Business presentation template
Speaker cue cards for a general business presentation: a clear opening, the key message, three supporting points with evidence, a recommendation, next steps and a strong close with Q and A.
Presentation10 cardsAbout 10 min to speakAdvancedWork
Startup pitch to investors template
Cue cards for a 10-minute investor pitch: problem, solution, market, business model, traction, competition, team, the raise and how you will use it, with honest placeholders for every number.
Free to use, edit, print and study. No account needed: your set stays on this device.
The cards
- 1
One-line summary
[Company] helps [specific customer] [solve problem] by [how], so they can [outcome].
If an investor remembers one sentence, it should be this one.
- 2
The problem
[Customer] struggles with [problem]. Today they [current workaround], which costs them [time, money or risk].
We know this because [your evidence: interviews, your own experience, pilot data].
- 3
The solution
[Product] lets them [key action] in [simple description].
The key insight is [what you understand that others have missed].
[Show the product: one screenshot or a short live clip.]
- 4
Market
We are starting with [beachhead segment], which has about [number from a cited source] potential customers.
From there we can expand to [next segments or regions].
Show how you got the number. Bottom-up beats top-down.
- 5
Business model
We charge [price model: subscription, per use, commission] at [price].
A typical customer is worth [revenue per customer] and costs about [acquisition cost] to win, based on [source].
- 6
Traction
- [Users, customers, revenue or pilots to date]
- [Growth over a stated period]
- [A key partnership, letter of intent or retention figure]
Only real numbers. If early, say so and show learning instead.
- 7
Competition
Customers today choose between [alternative 1], [alternative 2] and doing nothing.
We win because [two specific advantages]. Our biggest risk is [honest risk], and we are handling it by [plan].
- 8
Team
[Founder name] – [relevant experience in one line]
[Founder name] – [relevant experience]
We are the right people because [unfair advantage: access, expertise, lived experience].
- 9
The raise
We are raising [amount] to reach [milestone] by [date].
- [percentage] on [product or engineering]
- [percentage] on [sales and marketing]
- [percentage] on [operations or hires]
- 10
Close
[Repeat the one-line summary.] We would love to have you join us. The next step is [follow-up meeting, data room access, a call with a customer].
How to use this template
This template follows the order most early-stage investors expect: problem, solution, market, business model, traction, competition, team and the raise. Each card is designed to sit alongside one slide in your pitch deck, so you speak to the point of the slide rather than reading it. Every number is a placeholder because investors check figures; only include data you can explain and source. The one-line summary opens and closes the pitch so it is the thing people remember. Use it for accelerator demo days, angel meetings, grant panels and startup competitions, and adjust the length by dropping cards rather than talking faster.
Tips
- Practise the one-line summary until you can say it without notes in under 15 seconds.
- Explain how you calculated market size from the number of real customers and what they would pay, rather than quoting a huge industry total.
- Be upfront about risks. Investors trust founders who name the biggest risk before they are asked.
- Keep a backup card with deeper detail on unit economics, the technology and the hiring plan for questions.
- Time the pitch with a stopwatch. Many events cut the microphone at the time limit.
- After the pitch, write down every question you were asked; they show what your next deck needs to explain better.
- Ask a friend who does not know your industry to watch a rehearsal and tell you which card they found hardest to follow.
Make it fit
- For a three-minute demo day slot, use the one-line summary, problem, solution, traction and the raise.
- For a grant or public funding panel, replace the business model card with impact measures and how you will report on them.
- For a social enterprise, add a card on the change you want to see and how you will measure it alongside revenue.
- For a video pitch, show the product early and keep the founder on camera for the team and close cards.
- Investment norms, terms and regulations differ by country, so check local rules before you describe the raise or offer equity.
Updated October 28, 2026