales cycles, profit margins, or customer lifetime value.
• Provide data on current income and future revenue projections.

Purpose: Show your revenue streams and how your business will work.

Example:

• ✔️ Good: A clear diagram or list of how you charge customers and make profits.
• ❌ Bad: Overly complex details that are hard to follow.

Pro Tip: Keep your explanation short and use simple visuals to show how money flows into your business.

Check this slide from Buffer on the showcasing business model:

Why it matters:
This slide proves that your idea is working. It shows early wins or steps that prove your plan is on track, which makes investors more confident.

What to Include:

• List key performance indicators (KPIs) such as user growth, revenue, or market share.
• Provide recent milestones and achievements with supporting data.
• Include metrics like conversion rates, customer acquisition cost, or churn rate.
• Explain how these numbers show the success of your business so far.
• Mention important dates or timelines that mark significant progress.

Purpose: Show key numbers or milestones that prove you are gaining ground.

Example:

• ✔️ Good: Charts or timelines that show user growth, sales, or important partnerships.
• ❌ Bad: Only future promises with no proof of what you have done so far.

Pro Tip: Use a timeline to show progress. Simple numbers and dates make your success clear.

An example from LinkedIn’s traction and growth metrics slide:

Why it matters:
Investors bet on people as much as ideas. This slide introduces your team and shows that you have the right people to make the plan work.

What to Include:

• List key team members with their names and primary roles.
• Include brief details about each member’s technical skills and areas of expertise.
• Mention significant past experiences, certifications, or achievements for each person.
• Explain how each member contributes to the company and also everyone’s equity split in the company
• Provide any data on team success or track record if available.
• Summarize the combined expertise that drives your company forward.

Purpose: Present the key team members and their skills.

Example:

• ✔️ Good: A photo and a short bio for each person that highlights what they bring to the team.
• ❌ Bad: Long resumes or too many details that do not relate to your business.

Pro Tip: Show any past successes or awards your team has earned to build trust.

Need a reference for Team Slide? Check this slide from Quora:

Why it matters:
Investors want to see that you understand your business numbers. This slide gives a snapshot of your current finances and your growth plans.

What to Include:

• Present current financial metrics such as revenue, profit, and expenses.
• Include clear data on growth trends like monthly or yearly increases.
• Provide technical details such as break-even points, profit margins, and cash flow figures.
• Explain your future revenue projections and expected return on investment.

Purpose: Show key figures like revenue, expenses, and future growth predictions.

Example:

• ✔️ Good: Simple charts or graphs that show revenue growth, profit margins, and break-even points.
• ❌ Bad: Confusing spreadsheets or overly high, unrealistic numbers without any backup.

Pro Tip: Explain the main points in plain language. Clear visuals and short explanations work best.

Here’s a great example (from startups.com) of highlighting future projections backed with data:

Why it matters:
This slide tells investors exactly how much money you need and what you will do with it. It sets clear expectations and shows that you have a detailed plan.

What to Include:

• Clearly state the exact funding amount you are seeking.
• Break down how you will use the funds by listing key expense categories.
• Include more insights about projected ROI, payback period, or important milestones.

Purpose: Ask for a specific amount of money and show how you will use it to grow your business.

Example:

• ✔️ Good: A breakdown of fund use (for example, 40% for product, 30% for marketing, 30% for hiring) with clear goals.
• ❌ Bad: A vague statement like “We need funds to grow” without details.

Pro Tip: Connect every dollar you ask for with a clear outcome. This builds confidence in your planning.

Learn from Quora’s ‘Funding Ask’ slide:

Why it matters:
Your final slide wraps up your pitch and tells investors what to do next. It leaves a strong, lasting impression and makes it easy for them to follow up with you.

What to Include:

• End with a clear statement of your vision and the next steps to move forward.
• Offer a direct call to action, like “Schedule a meeting” or “Contact us for more details.”

Purpose: Summarize your key points and invite further discussion.

Example:

• ✔️ Good: A thank-you message, clear contact information, and a call to action (like “Let’s meet to talk more”).
• ❌ Bad: A sudden end with no clear next steps or missing contact details.

Pro Tip: End with a bold image or slogan that makes your idea stick in the minds of your investors.

Example from Facebook:

Investors don’t just buy into a product—they invest in a vision. Your "why" is the heartbeat of your startup. It’s not enough to say, “We make X to solve Y.” 

Dig deeper:

• Why does this matter?
• What’s the bigger impact?

For example, if your startup is in clean energy, your "why" might be rooted in reversing climate damage for future generations. 

Make it personal, urgent, and inspiring—something that sticks with them emotionally.

People remember stories, not spreadsheets. Frame your startup as a narrative: the problem is the villain, your solution is the hero, and the customer is the one who triumphs. 

Think of Airbnb’s early pitch—less about “renting rooms” and more about “belonging anywhere.” 

Integrate into your "why" here, and don’t shy away from a little drama. 

Investors want to feel like they’re joining an epic journey, not just funding a transaction.

Let’s think about Amazon— everyone knows that Amazon is an online marketplace where you can buy and sell products online..

Your pitch needs that level of precision. 

Avoid jargon or vague buzzwords like “disruptive” or “innovative” unless you can back them up with specifics. 

• Who’s your target audience?— “Busy professionals aged 25-40 who value convenience” beats “everyone” every time. 
• What’s your product?— Boil it down to one sentence. Clarity builds trust; vagueness breeds skepticism.

Investors want to see that you’re solving a real pain point, not just chasing a cool idea. 

Show them you’ve talked to customers—hundreds, if possible—and know their needs inside out. 

Numbers help: “75% of our beta users said they’d pay $20/month for this.” 

Obsession means you’re not guessing—you’re validating. 

Bonus points if you can drop a quote or story from a customer that brings it to life.

“People like us do things like this” is a brilliant way to frame it. Culture isn’t just perks or ping-pong tables—it’s the DNA of how your team operates. 

Are you scrappy and relentless like early Amazon? Collaborative and mission-driven like Patagonia? 

Show investors you’re building a tribe with a shared ethos, because that’s what separates your brand from others. 

💡 NOTE FROM SHANTANU PANDEY

• Know your numbers cold. Investors will poke holes if your revenue model or market size feels shaky. Be ready with data, not just passion.
• Show traction. Even if it’s small—100 users, $1,000 in sales, a pilot deal—it proves people care.
• Personalize to the investor. If they’ve funded similar startups, hint at why yours fits their portfolio. Subtlety wins here.
• End with a bold ask. Don’t mumble about “hoping to connect.” Say exactly what you want: “We’re raising $500K to hit X milestone—let’s make it happen together.” 
• Investors pick winners by betting on the founder and team, not just the idea. A tough founder who’s failed and fought back proves they can handle trouble. Show off your team’s expertise, and passion, and why will succeed.

What’s your startup, by the way?

Let’s connect for a quick meeting and see if we can help you in researching, designing or marketing your startup.