Introducing financial pitch decks
A financial pitch deck is a document that can outline a business’ financial information, alongside their investment opportunities. Business owners will use this to help pitch their business to any investors, and a well crafted pitch deck can be an incredible tool in helping to secure new funding to your business.
Why do financial pitch decks matter to investors?
There are so many reasons why a financial pitch deck is important – far more than we can list below! However, the typical answer is that it will provide an incredible overview as to your business; financial state – be it revenue, expenses, and more.
We have a few more reasons listed below:
It can help to communicate the business’ financial health
A financial pitch deck will help your investors to quickly analyse your financial performance and help them to determine it’s growth potential. With key financial metrics included, you’ll find investors will more easily be able to invest in your business.
It can attract potential investors
Pitch decks are an enormously essential tool for attracting potential investors! A good pitch deck will give a clear overview of your business and its finances. A great pitch deck will make it hard for investors to deny funding!
It can help to set goals and milestones
A financial pitch deck will be can help your business to set financial goals and milestones. With key financial data available, you can set realistic targets and track all progress over time. With this, you’ll find it difficult to stray from your path.
Most importantly, you can secure funding
Ultimately, the key purpose of a financial pitch deck is to help you to secure funding for your business. With a clear presentation, you’ll be supported in acquiring the funding needed for future growth and success.
8 elements to include in your financial slides
What to include in your pitch deck can be difficult to identify, depending on your industry and needs. However, we have listed the key elements below.
1. Introduction
You need to have a very brief overview as to what your business does and why it does it – effectively, your unique value proposition.
2. Market opportunity
You need to have a description of the market in which your business operates in – including its size, its growth, and the key competitors. This section may include market research data and analysis.
3. Business model
A clear explanation of how the company generates revenue, including pricing strategy, distribution channels, and customer acquisition costs.
4. Financial projections
You will need financial projections, which should include your revenue and expenses so far, alongside cash flow projections for at least the next 3-5 years. Make sure to include all key metrics, like net income and break-even analysis.
5. Investment
You’ll definitely need a section describing the funding that your business is seeking. This will include the capital required, where the money will be spent, and the overall valuation of your business.
6. Management team
You can’t exclude an overview of the team you’ve put in place. Without real people, your investors won’t want to give you anymore money!
7. Exit strategy
You will need to highlight the business’ plans for a future exit, whether it’s through an initial public offering (IPO), an acquisition, or a potential merger.
8. Appendix
At the end of your pitch deck, you’ll need any materials that provide additional information. This might be industry reports, or customer testimonials.
How to design a financial slide that stands out
Creating a really good financial pitch deck isn’t just about the numbers – it’s about making a compelling case for investors to give you more funding. We have some tips below to help you with this.
Start with a clear, punchy overview
Make sure to start with an executive summary that shows off your current team to your investors. Think about who you are, what you do, and more. This is your elevator pitch.
Showcase your team
People invest in people. Include a slide that introduces your team and their relevant experience. Highlight what makes them the right group to bring your vision to life.
Define the problem (and your solution)
Make it crystal clear what problem you’re solving and why it matters. Then show how your product or service fixes it better than anything else out there.
Know your market
Use real data to back up your market potential. Who are your customers? How big is the opportunity? What’s the competitive landscape like? And are there any major challenges to entering this space?
Explain how you make money
Investors want to see a solid business model. How do you plan to generate revenue? How have you created your pricing strategy? Make sure to include details on acquiring new customers. etc.
Lay out your financials
Be sure to provide actual real-life projections on your revenue, profit, etc. Key metrics like customer acquisition costs and lifetime value are needed.
Be upfront about exactly what you need
Include what funding you’re looking for – and exactly how much. You need to tell your potential investors what it will be going towards, and how you might be paying them back upon results.
Make it visual
An overlooked point is making sure you have lots of visuals to explain your point. A clean and well-designed pitch deck is far more engaging (and easier to follow).
Keep it short and sharp
Aim for 15-20 slides, max. Each one should focus on a single point and get straight to the value.
Practice, polish, repeat
Once your deck is done, run through it out loud. Present to a anyone you can in order to get feedback and keep refining.
3 expert financial pitch decks for inspiration
Here are a few examples of successful financial pitch decks that have helped companies secure funding:
Airbnb
Airbnb’s pitch deck from 2008 is an excellent example – and one to research. With a very clear proposition, it’s easy to see how they managed to secure funding.
Uber
Uber’s pitch deck – similarly, from 2008 – is an obvious success. It’s clear problem statement and solution shows exactly why investors provided funding.
LinkedIn’s pitch deck from 2004 is still an incredible example – even 20+ years on!
Although the above are essential to review and assess, remember – there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Think about proposition and opportunity.
Pitch decks vs financial modelling software
As much as you may like an easy fix – no financial modelling tool can completely replace a pitch deck.
Pitch decks are required and needed to highlight a startup (or established business) and their proposition. In order to attract investors, it is necessary to tell a story that gets them to provide funding.
However, a good financial forecasting software will help to create detailed financial projections, alongside allowing the ability to scenario test. It can be very helpful in providing additional insights into the financial performance of the company.
In short, while financial modelling tools are an important component of financial analysis and planning, they cannot actually replace the value of a well-crafted pitch deck in communicating the overall vision and strategy of a business.
Make sure you sign up to Brixx to see how it can aide you in your pitch deck creation!
Financial pitch deck FAQs
How much detail should my financial slide have?
Your financial slide should be clear, concise, and investor-focused. Stick to high-level financials – revenue, expenses, profitability, and growth projections – while avoiding excessive details. If investors need more, they’ll ask during due diligence.
What financial metrics do investors care about most?
Investors prioritize revenue growth, profit margins, burn rate, cash flow, and return on investment (ROI). For SaaS or tech startups, customer acquisition cost (CAC) and lifetime value (LTV) are also key.
How do I present financial projections effectively?
Use charts and graphs to make trends clear. Show realistic, data-backed projections for at least three to five years, including assumptions behind your numbers. Investors prefer visual simplicity with strong underlying logic.
Should I include revenue vs. profit in my financial slide?
Yes – both are important. Revenue shows growth potential, while profit (or projected break-even) shows sustainability. If you’re not yet profitable, highlight gross margin improvements and path to profitability.
What is the ideal timeframe for financial projections?
Investors typically expect three-year projections for early-stage startups and five years for growth-stage businesses. Focus on realistic near-term forecasts and a scalable long-term vision.
