How to Build an Investor-Ready Pitch Deck (with Examples and Templates)

A compelling pitch deck is often the difference between a polite “we’ll pass” and a $500,000 check. Whether you’re raising pre-seed or Series A, your investor pitch deck is your fundraising calling card.

In this guide, we’ll walk through:

• What investors actually want to see

• A proven 10-slide structure that works

• Tips from successful founders and VCs

• Real deck examples and free templates

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What Is a Pitch Deck?

A pitch deck is a short presentation (usually 10–15 slides) used by startups to showcase their business to potential investors. It typically covers the problem, solution, market, traction, team, and fundraising ask.

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The Proven 10-Slide Pitch Deck Structure

This format is battle-tested by Y Combinator, Sequoia, and hundreds of top startups:

1. Title Slide

   • Company name, logo, tagline, and contact info

2. Problem

   • Pain points faced by your target customer

3. Solution

   • Your product/service and how it solves the problem

4. Market Size

   • TAM/SAM/SOM with credible stats

5. Product

   • Screenshots, demos, or brief walkthrough

6. Traction

   • KPIs, revenue, growth charts, or customer testimonials

7. Business Model

   • How you make money (pricing, revenue streams)

8. Go-to-Market Strategy

   • How you acquire users and scale

9. Team

   • Founders, advisors, relevant experience

10. The Ask

• How much you’re raising and what for

🔗 Sequoia Pitch Deck Template

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Tips from Real VCs

“You don’t get extra points for complexity. The best decks are clear, concise, and focus on momentum.”
— Elizabeth Yin, Hustle Fund

“A good deck is like a movie trailer — give me just enough to want a meeting.”
— Michael Seibel, YC Partner

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Do’s and Don’ts

✅ DO:

• Use large fonts and simple visuals

• Include key metrics like CAC, LTV, churn

• Tell a story with data + emotion

🚫 DON’T:

• Overload with text

• Hide the financials or ask

• Use jargon or buzzwords without context

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Free Pitch Deck Templates

• Y Combinator Pitch Template (Google Slides)

• Slidebean Startup Deck Creator

• Canva Pitch Deck Templates

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Real Pitch Deck Examples

• Airbnb — View Deck

• Buffer — View Deck

• Uber — Early investor pitch outline shared via CB Insights

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Conclusion

A solid pitch deck doesn’t need to be flashy — it needs to be clear, confident, and tailored to your audience. Whether you’re pitching angels, VCs, or accelerators, your deck should highlight traction, team, and vision.

At Global Capital Network, we work with founders to refine their decks, match with investors, and present at curated pitch events. If you’re ready to raise — we can help you pitch smarter.