10 slides presentation

The Only 10 Slides You Need in Your Pitch

I am evangelizing the 10/20/30 Rule of PowerPoint. It’s quite simple: a pitch should have ten slides , last no more than twenty minutes , and contain no font smaller than thirty points . This rule is applicable for any presentation to reach an agreement: for example, raising capital, making a sale, forming a partnership, etc.

• Ten slides. Ten is the optimal number of slides in a PowerPoint presentation because a normal human being cannot comprehend more than ten concepts in a meeting—and venture capitalists are very normal. (The only difference between you and venture capitalist is that he is getting paid to gamble with someone else’s money). If you must use more than ten slides to explain your business, you probably don’t have a business.
• Twenty minutes . You should give your ten slides in twenty minutes. Sure, you have an hour time slot, but you’re using a Windows laptop, so it will take forty minutes to make it work with the projector. Even if the setup goes perfectly, people will arrive late and have to leave early. In a perfect world, you give your pitch in twenty minutes, and you have forty minutes left for discussion.
• Thirty-point font . The majority of the presentations that I see have text in a ten-point font. As much text as possible is jammed into the slide, and then the presenter reads it. However, as soon as the audience figures out that you’re reading the text, it reads ahead of you because it can read faster than you can speak. The result is that you and the audience are out of synch.

I hope this helps you create a winning pitch deck for your startup. If you’re interested in this template, you’re probably an entrepreneur. Please check out my podcast, Remarkable People , to learn from remarkable entrepreneurs such as Steve Wozniak (Apple), Melanie Perkins (Canva), Suzy Batiz (Poo Pourri), Steve Wolfram (Mathematica), and Melissa Bernstein (Melissa and Doug).

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46 Comments

Very good points. Sometimes less is more, especially when you are trying to get important points across and increase your credibility.

I fully subscribe to this logic…just find it interesting that were you to convert this excellent info-graphic to slides it would equal approximately 15 slides.

Your presentation is meant to support the message you’re communicating, not obscure it. I can’t agree with the thought ” a normal human being cannot comprehend more than ten concepts in a meeting “. Using more than ten slides to explain for my business may not break my standard level.thanks

Very good simple and pragmatic tool useful in various domains. I see many applications for NGOs either with policy makers or donors. We need more of those to help them integrate private sector good practices, and hence gain in professionalism, impact and coherence.

Why is this not the template used for Shark Tank?

HA! This is the exact same template used for Shark Tank, minus the deck / linear format. Otherwise, all these topics are the key focal points of their discussions.

Loved this article especially the part about “using a Windows laptop, so it will take forty minutes to make it work with the projector” .. hehehe!

I love this article. However, this comment ( his comment ) is unnecessary and distracting – it could have been eliminated and the article would be even stronger. I’ve been burned enough times with projectors and Apple computers that I rigorously avoid them – a personal choice. Yet, I wouldn’t have injected my bias about Apple into this article if I was wrote it. In ‘ The Art of the Keynote Guy says ‘ Don’t denigrate the competition ‘ – good advice. Apparently Microsoft is the competition. He should follow his own counsel.

And the reality is it’s true you wouldn’t spend 40 minutes trying to get it to work with an apple. You’d realize immediately you don’t have the right adapter that’d be that.

I didn’t get past the first line because the phrase is “in a pinch” not “pitch”.

Peggy is this a joke? The author is referring to a sales pitch. There’s no such thing as a “sales pinch.” He’s not referencing your phrase.

Only one slide is missing… Defensibility & IP. Every good pitch has some sort of moat. Trade secrets, patents, exclusivity agreements, etc. Investors want to have some sort of competitive advantage and protections.

Same goes for sales pitches.

Brian – wouldn’t that would be in the Underlying Magic?

Dave – Not really. The underlying magic is your “model”; what are you doing differently to address the need in the market?

As an investor, you want exclusivity in the market to that magical way of addressing the need. That means you have a legal way to defend the IP (e.g. patents, copyrights, etc.). With those elements your execution in fulfilling the need becomes less important, and thereby reduces investor risk, because in the end we can then license the IP to someone who can.

How would someone protect a big idea let’s say as example the idea of Facebook. A network idea. A big idea, but one that could be grabbed and replicated. How do you protect “the idea” even from those angel investors you are pitching to? Do you ask investors to sign anything before you pitch? I am stuck at this very fundamental starting point.

I agree. This is where I am stuck. My business model and idea are based around a network sales concept and exclusive market niche (a huge niche). How do I protect that? Do I need to protect this idea, even from presenting to investors? How do you protect a network concept, for instance how would you have protected the idea of Facebook going in to present the concept to investors? Is stealth, speed of execution, launch and quick scaling the only ways?

@Briand and Dave, What I recall from the book, Underlying Magic refers to differentiation; which can take the form of IP, unfair advantage or innovative resource/model.

Great Article. I completely agree with Guy, the attention span of most people is max 20 minutes after which the human mind has moved on. the slides may be more than 10 but really your message is only heard in the first 15 to 20 minutes. Lol so agree with the 40 minutes set up time :) that is something we see all the time..

Great article! nice to read. is there any example or presentation, if you have please share with us.

I would add use of pictures and graphs along with text in the presentation. Pictures catch great deal attention and they communicate well. I would also add presenter’s voice pitch and connecting with audience while presenting.

Guy’s 10 slides are clearly structured as a pitch presentation format for investors. Having now been on both sides of the table, I can confidently say they are an effective template / discipline for getting your story focused on the essential check list of questions that investors will have, for keeping their attention, and for whetting their appetites to want to learn more .. and potentially attracting a champion in the process. With a strong leader taking command of the presentation, these guidelines work well for improving your batting average attracting $. As Mark Twain said, “If I had more time I’d have made it shorter”. If that was ever more true, it’s with investors who are barraged daily with deals.

Love the 10/20/30 philosophy and am rewriting an article => video to follow. Some of the comments make me a bit concerned though.

some wat to relavent about internation affairs of nationality inthe antise social group….!!!!

What is your take on the PechaKucha format of 20 x 20 – 20 slides , 20 seconds each? In a world of decreasing attention spans do you think this format has the ability to add a bit more Zing and Energy to a presentation? Allows more time for Q & A then too.

This is very, very helpful to me in creating my pitch.

This is realy helpful I using the same in my studies here in Kenya

Thank you GK, I used it. I raised capital for my young company.

Very good simple and pragmatic tool useful in various domains. well elaborated design and understandable.

Funny thing is, I am using Canva for a project presentation in a Strategic Sales class and this was the first useful article I found to help me get a start on it.

I can agree with this as someone who make many pitch decks. I like the idea of 10, but it is not feasible as there is no consumer insight, media quotes, simple marketing plan, etc. Yes. there should be 10 topics, but that does not mean 10 slides as some topics do take multiple slides, even if just a media coverage quote on a slide to introduce a topic.

Guy Kawasaki pitch deck are very small but very helpful for startup, however have a look this one pitch deck, https://goo.gl/QaCrPT it have 450+ slides cover all the topics of every pitch. 6 categories template such as marketing, sales, investor, startup,

I think it’s interesting that “Exit Strategy” is a stupid question. Perhaps what Guy is saying is the “Underlying Magic” is the exit strategy?

I really like the book The art of start 2.0. He explains in simple words and its easy to understand. I recommend the book!

I agree with Guy’s thoughts. In addition: Make up a deck. Show it to a friend. Then 2 days later ask them what it said. Tweak the deck so that the viewer is left with 3 or 4 most important bullets. These should be very much akin to the notions in the Elevator Pitch.

Does anyone have any good examples of anyone using this format? It would be nice to see this applied.

People invest in people so my pitch decks, based on Guy’s approach, have the team slide in position #2. The 3-4 key individuals are listed as follows:

Joe Shmo Head of Engineering Cal Berkeley – MS Computer Science Previously VP Engineering @ Lightning Networks (acquired by Cisco) Driving product development

I don’t make a big deal about the CFO and never use “R&D” in the pitch. VC’s early on dictate who the CFO is, and one VC told me years ago that “research is done in universities, not with my money”

Limit of 10 slides enforces you to be concise, to see and display a core of the project. And it is critical to be understandable for audience. When you don’t spend additional time of investors, they see that you respect them. So they will respect you.

I’m looking for a pitch deck for a veterans non-profit.

Hello every body,

I’m a senior counselor for entrepreneurship and business in knowledge-based as well as normal habitant civil services. In my opinion, the very pre-condition for any good presentation is good idea with tested de-coupled sub-phases of the business. The investor and his/her venture capitalist is plausibly expert to capture the subject.

If you don’t have a great and sizable business idea don’t expect that you will win with any trick such 10/20/30. These rules are suitable for great-idea owners.

One of my ask for pitch deck. Your advise on pitch deck relief me from the pressure.But when i started to do the pitch deck , it takes 3 hours to complete and i made only 8 slide. I realized that i am weak at PowerPoint presentation. Can you release a course on power-point? Thank You

Valuable help for all our startups.

The article is very well written; short but useful. Thanks for sharing such a useful piece of content.

Guy, I love this format and I push it on all the entrepreneurs I coach. As I’m prepping to give a presentation and share it though, I see that the infographic form is actually impossible to present in PPT. Text is too small and formatting isn’t right. Seems like the infographic needs a little rework to be most useful!

Very well written article. Thanks for sharing such a useful piece of content.

Beautiful Article, Guy! Short and to the point and explained your points with proper justification. Rhyming concept 10/20/30 too.

Minimalism at its finest. 10 slides felt a bit less at first but the infographic made things very clear.

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Home Blog Presentation Ideas Understanding the 10/20/30 Rule of PowerPoint Presentations

Understanding the 10/20/30 Rule of PowerPoint Presentations

Imagine sitting through a seemingly never-ending presentation. The speaker rambled on, reading from text-heavy slides, using a tiny font that strained your eyes, and failing to connect with the audience. As the minutes ticked by, you found yourself daydreaming and eagerly awaiting the end of the ordeal.

If you have been in this situation, then you know what to do if you were in the presenter’s shoes – make your presentations concise. But how do you even start?

You can follow several techniques when preparing your deck and your presentation as a whole. One of them is the 10/20/30 rule of PowerPoint , a presentation rule championed by Guy Kawasaki – a former Apple employee and a marketing specialist.

Table of Contents

What Is the 10/20/30 Rule of PowerPoint Presentations?

Applying guy kawasaki’s 10 slide template in any presentation, the 20 minutes rule, the 30-point font rule, the benefits of using the 10/20/30 rule, tips for applying the 10/20/30 rule to your presentation.

The idea of the 10/20/30 rule is easy to understand, which is summed up in three points.

• Your presentation should consist of no more than 10 slides .
• Your presentation should last no longer than 20 minutes .
• The text on each slide should be no lower than 30 points in size .

Guy Kawasaki’s 10-20-30 rule for slideshows emphasizes brevity, focus, and visual appeal to keep your audience engaged and deliver your message effectively.

Let’s examine each rule and explore how to apply it to your presentations.

The 10 Slides Rule

Kawasaki argues that a typical person can only take 10 concepts in one sitting. Therefore, according to him, a presentation should only consist of 10 slides, each serving a specific purpose and conveying a distinct concept.

This insight underscores the importance of concise, focused presentations that prioritize key messages and avoid overwhelming the audience with too much information.

If you are a business presenter struggling to develop a pitch deck , Kawasaki suggests a 10-slide PowerPoint template that includes what venture capitalists like him care about.

• Title – Includes the business name, the presenter’s name, contacts, etc.
• Problem/Opportunity – Highlights pain points or unmet needs of customers you aim to solve.
• Value Proposition – Articulates the value or benefits of your product or service.
• Underlying Magic – Explains the key technology that goes into your product or service offers.
• Business Model – Describes how you plan to generate revenue.
• Go-to-Market Plan – Outlines your strategy for bringing your product or service to market, e.g., marketing and sales plan .
• Competitive Analysis – Explains how your business is positioned to compete and capture market share.
• Management Team – Highlights your management team’s skills, experience, and expertise that will drive the success of your business.
• Financial Projections and Key Metrics – Highlights your business’s financial viability and potential profitability.
• Current Status, Accomplishments to Date, Timeline, and Use of Funds – Provides an overview of your current business status, any accomplishments or milestones achieved to date, the timeline for future milestones, and how you plan to use the funds you seek.

The 10 rule slide was specifically designed for startup and business presentations , focusing on pitching a business idea or concept to potential investors . However, it can also be a useful framework for other types of presentations that don’t deal with selling a service or product.

For example, if you are a lecturer, you can emulate Kawasaki’s PowerPoint template layout and reduce your presentation to 10 slides. Some slides might not be relevant to the nature of your topic, so replace them with one that works for your presentation. Using PPT templates helps you focus on the graphical aspect so you can articulate the content to fit into exactly 10 slides (while preserving the same aesthetic).

Let’s say you are a mindfulness expert talking about the benefits of meditation. The first three slides of Kawazaki’s workflow may be applied as you’ll need to establish your audience’s pain points and your solution.

However, you may need to modify the remaining slides as you’re not seeking to make a sale or raise funding. You may use them instead to discuss the main content of your presentation – in this case, the benefits of meditation. The last two slides may contain your conclusions and call to action, respectively.

Now, off to the second part of the 10/20/30 presentation rule.

According to Kawasaki, you only have 20 minutes to present your 10 slides – the time needed before your audience’s attention starts declining. He believes it is long enough to convey a meaningful message but short enough to maintain the audience’s attention span.

This is exactly why most TED Talks or The Big Bang Theory episodes would only last for approximately 18 minutes. 

While giving longer presentations is possible, longer presentations may be more difficult to maintain audience engagement and attention.

Kawasaki’s final rule pertains to the font size that presenters can use. This rule suggests that presenters should use a font size of at least 30 points for all text in their slides , including titles, headings, and body text.

When creating presentations, it is common to jam each slide with text and information. This poses two possible problems:

• First, it may take your audience’s attention from you as they may end up reading your whole presentation and stop listening to you. 
• Second, including too much information can make your presentation overwhelming and difficult to follow.

Using a larger font size, you must include only the key points of your presentation slides. This prevents your audience from getting ahead of you and keeps them listening to you speak. By applying this rule, you are also ensuring your content is understandable for people with visual impairments. We highly recommend you check concepts from W3C.org on how to make events accessible, as some of these rules can benefit your audience.

Presenters often ask themselves whether is worth applying a new framework for their presentation design and delivery. The reality is that the 10/20/30 Rule of PowerPoint Presentations is one of the most effective methods to build your presentation skills . In the list below, we expose the main benefits of this framework for presenters.

Concise and Focused Presentation

With a limited number of slides and a strict time limit, the 10/20/30 encourages you to choose the most relevant content and eliminate unnecessary information carefully. This avoids overwhelming your audience with too much information and ensures your key message is clear and memorable.

Improved Audience Engagement

This rule encourages presenters to focus on delivering a clear message rather than overwhelming the audience with flashy visuals. With fewer slides and a shorter duration, you are likelier to hold your audience’s attention throughout the presentation. This also allows you to address questions from the audience, leading to better interaction and a productive meeting.

Increased Chance of Success

Whether pitching to investors or selling a product, a concise and focused presentation can significantly increase your chances of success. The 10/20/30 rule helps you effectively communicate your value proposition and address potential concerns. This makes your presentation more persuasive and memorable, increasing the likelihood of securing funding or closing a sale.

Time Management

The more senior the person you present to, the lesser time you got to make your case and convey your message. Following the 10/20/30 encourages you to be mindful of the time and deliver your presentation within the allocated timeframe. It also allows you to show respect for your audience’s time.

1. Present One Idea Per Slide

Following Kawasaki’s rule on creating your PowerPoint presentation, identify the key points you want to convey to your audience and allocate one slide for each.

Presenting one idea per slide can help your audience stay focused on the topic at hand.  It makes it easier for them to understand and remember your message, as it reduces the amount of information they have to process at once. When there’s too much information on a slide, it can be overwhelming and distracting, making it difficult for your audience to stay engaged and attentive.

Presenting one idea per slide can also help you control the flow of information and ensure that you cover all of your main points.

2. Keep Your Slides Simple

As mentioned earlier, the 10/20/30 rule emphasizes simplicity. Keep your slides simple and avoid flashy design elements that may distract your audience.

Use a consistent color scheme , font style, and layout throughout your presentation. This will help your audience follow along and focus on your message.

3. Balance Text and Visuals

Visuals like images, charts, graphs, videos, and diagrams can help break up text-heavy slides and make your presentation more interesting and memorable. However, relying solely on images can also be ineffective and lead to confusion or disengagement.

When using visuals in your slides, it’s important to balance text and images. Text can provide important context and details, while images can help illustrate key points and make your presentation visually appealing.

Let’s say you want to inform your audience of your company’s marketing plan . Using a rising spiral template is an excellent choice since it can represent multiple plan stages with increasing intensity.

4. Break Down Your Presentation into Smaller Units and Make it Interactive

Kawasaki’s 10/20/30 rule only gives you 20 minutes to wrap up the whole presentation, but what if you need more than that?

It’s not uncommon to give presentations that last 45 minutes to an hour – for instance, if you are giving a lecture or facilitating a training workshop for employees. The longer your presentation, however, the harder it will be to hold your audience’s attention.

One great way to keep them engaged is to divide your presentation into smaller units and pause in between.

So, before the guy from the third row starts yawning, plan in-between activities to reenergize your audience and reacquire their attention. It can be a simple Q&A session, interactive exercises, or team-building activities.

Don’t forget to time your activities so they won’t disrupt the flow of your presentation.

5. Start Strong

The opening of your presentation is critical in capturing your audience’s attention and setting the tone for the rest of the presentation. Start with a compelling hook, such as a thought-provoking question, a powerful quote, or an engaging story, to grab your audience’s attention. Clearly state the purpose and objectives of your presentation to establish the context and provide a roadmap for what’s to come.

6. End Strong

Your outro is as important as your introduction. So, instead of ending your presentation with a flat Thank you slide , use the opportunity to nudge your audience to action.

Using a summary slide is one of the ways you can end your presentation if your goal is to reinforce your key points. It can be a useful reference for the audience, helping them remember the most important information.

You can also encourage your audience to take action based on what they’ve learned in your presentation. This can be a great way to motivate them to apply the concepts you’ve covered.

The 10/20/30 rule of PowerPoint is a useful framework to emulate in creating your presentation.

There are questions about the practicality of its application outside the business context. However, we can agree that it teaches us valuable insight – keeping presentations concise as possible. Limiting the number of slides, adhering to a strict time limit, and using a larger font size can create a concise presentation that effectively communicates your message.

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to presenting; you don’t have to strictly follow Kawasaki’s rule. Depending on the audience and the topic, modify the template and adapt your presentation to suit the situation.

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10 Slides You Need to Have in Your Pitch Deck

Master the art of pitching with Guy Kawasaki's expert advice on the 10 essential slides for your pitch deck. Elevate your presentation today!

In the ever-evolving landscape of business and entrepreneurship, the ability to captivate an audience, secure investments, and convey a compelling vision is invaluable. How does one achieve this? The answer is through the art of a  well-crafted pitch deck , a tool that can make or break the success of your business venture. In this article, we’ll guide you through creating a powerful pitch deck, and more specifically, we will delve into the famous Guy Kawasaki 10-slide formula. This formula has become the gold standard for effective pitch presentations. With it, you can ensure that your 10 slide pitch deck captures the essence of your business and resonates with your audience in a way that leaves a lasting impression.

So, whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting your journey, this article is your gateway to understanding why a pitch deck is crucial and how Guy Kawasaki’s 10-slide formula can be your secret weapon in the evolving business competition. Let’s begin our journey into the heart of the perfect pitch deck.

Guy Kawasaki’s Formula

Before diving deeper into Guy Kawasaki’s 10-slide formula, we must acquaint ourselves with the man behind this powerful approach. Guy Kawasaki is a name that resonates strongly in the world of entrepreneurship, innovation, and technology. With a rich history as a Silicon Valley veteran and a former Apple evangelist, he has garnered immense respect and admiration for his expertise. His deep knowledge of business and innovation is evident in the wisdom he imparts.

So, why should you pay heed to Guy Kawasaki and his pitch deck approach? The answer is simple: his formula has proven time and again to be a game-changer in the art of pitching. Following his guidance can be the key to unlocking the doors of opportunity and investment for your business. Guy Kawasaki’s method is not just about the 10 slides; it’s a holistic approach. It adheres to the 10-20-30 rule. What exactly is this rule, and why is it significant? Let’s explore that next.

What is the 10-20-30 Rule?

The 10-20-30 rule is at the core of Guy Kawasaki’s pitch deck strategy, emphasizing simplicity and efficacy through three vital elements: a 10-slide structure to convey your business narrative, a 20-minute time limit to maintain engagement and prevent overwhelming your audience, and a thirty-point font size to ensure clear readability, even from a distance.

The cornerstone of Guy Kawasaki’s pitch deck formula is the 10 slides. These slides are strategically designed to give your audience a comprehensive understanding of your business while maintaining their engagement and interest.

In the upcoming sections, we will dissect each of these 10 slides individually, examining their unique purposes and guiding you on how to maximize their potential to create a captivating and convincing pitch.

Twenty Minutes

In the world of pitching, time is a precious commodity. That’s why Guy Kawasaki’s formula restricts your pitch to a tight 20-minute window. This time constraint keeps you focused and ensures you present your ideas concisely and effectively. In the business world, attention spans are short, and mastering the art of delivering your pitch within this timeframe can be the difference between success and obscurity.

Thirty-Point Font

Remember to consider the role of font size. Guy Kawasaki’s 10-20-30 rule insists on using a font size of at least 30 points. This seemingly small detail is significant because it directly impacts the readability of your pitch. Your audience should read your content easily, even from the back of the room. In a world where information constantly bombards us, legibility is crucial to effectively convey your message.

Pitch Deck by Guy Kawasaki

Guy Kawasaki’s 10 slide pitch deck is a masterclass in presenting your business effectively. Each slide plays a vital role in conveying your story, and understanding the significance of these slides can be the key to success. In the upcoming sections, we’ll explore each slide individually, highlighting why it’s essential and what elements you should include for a compelling pitch.

1. Title Slide

The title slide is your pitch’s opening act. It’s an opportunity to make a good impression. A well-crafted title slide should include your company name, logo, and a concise tagline that encapsulates your mission. This slide sets the stage for what’s to come in your pitch, and it’s often the slide that stays the longest in the memory of your audience. To learn more about creating an impactful title slide, you can explore our dedicated Pitch Deck Title Slide guide .

2. Problem Slide

The problem slide is where you address the pain points your target audience faces. It’s your opportunity to emphasize the urgency and significance of the issue your business aims to solve. Investors need to understand the problem you’re tackling before they can appreciate your solution. For a deeper dive into creating an effective problem slide, refer to our Pitch Deck Problem Slide guide .

3. Solution Slide

Now that you’ve highlighted the problem, it’s time to present your solution. The solution slide is where you explain how your product or service effectively addresses the problem you’ve just outlined. This is where you start building the narrative of your business as the hero who can save the day. To discover more about crafting a compelling solution slide, check out our Pitch Deck Solution Slide guide .

4. Product Slide

In the product slide, you need to dive into the specifics of your product or service. This is your chance to highlight its key features, benefits, and what sets it apart from the competition. Visual aids like images or diagrams can be particularly effective here, helping your audience grasp the essence of your offering. For detailed insights into creating an impactful product slide, explore our Pitch Deck Product Slide guide .

5. Business Model Slide

Money matters and that’s where the business model slide comes into play. Investors want to know how your business intends to make a profit. In this slide, explain your revenue streams, pricing strategies, and sales channels. The business model slide is where you need to showcase the financial viability of your venture. To learn more about crafting a convincing business model slide, take a look at our Pitch Deck Business Model Slide guide .

6. Go-to-Market Slide

Your strategy for reaching customers is crucial, and that’s where the go-to-market slide comes in. Describe your marketing, sales, and distribution plans, and convey how you’ll attract and retain your target audience. This slide provides insight into the practical steps you’re taking to make your business a success. For a more in-depth look at creating an effective go-to-market slide, explore our Pitch Deck Go-to-Market Slide guide .

7. Competition Slide

The competition slide is where you not only acknowledge your competitors but also explain how you outshine them. Investors want to see that you’ve done your homework and that your business has a competitive edge. This slide demonstrates your awareness of the market and your strategic positioning within it. To gain a better understanding of crafting a convincing competition slide, refer to our Pitch Deck Competition Slide guide .

8. Team Slide

Investors often say they invest in people more than ideas. The team slide is where you introduce the key players in your organization. Highlight their expertise, experience, and the value they bring to your business. A strong team can be a decisive factor in securing investments. To dive deeper into creating an impactful team slide, explore our Pitch Deck Team Slide guide .

9. Financial Slide

In the financial slide, you need to present your financial projections, including revenue forecasts, expenses, and your break-even point. This slide should instill confidence in the financial viability of your venture. It’s where investors look to see the numbers behind the vision. To learn more about creating a convincing financial slide, check out our Pitch Deck Financial Slide guide.

10. Why Now Slide

Your pitch should conclude with a sense of urgency. The "Why Now" slide explains why this is the perfect moment to invest in your business. It highlights market trends or opportunities that make your venture a timely and wise investment. This slide leaves your audience with a compelling reason to act now. To explore the art of crafting a compelling "Why Now" slide, refer to our Pitch Deck Why Now Slide guide .

How Can PitchBob Help to Create a Winning Pitch Deck for Investors?

Creating a compelling pitch deck is a pivotal step on the road to attracting potential investors and securing funding for your business. However, this task can often feel daunting, even for the most experienced entrepreneurs. The good news is that you don’t have to navigate this journey on your own. Enter PitchBob , a powerful and user-friendly tool designed to simplify the pitch deck creation process and elevate your presentation to new heights.

The Power of PitchBob

PitchBob is more than just a tool; it’s your strategic partner in the art of pitch deck development. Whether you’re a startup founder with a groundbreaking idea, a seasoned entrepreneur looking to revamp your current pitch, or a business professional aiming to make a lasting impact, PitchBob is here to assist you.

Guiding You Through Each Slide

PitchBob takes you on a step-by-step journey through the creation of each slide in your pitch deck. It offers practical guidance and templates for every essential slide, from the captivating title slide to the compelling financial projections. By breaking down the complex task of pitch deck creation into manageable sections, PitchBob streamlines the process and empowers you to craft a persuasive narrative.

Tailored for Your Needs

PitchBob recognizes that every business is unique, and so are its pitch deck requirements. The platform allows you to customize your pitch deck based on your specific industry, target audience, and business objectives. This tailored approach ensures that your presentation resonates with your potential investors.

Your Path to a Winning Pitch Deck

In the competitive world of business, a winning pitch deck can be the key to unlocking investment opportunities. With PitchBob by your side, you can transform your pitch deck into a persuasive, captivating, and effective tool. So, whether you’re aiming to make your entrepreneurial dreams a reality or elevate your business to new heights, PitchBob is your partner in creating a pitch deck that stands out and grabs investors’ attention. To get started, visit PitchBob and embark on your journey to pitching success.

Mastering the art of pitching is a must-skill for every entrepreneur. The 10-slide pitch deck guy Kawasaki formula, along with the 10-20-30 rule, provides a clear and effective framework for creating impactful presentations. By understanding the purpose of each slide and how they come together to tell your business story, you can elevate your pitch deck and increase your chances of securing investments.

So, are you ready to transform your pitch deck into a winning one? With Guy Kawasaki’s wisdom and the assistance of PitchBob, you’re well on your way to success. Elevate your presentation today and make your entrepreneurial dreams a reality.

Disruptive Partners OÜ Harju maakond, Tallinn, Kesklinna linnaosa, Tornimäe tn 3 / 5 / 7, 10145

PitchBob, Inc 2261 Market Street #10281 San Francisco, CA 94114

The 10 Slides, 20 Minutes and 30 Point Font Rule for Presentations

• By Judhajit Sen
• May 14, 2024

What separates a good presentation from a dreadful one? Picture this: a never-ending talk that drones on for over 30 minutes, bombarding you with slide after slide, each crammed with tiny text. By the time the speaker finishes, most of the audience is either sleeping, scrolling through their phones, or daydreaming. What went wrong? And more importantly, how can you avoid such a fate in your PowerPoint presentations? Enter the 10-20-30 Rule, your savior from presentation purgatory.

Presentations are everywhere – in school, work, and even casual settings like PowerPoint parties. But crafting a compelling one requires careful consideration. You must choose a topic that resonates, organize your content logically, design visually appealing slides, adhere to a reasonable time limit, and master your delivery style. It’s not just about sharing information; it’s also about  engaging the audience .

Guy Kawasaki, a former Apple employee and marketing guru, champions a simple yet powerful principle: the 10-20-30 Rule of PowerPoint. This rule advocates for brevity, recommending no more than ten slides, a maximum duration of 20 minutes, and a font size of 30 points minimum. It’s a game-changer in presentations, emphasizing clarity, conciseness, and connection with your audience.

In an era where effective communication reigns supreme, mastering the art of presentations is essential for success. Guy Kawasaki’s 10-20-30 Rule offers a beacon of guidance, reshaping how we approach and deliver business plan and marketing presentations. So, let’s dive in and discover its transformative power together.

Key Takeaways 

• Brevity is Key: Guy Kawasaki’s 10-20-30 Rule stresses brevity in presentations, limiting slides to 10, duration to 20 minutes, and font size to 30 points. This ensures the concise delivery of essential information without overwhelming the audience.
• Optimize Engagement: By adhering to the rule, presenters can optimize audience engagement . Shorter presentations and larger font sizes maintain audience attention, leading to better retention of key points and increased comprehension.
• Versatile Application: While initially designed for business pitches, the 10-20-30 Rule is adaptable across various contexts. Teachers, students, and professionals from any field can leverage its principles to craft compelling presentations that resonate with their audience.
• Simplicity Matters: Simplifying presentations using Kawasaki’s rule allows presenters to focus on delivering impactful messages. By emphasizing clarity and conciseness, presenters can make a lasting impression regardless of the presentation’s objective.

Defining The 10-20-30 Rule

The 10-20-30 Rule is a simple yet powerful guide for crafting effective presentations. Coined by Guy Kawasaki, a renowned figure in Silicon Valley, this presentation outline rule emphasizes brevity, clarity, and visual impact to captivate your audience and convey your message efficiently.

Guy Kawasaki, drawing from his experience as a venture capitalist, observed the essence of a successful presentation and distilled it into three key components:

1. Conciseness: Limit your presentation to just ten slides.

2. Time Management: Keep your presentation within a 20-minute timeframe.

3. Readability: Ensure that the font size on each slide is at least 30 points.

This rule isn’t just about numbers; it’s about optimizing your presentation’s impact. Adhering to these guidelines can create engaging and memorable presentations that resonate with your audience. Whether you pitch a business idea or deliver a report, the 10-20-30 Rule serves as a blueprint for success, enabling you to deliver your message effectively and leave a lasting impression.

Let us go through the three key components of the 10-20-30 Rule in detail.

The 10-Slide Rule

When crafting a winning presentation, Guy Kawasaki’s 10-20-30 Rule sets a clear path for success, with the 10-slide rule as a cornerstone principle. Kawasaki’s insights into the human mind’s capacity to absorb information underscore the importance of brevity and clarity in presentations.

1. Title Slide: The journey begins with a compelling title slide introducing your presentation, featuring essential information such as your name, company details, and contact information.

2. Problem/Opportunity: The second slide delves into the heart of the matter, outlining the problem or opportunity your product or service addresses. This is your chance to spotlight the pain points or unmet needs of your target audience.

3. Value Proposition: Slide three is dedicated to showcasing your offering’s unique value proposition. Showcase the benefits your product or service offers, emphasizing why it stands out in the market.

4. Underlying Magic: On the fourth slide, unveil the magic behind your product or service—the innovative technology or approach that sets you apart from the competition. Keep it concise yet impactful.

5. Business Model: Slide five zooms in on your business model, elucidating how you plan to generate revenue and sustain profitability. This is your opportunity to demonstrate the viability of your venture to potential investors or stakeholders.

6. Go-to-Market Plan: The sixth slide outlines your strategy for bringing your product or service to market. From marketing initiatives to sales tactics, provide a roadmap for achieving your business goals.

7. Competitive Analysis: Slide seven offers insights into your competitive landscape. Analyze rival offerings, sales processes, and marketing strategies, highlighting how your approach positions you for success.

8. Management Team: The eighth slide spotlights your management team, showcasing their expertise, experience, and contributions to your venture’s success. Investors want to know they’re backing a capable and skilled team.

9. Financial Projections and Key Metrics: Slide nine presents a snapshot of your business’s financial outlook, featuring projections, key metrics, and budget plans. This is crucial for demonstrating the potential return on investment.

10. Current Status and Use of Funds: Finally, the tenth slide wraps up your presentation by providing an overview of your current status, accomplishments to date, timeline for future milestones, and how you plan to allocate the funds you seek. It’s your opportunity to leave a lasting impression with a strong call to action .

By adhering to Kawasaki’s 10 concepts rule, presenters can streamline their message, captivate their audience, and effectively drive home their key points. Whether pitching to investors, presenting to stakeholders, or sharing insights with colleagues, this rule is a guiding beacon for impactful presentations.

The 20-Minute Rule

Guy Kawasaki’s 10-20-30 Rule for presentations doesn’t just focus on the number of slides or font size; it also emphasizes the importance of time management, particularly the 20-minute rule. According to Kawasaki, speakers should end a presentation within 20 minutes, as audience attention tends to wane beyond this timeframe.

1. Attention Span: With human attention spans dwindling, Kawasaki stresses the need to keep presentations concise, avoiding fatigue or disengagement from the audience. This rule aligns with research indicating that people tune out after about 10 minutes, making a 20-minute duration optimal to engage your audience .

2. TED Talks Model: The effectiveness of the 20-minute rule is mirrored in popular public speaking formats like TED Talks, where speakers deliver impactful messages within this timeframe. These fast-paced, engaging, and memorable talks prove that brevity doesn’t compromise substance.

3. Structuring Your Talk: Adhering to the 20-minute limit simplifies the planning and structuring process. Presenters can effectively allocate time to each slide or critical point, ensuring all essential information is covered within the allotted timeframe.

4. Audience Engagement: Longer presentations risk losing audience interest and focus. By keeping presentations under 20 minutes, presenters increase the likelihood of audience retention and comprehension.

5. Flexible Time Slots: While presentations may be scheduled for longer durations, sticking to the 20-minute rule allows for flexibility. It leaves ample time for questions, discussions, and unforeseen technical issues, ensuring a smooth and efficient presentation experience.

6. Practical Considerations: Kawasaki acknowledges real-world challenges, such as technical setup time or late arrivals, emphasizing the importance of delivering a succinct pitch within the designated timeframe.

7. Structured Approach: A well-structured 20-minute presentation typically includes a brief introduction, problem statement or question, main body of critical points, and a concise conclusion. This format maximizes impact while respecting audience attention spans.

Adhering to the 20-minute rule enhances presentation effectiveness, keeping audiences engaged and ensuring key messages resonate effectively within a limited timeframe.

The 30-Point Font Rule

Guy Kawasaki’s 10-20-30 Rule emphasizes not just the content of presentations but also their readability, especially with the 30-point font rule. Keeping font sizes at a minimum of 30 points ensures clarity and prevents overcrowding on slides, thus enhancing audience engagement.

1. Clarity Overload: Small fonts on slides can distract and overwhelm audiences, drawing attention away from the presenter. Kawasaki stresses the importance of legibility in focusing on critical points and preventing audiences from reading ahead and disengaging.

2. Key Point Focus: Presenters must distill their content to essential points by enforcing a minimum 30-point font size. This practice prevents information overload and ensures audiences remain attentive and receptive to the speaker’s message.

3. Accessibility Consideration: Larger font sizes benefit individuals with visual impairments, ensuring presentation inclusivity. Kawasaki’s rule aligns with accessibility guidelines, making presentations accessible to a broader audience.

4. Strategic Content Selection: Adhering to the 30-point font rule prompts presenters to prioritize content, selecting only the most critical information for inclusion. This selective approach enhances audience comprehension and retention.

5. Visual Clarity: Larger fonts enhance slide legibility, reducing strain on the audience’s eyes and encouraging active engagement. This approach fosters a smoother presentation flow and facilitates audience understanding.

6. Content Quality: Limiting font size to 30 points or above forces presenters to focus on conveying key messages effectively. This requirement encourages deeper understanding and more impactful content delivery.

7. Engagement Optimization: Font sizes of 30 points or higher keep audiences focused on the speaker rather than struggling to decipher small text. This fosters a more engaging and immersive presentation experience, maximizing audience retention and comprehension.

Adhering to Kawasaki’s 30-point font rule ensures that presentations are clear, concise, and accessible to all audience members. By prioritizing readability and content focus, presenters can deliver more impactful presentations that resonate with their audiences.

Applying The 10-20-30 Rule Beyond VC Presentations

Entrepreneur Guy Kawasaki devised the 10-20-30 Rule drawing from his venture expertise. While initially crafted for business pitches, its adaptability extends beyond the startup world. It’s a winning formula for anyone seeking to sway opinions, whether you’re pitching a product, securing funding, or simply conveying ideas.

The essence of the rule lies in simplicity and clarity. Limit your presentation to 10 slides, each delivered in 20 minutes, with a font size of no less than 30 points. This structure ensures focus, conciseness, and audience engagement.

This approach isn’t exclusive to business endeavors. Teachers, students, or professionals from any field can benefit. Suppose you’re a teacher discussing mindfulness in class. Embrace Kawasaki’s methodology by condensing your lecture into ten slides. While the initial slides might address your audience’s needs and your proposed solution, the subsequent ones should delve into the benefits of meditation. The final slides could encapsulate key takeaways and urge action tailored to your audience’s needs.

Moreover, leveraging PowerPoint templates streamlines the process, allowing you to concentrate on content delivery. Adhering to the 10-20-30 principle ensures your message remains focused and impactful, regardless of your presentation’s objective.

Wrap-Up: The 10 slides, 20 minutes and 30 Point Font Rule for Presentations

In the world of presentations, the 10-20-30 Rule is a beacon of guidance for marketers and presenters alike. Simplified for success, this rule packs a punch with its straightforward approach: 10 slides, 20 minutes, and a font size of 30 points. You’re poised to make a lasting impact by condensing your content into these parameters when you make your presentation.

First, limiting yourself to 10 slides forces you to distill your message to its core, highlighting only the most crucial points. This ensures that your audience stays focused on what truly matters.

The 20-minute timeframe keeps you on track and encourages you to deliver your message concisely and effectively. There is no room for rambling or unnecessary details here; every minute counts.

Lastly, the 30-point font size is a visual cue, reminding you to keep your slides clean and concise. Large fonts discourage cluttered slides and encourage you to focus on key takeaways, not wordy explanations.

Remember, while the 10-20-30 Rule may have its roots in marketing, its principles can be applied across various contexts. Whether you’re a student, entrepreneur, or professional, mastering this rule equips you with the tools to engage your audience and drive your point home with clarity and impact.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the 10-20-30 Rule for presentations?

The 10-20-30 Rule, popularized by Guy Kawasaki, is a guideline for crafting impactful presentations. It suggests limiting your presentation to 10 slides, keeping it within 20 minutes, and using a font size of at least 30 points. This rule aims to ensure brevity, clarity, and audience engagement.

2. Why is the 10-20-30 Rule important?

The rule emphasizes concise communication, respecting audience attention spans, and enhancing readability. By following this guideline, presenters can deliver focused, memorable presentations that effectively convey their message and captivate their audience.

3. How can I apply the 10-20-30 Rule to my presentations?

To apply the rule:

(a) Start by selecting essential points and condensing them into ten slides.

(b) Aim to deliver your presentation within a 20-minute timeframe, focusing on clarity and avoiding unnecessary details.

(c) Ensure your slides have a minimum font size of 30 points for optimal readability.

4. Can the 10-20-30 Rule be adapted for different types of presentations?

The rule’s principles can be adapted for various presentation contexts, including business pitches, academic lectures, or casual talks. Whether pitching a product, delivering a report, or teaching a class, adhering to the 10-20-30 Rule can help you streamline your message and engage your audience effectively.

Master Stellar Presentations with Prezentium’s 10-20-30 Rule Implementation

Transform your presentations with Prezentium ‘s expert services tailored to Guy Kawasaki’s 10-20-30 Rule. Say goodbye to long, tedious presentations that leave your audience snoozing or scrolling through their phones. Our overnight presentation service ensures you receive a stellar, concise presentation in your inbox by the next business day, adhering to Kawasaki’s guidelines for brevity and clarity.

Our team of presentation specialists will help you craft engaging slides, transforming your ideas into exquisite presentation designs while following the 10-slide rule. Whether you pitch a business idea or deliver a report, our experts will ensure your message is conveyed effectively within 20 minutes, keeping your audience engaged and focused.

Additionally, our Zenith Learning workshops combine structured problem-solving with visual storytelling, empowering you to master the art of presentations using the 10-20-30 Rule. Join us in reshaping how you approach presentations and leave a lasting impression on your audience. Let Prezentium be your partner in crafting captivating presentations that resonate with clarity and impact.

Why wait? Avail a complimentary 1-on-1 session with our presentation expert. See how other enterprise leaders are creating impactful presentations with us.

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The Only 10 Slides You Need in Your Startup Pitch

Every startup needs a compelling pitch to attract investors — and capital. With a beautifully designed and intentional presentation, you can showcase the best aspects of your startup to help you secure the funding you need.

But what should you include in your presentation? And how do you design it to stand out? Guy Kawasaki has a famous startup pitch deck formula we’d love to share with you.

Guy Kawasaki’s approach to pitching

Guy Kawasaki is a Chief Evangelist, the person who promotes or advocates for a brand on a large scale. You may recognize his name, as he’s been the Chief Evangelist of Apple and currently serves as Chief Evangelist of Canva. As an evangelist, Guy’s main priority is to spread the good news about the products a brand creates.

That is exactly what he wants to help you do with your pitch: essentially act as the evangelist for your brand so investors can’t help but buy in.

When it comes to presentations, Guy also has a rule: 10-20-30. Whether you are trying to make a sale, raise capital, or develop a partnership, you should keep your pitch to ten slides, present for no longer than twenty minutes, and use a font of at least thirty points.

This philosophy has worked for Guy, who has helped grow some of the biggest brands in the world!

The 10-20-30 rule

Let’s break down Guy’s 10-20-30 rule so you can see exactly what you need in your startup pitch deck to really make the most out of your presentation:

Ten slides.  

You only need ten slides to convey your business concept, goals, financial requirements, current business position, and achievements. We’ll dig into which slides down below. According to Guy, it’s important to keep the slides to only ten because this is how you boil down the most important and impactful information — without creating a boring presentation that investors have seen a thousand times over.

Twenty minutes.  

Technical issues happen all the time, delaying the start of a meeting. People show up late, again delaying start time. Keep your message to twenty minutes to ensure you cover the basics even if your window of time gets cut short. Plus, when you get the presentation to twenty minutes, you give yourself plenty of time to dazzle your audience during post-presentation discussion.

Thirty-point font.  

Many presenters crowd their slides with unnecessary words typed out in ten-point font and then read the slides verbatim, making for a boring presentation. Avoid this common mistake by using a thirty-point font on each of your slides; this will allow you to convey important ideas while still engaging with your audience.

Now that you have the 10-20-30 rule down, let’s talk about what actually goes into your startup pitch presentation.

The Guy Kawasaki pitch deck: Which slides to include?

As you now know, Guy recommends keeping your presentation to just ten slides. This might seem like a low number, especially if you’re asking for a ton of money from investors. The key, though, is to use this small slide real estate to your advantage. Below, we’ll share some tips to help you make the most of these ten slides.

The title slide

The title slide is critical because it sets the tone for your entire presentation and provides the first impression of your business. The “title” slide is an obvious but impactful template to use for this one because it is clean, looks professional, and allows you to include essential information like your company’s name and contact information. 

For users of our presentation software , consider putting a spin on the title slide, with our headline or image and photo grid slides. Guy’s pitch deck also uses the title slide as a contact slide, so don’t be afraid to include your info here.

The problem/opportunity slide

Every business should solve a problem or improve customers’ lives in some way. Use this slide to clearly state the problem and how your business works to fix it. You can provide statistics with Beautiful.ai’s data slide or employ the numbered list or bulleted list slide to highlight all the issues that your business exists to fix. You could also use the image slide to tell the story of how your business came to be in a visually dynamic way.

The value proposition 

It is a no-brainer that you should discuss the value of your business, but common startup pitch decks overlook it! Don’t skip it. Ask yourself: What customer pain points do you fix? How do you serve your customers? What makes your business different? Use this slide to tell investors exactly why they should invest. The simplicity of our headline slide gives you the freedom to clearly state your value proposition, without crowding the slide with too much information. Want to make it visual? Add an impactful image or chart to the slide.

The underlying magic 

The investors know your unique value proposition by now, but what’s the real special sauce? What can only your team bring to life? To really score here, avoid over-relying on text. Instead, use this opportunity to show what you can do. A video slide taking the audience through your process works well here, as does a flowchart slide or a prototype, mockup, or demo.

Business model  

So, what is your plan? Any investor will want to know. Use a data slide, funnel slide , target slide , or hub and spoke slide to show your audience the different stages of your plan in a visually appealing way. You can also use a table slide or waterfall chart slide to demonstrate projected results and value over time.

Go-to market plan

It is essential to tell investors how you plan to attract new customers, as well as compete in your space. How will you launch your product/offer and start selling it? This shows your investors you know how to make this thing work, so use the right slide to showcase it. You can use the hub and spoke slide or process diagram slide to demonstrate the different elements of your strategy.

Competitive analysis 

Let your audience know that you get what the competition is doing. Use an XY plot , line chart or area chart slide to identify your performance patterns compared to those of your competitors. This is also a great opportunity to demonstrate your achievements by highlighting companies that have had the pleasure of working with you using a logo grid slide.

Management team 

Potential investors want to know about the key players on your team. Use the team slide or about us slide to help them understand your biggest asset: your people.

Financial projections and key metrics 

Be upfront: What would potential investors be getting into if they invested? Focus on a three-year, bottom-up focused forecast. Use the data comparison slide or area chart slide to demonstrate and discuss your projected growth over the years.

Current status, accomplishments, timeline, and use of funds 

The future is important, but so is the present. Use this slide to address your current business situation, what the immediate future holds, and your plans for any capital raised right now. The timeline or process slides can help you effectively communicate exciting next steps for your business. This is also a slide where you need to really think about how to condense information into what’s most important. Your investors will be at the tail-end of their 20-minute presentation, and you want to make sure you go out with a bang.

Make your startup pitch deck pitch-worthy

When you’re getting ready to pitch your startup to investors, you’re going to want a presentation that stands out. Guy Kawasaki’s 10-20-30 rule will help you make sure the most important information is clearly presented… but what about the design?

With Beautiful.ai, we’ll make sure that your presentation is dynamic, streamlined, and (most importantly) easy to design. Put your best foot forward and get the funding you need to succeed with Beautiful.ai. We have startup pitch decks and successful pitch decks from brands like Netflix, AirBnB, and more to help you get inspired.

Beautiful.ai Team

Beautiful.ai is an AI-powered presentation tool that makes it fast and easy for anyone to build clean, modern and professionally designed slides that they can be proud of.

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How to Create a Pitch Deck (and the 10 Slides You Need)

Table of Contents

In the high-stakes world of startups, a pitch deck presentation is often the deciding factor for securing investment, whether in high-pressure situations like Shark Tank or pre-seed pitching rounds. With limited time to make a first impression, the quality of your pitch deck is crucial in leading to that all-important follow-up meeting with investors or VCs.

In this article, we’ll guide you through how to create a pitch deck and the ten essential slides you need. We’ll also explain what makes a good pitch deck (including examples), the 10/20/30 rule, and how to avoid common mistakes.

Success in entrepreneurship isn’t just about hard work, luck, and timing. It’s also about successfully convincing others to invest in your vision, whether you’re seeking funding, advice, mentorship, or partnerships. A great pitch deck will be your essential tool in persuading investors. Let’s get started!

What is a Pitch Deck?

A pitch deck is a slideshow presentation that succinctly conveys your business idea, market opportunity, and value proposition. Startup founders and entrepreneurs commonly use them to present their business ideas, products, or services, also known as a business or investor deck. It is necessary in securing funding, attracting partnerships, and closing deals.

With a concise format of 10 to 20 slides, this visual tool effectively conveys a business idea and its potential to help entrepreneurs connect with investors, clients, or partners. Suppose your pitch catches the interest of potential investors. In that case, there will likely be an in-depth next meeting (i.e., the start of the actual pitching process).

💡 The most common formats for pitch decks are PowerPoint slides, Google Slides, or Apple Keynote presentations.

Purpose of a Pitch Deck

The purpose of a pitch deck is to clearly and quickly communicate your business’s potential. Used in fundraising pitches, idea support, and forming strategic partnerships, it provides a visual snapshot of your business idea and its market viability.

Pitch decks are not only used by startups but also in a variety of other settings. The structure of your slides should enable potential investors to grasp your business idea’s potential quickly.

Types of Pitch Decks:

• Branding or marketing plan
• Fundraising
• Film & TV

The 10-20-30 Rule for Slideshows

The 10-20-30 rule, coined by venture capitalist Guy Kawasaki, offers a structured approach to creating effective PowerPoint pitch decks. This rule is a favorite among startups but applies to all types of presentations. It includes:

• Keeping to just 10 slides.
• Limiting the presentation to 20 minutes.
• Ensuring a font size of at least 30 points.

However, sticking to 10 slides isn’t always the optimal approach for everyone. As David from NextView VC reminds us, it’s crucial to present in a manner that feels authentic to you. Treat pitch deck templates as flexible starting points, and tailor them to highlight the uniqueness of your startup.

What should be in a pitch deck

A pitch deck should concisely outline your business idea, market, strategy, finances, team, and funding needs in an engaging story. You should use between 10 and 20 slides depending on your needs and audience.

In the next section, we’ll guide you through creating each slide.

The 10 most important slides in an investor deck:

• Business overview: A brief introduction to the business, including the mission and vision.
• Problem statement: Identify the problem or need in the market the business intends to solve.
• Solution slide: The product or service offered by the business as a solution to the identified problem.
• Market size and analysis: Information about the target market and industry, including size, growth potential, and customer demographics.
• Product and business model: How the business plans to make money, including the product and pricing strategy.
• Go-to-market plan: The approach to promoting the product or service and acquiring customers.
• Competitors: A look at the competitive landscape and how the business differentiates itself from competitors.
• Financials: Financial projections and current financial status.
• Team: Information about the key team members, their roles, and their experience.
• Ask: The specific funding request and how it will be used to grow the business.

Now that we’ve covered the basics, we’ll move on to how to create a pitch deck.

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How to create a pitch deck

We’ll take a step-by-step approach to making the essential 10 slides in a pitch deck. It will cover the most critical aspects of your business idea and pitch presentation. You may add more slides as you go, but let’s start by looking at each of these 10 slides, their purpose, and what information should be included.

Slide 1: Business overview

The first slide of your pitch deck will set the tone for the rest of the presentation. The business overview (title slide) should briefly capture the core of your idea and stand out to investors.

• Include your logo.
• title slide
• Name of your idea, business, or startup.
• Summarize your concept into a catchy headline.

Slide 2: Problem

Use this slide to lay the groundwork of your pitch by focusing on the problems or pressing needs that your business addresses. Highlight the market gap and illustrate why it’s an important opportunity.

• Present the problem your business solves in the form of a problem statement.
• Emphasize its relevance to your audience.
• Back up your points with solid data like market statistics or instances of current inefficiencies.

Slide 3: Solution

The solution (or value proposition) slide should address each problem mentioned in the previous slide. There could be many ways to solve a problem, so clarify how your solution benefits your target segment.

• The value proposition of your product or service.
• What sets it apart from competitors.

Slide 4: Market size

This slide should provide a clear picture of the market analysis and landscape based on your research. Illustrate the scale of the market you’re targeting or part of, demonstrating growth prospects and business opportunities. Key points to include:

• Break down the market opportunity into TAM, SAM, and SOM.
• Note any important market trends.
• Use visual aids like charts or graphs to effectively depict market size and trends.

Slide 5: Product & business model

Summarize your product and business model in this slide to show how you will make money, scale, and be profitable.

• Highlight your product’s main features or services.
• Add visuals like screenshots or images for clarity.
• Detail your revenue streams, cost structure, and pricing strategy.

Be ready to explain any challenges within your business model and your solutions.

Slide 6: Go-to-market strategy

The go-to-market (GTM) slide outlines your strategy for entering the market and acquiring new customers. Explain how you will distribute your product or service and reach your target audience.

• Outline each phase of your GTM strategy.
• Define your ideal customer or buyer persona and how you provide value to them.
• Explain your sales and marketing approaches to reach customers.

Having a good idea or product isn’t enough to convince investors. They need to know if you have a viable, thought-out strategy to reach and serve the target market.

Slide 7: Competitive analysis

Demonstrate your understanding of the market and the competition in this slide by providing data and market research. Offer data-driven research to map out the competitive landscape, including:

• Identification of major competitors and alternatives.
• Specify your unique selling proposition (USP) and competitive advantage.
• Strategy and positioning against competitors.

Be straightforward in this slide and reassure investors that you are aware of your competition and have a plan to achieve and maintain a competitive edge. You could mention potential challenges, risks, or disruptors.

Slide 8: Team

Many investors often consider the team behind a startup as one of the most critical factors in their decision-making process. A study done on over 21,000 startup founders suggests that the founder’s personality – or the combined personalities of the founding team – is paramount to entrepreneurial success.

• Include all founders, management, and advisors.
• Roles and responsibilities.
• Highlight key skills and relevant experience.
• Mention any meaningful connections.

The team slide has to instill confidence in potential investors that this is the right team for the job, even if you are a solo founder.

Slide 9: Financials

This is a critical slide where investors may spend the most time reading to get a glimpse into the business idea’s financial feasibility and potential return. Describe how you plan to generate revenue and your pricing strategy. Each startup will show different financial figures based on their stage.

Basic financial data:

• Income statement
• Sales forecast
• Expenses and burn rate
• Profitability
• Market size (Total Addressable Market, Serviceable Available Market, Serviceable Obtainable Market)
• Projected revenue growth for at least three years.

Other KPIs you may include:

• Customer acquisition cost (CAC)
• LTV/CAC ratio (indicates how sustainable the business model is)
• Customer growth

Coming up with these figures demonstrates your financial acumen and your understanding of the key metrics that drive business success.

Slide 10: Ask

The last slide should wrap up the pitch with a snapshot of your current standing, any accomplishments, a timeline, and the use of funds.

• The current state of affairs (growth, market share).
• State the amount of funding needed and how you plan to use it.

Investors want to know if your startup/idea is worth investing in, so show them evidence of progress, past successes, or the potential for future success.

What makes a good pitch deck?

A good pitch deck gets your point across to investors and captures their attention. Successful pitch decks are clear, focused, and persuasive. Many investor pitch decks follow a similar structure because they give investors a snapshot of a business’s investment potential.

These are traits of a good pitch deck:

✅ Concise and clear, without fluff or distracting details.

✅ Focused on telling the story of the startup/idea and its potential.

✅ Structured with a logical flow. Each slide supports the overall narrative.

✅ Persuasive , backed by data, research, and appropriate graphs and charts.

💡 Save time by using an AI pitch deck presentation maker like SlidesAI

Best pitch deck examples

Here are some of our favorite pitch deck presentations. The best pitch decks balance detailed information with simplicity. Take a look at these pitch deck examples across different stages of funding:

Airbnb pitch deck (Pre-seed)

LottieLab pitch deck (Seed)

Copy.AI pitch deck (Series A)

Wanderlist pitch deck (Series B)

Crunchbase pitch deck (Late stage)

💡 Check out more free pitch deck templates here .

Top 3 mistakes to avoid with your pitch deck

These common mistakes can diminish the impact of your presentation. Strive for a balance between thorough information and simplicity for maximum impact.

Mistake 1: Overemphasizing aesthetics

Overdesigning your slide deck can detract from your core message while pitching. In most cases, it is safe to leave out PowerPoint animations and excessive graphics. Use brand colors if possible; any image, graph, or chart you include should directly support your narrative.

💡 Pro tip: Maintain a consistent visual theme and leave out flashy design elements.

Mistake 2: Overloading information

It’s natural to want to share a lot of information on each slide, but doing so can make it harder for your audience to tell what’s important. VCs hear hundreds of pitches each year – you need more clarity in your pitch to catch their interest within your allocated time. Focus on the key information and overall structure of the pitch deck presentation.

💡 Pro tip: Prioritize clarity and conciseness to make a lasting impact.

Mistake 3: Lack of personalization

Pitch deck templates are a great starting point, but remember to tailor your pitch and content to your audience. Investors differ in their interests and priorities. Understanding what your audience value can significantly improve your pitch’s impact.

💡 Pro tip: Find out what resonates with your audience and include or address them in your deck.

• No design skills required
• 3 presentations/month free
• Don’t need to learn a new software

A thoughtfully prepared pitch deck is essential for securing investment. View your pitch deck as a brief yet compelling introduction to your startup’s potential, aiming to secure further discussions and, ultimately, funding. By adhering to the 10-slide structure recommended in this article, you can effectively convey your business vision, introduce your team, emphasize your market edge, and outline your financial forecasts.

Organize your slides to ensure your business concept is easily understood. Be succinct and clear, and align your content with what investors typically seek. Steer clear of common pitfalls like cramming slides with information or not customizing your deck to align with investor interests. Wishing you success!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a pitch deck the same as a business plan.

A pitch deck and a business plan are not the same. While a pitch deck visually presents key aspects of your business idea, a business plan is a comprehensive written document that outlines all aspects of your business. A pitch deck can summarize your business plan but cannot replace it.

What happens after a successful first pitch?

Pitch deck guides often focus on the initial meeting with venture capitalists, but that’s just the start. Investment decisions involve multiple meetings, due diligence, negotiations, and paperwork. As NextView VC’s David Beisel puts it, “The purpose of all venture capital meetings is to get another meeting.” Read more about what to expect after a successful first pitch .

What about other slides, like the traction slide?

Traction slides are to showcase proof of any progress, achievements, and market acceptance. For early-stage startups, including pre-seed, traction might not necessarily mean revenue. It can be any evidence that validates your business idea and market demand, such as user sign-ups.

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