Before an investor agrees to a meeting, they flip through your pitch deck. If the deck is clear, short, and bright, the door opens. If it is messy, the door stays shut. In this guide we show how to craft a deck that grabs attention.
Keep It to 10 Essential Slides
Many founders try 20 or 30 slides. Investors skim and miss key facts. Ten well‑built slides do the job.
- Cover – Logo, one‑line mission, contact.
- Problem – A clear pain felt by real people.
- Solution – Your product in one picture or GIF.
- Market – Size and growth of target market.
- Product Demo – Screenshots or live GIF.
- Traction – Users, revenue, waitlist, or pilots.
- Business Model – How you earn money.
- Competition – Map and your edge.
- Team – Photos, roles, super‑skills.
- Ask – How much you raise and use of funds.
One Idea per Slide
Clutter kills focus. Each slide should shout one core idea. Use large font (24+ pt). Keep text under 40 words. A busy VC sees hundreds of decks; clarity wins.
Use Visual Data, Not Text Blocks
Good decks show charts, icons, and photos. Bar charts for revenue, line charts for user growth, a big map for market reach. Pictures beat long sentences. Data builds trust. Example: “Monthly active users grew from 500 to 3 000 in six months” with a simple upward line.
Consistent Branding Builds Memory
Pick one color palette and one font family. Place your logo on each slide in the same corner. Brand consistency makes the deck look pro. Free tools like Canva or Google Slides help you lock a theme.
Craft a Strong Problem Slide
Investors like pain points. State the pain in one sentence: “70 % of small stores in Egypt lose sales because they cannot get same‑day supply.” Add a sad photo or stat bubble. This sets the stage for your solution.
Show the Solution with a Hero Image
Skip paragraphs. Show a phone screen, a delivery bike, or a before/after photo. Use arrows to point at cool parts. Quick glance = clear value.
Market Slide: Use Bottom‑Up Math
Avoid inflated numbers. Do bottom‑up: number of target customers × annual spend. Example: 200 000 small shops × $1 000 software fee = $200 million market. Investors respect real math.
Traction Slide: Proof Beats Promises
Even small wins matter:
- 1 000 beta users, 40 % week‑4 retention.
- $15 000 pilot revenue in Q1.
- 3 letters of intent from top retailers.
Traction shows that your startup investment is less risky.
Show Revenue Engine on Business Model Slide
Use one table:
| Channel | CAC | ARPU | Margin |
| Direct app | $5 | $60/yr | 80 % |
| Explain how you will drop CAC and lift ARPU. Link to startup trends in Egypt if it helps. |
Competition Slide: Use a 2×2 Matrix
Plot price on X axis, quality on Y axis. Place you in top‑right. Name three rivals. Add bullets: “We beat others on delivery time and local support.” Honest, simple.
Team Slide: Humans, Not Titles
Add clear photos, names, role, one‑line superpower. Example: “Mona—CTO—built payment APIs used by 5 M users.” Investors back teams before code.
Ask Slide: State Round, Goal, and Runway
Say, “Raising $500 000 seed for 18‑month runway. Funds go: 40 % product, 40 % sales, 20 % ops.” End with email and phone.
Common Deck Mistakes and Quick Fixes
| Mistake | Why It Fails | Fix |
| Tiny font | Hard to read | 24 pt+ text |
| Unclear ask | Confuses investor | State raise and equity |
| No traction | No proof | Add pilot metrics |
| Too much text | Bores viewer | Use bullets and visuals |
Local Examples: Egyptian Decks That Closed Rounds
- Fintech app: 12‑slide deck, big user chart, raised $3 M seed from a venture capital egypt fund.
- Agri‑tech platform: Showed soil sensor photo and 20 farms in pilot, secured $1 M pre‑seed.
Tools That Help
- Canva Startup Deck templates (free)
- Coolors.co for color palettes
- Flaticon for icons
- Unsplash for free high‑quality photos
Practice: The 5‑5‑5 Rule
Pitch to a friend. If they can repeat your idea in 5 seconds after 5 slides, and recall 5 key numbers, your deck is clear.
Tips for Student Creators
- Build a sample deck for a college club event.
- Swap decks with classmates and give feedback.
- Watch famous decks online (Airbnb seed deck) and copy structure.
Conclusion: A Deck That Opens Wallets
A great pitch deck is short, visual, and data‑rich. Follow the 10‑slide framework, stay on one idea per slide, brand it well, and finish with a clear ask. Investors in venture capital in Egypt or abroad flip quickly; make every second count. Use these tips, show real traction, and your deck will stand out in crowded company funding stages and pull in the startup funding you need to grow.