Founders know the pitch deck is a make-or-break tool. But too often, it ends up as a rushed collection of stats, buzzwords, and uninspired templates. And if your deck feels like every other deck, guess what? The people reading it will treat it like every other deck.
You don’t need fireworks. You need clarity, confidence, and a little visual magic that nudges people to keep flipping. Here’s how we help teams build decks that actually get read and remembered.
1. Start With the Feeling
Before we ever touch design, we ask: What do you want someone to feel after reading this deck?
Excited? Curious? Trusting? That tone should shape everything—your visuals, your pacing, even how much text you use. A deck that feels dead-on-arrival is one that forgot the human on the other end.
2. Nail the First 3 Slides
You have seconds. Make them count.
Our go-to opening combo:
- Slide 1: Your logo + tagline (or bold positioning statement)
- Slide 2: The problem you’re solving with sharp, relatable clarity
- Slide 3: Your big, exciting solution or “why now”
If those three don’t hook, the rest of the deck won’t matter.
3. Design for Skim-Reading
Most decks are skimmed first, then read in detail later (if they’re good).
So:
- Use bold headers that tell a story on their own
- Limit body copy—think tweets, not essays
- Use whitespace to your advantage
- Keep slide layouts clean and consistent
You’re not just telling a story. You’re directing the reader’s eye. Good design keeps the scroll going.
4. Make Key Metrics Pop
If you’re showing traction, product growth, or market size—don’t bury it.
Use contrast. Use icons or graphs (but simple ones). Break big numbers into digestible chunks. Your data should feel like a mic drop, not a spreadsheet.
5. Customize Just Enough
We’ve seen decks land funding with just Google Slides. It’s not about flash—it’s about fit.
That said, a few custom visuals (a product mockup, unique slide layout, branded color scheme) go a long way. Especially if your space is competitive, it shows care and personality without going overboard.
6. Avoid These Sleepy Deck Mistakes
- Default fonts + no visual hierarchy
- Dense blocks of text on every slide
- Slides that all look the same (visual fatigue = mental fatigue)
- Buzzword overload (“synergy,” “game-changer,” “next-gen”)
- Weak closing (if your last slide is just “Thank you,” rewrite it)
Design can’t fix a weak pitch, but it can make a strong one unforgettable.
If you already have a story worth telling, then great design is what helps you tell it better, faster, and more clearly. It’s the difference between a deck that gets skimmed and shelved, and one that sparks a conversation.
Want a pitch deck that doesn’t get lost in the pile? Let’s make your deck scroll-stopping.
