In marketing and business, you often hear the term pitch deck. However, not many people know just what “pitch deck” refers to, let alone the type. I have written several blogs discussing types of pitch decks, their core components, and the elements that make them successful.
In this blog, I am going to run through the top 4 pitch deck types and when you should use them. Of course, there are many different kinds, and you may not be acquainted with them all, but let’s cover the top 4 pitch deck styles below.
Concept or Pitch Deck
This is a presentation deck where you would spell out just what your new business concept and model would look like and how it would function and operate. You could potentially utilize some visuals and infographics that would help you tell a visual story of your idea and just how it would fill a need in the marketplace.
You could use this presentation deck to flush out your vision with potential investors, strategic partners, and collaborators. We’ve seen people use decks like these to refine and flush out the viability of their business concept.
Capital Raise Decks (or Investor Pitch Decks)
This style is a presentation deck where you should already have a fully refined business plan and model.
You need to effectively communicate what your brand story and vision will look like, why this is such a great idea, and introduce the team to make this idea a reality. It would help if you had a proforma that spells out your expected financial story. It should contain your revenue with growth projections, gross margin, profit/EBITDA, cash flow, enterprise value growth, etc. This is what investors look for in a cap raise deck.
Management Presentation
This pitch deck type is typically a presentation developed for several purposes.
- One example of this pitch deck style is an internal communication presentation for a company’s leadership and business units regarding your company’s performance, vision, and strategic plan.
This model would typically include an execution plan and timeline to help track how you are doing against desired outcomes.
- Another version of this pitch deck style is used to develop a presentation to potential purchasers of your business to effectively communicate your vision, plan for the future, and maximize your potential exit value.
Finally, you will also want to highlight the advantages of buying your business and why it makes sense for this strategic or financial buyer to acquire your business.
Make sure to highlight the team that will stay on and carry your business forward and assume the potential acquirer that the leadership team is stable.
Analyst Presentation
This is how I refined the craft of developing pitch decks. I sold my company as part of a public IPO, and my team put together analyst presentations for our CEO and COO. The purpose of this was to present to investment banking firms that owned our stock. The goal was to show why we were a good investment.
Moreover, this measure is similar to a capital raise deck and management presentation. However, I would spell out our quarterly results, forecasts for the next quarter, and the remainder of the year.
This step also typically highlights strategic initiatives and guidance going forward.
In Conclusion
Before you know what type of pitch deck you need, you must discover what your needs are.
For example, are you visualizing your concept, attempting to raise capital, selling your company, or reporting to your investors- one of the following pitch deck types is sure to cover your needs.
Pitch deck types include:
- Concept or Pitch Deck
- Capital Raise Deck (or Investor Pitch Deck)
- Management Presentation
- Analyst Presentation
Unsure of what pitch deck is right for your company?
If you have any questions, be sure to utilize Brand Iron’s expertise. No matter your goal, we can help you get there.
Brand Iron is an independent, multi-faceted branding and marketing agency passionate about shaping businesses and transforming brands. We are a collective of independent thinkers, artists, and doers committed to forging unrivaled outcomes for our clients.
CEO | Brand Champion
Michael Doyle has been changing the face of Brand Marketing for over two decades. He built a tech-based advertising agency, DNA Advertising, into a multi-million dollar company. Michael sold the company as part of a national IPO in 2000. Michael founded Brand Iron in 2002 and has since lent his expertise to hundreds of other businesses in dozens of industries around the world.
