Building a pitch deck is stressful. You’re trying to turn countless ideas, and messy Google Docs into a story an investor can understand in under 3 minutes. Most founders either overshare, under-explain, or miss the slides that matter most.

This guide simplifies the entire process. You’ll learn the essential slides every investor looks for, the mistakes that quietly kill credibility, and real examples from funded start-ups so that you can create a deck that’s clear, compelling, and gets you funded.

How To Make a Great Pitch Deck

Before we dive into specific slides, here are some of the basic rules each founder must follow while building a pitch deck:

1. Lead with your strongest content first - If you have impressive traction, start there. If you have an objectively impressive team, lead with that. Hook investors immediately.

2. Use the headline test - If an investor only read your slide headlines, would they understand your business and be excited to invest? Replace "Problem" with declarative statements like "Creating professional quality presentations is hard."

3. Use specific facts and clearly labelled data - Rather than "we're the best product," use "we have a 90% win rate vs competitors." Concrete evidence builds credibility.

4. Only include real traction metrics - Show actual revenue, users, growth rates, or partnerships. Real numbers build investor confidence.

5. Make every element count - If a slide or word doesn't make an investor more likely to invest, cut it ruthlessly.

6. Build a strategic appendix - Prepare backup slides you don't present but can pull up for investor questions: detailed financials, product roadmap, competitive features, go-to-market details, case studies. This helps you give stronger, more prepared answers.

7. Maintain visual consistency - Keep fonts, sizes, colours, and layouts uniform throughout so investors focus on content, not decoding design changes.

With these rules in mind, let's break down exactly what each slide needs to accomplish.

Essential Slides For Every Investor Pitch Deck

A strong pitch deck needs 10-15 slides. Here's what the important ones should accomplish, common mistakes, and inspiration from some of the top investor pitch decks in the world.

The Mission/Purpose Slide:

Your first slide doesn’t need to be complicated. All you need here is a single line that captures why your company exists i.e., its mission.

Here’s how some of the top companies in the world communicate their mission:

1. Google: To organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful

2. Netflix: To entertain the world

3. YouTube: To give everyone a voice and show them the world

As you can see, all these mission statements do a great job at communicating the purpose of the company in the simplest way.

The Problem Slide:

This slide is where you need your investors to think - “Yep, this is a pain worth solving”

The best way to do this is by breaking the slide into these three sections:

1. Talk about the pain (preferably in numbers):

   E.g.: People spend 10+ hours creating and perfecting presentations

2. Show how people solve it today:

   E.g.: Users either resort to creating low quality presentations or hiring costly designers

3. Point out the gaps in current solutions:

   E.g.: Current tools lack design quality or use pre-fixed templates that make it difficult for users to customize design or content

4. Additionally, if it’s not an obvious problem, show proof:

   Data, quotes, anything that proves this pain is real.

Airbnb's infamous pitch deck - see how simple yet relatable the problem slide is:

The Solution Slide:

Now that the investors understand the problem, your next job is to show them your solution in a way that makes them lean forward.

A common mistake founders make on this slide is focusing on features instead of outcomes. Investors don’t just want to know what your product does, they want to know how it changes your customer’s life.

For example:

Don’t say: We offer real-time analytics.

Say: Teams can instantly see which channels are wasting budget - saving 20–30% of ad spend

Here’s a quick template to help you out (we recommend customizing it as per the flow of your presentation, this is more of a guide on what you should cover):

We solve [pain] by delivering [specific outcome]

How it works:

[Outcome 1] → removes the need for [painful step]

[Outcome 2 → reduces or eliminates [major friction]

[Outcome 3] → enables [new, valuable outcome customers couldn’t get before]

Bottom line:

What used to take [X time/effort] now happens in [dramatically less time].

The Why Now Slide:

This slide explains why this moment is the perfect time for your product to exist. The primary objective is to answer the following questions for the investors:

1. Why your solution is relevant right now (demand)

2. Why existing solutions are not enough

Here’s how Dropbox presented their ‘Why Now” in their initial pitch deck:

Followed with an explanation on why their solution is better than anything else that exists in the market:

The Market Size Slide

This is the slide that shows your investor how rich they can get by investing in you.

Make sure it answers these two questions clearly:

1. Who is your customer?

2. How big is the opportunity?

1. Start with your target customer

Investors need to know exactly who buys first. Describe your early adopters in one or two lines.

Example: Marketing and sales teams at start-ups with 0-10 employee count, age 25–40, creating 5–20 decks a week, and struggling with time + design capacity.

If you can’t clearly describe your customer, your market sizing won’t make sense.

2. Show TAM, SAM, and SOM clearly

Investors expect to see three numbers, each one narrowing the opportunity:

• TAM (Total Addressable Market)

  What is it: Everyone who could use your product.

  How to find it: This is a top-down number you pull from market reports.
  
  

• SAM (Serviceable Available Market)

  What is it: The part of the TAM you can realistically serve today.

  How to find it: # of potential customers × average annual spend × usage frequency
  
  

• SOM (Serviceable Obtainable Market)

  What is it: The share of SAM you can realistically win in the next 2–3 years.

  How to find it: Usually expressed as a simple % of SAM.

Here’s an example of how to present your market opportunity slide in a clear way:

Diagram to showcase TAM, SAM & SOM made on Alai

3. Bonus: Add CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate)

CAGR shows how fast your market is growing every year. This tells investors the opportunity isn’t just large, it’s accelerating.

CAGR = (Ending value / Starting value)^(1 / number of years) – 1

Here’s an example on how to calculate CAGR:

• Market size in 2020: $10B

• Market size in 2024: $15B

• Number of years: 4

CAGR = (15 ÷ 10)^(1/4) – 1 = ~10.7%

An easier way of calculating this is by citing it from industry reports.

The market size slide is very important for investors so make sure to avoid these mistakes - don’t inflate the numbers, don’t pretend everyone on Earth is your customer, and try not to skip growth data.

The Business Model Slide:

This is where you show investors how money actually flows in. Here’s what you need to include:

1. Your revenue model

Tell investors how customers pay you:

• Subscription (monthly/annual)

• Usage-based pricing

• Per-seat pricing

• Commission or take-rate

• Hybrid model (base fee + usage)

Here’s how Wysa presented its subscription based revenue model using Alai

2. Customer value metrics

These are simple indicators that your model actually works:

• Average revenue per customer

  • What it means: On average, how much revenue you get from one customer.

  • How to calculate: Total revenue ÷ number of paying customers
    
    

• Average account size (ACV)

  • What it means: How much a customer is worth per year

  • How to calculate: Annual contract value per customer (or Average monthly revenue × 12 if you’re a subscription tool)
    
    

• Lifetime value (LTV)

  • What it means: How much revenue you earn from a customer before they churn.

  • How to calculate: ACV × average customer lifetime
    
    

• Revenue per transaction (if applicable)

  • What it means: How much you earn every time a transaction happens

  • How to calculate: Average transaction value × your fee/commission %

3. Evidence that people are willing to pay

This is where most founders forget to brag but investors love this.

Numbers to include:

• Paying customers

• Early revenue

• Repeat usage

• Conversion from free → paid

• Upgrades or expansions

4. Optional: Sales or distribution model

Just enough to show how customers find you.

Examples:

• Product-led growth (self-serve)

• Sales-assisted onboarding

• Outbound for enterprise

• Partnerships or integrations

This shows investors you’ve planned on how to scale revenue.

The Competition Slide:

Your competition slide should do two things:

1. Show the landscape

2. Show why you stand out

For 1: Start with a simple 2×2 competition map (the “Magic Quadrant”)

Pick two meaningful axes that define your space i.e., the things customers actually care about. Then plot competitors on the grid.

For 2: Add a simple comparison (your advantages at a glance)

Compare the primary features of your product against one or more competitors. Keep it objective - no exaggeration, no “we’re perfect” grids. Here are the top two layouts you can use for this slide:

1: 1 v/s 1 comparison:

Deepgram’s comparison slide from their series A pitch deck

2. Comparing your product with multiple competitors:

Algebras’ comparison slide created on Alai (best for comparison with multiple competitors)

One mistake that founders often make in this slide is being biased towards their product. While, it is important to showcase how your product stands out in the market, it is also important to back each comparison with actual data.

The Team Slide:

A good team slide makes one point very clear: This is the right team to win this market.

While most team slides contain just a snippet on work experience and educational background, here’s what investors really appreciate seeing:

• Relevant experience: Have the founders worked in a similar start-up?

• Market familiarity: Has anyone on the team worked in this industry or at a competitor? This instantly boosts credibility.

• Technical fit: Does the team have the technical ability to build what they’re pitching? (Especially important if the product involves deep tech.)

• Balanced roles: Investors want to see a healthy mix - product/tech, sales/marketing, finance/ops.

• History working together: Teams that have survived years of collaboration are far less risky than those who met last month.

On the slide itself, keep things visually clean:

• Show the founding team / executive team

• Add the Board of Directors or Advisors below (if any)

• Include a short line of credibility under each person: past start-ups, relevant roles, notable achievements

Here’s an example of the team slide made by Skarbe on Alai - clean and concise

The Ask Slide

Your final slide is your ask - the funding, what you’ll do with it and timelines to achieve said goals. Keep this slide extremely clear.

Here’s an example you can use:

We are raising $X (round type)

Use of Funds:

• Expand into new markets or channels

• Strengthen product development (AI, infrastructure, new features)

• Scale sales, support, or operations

Timelines (post funding):

• Achieve $XXX MRR by [date]

• Launch x product in y market by [date]

• Hire for engineering, sales & support by [date]

Avoid long paragraphs: stick to sharp bullets.

Example of how to visually show fund usage in your ask slide - created using Free Canvas on Alai

Optional Slides

Some additional slides you can prepare for safety:

• Vision: 5-10 year vision for the company

• GTM: Customer acquisition channels and motion

• Product Roadmap: High-level future plans in the next 1-3 years

• Appendix: Detailed competitive comparison, 3-5 year financials, product timeline, case studies

Now that we’ve covered content, let's look at real decks that successfully raised funding.

Real Examples: Pitch Decks That Raised Funding

Deepgram’s Series A Pitch Deck

What worked: Proper customer segmentation. Detailed competitor analysis. Clear ask and company roadmap.

Decagon’s Series A Pitch Deck

What worked: Case studies. Clear value props. Clear ask

Replicate these pitch decks using Alai's pitch deck template ->

FAQs

What is a pitch deck?

A pitch deck is a short 10–15 slide presentation that gives investors an overview of your business. It highlights your problem, solution, traction, market size, business model, competition, team, and funding needs. The goal of a pitch deck is simple: help investors quickly understand your business and decide whether to invest.

Can ChatGPT create a pitch deck?

ChatGPT can help you create the full content for a pitch deck. However, ChatGPT itself cannot design full pitch decks without the paid version (even then, it has certain limitations). Tools like Alai are a better alternative if you’re looking to create high quality pitch decks using AI.

Where to find affordable pitch deck design services?

You can find affordable pitch deck design through:

• Alai: AI-generated design + content at $20 (most cost-effective)

• Fiverr/Upwork: freelancers starting at $100–$200

• Design Agencies: typically $500–$2,000 for a full deck

If you’re looking to create stunning pitch decks fast without spending up to $2000 on designers, Alai is your best bet, here’s why.

Best software for creating a professional pitch deck

For speed and quality, Alai is the best option. For a detailed comparison of AI-powered presentation tools, check out our honest review of the best AI presentation makers in 2025.

What are the key slides every pitch deck should include?

Most investor-ready pitch decks include these essential slides:

1. Mission / Purpose

2. Problem

3. Solution

4. Why Now

5. Market Size (TAM / SAM / SOM)

6. Business Model

7. Competition

8. Team

9. Ask (funding + use of funds)

Optional slides: product roadmap, GTM strategy, vision, appendix, financial model.

How many slides should a pitch deck contain?

A strong pitch deck usually has 10–15 slides. This is the length investors prefer because it forces clarity, avoids clutter, and keeps the narrative tight. You can attach a longer appendix (20–40+ slides) with additional data, competitive details, and financials for Q&A.

Create Your Pitch Deck With Alai

Now that you understand what makes a pitch deck compelling, it's time to build yours. Alai streamlines the entire process in four simple steps:

Step 1: Input Your Content Paste your rough notes, outline, or existing pitch deck content. Add instructions for tone, length and focus to help AI create the best first draft.

Step 2: Choose Your Layouts Alai generates four layout options per slide. Pick the designs that best communicate your traction metrics, market opportunity, and competitive advantages.

Step 3: Make Iterations With or Without AI Use AI to switch slide layouts, rewrite content or to create complex diagrams and images. Alai also offers specific design and content controls in case you want to make manual adjustments.

Step 4: Export as PDF/PowerPoint or Present on Alai Download your finished deck as a PDF or a fully editable .pptx file. Or, you can just directly present on Alai.

Try Alai for free →