Your Pitch Deck Is Broken: Why Templates Are Hurting Your Funding Chances
If you're a founder gearing up for your next big fundraising move—say a Shark Tank appearance —you might be eyeing some of the famous templates to design your presentation. More than likely, you’ll end up using that popular Sequoia Capital template to cram in all the information you think an investor would want to see.
Initially popularized by the venture capital firm in 2009, this template has been the go-to resource for startup founders because of its structured approach to presenting key elements like the problem, solution, market size, and financial projections.
But let’s be honest—this 2009 pitch deck template has overstayed its welcome.
Today, pitch decks need to deliver more than just the data. In case you are using one, here’s why relying on a classic template might be hurting your funding chances:
Table of Contents:
- All Decks Look the Same
- The False Sense of Security
- Your Unique Startup Story Gets Lost
- Templates Block Your First Investor Meeting
- Case Study: Snapchat
All Decks Look the Same
Picture this: you’re at a party where everyone is dressed in identical outfits. It’s not that the attire is unattractive; it’s just that everyone looks the same.
This is the dilemma investors face when they sift through hundreds of look-alike decks.
If everyone is using a standard template, the chances are higher that a potential pitch will fade into the background, failing to create the unforgettable impression necessary for moving forward in the fundraising game
About 1.7 lakh businesses register every year in India every year. As competition for the next big idea heats up, so does the battle for investors’ attention.
An investor today has less than 10 minutes to spend on each presentation.
The False Sense of Security
Over-reliance on a well-known template can lull founders into a false sense of security, making them believe that simply filling in the blanks will guarantee investment. It’s easy to think that if a template worked for others, it will work for you too.
But here’s the catch: templates can’t capture the late nights, the setbacks, the breakthroughs they can’t convey the story of passion, resilience, and innovation that defines you as a founder and fuels your mission
This isn’t something you can neatly package into a template’s pre-set format.
Your Unique Startup Story Gets Lost
Think about sharing a memorable trip with a friend—you wouldn’t just list the destinations; you’d recount the unexpected moments that made the trip unforgettable. The same principle applies to your pitch deck.
Today’s investors aren’t just hunting for groundbreaking ideas; they’re looking for pitches that tell a compelling, unique story that only YOU can tell. When you lean too heavily on a template, you risk diluting the essence of what makes your startup special.
A pitch deck isn’t just about ticking boxes; it’s about telling your story in a way that resonates with investors.
Templates Block Your First Investor Meeting
Your pitch deck is often the first point of contact between you and an investor. A template based pitch without differentiation and an emotionless story makes it less likely to pass the initial screening. In fact, there’s a higher chance that investors might dismiss it as another run-of-the-mill presentation, costing you time and the opportunity to secure that crucial first meeting
Even if your slides are well-organised and cover all the expected points, they may fail to answer the critical question in an investor’s mind:
"How is this startup different?"
Case Study: Snapchat
When Snapchat’s founders, Evan Spiegel and Bobby Murphy, were looking for funding, imagine how their pitch deck would’ve looked if they had used a typical standard template:
- Target audience: 13 to 34-year-olds
- Competitors: Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and WhatsApp
- Market trend focuses: Gen Z and Millennials
- Key features: Augmented Reality Filters, Empirical Messaging, and Discover Story Maps
- Revenue plan: Ad-based model and premium features
- User acquisition strategy with financial projections - provided
This looks plain on paper. So, Evan and Bobby decided to make their pitch fun and personal and decided to walk their talk. With compelling design and a funky narrative, their pitch deck emphasized that Snapchat is the go-to platform for Gen Z and Millennials, who make up over 50% of the world’s population. It showcased Snapchat as the best mobile video platform with unique features like vertical ads designed specifically for mobile use. The pitch captured the essence of their product even before the platform was launched.
Here is their final version of Snapchat Pitch Deck
Result:
It connected on a deeper level with Snapchat's investors.
This pitch resonated with investors and raised a total of $4.9B in funding over 13 rounds
Snapchat’s pitch wasn’t just about features and financials—it was more about their vision for real-time, personal communication. Today, it’s one of the most-looked up pitch decks in the world because the pitch showcased not just the product, but also the passion and understanding behind it. Now, what are their chances if Evan and Bobby had to stick to a standard template?
Conclusion
In today’s competitive landscape, investors are looking for a memorable story like that of Snapchat—something that lingers long after the presentation ends. But if you’re still relying on templates to design your pitch deck, remember this: the chances are high that you can end up turning your presentation into just another brick in the wall.
When your goal is to stand out, why diminish your chances by relying on a template.
Reach us here to create a customized pitch deck exclusively for you.
