Pitch Deck
Noun · Startup & VC
Definitions
A brief presentation — typically 10-20 slides — used by a startup to pitch its business to potential investors. The most common structure covers problem, solution, market size, traction, team, and financials. The most common mistake: 40 slides.
In plain English: A slideshow that a startup shows to investors to convince them to invest — covering what the company does, why it matters, and why it will make money.
Etymology
- 1990s
- As PowerPoint becomes ubiquitous, startups begin creating standardized slide decks for investor meetings
- 2004
- Guy Kawasaki proposes the '10/20/30 rule' — 10 slides, 20 minutes, 30-point font — shaping pitch deck conventions
- 2015
- Pitch deck templates from successful startups (Airbnb, Buffer, LinkedIn) become widely studied and imitated