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When starting a business, or even many years in, one of the more painstaking tasks to go through when looking for funding is to build your Investor Ready Pitch Deck.
\n\n\n\nA well-crafted pitch deck is your ‘business card’ to investors. It should showcase your company’s uniqueness and convey the story of why investors should invest in you, and not in the hundreds of other opportunities they get to see.
\n\n\n\nYour pitch deck should be easily readable, while answering 99% of the reader’s questions in a 5 to 10 minute read. It should also support you and help you shine during your in-person presentations to investors.
\n\n\n\nFollowing this guide, you will be able to produce a professionally structured, beautifully visualized pitch deck that excites investors about your business.
\n\n\n\nA pitch deck is a presentation that provides an overview of your company business plan. It is a powerful tool that helps you effectively communicate your vision, value proposition and business opportunity to potential investors, clients, partners, or employees.
\n\n\n\nAs an entrepreneur, one of the essential skills you need to master is the art of pitching your business. A well-structured and visually appealing pitch deck can significantly increase your chances of securing the support, funding, or partnership you need to take your business to the next level.
\n\n\n\nYour pitch deck is your entry point to start conversations with investors. Typically, your pitch deck is the first document that you share with potential investors when you want them to consider entrusting you with their capital. All businesses need a pitch deck when fundraising, for several reasons:
\n\n\n\nA pitch deck can be as detailed or concise as required, depending on the business’s needs at the time. Often, you may have several versions of your pitch, depending on the audience, the length of your presentation, or the stage of your conversation. We will get to several versions of your pitch a bit later.
\n\n\n\nA strong pitch should typically include the following 13 sections:
\n\n\n\nYour executive summary is vital to your pitch, providing the audience with a snapshot of what you plan to accomplish. Depending on the length of your pitch, the executive summary can range from just one paragraph to a full page.
\n\n\n\nIf you decide to go with a short, one paragraph summary, describe your company offering, the target customer, the problem you are solving and your competitive advantage. Here is an example.
\n\n\n\nModeliks is a business planning SaaS software that helps startups and SMEs to plan, fundraise and manage their business. A fully guided financial planning solution, investor ready pitch and business plan templates, and one click management reporting tools allow ANYONE to create a professional business plan and track the performance of their business, 10 times faster and 100 times cheaper.
\n\n\n\nIf you decide to go with a more comprehensive summary, then:
\n\n\n\nExplain the key problems that your target customers are facing and that your business solves. The problems demonstrate the necessity of your product or service in the market.
\n\n\n\nThe problems should be concise (one to three problems), easy for the audience to understand and big enough for the audience to care. If you can: (1) quantify the problems with numbers, (2) write them in a way that the audience can connect with the problems on a personal level and (3) show that someone important in your field has also identified these important problems.
\n\n\n\nThe ideal response from your audience should be: “Yes, these are real and big problems, and if solved, the customer will switch to using your product or service”. Here is the Modeliks example.
\n\n\n\nDescribe your solution to the problem in simple words. Your solution should be closely linked to the problems you had identified. Keep it simple for the audience to understand it and think to themselves: “Yes, this solution really solves those big problems.” If you are not getting this reaction from readers, rewrite it.
\n\n\n\nHere is the Modeliks Example.
\n\n\n\nThis section should provide a detailed description of the products or services the business offers. It should include features, benefits, pricing and distribution channels. Don’t be shy with explaining the uniqueness and value proposition in some detail, and qualify the reasons for your customers loving your product or service. In some cases, you already explained your product in the solution slide. If so, you can skip this slide.
\n\n\n\nBuild a visual representation of the market, and how much of your market you plan to capture.
\n\n\n\nDefine your (1) target customers and their needs and wants (2) how many customers are there in your target geography and market segment, (3) how much money they spend on similar products annually (market size) and (4) how much will the market grow in the next 5 years. The more stats and data you have from relevant and reputable sources like statistics bureaus or academic research, the better. Quote your research and give credit where credit is due!
\n\n\n\nTo start, consider your product or service. What need does it fill? Who would be most likely to use it? Once you have a good idea of your target customer, you can research their demographics (age, location, gender, etc.), lifestyle choices, and buying habits.
\n\n\n\nThere are many ways to gather this information. You can conduct surveys or interviews with people in your target market, look at data from similar businesses, or use online resources.
\n\n\n\nInvestors like to see that lots of people experience the problems that you are solving. This gives them an idea of the revenue potential for your business and the size of the opportunity.
\n\n\n\nHere is the Modeliks example.
\n\n\n\nThis section provides an analysis of the competitive landscape in your sector. You should identify the main competitors, their strengths and weaknesses, and their market share. It should also provide insights into how the business will compete and differentiate itself.
\n\n\n\nYou should convince your audience of two things:
\n\n\n\n1) That you know your competitors as well as you know your product and customer, and
\n\n\n\n2) that your solution is different and better than theirs.
\n\n\n\nThis is best done by identifying the critical success factors for your business, or the key criteria that customers consider when making a purchasing decision, and then comparing your business to your main competitors on those factors.
\n\n\n\nAgain, visualize your position against the competition. You can achieve this through:
\n\n\n\nHere is the Modeliks example.
\n\n\n\nKnowing your competition is as important as knowing your product and your customer. It’s simply impossible to convince investors that you will succeed if you don’t know your competition. Also, do not mention ‘we don’t have competition because we are unique’ – in such case, you are missing the indirect competition that in one way or the other already addresses your customer’s needs.
\n\n\n\nUse this slide to show that now is the right time to be in this business. Your idea can be great, but if the time is not right, there is a higher risk of failure. For example, a subscription business idea could have been great even 20 years ago, but there was no cloud infrastructure to support such business.
\n\n\n\nIn this slide, you want to show specific market trends that confirm the need for your product in the market. In addition to an existing need, if the trends show expected rapid market growth, then you have hit the jackpot. Market trends could include changes in consumer behavior, emerging technologies, regulatory shifts or market growth projections.
\n\n\n\nBelow is the Modeliks example. It shows that 5 years ago, very few companies were ready to use SaaS business planning software. Just 5 years later, the majority of companies are looking to switch from standard spreadsheet and word tools to SaaS business planning software. This is a shift in user behavior that confirms both the customer need and rapid growth in the market for SaaS business planning software.
\n\n\n\nUse your market and competitive analysis to craft a marketing strategy that will help you reach your target market. How will you communicate with your target market? What channels and media will you use? What message will you communicate?
\n\n\n\nExplain to your investors how are you going to advertise and sell your product to your target customer.
\n\n\n\nWe recommend using one of three frameworks for describing your marketing strategy:
\n\n\n\nWhichever framework you decide to use, make sure that you include the activities you will perform to attract customers and the key performance indicators (KPIs) that you measure in order to evaluate the success of your marketing strategy.
\n\n\n\nHere is the Modeliks example.
\n\n\n\nThe best way to convince investors to believe in you is to show them a record of success. Use this slide to prove, beyond doubt, that your customers confirm that you have a great product that they love using.
\n\n\n\nFor existing companies, this is quite easy. Include quantitative information about the recent performance of your company showing fast growth in your revenues, number of customers, customer satisfaction scores, customer reviews, profits, repeat usage by customers, engaged and growing followers on social media, etc.
\n\n\n\nIf you are a startup that has not launched yet, creating the traction slide is much more difficult, but just as important. You don’t have past revenue or customer data, so what you can use for the traction slide are contracts or letters of interest from potential customers, quotes from potential customers, survey results, endorsements from experts in your field, results of beta testing, results of technical tests vs competition, etc. Getting any of this information is not always easy, but it is worth the effort.
\n\n\n\nThe roadmap shows the most important milestones your company has achieved in the past and the planned major milestones going forward. Use the roadmap to show how efficient your company has been in delivering major milestones and the direction you are going towards in the future.
\n\n\n\nThe team slide is one of the 3 most important slides in your pitch deck, especially for startup businesses. Investors invest in the team first and then in the idea. Even if investors believe that you have a billion-dollar idea, you still must convince them that you and your team have the right skills and experience to make the business successful. Here is your chance to showcase your relevant experience and success. For each core team member, you should mention the relevant companies and positions they have held and the number of years of relevant experience. Make sure your core team covers the key areas of business: management, technical skills and marketing and sales capabilities and have a unique edge to compete in the space.
\n\n\n\nDescribe your ask for funding on a single slide. It’s crucial to clearly communicate the following messages:
\n\n\n\nHere is an example.
\n\n\n\nYour financial plan is a key component of your story. Investors want to see that you are ambitious and that you plan to make them a lot of money with their investment. Startups are risky investments, so investors expect high returns. The earlier the stage of the company, the higher expected returns. At the same time, if your financial plans are clearly unrealistic, you will turn off some investors. So, find a balance between ambitious and possible financial numbers.
\n\n\n\nInclude Revenue, Revenue growth, EBITDA or Net Income, EBITDA margin or Net Income margin and Free Cash Flow as key financial numbers. You can also include some operational numbers like the number of clients. More detailed financial information like Profit and Loss Statement, Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Statement would go in the appendix.
\n\n\n\nIf your business has been operational for some time, include the same data for the previous 1 to 3 years.
\n\n\n\nUse charts, where you can, to show the key financial information. Tables are boring, if there are too many of them.
\n\n\n\nHere is an example.
\n\n\n\nThis section includes additional information that supports the pitch and your story, such as market research, legal documents, and resumes of key personnel, detailed financial information.
\n\n\n\nHere are some Do’s and Don’ts to keep in mind as you develop your kick-ass pitch deck:
\n\n\n\nIn your journey to raising funds, you will likely require several versions of your pitch deck, depending on the stage of the conversation with, or what level of detail you want to share with a specific investor.
\n\n\n\nThis sounds like a complicated thing to do, but do not worry – you will be able to re-purpose the work you have done with the sections and slides above into neat packages that meet any audience’s expectations.
\n\n\n\nWe suggest the following versions of your deck:
\n\n\n\nThe above list is by no means exhaustive, you can twist and tweak this as you require. Make sure to build your pitch upfront with all required sections, to make the task of creating new versions a walk in the park!
\n\n\n\nCreating a great pitch deck is a crucial step for any entrepreneur seeking funding for their business. It requires a careful balance between creativity, clarity, and substance. A well-crafted pitch deck can be a powerful tool to present your business, showcase your competitive edge, and inspire potential investors.
\n\n\n\nHowever, it’s important to remember that a pitch deck is only one part of the funding process. Investors are also interested in the entrepreneur behind the business, their track record, and their vision for the future. Therefore, entrepreneurs should not neglect other critical aspects such as building relationships with investors, developing a solid business plan, and cultivating a strong team. In summary, while a pitch deck is important, it’s only one piece of the puzzle.
\n\n\n\nTo start your journey of building your impactful pitch deck, sign up for Modeliks’ Free Trial today!
\n","slug":"how-to-create-an-investor-ready-pitch-deck-the-ultimate-guide","date":"2023-06-28T08:28:00","categories":{"nodes":[{"id":"dGVybToxMg==","name":"Pitch Decks"}]},"mainCategory":{"mainCategory":["pitch-decks"],"videoHeader":null},"tags":{"nodes":[]},"featuredImage":{"node":{"id":"cG9zdDoxNDcz","sourceUrl":"/images/cms/Modeliks-sliki-1920px-x-1280px-05.jpg","altText":"investor-ready pitch deck"}},"seo":{"metaDesc":"Investor Ready Pitch Deck - When starting a business, or even many years in, one of the more painstaking tasks to go through when looking ..."},"modified":"2024-03-20T12:22:25","related":[{"id":"cG9zdDoxMTU0MQ==","title":"How Accountants Can Offer High-Margin Advisory Services","content":"\nThe accounting profession is shifting. Compliance and bookkeeping remain essential, but today’s clients expect more. They want guidance on how to run their business smarter, manage cash flow, and plan for the future.
\n\n\n\nAccording to a CPA.com survey:
\n\n\n\nThis means the demand is already there. The opportunity for accounting firms is clear: move beyond bookkeeping into high-margin advisory services.
\n\n\n\nFor most small and mid-sized firms, the hesitation is simple:
❌ Limited staff time
❌ No standardized tools for forecasting & reporting
❌ Concern about overcomplicating workflows
The good news? Advisory can be delivered at scale, without adding headcount or creating inefficiencies — if you have the right system.
\n\n\n\nModeliks helps accountants transform their existing relationships into advisory partnerships by automating the heavy lifting.
\n\n\n\nHere’s how it works in practice:
\n\n\n\n1️⃣ Connect QuickBooks in Minutes
Sync client actuals directly — no messy spreadsheets or manual imports.
2️⃣ Build Budgets & Automated Financials
Instantly generate a forward-looking P&L, Balance Sheet, and Cash Flow statement, tailored to each client.
3️⃣ Deliver Dashboards & Variance Analysis
Clients see Actual vs. Plan vs. Previous Periods. You provide insight into why numbers moved — without building reports from scratch each month.
Firms using Modeliks see:
✅ New revenue streams by offering planning & reporting as premium packages
✅ Higher client retention thanks to consistent value beyond compliance
✅ No extra headcount required, since processes are automated
✅ Improved positioning as trusted advisors, not just bookkeepers
As one accountant put it:
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n“Our clients can now make confident decisions. For us it’s a game-changer — we finally sell insight, not just compliance.”
\n
Client expectations are rising. Competitors are moving into advisory. Technology makes it easier than ever to scale.
\n\n\n\nIf you’re an accountant or firm owner, now is the time to position your practice for the next decade. Advisory services are not just an add-on — they’re the future of accounting.
\n\n\n\n📽️ Watch the full video playbook here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlQEwnWOdKQ.
🌐 Explore how Modeliks can help you launch advisory services in under an hour -> HERE.
📩 Or reach out to us directly to explore how Modeliks can be tailored for your firm.
\n\n\n\nEnjoy Modeliks! We know we are!
\n\n\n\nAuthor:
Modeliks Team
Running a professional services business is demanding. Whether you’re a founder, consultant, accountant, or finance leader, the challenges are similar:
\n\n\n\nThe truth? Many services firms outgrow spreadsheets faster than they realize. A project-based business requires a planning and reporting framework that adapts as you grow – not one that breaks every time a new client, project, or team member comes onboard.
\n\n\n\nThat’s where having a structured financial planning and reporting system becomes a game-changer.
\n\n\n\nThis strategic framework is designed for:
\n\n\n\nIf you run a project-based business, use timesheets, or manage multiple clients, this playbook is for you.
\n\n\n\nProfessional services firms often face profitability challenges because margins are tied to capacity, efficiency, and client mix. Here’s where the right planning approach makes a difference:
\n\n\n\nEach project has its own revenue, costs, and resources. Without project-level visibility, it’s impossible to know which work is actually profitable.
\n\n\n\nIt’s not enough to create a yearly budget. Monthly actuals vs. plan reporting helps you quickly see where projects are off track and adjust before problems snowball.
\n\n\n\nWhat happens if a big client leaves? Or if you add two more consultants next quarter? Scenario planning gives you the confidence to make tough decisions with numbers to back them up.
\n\n\n\nEmployee utilization is the heartbeat of a services firm. By linking financial forecasts to billable hours, staffing, and client demand, you can identify bottlenecks and prevent costly underutilization.
\n\n\n\nAt Modeliks, we’ve built a platform that turns these best practices into a structured, repeatable process.
\n\n\n\nWith Modeliks, you can:
\n\n\n\nMost firms wait until they have 100+ employees to rethink planning. But the truth is, dimensional planning and reporting matters at 20 employees, as much as at 200.
\n\n\n\nThe earlier you set up a scalable framework, the faster you can:
\n\n\n\nGrowing a professional services business isn’t just about winning more clients — it’s about building a system that lets you manage projects, measure performance, and grow profitably.
\n\n\n\nThat’s what this playbook is about — and why we built Modeliks.
\n\n\n\n👉 If you want to see how Modeliks can help you manage and grow your services firm, watch the full video walkthrough here.
\n\n\n\n📩 Or reach out to us directly to explore how Modeliks can be tailored for your firm.
\n\n\n\nEnjoy Modeliks! We know we are!
\n\n\n\nAuthor:
Modeliks Team
Today we released a massive new update of Modeliks. A multidimensional Modeliks 2.0. I am both happy and sad to see Modeliks grow up. I liked baby Modeliks. He was cute and a little clumsy. Now, we created a beast.
\n\n\n\nWe listened to your feedback and made Modeliks by far the best financial planning and reporting tool for SMEs. Alright, I might be a bit subjective, but here is what’s new:
\n\n\n\nAnd there is a lot more to come in the next few months. Stay tuned for new features, and in the mean-time, plan, manage and grow your business with Modeliks 2.0.
\n\n\n\nLet’s recap. Now you can:
\n\n\n\nEnjoy Modeliks 2.0! We know we are!
\n\n\n\nAuthor:
Modeliks Team