Dear SaaStr: What Are the Slides That Should Be in Every VC Pitch Deck?
Here’s the structure I like to see in a pitch deck—it’s simple, clear, and designed to get investors excited without wasting time. Every slide should have a purpose, and the first few are critical to hook the audience:
1. Title Slide
Keep it clean—company name, tagline, and maybe a killer stat or tagline that grabs attention. For example, “The #1 AI Platform for Customer Success.”
2. Problem
What’s the pain point? Be specific and data-driven. Show why this problem is urgent and worth solving.
3. Solution
How are you solving it? Keep it concise and compelling. A visual or demo screenshot can help here.
4. Why Now?
Timing is everything. Show why this is the perfect moment for your solution to succeed. For example, “AI adoption in customer success is growing 40% YoY.”
5. Market Opportunity (TAM/SAM/SOM)
Break down your TAM, SAM, and SOM with clear math. Tie it directly to your pricing model and ICP. Investors want to see how big this can get and how realistic your assumptions are [8].
6. Product
Show the product in action. Use screenshots, mockups, or a short demo video. Highlight what makes it unique.
7. Traction
If you have revenue, customers, or growth metrics, this is where you shine. Be specific—“$1M ARR, growing 20% MoM” is far more compelling than vague claims.
8. Business Model
How do you make money? Show your pricing, ACV, and any early signs of strong unit economics (e.g., CAC, LTV).
9. Go-to-Market Strategy
How are you acquiring customers? Highlight your sales motion (PLG, enterprise sales, etc.) and any early wins.
10. Competition
Acknowledge your competitors and show how you’re different. Be honest and self-aware—it makes you look smarter. Include the top 8-10 competitors and position yourself clearly.
11. Team
Why are you the team to win? Highlight relevant experience and any key hires you’ve made or plan to make.
12. Financials
Keep it high-level—current revenue, burn rate, and projections for the next 12-24 months. Don’t overcomplicate it.
13. The Ask
Be direct. How much are you raising, and what will you achieve with it? For example, “We’re raising $3M to scale from $1M to $5M ARR in 18 months.”
14. **Closing Slide**
End with your logo, tagline, and contact info. Make it easy for investors to follow up.
Key Tips:
– **First Slide Sells the Deal**: Your first slide should be so good that it could sell the whole company on its own.
– **Keep It Fairly Short — But Complete**: 15-20 slides max. If you can’t tell the story in that space, you’re overcomplicating it.
– **Data Over Fluff**: Investors want numbers, not vague promises. Back up every claim with data.
A related deep dive here:
