Investor-Deck Design For Fundraising That Actually Works
The deck you share with your potential investors is likely to be just one of many they see every day. So, it needs to stand out - and for the right reasons. You should design your investor decks with the investor in mind, and they rarely interact with them in the way founders imagine.
If you want an investor to actually read your presentation – and respond in the way you want them to – how you design yours is key. A freelance PowerPoint presentation designer will help you ensure your investor decks are fit for purpose – and more likely to secure the funding you need.
The mistakes most companies make with their decks
Investors only need certain information at specific points across an investment journey.
It’s not one-size-fits-all
Most investor decks take a one-size-fits-all approach. Companies think they need to provide as much information as possible in order to secure funds. They cram every tiny detail into one overly long presentation that can run to 50+ pages. With the best will in the world, no one has the time to read these.
Remembering what an investor deck is actually for
An investor deck is not the same as a sales or pitch deck. It has a clear purpose – and that purpose will depend on the stage you’re at. It exists to move your potential investor to the next step – not to explain everything all at one go. Over-explaining – at any stage – will kill any curiosity or momentum you’ve been building.
Investor decks guide conversations, they don’t lead them
Investors receive and interact with the decks they receive in different ways. They may be skim-reading an email, flicking through a PDF of your PowerPoint presentation, or they could be listening to you presenting it live.
The best investor decks do not contain endless slides, covering all eventualities – and a bit more for good measure. They should answer one question and lead a potential investor towards the next step. They can be split into three types, depending on the circumstances in which they are being used.
Why great investor decks are context-aware
Strong design is not just about aesthetics, it’s about designing for how investors actually engage. The level of detail necessary will depend on the stage an investor is at – and one deck cannot do three jobs. Great decks are designed for momentum, according to these key factors:
Where the deck will be seen
How much time the investor has
What decision they will be making at that point
The three levels of effective investor decks
1. Cold-email deck (8-12 slides)
This is designed to introduce you and get your foot in the door, nothing more. You need it to inform and spark curiosity. Give people too much information up front and they could form a negative opinion on whether it’s even worth meeting. You should think of it as a teaser rather than a pitch.
The typical slides in a cold-email deck are:
Problem (1 slide) – Solution (1 slide) – Traction or proof (2-3 slides) – Vision or market size (1 slide) – Team (1 slide) – The ask (1 slide).
Design considerations for cold-email investor decks:
They should be quickly and easily scannable
They should create a clear narrative in seconds
There shouldn’t be any dense text or hidden detail
If an investor can fully assess your business from your deck alone, it’s doing too much.
2. The warm-intro deck (12-18 slides)
This is designed to build conviction. A level of trust already exists as you have provided an introduction and the investor wants more depth. This deck answers the how and the why, not just the what.
The typical slides in a warm-intro deck are:
A clear problem-to-solution narrative, encompassing: Traction and momentum – Go-to-market strategy – Business model – Competitive positioning – Roadmap or milestones – Team - What’s in it for your investor
Design considerations for warm-intro decks:
They need a logical flow
They need data to support the story
They need clarity, not ‘decoration’
Every slide should pre-empt a question an investor might ask at this stage.
3. The live-pitch deck (10-15 slides)
This is designed to guide a conversation. It’s used in a face-to-face meeting and should support your company, not speak for it. Slides should act as prompts rather than explanations or words to be read out loud by the presenter.
What a live-pitch deck needs:
Big visuals
Minimal text
Clear emphasis points
Space for discussion
Many companies make the mistake of using the same dense deck they would send via email or for follow-up meetings.
Working with a professional presentation designer for investor decks
The decks you send to potential investors will be worth a lot of money – the amount of money you’re hoping to secure, in fact, and everything that will bring with it. They are not just a set of slides. At power your point, we help companies who are serious about appearing professional and securing funding. We know what works and can advise on what you need at each stage.
Are your pitch decks working as well as they should? Are you leaving money on the table? Or are you just at the start of your funding journey? If you already know you need better pitch decks or would just like to talk to about how we could help you really get started, please get in touch. We are located in London but can work with you wherever you are based.
Image by LinkedIn Sales Navigator