Building a pitch deck for your seed round is a crucial step in your startup journey. It’s not just about putting slides together—it’s about crafting a story that resonates with investors and gets them genuinely excited about your vision.

While there are plenty of guides online about building pitch decks, most of them fall short of offering clear, actionable advice. That’s why I’ve taken the time to dive deep into Y Combinator’s resources, watch hours of their videos, and analyze detailed articles to create this comprehensive and practical guide for you.

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Why a Great Pitch Deck Matters

Your pitch deck should achieve two things:

1. Clearly convey the most critical points about your startup

2. Make it easy for investors to understand and remember your story

For seed‑stage startups, this often means focusing on simplicity and narrative clarity. Remember, at this stage most startups don’t have extensive data or years of history to share—and that’s perfectly fine. Your goal is to make your story as compelling and concise as possible.

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Structuring Your Seed‑Round Pitch Deck

Creating a pitch deck doesn’t have to be overly complicated. It’s all about telling a clear, concise, and compelling story that investors can follow easily. Here’s how you can structure your deck:

Title Slide

• Company name

• One‑line description of what you do

The Problem

• Define the real‑world issue you’re solving

• Use a statistic, example, or story to make it relatable

The Solution

• Explain how your product or service solves the problem

• Highlight concrete benefits; keep it brief

Traction

• Show early metrics (revenue, users, growth) with a simple chart or graph

• Add context to explain why the numbers matter

Your Unique Advantage

• Highlight what sets you apart—insights, technology, approach

Business Model

• Show how you make money (revenue streams, pricing)

• Include any early results if available

Market Opportunity

• Provide a high‑level view of the Total Addressable Market (TAM)

• Use a clean visual to convey scale

Team

• Spotlight the founders’ relevant experience and strengths

The Ask

• State the amount you’re raising

• Explain how the funds will be used (product, hiring, marketing, etc.)

• Outline expected milestones within the next year

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Real‑World Examples

To illustrate how successful startups present these sections, here are a few decks from companies that raised funding through Y Combinator and leading VCs:

• Maikbou – $3.3 M (Seed)

• Pathrise – $3 M (Seed)

• Lago – $22 M (Seed)

• Apriora – $2.8 M (Seed)

• Careerist – $8 M (Series A)

• Vori – $45 M (Series A)

• Rippling – $145 M (Series B)

• Thunkable – $30 M (Series B)

• Pelago – $58 M (Series C)

You can view the full collection of pitch decks here: Y Combinator Startup Pitch Decks.

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Additional Resources for Early‑Stage Founders

• Startup Legal Document Pack – Essential legal docs for founders.

• Excel Template: Early Stage Startup Financial Model For Fundraising

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Craft a deck that tells a compelling story, backs it with clear data, and shows why your team is uniquely positioned to win. With the right structure and real‑world examples, you’ll be ready to capture investor attention and secure the funding you need.