5 types of business pitches and must-have slides

Creating a pitch deck has become an essential part of business, especially in the startup sector. Every entrepreneur or business person will likely have to make a pitch at some point, regardless of the category and size of their business. There are several types of business pitches to choose from, depending on your purpose, audience, method of delivery, and goals. Before you begin creating your own business presentation, you'll need to identify:

• Who is the pitch intended for?

• What is the purpose of the pitch?

• Is the pitch happening face-to-face or remotely?

Once you have answered these questions, it will be easier to identify your pitch type.

 1. The investor pitch 

Most essential in the startup sector, an investor pitch occurs in the initial stage of raising money with a potential investor. Your slide deck should convey your business idea and persuade your investors to invest in your business. It should also include your business's value proposition, the revenue plan, and a financial breakdown.

 2. The elevator pitch 

As the name implies, an elevator pitch can be delivered within the duration of an elevator ride. It's a one-minute session to talk about your business, your product or service, and even your skill sets as an entrepreneur. This type of pitch must be concise, clear, and persuasive and include a compelling call to action.

3. The sales pitch 

The main objective here is to pitch the value of your product or service to the audience and persuade them to take the desired action. These pitches may vary in length and style depending on your target audience and objective. Elements of a sales deck include an introduction to your product or service, a value proposition, business case studies, and a clear call to action.

4. The product pitch 

Similar to a sales pitch, this focuses more on a specific product. A product pitch deck usually contains a brief introduction about the product, the market opportunity, a competitor analysis, and potential revenue. It should then go into more detail on identifying a problem, introducing your product's features, and explaining how the product will solve your customer's problem.

5. The Twitter pitch 

In the latest trend, the Twitter pitch summarizes your business idea in one or two phrases. Writing a pitch in 280 characters has become popular in the age of social media. A modern twist on the elevator pitch, the Twitter pitch is even faster and more concise.

What slides should you include in a business pitch deck? 

1. Overview, vision and mission: Your pitch should start with an introduction to the company, including your organization's vision and mission. 

2. Problem statement and solution: Outline the problem and how your product or service can be the solution. The main objective of every pitch is to solve a customer's problem or propose ideas on how to meet a customer's challenge.

3. Market research: Talk about marketing opportunities, your go-to-market strategy, and the marketing plan for reaching potential customers.

4. Competitor analysis: Provide an overview of your competitors and your company's competitive advantage. Include key differentiators that can establish how your company differs from your competitors.

5. Revenue or business model: Now that you've talked about your business and the market opportunity, the next step is to talk about the revenue and finances involved. Include your roadmap to generating revenue, the pricing model, customer acquisition channels, and costs.

6. Financials: Showcase your company's financial health for at least three to five years. In the case of startups, these forecasts will provide a clear understanding of the milestones your business is heading toward and possible results.

7. Team: This is an essential slide as your investors, clients, and customers need to know the brains behind the company. Use head shots of your team, highlight key team members, and talk about their work experiences to establish their expertise.

8. Contact information:  It's essential to tell your audience how they can contact you. Add your email address and contact details so your audience can get in touch with you. Include your company's website and social channels on the header of your pitch deck to increase visibility.

9. Call to action: The most critical part of a pitch is to tell your audience the action that must be taken by the end of the presentation. Remember, the key to a successful pitch is moving your audience to action, so make sure to end your presentation with a clear call to action.

Every business deck has a unique framework depending on the objective, industry and target audience. The above mentioned slides will help you create a compelling presentation for nearly every type of business presentation or pitch. However, don’t forget that every deck has its own style and format depending on the goal and action required to take.