pitch decks
Investor presentation slides
A pitch deck is a brief presentation—usually a slide show—designed to introduce a business idea to potential investors.
Startups use pitch decks to explain their product, market opportunity, and financial projections in hopes of securing funding: We spent weeks refining our pitch deck before the meeting with venture capitalists.
Moves smoothly across surface
- storytellingRecounting events aloud
- narrative arcStory's overall shape
- keynoteCentral theme or speech
- PowerPointMicrosoft's presentation application
opening hook · call to action · demo · Q&A · audience engagement · timing · transitions · speaker notes
Startup growth financing
- angel investorsPrivate early-stage business backers
- seed fundingInitial startup capital infusion
- term sheetPreliminary deal conditions document
- due diligencePre-transaction reasonable care
valuation · equity · funding round · dilution · lead investor · syndicate · pre-money · runway
Those who begin institutions
- minimum viable productSimplest testable market offering
- tractionAdhesive friction enabling movement
- scalabilityCapacity for growth
- burn rateCapital expenditure velocity
accelerator · incubator · pivot · disruption · unicorn · bootstrap · go-to-market · founding team
Quality inspiring trust
- social proofInfluence through others' behavior
- testimonialsStatements praising something's worth
- FOMOAcronym for exclusion anxiety
- urgencyPressing need for action
vision · mission statement · founder story · emotional appeal · market opportunity · risk mitigation · ask
Visual representations of information
- chartsVisual data displays
- graphsVisual data displays
- mockupsPreliminary design models
- brandingCreating distinctive identity
color scheme · typography · icons · diagrams · team photos · logo placement · white space · visual hierarchy
Promised benefit to customers
- business modelEnterprise profit-generation strategy
- target marketIntended consumer group
- market sizeTotal potential sales volume
- competitive analysisSystematic study of market opponents
financial projections · customer acquisition · cost structure · profit margin · sales channels · pricing strategy · margins · break-even
slides
Moves smoothly across surface
- storytellingRecounting events aloud
- narrative arcStory's overall shape
- keynoteCentral theme or speech
PowerPoint · opening hook · call to action · demo · Q&A · audience engagement · timing · transitions · speaker notes · executive summary
venture capital
Startup growth financing
- angel investorsPrivate early-stage business backers
- seed fundingInitial startup capital infusion
- term sheetPreliminary deal conditions document
due diligence · valuation · equity · funding round · dilution · lead investor · syndicate · pre-money · runway · commitment
founders
Those who begin institutions
- minimum viable productSimplest testable market offering
- tractionAdhesive friction enabling movement
- scalabilityCapacity for growth
burn rate · accelerator · incubator · pivot · disruption · unicorn · bootstrap · go-to-market · founding team · early adopters
credibility
Quality inspiring trust
- social proofInfluence through others' behavior
- testimonialsStatements praising something's worth
- FOMOAcronym for exclusion anxiety
urgency · vision · mission statement · founder story · emotional appeal · market opportunity · risk mitigation · ask
infographics
Visual representations of information
branding · color scheme · typography · icons · diagrams · team photos · logo placement · white space · visual hierarchy · data visualization
value proposition
Promised benefit to customers
- business modelEnterprise profit-generation strategy
- target marketIntended consumer group
- market sizeTotal potential sales volume
competitive analysis · financial projections · customer acquisition · cost structure · profit margin · sales channels · pricing strategy · margins · break-even · cash flow
- graphic designlogo, font, typography, layout, color
- Pre-productionstoryboard, casting, budgeting, casting call, scheduling
- Startupsstartup, founder, founders, startups, co-founder
- tech culturedevelopers, coders, startup culture, programmers, computers
- advertising industryad agencies, art directors, copywriters, creative directors, campaigns
- marketing materialsbrochure, flyer, poster, banner, billboard
pitch deckspost-mortems
Examinations after death
standard operating procedures · bankruptcy filings · financial statements · business plans · annual reports
pitch deckswhite papers
Authoritative reports on issues
technical specifications · fine print · risk assessments · footnotes · disclaimers
deck, pitch, pitcher, pitching, pitched, pitches, pitchfork, pitch-black, elevator pitch