Most pitch decks don’t get a second look. If you’re building your (pre)seed deck and hoping to raise capital, it’s not about pretty slides. It’s about clarity, conviction, and showing you know what the hell you’re doing. Here are 7 brutally practical tips, no fluff, just what actually works when you’re trying to impress real investors.
1. Start with the problem and make it real
Your deck lives or dies on whether investors believe in the problem you're solving. That means:
- It’s urgent, not optional
- It happens often (not a once-a-year issue)
- It’s growing
- It costs people time, money, or both
Tip: Don’t bury the problem. Lead with it, and make them feel it.
2. If the solution doesn’t match the problem, start over
This sounds obvious, but many founders pitch features, not fixes. Your solution should feel like a natural, no-brainer answer to the problem - not an excuse to use cool tech.
Tip: Make sure your product doesn’t just exist - it fits.
3. No one invests without believing in the team
Decks don’t raise rounds. People do. You don’t need a Stanford MBA, but you do need to show:
- You know the space, industry, market
- You move and work fast
- You attract talent
- You can execute
- You are able to work under pressure
Tip: Brag a little. If you don’t, no one else will.
4. Explain it like you would to your grandma
If a smart, curious person doesn’t “get it” in 30 seconds, that’s on you. If you need three slides to explain your idea, you don’t understand it well enough yet.
5. Know your market - and why now
Investors want big opportunities, not small safe bets. Prove the market is:
- Large (or going to be)
- Growing fast
- Changing - and your startup is riding the wave
- There is still some space for new solutions and companies
Tip: Bonus points if you can prove the timing is right (real trend, not hype).
6. Show momentum (even if it’s scrappy)
You don’t need hockey-stick revenue. But you do need to show:
- You’re moving
- You’re learning
- You’re talking to users
- You’re solving your future customers´ pain
Tip: A deck without any traction looks like a daydream.
7. Keep it short, visual, and obvious
Nobody wants to read a 40-slide essay. Great decks:
- Say one thing per slide
- Use charts and key words, not walls of text
- Spark curiosity, not confusion
- Create space for conversation
Tip: Just don’t overcomplicate it.
Final Thought
A pitch deck isn’t just an info packet, it’s your opening move. Make it count.
This pitch deck session (and much more) is part of the AceON Accelerator Autumn Batch 2025, a hands-on program for ambitious founders in the earliest stages. If you're building something worth funding, apply now and let's get you pitch-ready!
