Building Slides for Presentations & Pitch Decks

1. Importance of Well-Designed Slides

• Slides support the presentation but do not replace the speaker.
• A structured approach helps create engaging and persuasive slides.

2. Steps to Create Effective Slides

1. Planning the Content

• Define the objective – What is the key message?
• Structure the slides – Follow a logical flow.
• Keep it simple – Less text, more visuals.

2. Designing Slides for Different Uses

• General Presentations – Use bullet points, visuals, and minimal text.
• Speech-Based Slides – Extract key ideas from the script (e.g., using Graham Hill's speech).
• Entrepreneurial Pitch Decks –
  • Title Slide – Name, designation, date.
  • Agenda Slide – Key topics covered.
  • Problem Statement – Define the problem.
  • Solution & Business Model – Explain the product/service.
  • Market Opportunity & Competition – Show industry demand and competitors.
  • Financials & Fund Allocation – Revenue model, required investment, and spending plan.
  • Call to Action – Clearly state the next steps.

3. Enhancing Slide Effectiveness

• Use high-contrast colors and readable fonts.
• Add visuals (graphs, charts, icons) to simplify information.
• Minimize distractions – Avoid excessive animations.

3. Key Takeaways

• Slides should complement the speaker, not dominate the presentation.
• Follow a structured approach for different types of presentations.
• Keep slides visually appealing and easy to understand.
• Entrepreneurial pitch decks must answer key investor questions clearly.

By applying these principles, slides become a powerful tool for persuasion and impact.