By Alexandr Korshykov, founder & CEO of DreamX
In the world of innovation and social transformations, it’s pretty hard to surprise people with some concepts or business plans. You may concoct a whole picture of the future business, and it still will not be enough because possessing a leading-edge idea is just the bare minimum when it comes to launching a startup. If your goal is to breathe life into your idea, then your task is to get the right support from investors. But the latter ones consider hundreds of candidates each year and select only a few.
Despite the stage your startup is at, your story and idea should be presented in a way that encourages investors to become involved in your plan. Here, we will explore best practices for efficient investor pitch decks and explain how to build a pitch deck that resonates with your potential backers.
The Foundation of Pitch Deck Structure
The human attention span is decreasing, so investor review time also drops. For instance, in 2022, investors spent only two minutes evaluating pitch decks. This means you should consider more details to make your pitch deck stand out from the crowd.
Your pitch deck success is not just about impressive numbers or flashy design. It is a mix of storytelling, strategy, clarity, and most importantly, structure. Professional pitch deck structure enables you to speak the investors’ language and demonstrate that you understand what matters to them. So, look at what a winning pitch deck usually consists of below.
- Executive summary
This essential component of a pitch deck stands for an overview of your business plan. Here, you are supposed to give brief information about your startup’s competitive advantage, value proposition, funding request, and market opportunity.
- Problem statement
If you want to secure sufficient investments, you should convince the audience of the vitality and relevance of your business idea. This part is immensely important to make investors interested in discovering more about your project. Clarify what problem your product or service resolves and showcase examples of how it has already helped someone.
- Solution/Product overview
Another significant pitch deck component is the description of the solution your service or product delivers. At this stage, you demonstrate the value of your project. You let your backers learn the specifics of your business and explain to them how exactly your product works. This section should contain the strong sides of your project and key features of your product that can attract clients.
- Financial projections
When investing in a business, one wants to grasp what this business can achieve. Your task is to give investors realistic and detailed forecasts concerning your startup’s profitability. This part plays a decisive role in whether they will fund your business. So, provide a cash flow forecast as well as funding needs details, expenses, and realistic sales predictions.
Content Best Practices for Effective Pitch Decks
If you want to earn the hearts and minds of investors, keep in mind that just a presentation is not enough. Consider a pitch deck the first serious conversation with investors. Actually, it is your opportunity to show your startup through their lens and address their concerns. Incorporate the following practices and come up with a pitch deck that leads to follow-up meetings and builds trust.
First, make it simple for the audience to perceive your idea through clear messages and clean visual design. Keep in mind that each slide should convey one separate idea. Use charts and dynamic graphics to help your potential backers grasp your business more easily. At the same time, avoid long text blocks, jargon, and clutter.
Second, introduce your team in a vivid way that evokes emotion and trust. Share about the talented people who turn your concept and vision into reality. Talk about their deep knowledge, skills, and unique experience that can enhance the project. This way, you highlight the power and resources behind your business and persuade investors that your idea is worth funding.
In addition, ensure the brand consistency across your pitch deck. Nourish your deck with your company logo and brand colors. Make sure the color theme aligns with your brand book, as well as check whether the chosen fonts are concise and readable.
Design’s Role in Investor Perception
Visual content can become a game changer when it comes to winning a potential investor. Professional design guides the audience’s attention to strengths and benefits of a business idea. This way, potential investors see what matters most.
Good design can help make your message influential and easy to digest. It enables visual balance, consistent branding, and clear hierarchies, making complex concepts more memorable and accessible. High-quality imagery, charts that structure data in a concise way, and icons that make your brand visible can make a difference when luring backers. On the contrary, inconsistent formatting, hard-to-read fonts, and messy layouts create friction.
Besides, a professional pitch deck design highlights your attitude toward the business and demonstrates how much effort your team and you have already invested in the project. Only a few pitch decks secure the required funding. Investors may see about three thousand pitch decks per year and invest in only nine of them. The competition is tough. However, a well-designed deck increases your chances of getting funded.
Trends in Visual Storytelling for Startup Fundraising
Whether you are going to present your aspiring startup idea or a new project concept within your established business, your story should be brilliant. By incorporating the latest visual storytelling trends, you can reach your funding goals. So, pay attention to the following tendencies.
- AI-powered visuals
The role of artificial intelligence in shaping visual storytelling is hard to ignore. However, it should be smoothly combined with human touch. This way, you will come up with more human and more organic visuals. Subtle AI use and human creativity make a trendy blend for sophisticated visual storytelling.
- Nostalgia for former aesthetics
These days, nostalgia is the winner-take-all. Especially, the 1990s and 2000s cultures face a revival. Many startups start using early internet aesthetics, neon color palettes, retro fonts, and pixelated graphics.
- Authenticity
Authentic elements in visual storytelling are now the valuable currency. Users highly appreciate in-the-moment visuals and unedited footage that reflect reality. So, startups should prioritize relatable moments, team-generated content, and everyday experiences and real people.
To sum up
Creating a pitch deck that speaks the investor’s language is both an art and a strategy. It’s not just about showcasing your business but about telling a structured story through clear content and thoughtful design. By aligning your message with investor priorities, using data-driven storytelling, and embracing modern visual trends, you increase your chances of standing out in a crowded field. Do it right and you might just be one step closer to becoming the next unicorn!
Author Bio:
Alexandr Korshykov is the founder & CEO of DreamX, a Ukrainian UX/UI design and development company. Launching his entrepreneurial journey in his early twenties, Alexandr has grown DreamX from a two-person startup into a team of 20+ while navigating the challenges of wartime Ukraine. A passionate advocate for purpose-driven design, he’s on a mission to shape the future of digital experiences and amplify the impact of social innovation through technology.
