You should think of a pitch deck as a visual elevator pitch. Imagine you have a limited amount of time, just like in a real elevator pitch, to make a powerful impression. Your pitch deck needs to convey the essence of your business, showcasing not only your idea but also the potential for its success in a short time. Here, we share useful insights on effective pitch decks for start-up ideas for students.
1) Making your deck: Essential slides
While the specific content within the slides may vary depending on your unique idea, most successful pitch decks include these core slides:
- Title slide: Grab attention with a clear and concise title that includes your company name, tagline, and the names of your founding team.
- Problem slide: Define the problem you are addressing. Why does it matter? Paint a clear picture of the current situation and the problems your target market faces.
- Solution slide: Introduce your product or service as the answer to the problem. Explain how it works and highlight its unique features and value proposition.
- Market slide: Demonstrate the size and potential of your target market. Use data and statistics to show the investor that there is a substantial customer base for your product.
- Business model slide: Explain how your business will generate revenue. New-gen start-up ideas tend to rely on subscriptions, product sales, or advertising for revenue. Outline your pricing strategy and major revenue streams.
- Competition slide: Mention your competitors, but make sure you explain how you differ from them. Explain what makes your solution better and how you will capture market share.
2) Design and delivery tips:
- Keep it simple: Your deck should be visually appealing but not cluttered. Use quality visuals, clear fonts, and maintain a consistent colour scheme.
- Focus on storytelling: Do not just list facts and figures. Weave them into a compelling narrative that captures the investor’s imagination and emotionally connects them to your vision.
- Practice, practice, practice: Rehearse your pitch out loud. If possible, do this in front of a trusted friend or mentor. Time yourself to ensure you can deliver your message within the allotted time frame.
- Be passionate and confident: Investors are backing not just your idea, but also you and your team. Believe in your vision and convey that enthusiasm during your pitch.
Looking for programs for helping student entrepreneurs?
Explore our Entrepreneurship initiative. Under it, we offer the Ignite program for student entrepreneurs. It has been specifically designed to provide hands-on learning opportunities to students. The program helps them with the necessary skills and knowledge to achieve their entrepreneurial aspirations. Some of the key offerings include, experiential learnings, expert masterclasses, real-world applications and more.
We also offer guidance and assistance to startups under our Liftoff program. Our Accelerate program is for small businesses that have clear intent of growing rapidly. We also have a program to help micro businesses under our Empower program.
