𝗢𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝟭% 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗸𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹—𝘄𝗵𝘆? The difference lies in the details founders often overlook. Sequoia Capital’s legendary pitch deck template outlines the must-have slides that make investors say “yes”: 1️⃣ 𝗣𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲: Define your company’s mission with clarity. 2️⃣ 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺: Address the issue your customers face with insight. 3️⃣ 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Show your product as the game-changing answer. 4️⃣ 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗡𝗼𝘄: Prove the timing is right. 5️⃣ 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗦𝗶𝘇𝗲: Demonstrate your TAM, SAM, and SOM potential. 6️⃣ 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Highlight your edge over competitors. 7️⃣ 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁: Showcase its brilliance and roadmap. 8️⃣ 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗹: Make your revenue model compelling. 9️⃣ 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺: Present the people building your vision. This isn’t just about data or charts—it’s about crafting a narrative that resonates with investors. As Chris Tottman emphasizes, “Every great pitch deck connects a bold vision with a clear path forward. Investors don’t just want numbers—they want to see your story.” Start with why. End with how. What’s your take on this structure? Follow Rubén D. for more. You can also join 100,000+ founders and VCs who receive these insights in my weekly newsletter: https://lnkd.in/dtifw4mC
Great article. I find companies often stumble at Step 3, the problem. This can happen when a business has built a solution looking for a problem, rather than do it the other way round. Reminds of a a great quote I heard recently: “It’s not enough to spot a big gap in the market. There needs to be a big market in the gap.” Put differently, it’s only a problem worth solving if the pain of inertia is seen as bigger than the pain of the price.
This breakdown is great but recently came across a research by DocSend and Harvard Business School that claims the most important pages (based on how much time investors spent on them) are Financials and Team. So based on that, I'll say despite the kind of narrative you paint to investors, it's important to nail those 2 sections. See the report here: https://techcrunch.com/2015/06/08/lessons-from-a-study-of-perfect-pitch-decks-vcs-spend-an-average-of-3-minutes-44-seconds-on-them/
Very well put. I saw business plans (and pitch decks) with the charm of a filled-in form (template). It meant efforts to explain to capital-seeking founders that investors are looking for a coherent story - that explains why and how a business generates value, why it's sustainable, the impact investors can make, and the yield they can earn. Those who adhere to the above points have good chances to succeed (given that their story is coherent, their rationale is sound and backed by well-research data). And pitching to the right investors, i.e., investors with an interest and track-record in the particular market.
IMHO i do not need a pitch deck but answers to my 5 Questions 😁
Rubén D. Great breakdown, Rubén! A well-crafted pitch deck is essential, and pairing it with robust financial modeling can make the narrative even more compelling. We've seen how integrating detailed forecasts and unit economics into the 'Business Model' slide helps investors connect the vision with tangible outcomes. Curious—do you think founders are leveraging financial projections effectively in early-stage decks?
I love this pitch deck template! It's like a recipe for success. Just add a pinch of passion, a dash of determination, and a sprinkle of humor, and you've got yourself a winning pitch. But be careful not to overdo it, or you might end up with a soufflé that falls flat. 😉
This isn’t just about data or charts—it’s about crafting a narrative that resonates with investors. <- the essence of influence 🙌
That structure’s tight. It shows not just facts, but the heart of the vision. Storytelling hooks investors…real talk.
ex-GE/ Tech Narrator/2024 Top Voice/ Top 5 Most-Read Journalist at TechNode, e27(SG), Kenyan Wallstreet journal/ / CEO TV host/"데이빗김의 이머징마켓" @한국경제신문
1wI completely agree - making complex ideas simple is one of the biggest challenges founders face! In my experience coaching startups, I've found that even brilliant entrepreneurs sometimes struggle to distill their vision into a clear, compelling narrative. This 9-slide framework is excellent because it forces founders to focus on what truly matters. The real art lies in telling your story concisely while hitting all these critical points. It's like solving a puzzle - each slide needs to flow naturally into the next. What I particularly love about this structure is how it starts with purpose and ends with team. It's not just about the business metrics - it's about showing investors both the dream and the practical path to achieving it. In my coaching sessions, the "Why Now" section often needs the most refinement.