→ Pitch Decks

How to Make a Pitch Deck (Step by Step)

By Eli Brandt·May 28, 2026·7 min read

Key takeaways

Build the narrative first, then design; investors back story and people, not slides.
Follow the 10 to 12 slide investor sequence, one idea per slide.
Build your financial model before the financials slide so numbers match.
Use the 10/20/30 rule and keep backup detail in an appendix.

The standard ten-slide order most investors expect — problem first, the ask last.

To make a pitch deck, build around ten to twelve slides that follow the investor narrative: title, problem, solution, market, product, business model, traction, go-to-market, competition, team, financials, and the ask. Write the story first, design second, and keep each slide to a single idea. The goal is to make your opportunity easy to grasp in minutes.

Start with the story, not the slides

Investors back people and purpose, not PowerPoint. Before you open a design tool, write the narrative in plain sentences: who has the problem, why it matters, how you solve it, and why now. A deck is just that story made visual, so if the format is new, start with pitch deck basics. When the story is clear, the slides almost design themselves. It also helps to know how to pitch to investors before you design, since the deck supports a live conversation.

Step by step

1. Outline the narrative

Map the investor sequence so each slide sets up the next. Our guide to the slides to include in a pitch deck lays out the full order.

2. Build the numbers first

Your financials slide must match your underlying model, so build a startup financial model before you design the chart. Inconsistent numbers are an instant credibility hit.

3. Write one idea per slide

Lead each slide with a clear headline that states the takeaway. Support it with one visual or a few words, never a wall of text.

4. Design for clarity

Use consistent fonts, generous spacing, and a clean color system. Follow the 10/20/30 rule: around ten slides, twenty minutes, and a thirty-point minimum font.

5. Prepare an appendix

Move detailed metrics and backup data to appendix slides you can pull up if asked, keeping the core deck tight.

Want a deck designed by experts?

We craft the narrative and design every slide investors expect, then hand you editable files and speaker notes. Bring your business and we'll quote the deck before any work begins.

Start your pitch deck

Polish before you present

Read every slide aloud, check for typos and uneven formatting, and confirm the numbers match across the deck. Then rehearse the story until you can deliver it without reading the slides. Before you send it, review the most common pitch deck mistakes so you can catch them in your own draft.

If you would rather have it done for you, our pitch deck design service covers narrative, design, and speaker notes, and many founders pair it with a full business plan for the deeper questions investors ask later.

Frequently asked questions

What tool should I use to make a pitch deck?+

Most founders use Google Slides, PowerPoint, or Keynote, with Figma or Canva for heavier design. The tool matters less than a clear narrative and clean, consistent slides.

How do I start a pitch deck?+

Start by writing the story in plain sentences, who has the problem, why it matters, how you solve it, and why now. Turn that outline into slides only after the narrative is clear.

How long does it take to make a pitch deck?+

A solid first draft takes a few days once your numbers are ready, and refining the story and design usually takes a week or two. Rushing the narrative is the most common way founders waste that time.

What is the 10/20/30 rule for pitch decks?+

Popularized by Guy Kawasaki, the rule suggests about ten slides, a presentation under twenty minutes, and a minimum thirty-point font so slides stay readable and focused.

About the author

Eli Brandt

Pitch & Fundraising Lead

What wins an investor meeting, Eli will tell you, is a clear story told in the order investors expect — rarely a prettier template. He has seen it from both vantage points: first as an early-stage investor screening pitches, then as an operator coaching founders from pre-seed through Series A. He now leads Planypals' pitch deck and investor content.

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