how to end a business pitch presentation

9 Ways to End Your Sales Presentation With a Bang

Published: May 11, 2022

A brilliant presentation is worth nothing if you don't bring it home with a powerful close — that said, many salespeople still struggle with how to end a presentation. Most sales presentations end with a whimper rather than a bang, taking a major toll on prospect's interest and enthusiasm.

To help you add a little extra oomph to your presentations and consistently end pitches on a high note, we've put together some tips for closing sales presentations — complete with some helpful examples.

Closing a Sales Presentation

• Go back to your opening anecdote or idea.
• End with a challenge.
• Invite your audience on a metaphorical mission.
• Use repetition for a dramatic close.
• Offer inspiration.
• Surface their objections.
• Tell a story.
• Ask an unusual question.
• End with a quote.

1. Go back to your opening anecdote or idea. 2. End with a challenge. 3. Invite your audience on a metaphorical mission. 4. Use repetition for a dramatic close. 5. Offer inspiration. 6. Surface their objections. 7. Tell a story. 8. Ask an unusual question. 9. End with a quote.

1. Go back to your opening anecdote or idea.

Starting a presentation with an anecdote, analogy, case study, or thought-provoking idea can set things off with an intriguing tone — and referring back to that point at the end can add an element of compelling cohesion to your pitch.

For example, let's say you're presenting on behalf of a company selling a conversation intelligence platform to an enterprise-level prospect. You might start with something like:

"Client X's sales development team was qualified, competent, and motivated. SDRs were reliably connecting with prospects, but their conversion rate was hardly over half of what leadership wanted to see. That's where we came in."

Then, you would give your presentation — offering an overview of your product, value proposition, specs, and tailored solution. Once you've covered those bases, and it's time to wrap things up, you could say:

"Remember Client X? Well, after implementing our solution, they were able to refine their messaging, provide reps with better-informed coaching, and identify the most resonant pain points prospects were consistently raising. All told, they more than doubled their conversion rates on calls while maintaining their existing cadence."

That kind of "closed loop" synchronicity is clean and interesting — that's why bringing everything together with a self-referential nod to the beginning of your presentation is one of the better ways to cap things off.

2. End with a challenge.

Leaving your prospects with a dramatic, open-ended challenge is one of the most effective ways to keep yourself top-of-mind after your presentation ends and motivate a buyer to act.

For instance, you might say, "Are you going to let another month pass by without addressing the crippling communication issues on your team? This is your opportunity to change things. Don’t wait."

But be careful, you need to tread lightly if you decide to go this road. Read the room and exercise caution. There's always a thin line between confidence and arrogance, and if you cross it in front of the wrong person, you could be in trouble.

If you're too brash and challenge a prospect with an "alpha" personality, you might wind up rubbing them the wrong way and do more harm than good. If you have even the slightest suspicion that your buyer might not be receptive to this tactic, go with another one.

3. Invite your audience on a metaphorical mission.

This tactic is sort of a spin on the point above — one that's a bit more collaborative and less confrontational. Instead of challenging your prospect, ask them to join you on a mission or journey.

You might say something like:

"More than 5,000 companies have decided to leverage our solution and invest in their employees' health. Are you ready to join them?"

It's more inspirational than a direct challenge but a little less frank — sacrificing some directness in the interest of caution. Still, when done right, it can inspire action.

4. Use repetition for a dramatic close.

Research shows repetition improves a child’s ability to recall new terms — in other words, if they hear an unfamiliar phrase multiple times, they’re more likely to remember it than if they only heard it once.

But that trend isn't specific to kids — the same principle applies to adults. A repetitive rhythmic close is memorable, but its value doesn't stop there. It can also be high-energy and engaging.

Not sure what this would sound like? Take a look at this example:

"If you don’t have transparency, you don’t have trust. If you don’t have trust, you won’t get honest feedback. If you don’t get honest feedback, you’ll develop blind spots. If you develop blind spots, you’ll make poor decisions, lose talented employees, and miss crucial opportunities for improvement."

5. Offer inspiration.

A well-chosen quote can tie your entire sales pitch together and help put things in a new light for your prospect.

Let's say you're selling a new CRM to a midsize business. The buyer is interested, but they know implementing a new system could be a long, challenging process.

With that in mind, you might close with something like:

"Look, I know the thought of changing CRMs is probably scary. But I think one of my favorite Warren Buffett quotes applies nicely here: ‘Should you find yourself in a chronically leaking boat, energy devoted to changing vessels is likely to be more productive than energy devoted to patching leaks.’

In the long run, this switch will save your company a lot of time, money, and effort."

6. Surface their objections.

When you sense your prospect isn’t quite convinced — or they’re not being completely open about — you can try ending your presentation by digging for objections.

HubSpot sales reps use this question: "What would stop you from moving forward?"

You can also try, "If you decide not to buy, what would the reason be?"

The thought of being so direct can be nerve-racking, but you need to keep the fact that your prospect's objections exist — regardless of whether you probe for them. Those concerns are real and will likely come to light eventually, and you can't resolve them if you have no idea what they are.

7. Tell a story.

A story is one of the — if not the — most powerful communication vehicles salespeople have at their disposal. Telling a story makes your message more compelling, digestible, and emotionally resonant.

I recommend telling a hypothetical story of your prospect’s life after they’ve bought your product:

"It’s [date four months in the future]. You’ve been using [product] for [X use case]. [First pain point], which used to swallow up hours of your week, has been completely eliminated. [Second pain point] has been reduced to a 15-minute task every month. And your boss is completely thrilled with [Y results]."

By framing your presentation with immersive descriptions of the results your prospects can expect to see, you're helping them mentally place themselves as existing customers. If you can do that convincingly, this tactic can go a long way.

8. Ask an unusual question.

You don't have to cut your presentation short by asking, " Does anyone have questions? " Instead, try turning the tables by asking an anything-but-ordinary question at the end of your presentation.

This will jolt them back to the conversation at hand and give you a unique entry into the final portion of your presentation. Here are some example questions:

• " How did I change your worldview or perception?"
• " Based on what you've just heard, would you buy today? Why or why not?"
• " What's changed between now and when I began this presentation? "

The conversations prompted by these questions are sure to be more interesting than an ordinary close. And it might go without saying, but you still have to follow up by answering any questions they have.

9. End with a quote.

Whether it's a killer client quote or your favorite Dylan lyric, ending with a thought-provoking line will cause your audience to pause.

From there, take a few moments to ask how the quote resonated with your audience and what it made them consider. They might have offering-related thoughts — or share something completely unrelated to your business.

The point of this exercise is to snap them out of the end-of-presentation daze and get them excited and inspired to think bigger. Choose the right quote and spur your prospect to action at the end.

Here are a few other presentation ideas:

Sales Presentation Ideas

• Share a unique " vision statement " for your prospect - Wow your audience by sharing a personalized vision statement for how you see your offering changing their work and their business.
• Nix language-heavy slides for images - Go easy on the eyes and provide images narrated by your key points.
• Use movement and gestures - Avoid a rigid, unmoving stance. Use natural or slightly animated gestures to give your presentation life.
• Include video or animation - You never want to distract from your main points, but a well-placed video or custom animation can help rather than hindering your presentation.
• Don't shy away from emotion - When appropriate, share a joke, a personal anecdote, or passionate story.
• Always personalize your presentation - Keep things relevant for your audience by customizing every presentation you give.
• Tell stories using your data - You know what's less boring than a slide full of bullet-pointed numbers? You telling a story with your data.
• Ask questions throughout your presentation - Make things interactive by engaging regularly with your audience and asking for their thoughts and opinions.
• Make examples personal - Reminding your audience of your humanity is crucial for them to feel connected and sympathetic to you.
• Use music - "Music embedded throughout a PowerPoint presentation can sustain attention, while slipping content into long-term memory," says Ronald A. Berk of The Johns Hopkins University

With these creative and effective ways to end and facilitate a sales presentation, your close rate is bound to improve.

Don't forget to share this post!

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15 Ways for Ending a Sales Pitch Effectively

Are you looking to improve your sales pitch? One area that often gets overlooked is the ending. Many sales professionals focus so much on delivering a captivating presentation that they neglect to consider how to wrap it up effectively. But the truth is, the conclusion of your sales pitch is just as important as the introduction.

In this article, we will explore the importance of a strong conclusion, key elements of an effective sales pitch ending, techniques for ending your sales pitch, and common mistakes to avoid. Let's dive in!

1. Understanding the Importance of a Strong Conclusion:

When it comes to ending your sales pitch, you might wonder why it matters so much. After all, you've already presented all the necessary information, right? Well, think again. The conclusion is your last chance to make a lasting impression on your audience. It's the final opportunity to leave them with something that lingers in their minds. A strong conclusion ensures that your message resonates and increases the chances of converting leads into customers.

1. The Role of a Conclusion in a Sales Pitch:

• So, what exactly does the conclusion of a sales pitch do? It serves several crucial purposes. First and foremost, it reinforces your main points. By summarizing the key takeaways of your presentation, you ensure that your audience remembers the most important aspects.
• Additionally, a conclusion allows you to deliver a clear call to action. This is your chance to make a direct request or suggest the next steps you want your audience to take. By providing a specific and actionable request, you guide your audience towards the desired outcome.
• Last but not least, a well-crafted ending creates a sense of urgency. By conveying the idea that time is of the essence, you motivate your audience to act quickly. Whether it's a limited-time offer, a special discount, or an upcoming deadline, emphasizing urgency compels your audience to make a decision sooner rather than later.

2. Why a Strong Ending Matters:

• Now that we understand the role of a conclusion, let's explore why a strong ending matters. Imagine watching a thrilling movie that keeps you on the edge of your seat until the very end. The plot thickens, the tension rises, and you eagerly anticipate the resolution. Suddenly, the screen goes black, and the credits roll without any resolution or closure. How would you feel? Likely disappointed and let down, right?
• The same concept applies to a sales pitch. A weak ending can leave your audience feeling unsatisfied and uncertain. It's like presenting a puzzle with missing pieces or a story without a satisfying ending. On the other hand, a powerful and impactful ending ensures that your message sticks and leaves a positive impression.
• A strong conclusion leaves your audience with a sense of fulfillment and closure. It reinforces the value of your product or service and establishes a clear path forward. By providing a memorable ending, you increase the likelihood of your audience taking action and becoming loyal customers.

2. Key Elements of an Effective Sales Pitch Ending:

An effective sales pitch ending is crucial for leaving a lasting impression on potential clients or customers. Here are nine key elements to consider for a successful closing:

1. Call-to-Action (CTA):

• Clearly state the next steps you want the prospect to take. This could be scheduling a meeting, signing up for a trial, or making a purchase.

2. Reiteration of Benefits:

• Recap the main benefits your product or service offers to remind the prospect of its value.

3. Addressing Objections:

• If there were any objections raised during the pitch, address them again and provide reassurance or additional information to alleviate concerns.

4. Personalization:

• Tailor your closing to the prospect's specific needs and pain points, making them feel heard and understood.

5. Sense of Urgency:

• Create a sense of urgency to encourage the prospect to act quickly. Highlight limited-time offers or exclusive deals.

6. Testimonials and Social Proof:

• Share success stories and testimonials from satisfied customers to build trust and credibility.

7. Offer Support and Assistance:

• Assure the prospect that you and your team are available to provide support throughout the process

8. Visual Aids:

• Utilize visual aids like charts, graphs, or demos to reinforce key points and make the closing more impactful.

9. Express Gratitude:

• Thank the prospect for their time and consideration, showing appreciation for the opportunity to present your offering.

10. Summarize Key Points:

• Briefly recap the main points of your pitch, emphasizing the most compelling benefits and features of your product or service.

11. Reinforce Value Proposition:

• Remind the prospect of the unique value your offering provides and how it addresses their specific pain points or needs.

12. Ask Open-Ended Questions:

• Engage the prospect by asking open-ended questions that encourage them to share their thoughts, concerns, or preferences.

13. Highlight Limited-Time Offers:

• Create a sense of urgency by emphasizing any time-sensitive deals, discounts, or bonuses available.

14. Create a Memorable Closing Statement:

• Craft a powerful closing statement that leaves a lasting impression and ties back to the core message of your pitch.

15. Be Confident and Enthusiastic:

• End your pitch with confidence and enthusiasm, conveying your belief in the value of your product or service.

Remember, ending your sales pitch is not just about wrapping up the conversation; it's about inspiring action and building a relationship with the prospect. Tailor your approach to each individual and be attentive to their needs and concerns.

4. Common Mistakes to Avoid When Ending Your Sales Pitch:

Here are the top 5 common mistakes to avoid when ending your sales pitch:

1. Unclear or Weak Call-to-Action (CTA):

• Failing to provide a clear and strong call-to-action can leave the prospect unsure about what to do next, reducing the chances of conversion. Be specific and assertive in your CTA.

2. Ignoring Objections:

• If objections are raised during the pitch, it's essential to address them directly in the closing. Ignoring objections may make the prospect feel unheard and unimportant.

3. Being Too Pushy or Aggressive:

• While it's important to be confident, being overly pushy or aggressive can turn the prospect off. Focus on persuasion and building a positive relationship instead.

4. Not Expressing Gratitude:

• Forgetting to thank the prospect for their time and consideration can leave a negative impression. Show appreciation for their attention and interest.

5. Neglecting to Customize the Close:

• Each prospect is unique, and a generic closing approach won't resonate with everyone. Tailor your closing to the prospect's specific needs and preferences.

Avoiding these mistakes will help you create a more effective and engaging sales pitch ending, increasing the likelihood of a successful outcome.

In conclusion, the conclusion of a sales pitch is not to be underestimated; it is the pinnacle of the entire presentation, where persuasion culminates, and potential clients are motivated to take action. An effective ending reinforces the main points, delivers a clear call-to-action, and fosters a sense of urgency, leaving the audience with a lasting impression.

By avoiding common mistakes, such as being unclear in the call-to-action or neglecting objections, sales professionals can transform their pitches into compelling experiences that inspire trust, drive conversions, and forge long-lasting relationships with customers. Embracing the power of a strong conclusion, sales teams can confidently navigate the competitive landscape and achieve remarkable success in their endeavors.

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Tips on How to End A Pitch Deck: Closing Strong in 2023

If you want to know how to end a pitch deck strongly, you are in a good place!

As a business owner or entrepreneur, a well-crafted pitch deck is an essential tool in your arsenal. Whether you’re seeking investment from investors, trying to win over potential clients, or presenting your ideas to stakeholders, a pitch deck can significantly impact your chances of success. One crucial aspect of a pitch deck is the conclusion, and knowing how to end it in the right way is crucial for leaving a memorable impression on your audience. In this article, we will provide valuable insights and practical tips on how to effectively end your pitch deck with confidence, leaving a lasting impression that captivates your audience and helps you achieve your pitching goals. Let’s dive in and discover how you can close your pitch deck with confidence and leave a lasting impression on your audience.

What is a Pitch Deck?

Identifying potential investors, researching potential investors, tailoring your pitch deck to your audience, importance of end a pitch deck strongly, use a powerful call to action, tell a compelling story, address potential concerns, offer a memorable closing remark, use visual aids effectively, practice and rehearse (end a pitch deck), leave room for questions and discussion, customize the ending for your audience, common mistakes to avoid, 1. how long should the ending of my pitch deck be, 2. should i include a call to action at the end of my pitch, 3. how can i address potential objections at the end a pitch deck, 4. is it necessary to use visual aids at the end a pitch deck, 5. how can i customize the end a pitch deck for my specific audience.

In terms of end a pitch deck, you should know that the pitch deck first, it is a visual presentation that provides an overview of your business, product, or idea in a concise and visually appealing manner. It typically consists of a series of slides that highlight key points, visuals, and data to support your pitch. A pitch deck serves as a visual aid to help you communicate your message effectively and engage your audience.

The Elements of a Pitch Deck

To effectively craft a pitch deck that resonates with your target audience, it is essential to comprehend and tailor it according to their needs. Before you commence preparing your pitch deck, conduct thorough research to apprehend your audience’s persona, preferences, and requirements. This involves identifying and exploring potential investors such as venture capitalists, angel investors, crowdfunding platforms, and even acquaintances.

Also, you can read about pitch deck writing . It will teach you more about compelling storytelling in the pitch deck.

To identify the best-suited investors, it is crucial to consider your funding requirements and the developmental stage of your business. For instance, if you are a pre-seed startup, angel investors or crowdfunding platforms may be an appropriate choice, while venture capitalists may be more suitable for later-stage startups. Also, the trust level in global financial services by investor type increased in the past 5 years.

In-depth research is paramount once you have identified potential investors. Delve into their investment background, the portfolio of companies they have invested in, and their areas of interest. This information will enable you to customize your pitch deck to cater to their specific interests and needs. Personalizing your pitch according to the investor’s preferences and using the research you’ve gathered can significantly increase your likelihood of securing funding.

This concept involves creating a compelling narrative that addresses their specific interests and requirements. If, for instance, you have determined that the investor is keenly interested in environmentally friendly and sustainable products, ensure that your pitch deck highlights any eco-friendly features of your business. This includes emphasizing the materials you use, your manufacturing process, and the product certifications you have earned. Moreover, using the information you have researched to tailor your pitch deck according to the investor’s specific interests can make it more likely for you to secure funding.

End a pitch deck correctly is your last chance to convey your key messages, summarize your main points, and leave a lasting impression. A weak or abrupt end a pitch deck can leave your audience confused or uninterested, which may result in missed opportunities. On the other hand, a strong and memorable ending can leave your audience motivated and excited about your proposition. It’s crucial to plan and execute the ending of your pitch deck strategically to maximize its impact.

Continue reading to get the key features of end a pitch deck.

Ready to take your pitch deck to the next level and secure the funding you need to grow your business? Contact Easycapraise today, and let us help you find the right investors and fundraising opportunities to bring your vision to life.

A call to action (CTA) is a critical element of any pitch deck ending. It’s the moment when you tell your audience what you want them to do next. Your CTA should be powerful, persuasive, and aligned with your overall pitch objective. Whether it’s asking for an investment, scheduling a follow-up meeting, or signing up for a free trial, make sure your CTA is clear, compelling, and easy to follow.

Storytelling is a powerful technique to engage your audience emotionally and make your pitch memorable. As you approach the end of a pitch deck, consider telling a compelling story that relates to your proposition. This story could be a case study of a successful implementation, a testimonial from a satisfied customer, or a personal anecdote that illustrates the benefits of your proposition. Make sure your story is relevant, authentic, and resonates with your audience.

In any pitch, there may be potential concerns or objections that your audience may have. It’s essential to address these concerns head-on, especially during the closing of your pitch. By acknowledging and addressing potential objections, you show that you have thoroughly considered your proposition and have solutions in place. This builds trust and credibility with your audience. Anticipate potential concerns and prepare concise and convincing responses to address them during the closing of your pitch.

End pitch deck should be memorable and impactful. It’s your last chance to leave a lasting impression on your audience. Consider using a memorable quote, a powerful statement, or a thought-provoking question that reinforces your key messages and resonates with your audience. Make sure your closing remark is authentic, aligned with your pitch objective, and leaves a lasting impression.

Visual aids, such as slides, charts, and diagrams, can enhance the effectiveness of your end a pitch deck. Use visual aids strategically to support your key messages, summarize your main points, and make complex information more accessible and engaging. However, avoid overloading your pitch with too many visuals, as it can be distracting. Use visual aids sparingly and ensure they are visually appealing, easy to understand, and aligned with your overall pitch objective.

End a pitch deck deserves as much attention as the rest of your presentation. Practice and rehearse the ending to ensure that you deliver it confidently, smoothly, and with the right tone and pace. Pay attention to your body language, tone of voice, and overall presence during the closing of your pitch. A well-rehearsed ending demonstrates your professionalism, confidence, and expertise, which can significantly impact your audience’s perception of your pitch.

After delivering your closing remark, it’s important to leave room for questions and discussion. Encourage your audience to ask questions, share their thoughts, and engage in a conversation. This allows you to address any remaining concerns, provide further information, and deepen the engagement with your audience. Be attentive, responsive, and open to feedback during this discussion, as it shows your willingness to listen and collaborate.

Every pitch is unique, and it’s essential to customize the ending based on your specific audience. Consider the demographics, preferences, and interests of your audience when crafting the ending of your pitch. Tailor your key messages, language, and tone to resonate with your audience and make the pitch more relevant and compelling to them. This customization shows that you have taken the time to understand your audience’s needs and interests, and it can significantly impact their receptiveness to your pitch.

In addition to the tips mentioned above, it’s important to be aware of common mistakes that can undermine the effectiveness of your pitch deck ending. Avoid the following pitfalls:

Rushing through the ending: Avoid rushing through the end a pitch deck. It’s a critical moment that deserves your full attention and should not be hurried.

Being too vague: Make sure your closing messages are clear, concise, and specific. Avoid being too vague or ambiguous, as it can leave your audience confused or uninterested.

Neglecting visual aids: If you use visual aids, ensure they are visually appealing, relevant, and aligned with your overall pitch objective. Neglecting visual aids or using them haphazardly can undermine the effectiveness of your pitch deck ending.

Overloading the audience with information: Be mindful of not overloading your pitch with too much information. Keep your closing messages focused, relevant, and easy to understand.

Neglecting audience engagement: The ending of your pitch is an opportunity to engage with your audience. Avoid neglecting audience engagement during the closing of your pitch and instead encourage questions, discussion, and feedback, and be responsive to your audience’s needs.

End a pitch deck should be concise and to the point. Avoid dragging it out too long, and aim to keep it within a few minutes.

Including a call to action at the end of your pitch can be effective, depending on your objective. Make sure it’s relevant and aligned with your pitch’s overall message and goal.

Be proactive in addressing potential objections during the ending of your pitch. Acknowledge and provide concise and convincing responses to potential concerns to build trust and credibility with your audience.

Using visual aids can enhance the effectiveness of your pitch deck ending, but it’s not mandatory. Use visual aids strategically and ensure they are visually appealing, relevant, and aligned with your pitch’s overall objective.

Consider the demographics, preferences, and interests of your audience when customizing the ending of your pitch. Tailor your key messages, language, and tone to resonate with your audience and make the pitch more relevant and compelling to them.

Overall, the end of a pitch deck is a crucial moment that can leave a lasting impression on your audience. By following these tips, you can effectively close your pitch and leave a positive impact on your audience. Remember to summarize your key messages, address potential objections, offer a memorable closing remark, use visual aids effectively, practice and rehearse the ending, leave room for questions and discussion, customize the ending for your audience, and avoid common mistakes. With a well-crafted and engaging ending, you can increase your chances of success and leave your audience impressed and interested in your proposition.

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How to End a Business Presentation & Get People to Act

Learn how to conclude a digital presentation with impact. Discover what should be on the last slide of the presentation and ditch the "Thank you" slide forever.

Dominika Krukowska

8 minute read

Short answer

What should be the last slide of a presentation?

The last slide of your presentation should be a next step slide with a call-to-action, not a thank-you slide. It should direct readers to act on what they have learned - by trying a product, donating, visiting a place, etc.

It’s also an opportunity to build a relationship with your audience by inviting them to connect with you on social media or book a call.

Concluding your presentation with a thank-you slide is a bad idea

Imagine a general addressing his knights before a battle. He gives a moving speech that gets the men fired up. He describes the great purpose of their sacrifice and the glory of victory. The warriors are roaring and raising their swords.

Then the general tells them he thanks them for coming, turns, and goes.

With no idea where the enemy is or when the battle will take place the men take their gear and go home. The end.

That’s what happens when you end with a thank you slide. Your audience was hooked. They identified with your ideas, they were moved by your story, and they wanted more. But they didn’t know where to get it. You left them hanging.

This is where many presentations miss the mark.

What this means is that ending with a thank-you may leave potential connections, collaborations, or sales to simply drift away.

So contrary to common belief that is not how to conclude a presentation.

This blog post will show you how to use the last slide of your presentation to guide your audience toward meaningful actions for them and for you.

Let’s dive in!

What to say on the last page of a presentation?

You should end your presentation by saying what your audience should do with what you’ve told them. Whatever it is, make it immediate and easy to do.

Get them to take a small next step so that they will be more likely to be on their way toward a beneficial outcome for them and for you.

What you say at the conclusion of your presentation should guide your audience toward a clear next step.

Ask for something like booking a demo, signing up for a newsletter, or leaving their email for further communication, anything that starts them in the direction you’re aiming for.

Our analysis of 100K presentation sessions revealed an unignorable fact:

Presentations that contained a singular, clear next step had a conversion rate 27% higher than those that simply ended with "thank you".

Impact of adding next steps on avg. deck conversion rate for a demo call:

What are the main types of slides to end a presentation?

The final slide of a presentation is more than just a conclusion; it's your last chance to engage your audience and guide them toward action.

6 types of final slides:

• Thank you slide: A traditional ending, but often a missed opportunity.
• Quotes slide: Inspires your audience with a thought-provoking quote.
• Pricing slide: Clearly presents your product or service’s cost.
• Benefits slide: Summarizes the key advantages of your proposition.
• FAQ slide: Addresses common questions and resolves doubts.
• Next step slide: The most impactful type, guides your audience toward a clear action.

Now, let’s dive deeper into what goes into each of these presentation slides and see some real-life examples.

Best examples of how to end a presentation

The last slide you use to conclude your presentation should be gauged towards the original purpose for which it was made.

Ask yourself what was the goal for making the presentation in the first place, and choose the slide that best serves that goal.

Note: all of the slides examples on our list are interactive, as opposed to static PPTs, and were created using Storydoc's presentation maker .

Here are some of the most common examples of how to end a presentation:

Thank you slide

It's a common practice to end a presentation with a simple "Thank you" slide . It's polite, it's traditional, and it seems like the perfect way to wrap up. In reality, however, it can often be a missed opportunity.

When you end with a "Thank you" slide, you're essentially closing the conversation. You're not giving your audience any direction on what they should do next. This can lead to lost opportunities for both you and your audience.

Instead of a "Thank you" slide, consider using your final slide to guide your audience toward a specific action.

Whether it's trying a product, joining a cause, or connecting with you, a clear call-to-action can make a world of difference. It will turn a passive audience into active participants, and an informative presentation into an actionable one.

Here’s what a passive ‘Thank you’ slide looks like versus an actionable one:

Quotes slide

Knowing how to end your presentation with a powerful quote can leave your audience thinking about your message long after it ends, change their perspective, and even occasionally inspire someone to act.

The type of quote you choose should align with your presentation's purpose and audience.

Here are a few quote types to consider:

Inspirational quotes: These are great for motivating your audience or sparking creativity. Choose a quote from a well-known figure that aligns with your presentation's theme.

Industry expert quotes: Quotes from respected industry experts can add credibility to your presentation and reinforce your points.

Customer testimonials: If you're presenting a product or service, a positive quote from a satisfied customer can be very persuasive.

Company founders quotes: A quote from a company leader can provide insight into the company's values and mission.

Here’s an example of a quotes slide :

NOTE: A quote is good to help carry your message for longer, but it is not a good way to generate a desired behavior. If you want to influence behavior, your last slide must be clear and concrete with what you want your audience to do. A quote doesn’t provide such a clear path for action.

Pricing slide

This last slide is particularly useful for proposals, RFPs, SaaS decks, or big-ticket items.

A pricing slide should provide a clear, transparent breakdown of your product or service's cost. Ensure the pricing structure is easy to understand, and highlight any special offers or discounts.

To make it more effective, consider using data visualization components like tables or charts to present your pricing information.

Here’s an example of a pricing slide:

Benefits slide

A benefits slide is your chance to remind your audience of the value you're offering. It's about reinforcing your key message and making sure your audience understands what they stand to gain.

Use bullet points for clarity and emphasis, and try to tailor the benefits to the specific needs or pain points of your audience.

Remember, benefits are not just features; they're the positive outcomes your audience can expect. So make them clear, make them relevant, and make them compelling.

A benefits slide can be paired with a next step slide to use the benefits in order to spark the motivation to take the next step.

Here’s an example of a benefits slide:

A FAQ slide is the equivalent of ending your presentation speech with a Q&A session. It's about addressing common questions or concerns your audience might have.

This resolves doubts and saves you or your team the hassle of clearing some of these questions personally. It also shows that you understand and care about your audience's concerns.

Don't overdo your FAQs to the point that you're drowning your audience in information - keep it light and engaging and consider grouping related questions together.

Here’s an example of a FAQ slide:

Next step slide

A next step slide is your chance to guide your audience to the next step in your relationship, be it to advance in your buyer journey, get active in your community, or donate to your cause.

Here are the most common types of next step slides:

Contact slide: Make it easy for your audience to reach out to you. Make sure to provide your email, website, and social media details. Double-check that your contact information is up-to-date.

Calendar slide: If you want your audience to schedule a meeting, you can embed your calendar directly in your deck to make the process as seamless as possible.

Further reading slide: It’s particularly useful for white papers and case studies, as you can include links to external resources. This can help your audience understand your topic in greater depth and see the research or data behind your presentation.

Signup slide: If you're selling a product or service, invite your audience to sign up. Make the signup process simple and quick. This can be a great way to convert interested audience members into customers or subscribers directly from your sales presentation or product one-pager .

Sign document slide: For proposals and RFPs, provide a clear path for your audience to sign the necessary documents. Use secure and user-friendly digital signing tools. This can help you close deals more quickly and efficiently.

Subscribe slide: Invite your audience to subscribe to your newsletter, e-magazine, or e-learning platform. To make it more compelling, consider highlighting the benefits of subscribing or offering a freebie for new subscribers.

Donate slide: If you're representing an NGO or political campaign, guide your audience toward making a donation. To make it more effective, consider sharing how their donation will be used or telling a story that resonates with your cause.

Here’s an example of a next step slide:

What to avoid when concluding a digital presentation?

Don’t be vague: Be clear about the next steps or actions you want your audience to take.

Don’t overload them with Information: Don't drown your audience in details at the end.

Don’t conclude with a passive statement: Thanking your audience or giving a Tl;Dr style conclusion will leave your audience passive. Activate and engage them by making your final slide actionable. Don't forget to invite questions or further interaction.

No personal touch: Tailor your ending to your audience for a lasting impact.

How to encourage engagement at the end of my presentation?

To encourage engagement at the end of your presentation, prompt your audience to interact. Do this by including a call-to-action, like signing up for a newsletter, booking a demo, or following you on social media. Make it easy and enticing for them to stay connected.

How long should the conclusion of my presentation be?

The conclusion of your presentation should be concise yet impactful. Aim for 1-2 slides that summarize key points, inspire action, and leave a lasting impression on your audience. A great slide duo to conclude with is your Benefits slide followed by your Next step slide.

Create your presentation from a template

Your digital presentation is your ticket to impactful communication. Instead of grappling with static, uninspiring slides, why not transform your presentation into an engaging experience?

Turn your key messages into an immersive journey, captivating your audience from the first slide to the last with our interactive last slide templates .

Grab a template and end your presentation with a bang!

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4 Compelling and High-Converting Ways to End a Sales Presentation or Pitch

The first few seconds of a sales presentation or pitch are powerful. They’re what help you create the first impression and seize the attention of your audience. However, it’s ultimately the ending that people will remember the most.

The Power of a Good Close

Sales presentations are almost always entirely too long . They carefully walk the audience – presumably warm or hot leads – through a list of features, reasons, and value statements with the hopes of convincing people to make purchase decisions. But the truth of the matter is that almost everything you say in a sales presentation is going in one ear and directly out the other.

It’s not that you’re boring or that your presentation is ineffective – though both of these could be mitigating factors as well – it’s just the way the human brain works. Attention spans are only so long – you can’t expect a prospect to hang on every word. And even if a prospect does, his brain won’t cooperate.

According to a study designed to measure how much of a presenter’s message sticks with audience members, researchers found that immediately after a 10-minute presentation, listeners could recall just 50 percent of what was said. By the next day, that percentage was halved – leaving listeners with a recollection of just 25 percent. One week later, the percentage dropped to 10 percent.

If you’re giving a sales presentation or pitch, you should only expect your listener to process 10 percent of what you’re saying. Most commonly, this 10 percent will be comprised of the opening statement and the close.

The close is arguably the most important part of a sales presentation or pitch. It’s the last thing a prospect hears and will, therefore, stay with them the longest. However, this isn’t automatically the case. If you’ve been speaking for a while, it’s possible that your prospects have grown weary of listening to you and have flipped a switch in their brain. And that’s why you need to focus on delivering a powerful close – a closing statement that commands people to listen and retain.

4 High-Converting Ways to End a Sales Presentation

The content of every sales presentation or pitch will be unique, but there are some proven techniques you can implement to make you’re close more influential, memorable, and convincing. Here are a few methods of successful salespeople use to generate consistently impressive results:

1. Distribute Handouts

Your voice only goes so far in penetrating a prospect’s mind and motivating them to take action. Digital media, while important and helpful, will eventually cause people to glaze over. But if you want to cut through the noise, there’s something you can do.

Try distributing a handout as you close your presentation. There’s something effective about holding a tangible item that increases a prospect’s receptivity and retention. Specifically, try handing out saddle stitch booklets – which are simple to print and surprisingly cost-effective – that support and clarify your pitch.

“Saddle stitch is when single sheets of paper are printed on both sides, collated in page number order, folded in half and then stapled through the fold by a saddle stitch stapler,” Amber Gauthier writes for PrintingCenterUSA. “Saddle stitch binding is one of the most common binding methods for booklet manufacturing.”

You may also consider handing out promotional items that coincide with your presentation. If, for example, you’re pitching a new bar/restaurant to a group of investors, handing out drinkware with a mockup logo will help them visualize the venture (and remember your presentation after they’ve gone home).

2. Issue a Challenge

There are a time and place for meticulously laying out an argument and letting prospects come to their own conclusions. But there’s also something to be said for issuing a specific call that demands movement.

Under the right circumstances, issuing a challenge at the close of your presentation can provide just enough of a push to generate a response. For example, you might say, “Are you comfortable exposing your family to dangerous toxins and chemicals for another month or year? Do you really want to breathe in dirty air and risk chronic health complications? As a parent, I don’t think you want to take this risk and that’s why I’m giving you an opportunity to purchase this air purifying system before I leave today.”

You’ll have to determine what’s appropriate and what’s considered overly aggressive, but don’t be afraid to issue a challenge.

3. Tell a Story

Stories are generally more powerful in helping you illustrate an idea than a typical rundown of product specs or technical components. Find a way to end your sales presentation with a story and you’ll captivate your audience for a crisp and compelling close.

Better yet, some people like to start their presentation with a story and then come back to it at the end. This has a way of tying the entire pitch together and holding your audience’s attention from start to finish.

4. Ask a Question

You want your audience to think during your presentation. Sometimes asking questions is the best way to go about it. Open-ended questions at the end of a presentation are especially effective. Here are a few examples:

• Take a minute and imagine we’re sitting here one year from now. What’s changed for your business? Are things better or worse?
• What’s most important to you? Your family, children, reputation? Now think about what could happen to these things if you don’t make a smart choice today.
• Think about what you’ve been doing over the last six months to tackle [insert key problem or pain point]. Has it been working?

By asking a question, you force your audience to engage with the pitch (even if it’s only in their minds) and feel the weight of the decision you’re asking them to make.

Close the Deal

The close is the most important part of any sales pitch. While it’s necessary to start strong and hold your audience’s attention throughout the presentation, it’s ultimately the closing statement that will ring the loudest. Try implementing some of the techniques above and measure your results.

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How to End a Presentation – 3 Do’s and Don’ts.

Shahid shahmiri.

In this guide, How to End a Presentation – we will navigate the art of concluding your presentation with finesse. We’ll explore essential strategies to ensure your closing words are not only memorable but also drive home your key messages effectively. From powerful calls to action to avoiding common pitfalls that could undermine your presentation’s impact, we’ll provide you with practical tips and insights to enhance your concluding remarks.

Here are 3 Do’s and Don’t when ending your presentation:

There are several ways to effectively end a sales presentation . These include summarizing the main points of the dynamic presentation , usage of the best fonts , highlighting the key benefits of the product or service, addressing any remaining questions or concerns, and thanking the audience for their time and consideration.

It is also important to leave a strong and positive final impression, such as by offering a special deal or incentive for taking action. By following these steps, you can effectively close your sales and virtual presentation and increase the likelihood of making a successful sale.

Take a look at how  CustomShow could help  in your sales presentations.

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• By Illiya Vjestica
• - January 23, 2023

10 Powerful Examples of How to End a Presentation

Here are 10 powerful examples of how to end a presentation that does not end with a thank you slide.

How many presentations have you seen that end with “Thank you for listening” or “Any questions?” I bet it’s a lot…

“Thank you for listening.” is the most common example. Unfortunately, when it comes to closing out your slides ending with “thank you” is the norm. We can create a better presentation ending by following these simple examples.

The two most essential slides of your deck are the ending and intro. An excellent presentation ending is critical to helping the audience to the next step or following a specific call to action.

There are many ways you can increase your presentation retention rate . The most critical steps are having a solid call to action at the end of your presentation and a powerful hook that draws your audience in.

What Action do You Want Your Audience to Take?

Before designing your presentation, start with this question – what message or action will you leave your audience with?

Are you looking to persuade, inspire, entertain or inform your audience? You can choose one or multiple words to describe the intent of your presentation.

Think about the action words that best describe your presentation ending – what do you want them to do? Inspire, book, learn, understand, engage, donate, buy, book or schedule. These are a few examples.

If the goal of your presentation is to inspire, why not end with a powerful and inspiring quote ? Let words of wisdom be the spark that ignites an action within your audience.

Here are three ways to end your presentation:

• Call to Action – getting the audience to take a specific action or next step, for example, booking a call, signing up for an event or donating to your cause.
• Persuade – persuading your audience to think differently, try something new, undertake a challenge or join your movement or community.
• Summarise – A summary of the key points and information you want the audience to remember. If you decide to summarise your talk at the end, keep it to no more than three main points.

10 Examples of How to End a Presentation

1. Asking your audience to take action or make a pledge.

Here were asking the audience to take action by using the wording “take action” in our copy. This call to action is a pledge to donate. A clear message like this can be helpful for charities and non-profits looking to raise funding for their campaign or cause.

2. Encourage your audience to take a specific action, e.g. joining your cause or community

Here was are asking the audience to join our community and help solve a problem by becoming part of the solution. It’s a simple call to action. You can pass the touch to your audience and ask them to take the next lead.

3. Highlight the critical points for your audience to remember.

Rember, to summarise your presentation into no more than three key points. This is important because the human brain struggles to remember more than three pieces of information simultaneously. We call this the “Rule of Three”.

4. If you are trying to get more leads or sales end with a call to action to book a demo or schedule a call.

Can you inspire your audience to sign up for a demo or trial of your product? Structure your talk to lead your prospect through a journey of the results you generate for other clients. At the end of your deck, finish with a specific call to action, such as “Want similar results to X?”

Make sure you design a button, or graphic your prospect can click on when you send them the PDF version of the slides.

5. Challenge your audience to think differently or take action, e.g. what impact could they make?

6. Give your audience actions to help share your message.

7. Promote your upcoming events or workshops

8. Asking your audience to become a volunteer.

9. Direct your audience to learn more about your website.

10. If you are a book author, encourage your audience to engage with your book.

6 Questions to Generate an Ending for Your Presentation

You’ve told an engaging story, but why end your presentation without leaving your audience a clear message or call to action?

Here are six great questions you can ask yourself to generate an ending for your presentation or keynote talk.

• What impression would you want to leave your audience with?
• What is the big idea you want to leave them with?
• What action should they take next?
• What key point should you remember 72 hours after your presentation?
• What do you want them to feel?
• What is the key takeaway for them to understand?

What to Say After Ending a Presentation?

When you get to the end of a book, you don’t see the author say, “thank you for reading my last chapter.” Of course, there is no harm in thanking the audience after your presentation ends, but don’t make that the last words you speak.

Think of the ending of the presentation as the final chapter of an epic novel. It’s your chance to leave a lasting impression on the audience. Close with an impactful ending and leave them feeling empowered, invigorated and engaged.

• Leave a lasting impression.
• Think of it as the last chapter of a book.
• Conclude with a thought or question.
• Leave the audience with a specific action or next step.

How to End a Presentation with Style?

There are many great ways you can end your presentation with style. Are you ready to drop the mic?

Ensure your closing slide is punchy, has a clear headline, or uses a thought-provoking image.

Think about colours. You want to capture the audience’s attention before closing the presentation. Make sure the fonts you choose are clear and easy to read.

Do you need to consider adding a link? If you add links to your social media accounts, use icons and buttons to make them easy to see. Add a link to each button or icon. By doing this, if you send the PDF slides to people, they can follow the links to your various accounts.

What Should you Remember?

💡 If you take one thing away from this post, it’s to lose the traditional ending slides. Let’s move on from the “Thank you for your attention.” or “Any questions.” slides.

These don’t help you or the audience. Respect them and think about what they should do next. You may be interested to learn 3 Tactics to Free Your Presentation Style to help you connect to your audience.

Illiya Vjestica

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Home Blog Presentation Ideas Key Insights on How To End a Presentation Effectively

Key Insights on How To End a Presentation Effectively

A piece of research by   Ipsos Corporate Firm  titled “Last Impressions Also Count” argues that “our memories can be governed more by  how an experience ends than how it begins .” A lasting final impression can be critical to any presentation, especially as it makes our presentation goals more attainable. We’re covering  how to end a presentation , as it can certainly come through as an earned skill or a craft tailored with years of experience. Yet, we can also argue that performing exceptionally in a presentation is conducting the proper research. So, here’s vital information to help out with the task.

This article goes over popular presentation types; it gives suggestions, defines the benefits and examples of different speech closing approaches, and lines all this information up following each presentation purpose.

We also included references to industry leaders towards the end, hoping a few real-life examples can help you gain valuable insight. Learn from noted speakers and consultants as you resort to SlideModel’s latest presentation templates for your efforts. We’re working together on more successful presentation endings that make a difference!

Table of Content

A presentation’s end is not a recap

The benefits of ending a presentation uniquely, the power of closing in persuasive presentations, informative presentations: the kind set out to convey, call to action presentations: trigger actions or kickoff initiatives, a final word on cta presentations, real-life examples of how to end a presentation, succeeding with an effective presentation’s ending.

We need to debunk a widespread myth to start. That’s why the ending of the presentation calls for an appealing action or content beyond just restating information that the speaker already provided.

A presentation’s end is not a summary of data already given to our audience.  On the contrary, a wrap-up is a perfect time to provide meaningful and valuable facts that trigger the desired response we seek from our audience. Just as important as knowing how to start a presentation , your skills on how to end a PowerPoint presentation will make a difference in the presentation’s performance.

Effective ways to end a presentation stem from truly seeking to accomplish – and excel – at reaching a presentation’s primary objective. And what are the benefits of that?

Considering the benefits of each closing approach, think about the great satisfaction that comes from giving an excellent presentation that ends well. We all intuitively rejoice in that success, regardless of the kind of audience we face. 

That feeling of achievement, when an ending feels right, is not a minor element, and it’s the engine that should drive our best efforts forward. Going for the most recommended way of ending a presentation according to its primary goal and presentation type is one way to ensure we achieve our purpose. 

The main benefit of cleverly unlocking the secret to presentation success is getting the ball rolling on what we set ourselves to achieve . Whether that’s securing a funding round, delivering a final project, presenting a quarterly business review, or other goals; there is no possible way in which handling the best presentation-ending approaches fails to add to making a skilled presenter, improving a brand or business, or positively stirring any academic or commercial context. 

The best part of mastering these skills is the ability to benefit from all of the above time and time again; for any project, idea, or need moving forward.

How to end a PowerPoint Presentation?

PowerPoint Presentations differ by dimensions. They vary not only tied to the diverse reasons people present, but they also separate themselves from one another according to: a- use, b- context, c- industry, and d- purpose. 

We’re focusing on three different types of presentation pillars, which are: 

• Informative
• Calls to action

As you can guess, the speaker’s intent varies throughout these types. Yet, there’s much more to each! Let’s go over each type’s diverse options with examples. 

In 2009,   “The New Rules of Persuasion,”  a journal article published by The Royal Society for Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce, determined that commercial persuasion was missing “the ability to think clearly about behavior goals and the mindset of starting small and growing what works.” Incorporating these thoughts is still equally valid in persuasive presentations today.

What hasn’t changed since, however, is this society’s good reminder that “the potential to persuade is in the hands of millions.” As they stated in that publication, “ordinary people sitting in dorm rooms and garages can compete against the biggest brands and the richest companies.” The proven reality behind that concept can be pretty inspiring.

According to this source, “ the first critical step in designing for persuasion is to select an appropriate target behavior. ” And, for behavior to occur, in their opinion, “three elements must converge at the same moment […]:  Motivation ,  Ability,  and  Trigger .” This theory signals a person is motivated through sensation, anticipation, or belonging when they can perform a particular action. This concept is at the backbone of setting the correct trigger to allow a group of people to react a certain way.

The above is of utmost importance as we seek to gear persuasive efforts. The more insight we get on the matter, the easier it is to define the precise actions that will effectively trigger a certainly required response – in any scenario.

Here are options on how to deliver a final punch in a persuasive presentation during different types of objectives:

Investment presentations

Whenever you seek funding,  that need  should be expressly clear during a pitch. Investors need to know what’s in it for them on a given investment. Highlight what interests them, and add what the  return for the investor  is. Mention dividends, equity, or the return method selected, for instance. Your final ask slide should show the exact amount you’re looking for during this funding stage.

Throughout, explain what an investor’s return on investment (ROI) will be. And make sure you do so according to provable calculations. Here, the goal is to display current figures and future opportunities in your speech.

You mustn’t make up this data. In this setting, presenters are naturally assessed by their ability to stay within real options fully supported by proven and concise reliable information.

Focus on showing an ability to execute and accomplish expected growth. Also, be precise on how you’re using any trusted funds . For that, mention where they’ll be allocated and how you foresee revenue after investing the funds in your idea, product, or company.

Pitch Presentations

Pitches are also another form of persuasive presentation. Presenters are expected to wow in new ways with them, be engaging in their approach, and deliver valuable, market-impacting data. When someone delivers a pitch, it seeks a particular kind of action in return from the audience. Being fully engaged towards a presentation’s end is crucial.

Make sure you give the presentation’s end a Call to Action slide in sales. You’re certainly looking to maximize conversion rates here. Bluntly invite your audience to purchase the product or service you’re selling, and doing so is fair in this context. For example, you can add a QR code or even include an old-fashioned Contact Us button. To generate the QR code, you can use a QR code generator .

According to  Sage Publishing , there are “four types of informative speeches[, which] are definition speeches, demonstration speeches, explanatory speeches, and descriptive speeches.” In business, descriptive speeches are the most common. When we transport these more specifically to the art of presenting, we can think of project presentations, quarterly business reviews, and product launches. In education, the definition and demonstration speeches are the norm, we can think in lectures and research presentations respectively.

As their name suggests, these presentations are meant to inform our audiences of specific content. Or, as  SAGE Flex for Public Speaking  puts it in a document about these kinds of speeches, “the speaker’s general goal is always to inform—or teach—the audience by offering interesting information about a topic in a way that helps the audience remember what they’ve heard.” Remember that as much as possible, you’re looking to, in Sage’s words, give out “information about a topic in a way that’s easy to understand and memorable.” Let’s see how we manage that in the most common informative presentation scenarios mentioned above.

Project Presentations

For projects, presentations should end with an action plan . Ensure the project can keep moving forward after the presentation. The best with these conclusion slides is to define who is responsible for which tasks and the expected date of completion. Aim to do so clearly, so that there are no remaining doubts about stakeholders and duties when the presentation ends. In other words, seek commitment from the team, before stepping out of these meetings. It should be clear to your audience what’s expected next of them.

As an addition, sum up, your problem, solution, and benefits of this project as part of your final message.

Quarterly Business Review Presentations (QBR)

By the end of the presentation type, you would’ve naturally gone over everything that happened during a specific quarter. Therefore, make sure you end this quarterly review with clear objectives on what’s to come for the following term. Be specific on what’s to come.

In doing so, set figures you hope to reach. Give out numbers and be precise in this practice. Having a clear action plan to address new or continuing goals is crucial in this aspect for a recent quarter’s start out of your QBR. Otherwise, we’re missing out on a true QBR’s purpose. According to  Gainsight , “If you go into a QBR without a concrete set of goals and a pathway to achieve them, you’ll only waste everyone’s time. You won’t improve the value of your product or services for your customers. You won’t bolster your company’s image in the eyes of key stakeholders and decision-makers. You won’t better understand your client’s business objectives.” As they put it, “Lock in solid goals for the next quarter (or until your next QBR)” and secure your way forward as the last step in presenting these kinds of data. Visit our guide on  How to Write an Effective Quarterly Business Review  for further tips on this type of presentation.

Research presentations

Your research has come this far! It’s time to close it off with an executive summary.

Include the hypothesis, thesis, and conclusion towards the presentation’s end.

How do you get the audience to recall the main points of all this work? Let this guiding question answer what to insert in your final slide, but seek to reinforce your main findings, key concepts, or valuable insight as much as possible. Support your statements where necessary.

Most commonly, researchers end with credits to the collaborating teams. Consider your main messages for the audience to take home. And tie those with the hypothesis as much as possible.

Product Launch Presentation

Quite simply, please take out the product launch’s roadmap and make it visible for your presentation’s end in this case.

It’s ideal for product launch presentations to stir conversations that get a product moving. Please don’t stick to showcasing the product, but build a narrative around it.

Steve Jobs’ example at the bottom might help guide you with ideas on how to go around this. A key factor is how Apple presentations were based on a precise mix of cutting-edge, revolutionary means of working with technology advancements and a simple human touch.

Elon Musk’s principles are similar. People’s ambitions and dreams are a natural part of that final invitation for consumers or viewers to take action. What will get your audience talking? Seek to make them react.

Lecture for specific classes / educational presentation

When it comes to academic settings, it’s helpful to summarize key points of a presentation while leaving room for questions and answers.

If you’re facing a periodic encounter in a class environment, let students know what’s coming for the next term. For instance, you could title that section “What’s coming next class,” or be creative about how you call for your student body’s attention every time you go over pending items.

If you need to leave homework, list what tasks need to be completed by the audience for the next class.

Another option is to jot down the main learnings from this session or inspire students to come back for the following class with a list of exciting topics. There’s more room for play in this setting than in the others we’ve described thus far.

Harvard Business Review  (HBR) concisely describes the need at the end of a call to action presentation. HBR’s direct piece of advice is that you should “use the last few moments of your presentation to clarify what action [an audience] can take to show their support.” And what’s key to HBR is that you “Also mention your timeframe” as, for them, “a deadline can help to urge [the audience] into action.” Having a clear view of specific timelines is always fruitful for a better grasp of action items.

In her book Resonate,  Nancy Duarte  explains that “No matter how engaging your presentation may be, no audience will act unless you describe a reward that makes it worthwhile. You must clearly articulate the ultimate gain for the audience […] If your call to action asks them to sacrifice their time, money, or ideals, you must be very clear about the payoff.”

Business plan presentations

Here, we need to speak of two different presentation types, one is a  traditional approach , and the second is what we call a  lean approach .

For the traditional business plan presentation, display each internal area call to action. Think of Marketing, Operations, HR, and even budgets as you do so. Your PowerPoint end slide should include the rewards for each of the areas. For example, which will benefit each area when achieving the targets, or how will the company reward its employees when attaining specific goals? Communicating the reward will help each of the responsible entities to trigger action.

On the other hand, for your lean business plan, consider a business model canvas to bring your presentation to an end. 

Job interview presentations

You can undoubtedly feel tons of pressure asking for a specific position. For a great chance of getting that new job, consider closing your case with a  30 60 90 day plan  as a particular hiring date. The employer will see its reward in each of the 30-day milestones.

Also, show off what you’ll bring to the role and how you’ll benefit the company in that period, specifically. Again, to a certain extent, we’re seeking to impress by being offered a position. Your differentiator can help as a wrap-up statement in this case.

Business Model Presentation

The pivot business model fits perfectly here for a presentation’s grand finale. The reward is simple; the business validated a hypothesis, and a new approach has been defined.

Though the setting can be stressful around business model presentations, you can see this as simply letting executives know what the following line of steps will need to be for the business model to be scalable and viable. Take some tension off this purpose by focusing on actions needed moving forward.

Your call to action will center around a clear business model canvas pivot here.

We need to work hard at ending presentations with clear and concise calls to action (CTA) and dare be creative as we’re doing so! Suppose you can manage to give out a specific CTA in a way that’s imaginative, appealing, and even innovative. In that case, you’ll be showing off priceless and unique creative skills that get people talking for years!

Think of  Bill Gates’ releasing mosquitoes  in a TED Talk on malaria, for example. He went that far to get his CTA across. Maybe that’s a bit too bold, but there’s also no limit!

Now that we can rely on a broader understanding of how to conclude a presentation successfully, we’ll top this summary off with real-life examples of great endings to famous speakers’ presentations. These people have done a stellar job at ending their presentations in every case.

We’re also going back to our three main pillars to focus on a practical example for each. You’ll find an excellent example for an informative speech, a persuasive pitch, and a successful investor pitch deck. We’re also expanding on the last item for a guiding idea on ending a pitch directly from Reid Hoffman.

Informational Presentation: A product launch of a phone reinvention

The first is what’s been titled “the best product launch ever.” We’re going back to the  iconic Steve Jobs’ iPhone launch  dated more than a decade ago. You can see how to end a presentation with a quote in this example effectively. The quote resonates with the whole presentation purpose, which was not “selling” the iPhone as a “hardware phone” but as the “hardware” platform for “great software.” Closing with a quote from a famous personality that summarizes the idea was a clever move.

Little words are needed to introduce Steve Jobs as a great speaker who effectively moved the business forward every time he went up on a stage to present a new product. No one has ever been so revolutionary with a calm business spirit that has changed the world! 

Persuasive Presentation: The best pitch deck ever

We’re giving you the perfect example of a great pitch deck for a persuasive kind of presentation. 

Here’s  TechCrunch’s gallery on Uber’s first pitch deck . 

As you can see, the last slide doesn’t just report the status to date on their services; it also accounts for the  following steps moving forward  with a precise date scheduled. 

Check the deck out for a clearer idea of wrapping up a persuasive business presentation. 

Call to Action Presentation: LinkedIn’s Series B pitch deck by Reid Hoffman

As mentioned before,  here’s  an expanded final sendoff! Reid Hoffman is an established entrepreneur. As a venture capitalist and author, he’s earned quite a remarkable record in his career, acting as co-founder and executive chairman of LinkedIn. 

We’re highlighting LinkedIn’s series B pitch deck to Greylock Partners mainly because these slides managed to raise a $10 M funding round. Yet, moreover, we’re doing so because this deck is known to be well-rounded and overall highly successful. 

LinkedIn may be famous now for what it does, but back in 2004, when this deck made a difference, the company wasn’t a leader in a market with lots of attention. As Reid highlights on his website, they had no substantial organic growth or revenue. Yet, they still managed to raise a considerable amount. 

In Reid’s words for his last slide, “The reason we reused this slide from the beginning of the presentation was to indicate the end of presentation while returning to the high line of conceptualizing the business and reminding investors of the value proposition.” In his vision, “You should end on a slide that you want people to be paying attention to,” which he has tied with the recommendation that you “close with your investment thesis,” as well. A final note from him on this last slide of LinkedIn’s winning pitch is that “the end is when you should return to the most fundamental topic to discuss with your investors.” Quite a wrap-up from a stellar VC! Follow the linked site above to read more on the rest of his ending slides if you haven’t ever done so already.

The suggestions above are practical and proven ways to end a presentation effectively. Yet, remember, the real secret is knowing your audience so well you’ll learn how to grasp their attention for your production in the first place.

Focus on the bigger picture and add content to your conclusion slide that’s cohesive to your entire presentation. And then aim to make a lasting final impression that will secure what you need. There is a myriad of ways to achieve that and seek the perfect-suiting one.

Also, be bold if the area calls for it. As you see above, there is no shame, but an actual need to state the precise funding amount you need to make it through a specific stage of funding. Exercise whatever tools you have at your disposal to get the required attention.

Also, being sure about whatever decision you make will only make this an easier road to travel. If your head is transparent about what’s needed, you’ll be more confident to make a convincing case that points your audience in the right direction.

Check out our step-by-step guide on how to make a presentation .

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How to Make a Successful Business Pitch: 9 Tips From Experts

You’ve just had your lunch, and you’re about to get back to work. 

While making your post-lunch tea (or coffee), you can’t stop thinking about being your own boss. 

You wonder if it’s about time for you to turn your side hustle into a full-time business and become an entrepreneur. 

Or perhaps you want to propose the idea of a four-day workweek to your CEO. 

If you want to introduce investors and prospects to your business idea and convince them to take the plunge with you,  you need a strong and persuasive business pitch. 

How to create a persuasive business pitch according to experts 

The good news — it’s possible to craft a convincing and successful business pitch. 

Even better news: This Piktochart business pitch guide shows you how. 

Grab your drink of choice and take notes as we explore the different ways to pitch business ideas (from a sales-style elevator pitch to an innovative workplace pitch), as well as understand what makes a great business pitch. You’ll also get a glimpse into our business pitch templates, and learn expert advice from those who have pitched their way to success (and failure too). 

You can also watch the video below if you don’t have time to go over this guide. It’s also easier to follow along if you sign up for a free Piktochart account and edit the templates yourself (learning by doing).

What is a business pitch? 

A business pitch is a presentation of a business idea to a group of people who can help turn your idea into a reality.

You can pitch to: 

• Investors who can help fund your idea
• Potential customers who will pay for your product or service
• Advocates who will support your idea

In some cases, a business pitch doesn’t have to be all about presenting a new idea. You could be asking for more funding or continued support for an already established business venture. 

Whether through an investment, purchase, or advocacy, a business pitch becomes successful if you can convince people to believe in your idea or pique their interest and get them to learn more. 

Now that you understand what a business pitch is, let’s take a closer look at the different types of business pitches. 

Types of pitches in business

Your business pitch can be narrowed down to the following five types of presentations: 

1. Investor pitch

In this type of business pitch, you present a  persuasive presentation or pitch deck to a group of potential business partners and/or investors. 

Sign up for a free Piktochart account to get started on creating professional-looking pitch deck templates that you can edit in minutes.

An investor business pitch should typically last for 45 minutes . The best practice for this type of pitch is 20-30 minutes of presentation followed by discussion or a Q&A afterward.

Alternatively, business pitch competitions follow a different best practice. These presentations should last around five to 10 minutes and focus on pitching to investors.

Lastly, the most stringent type of business pitch is most commonly referred to as an ‘elevator pitch’, and should only last around 30-60 seconds.

Let’s dive in so you can learn how to make the perfect business pitch!

2. Sales pitch 

The goal of a sales pitch is to answer the question “What’s in it for me?” from the lens of the potential customer. 

The best and most effective salespeople can make a sales pitch in as short as one minute. Also known as the ‘ elevator pitch ‘, this type of business pitch should be able to be delivered in a single elevator ride (30-60 seconds on average). In this format, a short sales pitch should include four key components:

• Your unique product name and category
• The specific problem you are trying to solve
• The innovative solution you offer
• the unique selling point of benefit to your solution

3. Product pitch 

A product pitch is similar to a sales pitch, however, the spotlight should be on the product and/or solution itself. 

For example, a sales pitch for an email automation software will highlight one or two of its benefits. Meanwhile, a product pitch of the same automation software will focus more on its features, how it works, and how you can integrate the software into your existing setup. 

In a product pitch, you should aim to:

• Explain your product or offering clearly and concisely
• Identify and address the target audience and/or industry your product supports
• Specify the problem the aforementioned faces and how your solution can solve it
• Provide a realistic example of your solution in action
• Make sure to use accurate facts backed up by relevant and recent data

4. Job pitch 

If you’re applying for a job or internship and you’re wondering how you can stand out from the crowd (consisting of your peers and other qualified applicants), consider pitching yourself to a prospective employer. 

Applying the same logic used for a sales or product pitch deck; sell yourself!

A job pitch or personal summary pitch should be concise, personalized, and consistent. In a job pitch you should include:

• A brief introduction to you
• An explanation as to why you’re a great fit for the company and role
• Relevant experience and achievements
• Your goals and career aspirations

“It’s not about bragging or showing off — it’s about giving the other person evidence that you can actually do what you say you can do,” assures Starla Sampaco , TV news anchor at KCTS 9 and founder of Career Survival Guide .

5. Workplace pitching 

Do you have an idea or initiative that will help your colleagues and help boost the company’s profitability?  Pitch it internally within your workplace, to your team or boss! 

For example, you can pitch a  remote-first culture  or the four-day workweek to your HR, and/or the rest of the leadership team.

Another workplace pitch example? Maybe you might want to propose the creation of a new role in your team which can help advance your career and address a challenge in the organization at the same time. 

To do this, simply create a pitch deck including your main points, the benefits, and proposed next steps to turn your idea into a reality. Piktochart’s workplace pitch decks can help you get your point across through our workplace templates.

The structure of a successful business pitch 

If creating a business pitch sounds intimidating, the team at Piktochart has your back. 

You can address this worry by making sure that you have a business pitch structure that is sure to succeed, using our tips & templates. 

When you have a formulated pitch deck structure, template, and agenda, you’ll know exactly what you’re going to say next, taking the bulk of the stress out of presenting. Additionally, these best practice presentation structures make your business pitch more memorable to your audience and leave a lasting impression. Statistically, it turns out that people retain structured information up to  40 percent more accurately  than information presented in freeform. 

The WHAC Method

Whether you’re pitching to a group of potential investors or you’re selling real estate, use the WHAC method when structuring your perfect business pitch. 

The WHAC method is introduced in  The 3 Minute Rule   by Brandt Pividic, an award-winning film director and television producer. He wrote the book to detail his experience and tips as he made hundreds of pitches in Hollywood. 

This well-known WHAC method stands for: 

What is it and what do you offer? 

You start your business pitch by answering the questions: what is it, and what do you offer? 

At this point, you share your business plan and quickly outline the problem and solution you offer. For example, let’s say that you want to pitch the idea of having a UX researcher on your product team. 

You list down existing problems and challenges that your team and/or organization are currently experiencing without a dedicated UX researcher. Afterward, you propose your solution — hiring someone who can step in and do user research. 

How does it work? 

Next, explain your proposal. Provide a quick summary of the benefits of your solution. In our example, share how the UX researcher will help the product team accomplish its objectives.

It can be tricky explaining how your business idea works. Figuring out how to deliver this information in an entertaining and simple manner can turn potential investors into partners, as we’ve seen from some of the best startup pitch decks .

Since you don’t have much time and attention spans are short, the key is to boil down how your idea works into a few key points. Explain how it works from a high-level overview and weave this in as part of your compelling story.

Are you sure? 

Once you have provided the solution, the people listening to your elevator pitch are likely saying to themselves, “will it really work?”

This is the point where you have to provide solid proof in your pitch. You can use testimonials, a short case study, or statistics.

You should also mention financial projections in order to leave a positive impression. If your manager or potential investors will provide funding for your idea, they’ll want to know what the ROI is.

Can you do it? 

The final part of your pitch should answer this question.

Now that your audience has heard you talk about the problem, solution, and proof that it works, you need to show them how you’re going to implement the solution. Think of this point as the “actionable” part of your pitch. You can even provide steps to break down how this can be achieved in a certain timeframe.

“Show how you have thought about how to turn your idea into a commercial outcome or true partnership. This is really an opportunity to start or continue building trust and showing that you care about creating real value for the people in the room is the best way to put you on the right foot,” shares Michael Rosenbaum , CEO of Spacer ,  one of the biggest parking marketplaces in the U.S. 

Like any good sales pitch, you need to show how achievable the results are. At this particular stage, you need to tie in any additional information to show what resources or specific and unique skills are required to make it happen.

Being transparent about what’s required can build trust with potential investors.

How to persuade your audience with your business pitch 

Now that you know the best practice structure of a successful business pitch, take note of the following tips to help make your business pitch more interesting, relatable, and most of all, convince your audience to say “yes”. 

1. Understand what your audience wants from you 

It’s standard advice across all facets of industry to “know your audience”.  

However, if you’d like to become better at your business pitches, go the extra mile by understanding what your audience wants from you. 

There’s a  difference between understanding and knowing  your audience. Instead of just  knowing  where your client comes from, try to  understand  their pain points, goals, and motivation. 

How do you do this? 

Talk to them in advance, read about the things they publish online (tweets, blog posts), and understand what excites them. By doing so, you’ll be able to tailor your business pitch to their needs, wants, and preferences. 

For example, if you’re pitching to potential clients and investors who are eco-conscious at the same time, it makes sense to highlight how your idea can positively impact the environment. 

Stephen Keighery , CEO of Home Buyer Louisiana and Founder of Bald Eagle Investments USA, shares this tip when it comes to customizing your pitch to your audience: 

“Learn ahead and research about the company or the client you’ll be pitching to, just be sure that every information you obtain is for public knowledge. You can also observe their behavior and their words during the transaction; and perhaps while pitching, use the jargon they use to establish connection and a favorable impression to them.”

2. Have your elevator pitch ready 

Imagine this. You just bumped into Mark Cuban of Shark Tank at the airport lounge, and you can’t believe that you’re sitting next to him! He looks at you and asks you about yourself and what you do. 

This is when you need your elevator pitch handy! 

The Asana team recommends the following  elements of a good elevator pitch : 

• Introduction
• Value proposition
• CTA (call to action)

You don’t have to follow the exact formula. You can mix it up based on the situation, your personality, and the audience you’re pitching to. 

It’s also worth noting that you might not immediately notice the benefit of your elevator pitch.  Think of it as an opportunity for you to make a great first impression. 

3. Use visual aids

If you have the chance to present beyond the elevator pitch, you should never pitch with a presentation that’s filled with texts, numbers, or endless rows of data. 

As humans, our  brains are hardwired to love visuals   — from photographs to infographics to icons. 

When pitching an idea, product, or service, get your audience’s attention (and support!) by telling a story visually and adding a bit of creativity to your PowerPoint slides. 

Images trigger empathy  which in turn can make your audience understand your pitch better. 

The more they understand your idea, the greater the likelihood of angel investors, venture capitalists, and potential customers supporting or advocating for you. 

Another added benefit is that  visuals can elicit emotions  and emotions play an important role in decision-making. 

Watch these 10 legendary pitch decks for visual inspiration.

4. Explain your business model clearly

When pitching to investors, imagine them asking, “what’s in it for me?”. 

After learning about how your idea can help solve a problem, they’re interested in how you’re going to advertise to your target market and generate revenue consistently. 

Johannes Larsson , CEO of  Financer.com  explains that being able to articulate their business model was what made them successful in getting business partners on board. 

“We were relatively unknown in the industry, so it took us quite a few tries before we signed our first deal. After that, however, things became much easier — not just because we were building up a name for ourselves but also because we improved our approach. We learned that being able to clearly explain our business model was the key to earning potential partners’ trust. Once we mastered that, we focused on providing proof of fruitful partnerships. It was obvious that this information was what our affiliates cared about, so we made sure to gather evidence of our success and present it in every pitch.”

5. Weave your passion or story with your pitch

Your business pitch doesn’t have to sound like you’re reading it straight from a script that someone else wrote for you. 

When appropriate, add a bit of your personal touch.  In short, humanize your pitch and slide deck. 

It will not only improve your relatability factor but also make you feel less nervous. After all, you’re talking about something that you’re passionate about. 

Take it from Debbie Chew, an SEO Specialist at  Dialpad .

“As part of my hiring process, I had to pitch a marketing campaign idea. I started brainstorming a list of potential ideas and their projected impact to decide which one to go with. While doing this, one idea kept coming back to me, and I realized I was most passionate about pitching a campaign related to video meetings. People now spend so much of their time in video meetings, but how much time? And how can we have better meetings? So I built my pitch around this concept and really enjoyed pitching my idea (which also helped me feel less nervous),” shares Chew.  If you can share a personal story or something you’re passionate about in your pitch — while also tying it back to your audience — they won’t forget it. And yes, I got the job!” 

6. Put the spotlight on benefits

Once you have your audience’s attention, circle back to how your product or service will address customer needs and benefit business partners. 

For  Carsten Schaefer  of  Trust.io , it boils down to being able to share the benefits of your product or service from the get-go. 

“When I first had to get funding for my product, I had to deliver a sales pitch in front of a board of investors. It didn’t succeed, and I learned a lot from it. “Investors want cold, hard facts and the benefits to the end-user. In the end, they want to see if it makes money for them or not. I’m glad I failed because I learned that for an effective sales pitch, you really need to put yourself in the shoes of someone thinking about profit and pure common sense from a business perspective.

7. Highlight why you’re different from the competition

Your business pitch is also an opportunity for you to explain what sets you apart from other businesses or organizations, and essentially explain your unique selling point. What makes your idea different? Why is your business model unique? 

It also helps to address relevant competition head-on in your pitch. For  Brogan Renshaw  of Firewire Digital, this tactic shows clients and investors that you’re an expert on what you are talking about, giving them confidence in your offering.

“I notice that this is a part of my business pitches that completely wins the client over because it answers their questions and concerns on the market position of competitors,” says Renshaw. 

8. Share the story behind your team

Investors and business partners are also curious about the people, employees, as well as the team behind your idea. When creating this presentation slide in your pitch deck, don’t forget to include information highlighting your team and each team member’s relevant skills. 

“Investors want to know whether the founders have worked together before, if your startup’s early hires have complementary skill sets, and whether you’ll be flexible, open-minded, and willing to embrace different perspectives, “  writes  Lauren Landry ,  associate director of marketing and communications for Harvard Business School Online.

9. Have an impressive one-pager

As its name implies, a one-pager is a one-page document outlining your business plan and mission. Think of it as a business brochure . With Piktochart’s online brochure maker , you can easily create one within minutes.

Imagine that an investor or client is too busy to listen to your pitch, you can simply email or hand out your one-pager; your entire business pitch in an easy-to-digest format.  

According to Greg Cullen , Sr. Account Executive at Dialpad, your one-pager should have these three components: 

• What is the business pain?
• How the solution you’re positioning can solve said business pain
• The value of the solution accompanied by the resulting positive impact by moving forward with the platform

“This one-pager condenses everything that is important succinctly into an easy-to-digest easy to digest format for everyone to read – and it ensures that all parties are on the same page. And most importantly, this can be used by the champion you’re working with to sell this internally, whether it’s to the CEO, procurement, etc. The better you make this one-pager, the better the result you’ll have,” recommends Cullen. 

Get funding, win clients, and gain support with Piktochart’s pitch deck creator 

While it may be nerve-wracking, particularly if it’s the first time that you’re creating a business pitch, use the expert tips above as your guideposts for a successful pitch. 

You’ll eventually find your very own unique style and approach to business pitching as you do it more frequently.

If you need help creating any type of business or personal pitch deck, create your pitch deck quickly with Piktochart’s pitch deck creator. The first step is to get your free Piktochart account .

Want additional insight on how to better prepare and deliver a business pitch that you’ll be presenting online? Go to our guide to stress-free, engaging Zoom presentations .

We’re rooting for you and your business!

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Mastering the Craft: Presentation Design Strategies From a Pro

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How To End A Pitch Deck Presentation

by Alejandro Cremades

How to end a pitch deck presentation? What’s the best way to end your pitch to leave a lasting impression on investors?

There have been volumes of new information coming out on how to get started with the right framework for a winning pitch deck, as well as how to get started trying to find investors to fund your startup.

In comparison, there seems to be almost little to nothing about how to finish a pitch deck presentation strong.

So, how do you end a pitch?

*FREE DOWNLOAD*

The ultimate guide to pitch decks.

Here is the content that we will cover in this post. Let’s get started.

• 1. It’s All About A Strong Finish
• 2. What’s The Purpose Of A Pitch Deck Presentation?
• 3. Set It Up Well From The Start
• 4. Use A Strong Recap
• 5. Open Up A Q&A Session
• 6. A Strong Closing Slide
• 7. Ask For The Sale
• 8. Be Clear About What You Want
• 9. Explain The Fit
• 10. Explain Why Now Is So Important
• 11. Ask For Advice
• 12. Get A Commitment
• 13. Anticipate The Sale
• 14. Follow Up, Follow Up, Follow Up
• 15. Make Sure That You Are Really Listening
• 16. Get Professional Help

It’s All About A Strong Finish

A great start is important. First impressions really do matter.

They can definitely set up and influence the rest of this opportunity. Though how you finish is even more important.

You can start out fantastically, but if you bomb at the close it is all for nothing.

How you end your deck and presentation can make all of the difference in the outcome of that pitch.

In fact, you might get off to a rocky start, but be able to finish even better.

You might be late to the pitch, spill coffee on yourself on the way there, have your tech glitch and laptop and backup crash , or even stutter and lose your place mid-pitch.

With the right ending, you can still nail it and get the funding. Don’t underestimate the importance and power of the end of your pitch.

What’s The Purpose Of A Pitch Deck Presentation?

Always start with the end in mind.

Crafting a pitch and deck should not just be about filling in blanks or other formats because you think you are supposed to or saw someone else do it that way.

In fact, instead of working chronologically focusing only on your first slide and introduction through to the end, and end up trying to squeeze in or rush the finish, you might benefit from looking at it in reverse order.

What is the outcome you really want to see most from this presentation?

Reverse engineer that from your close backward to ensure you have all the bases covered to lead to that.

It’s also worth considering your second or third ideal outcomes from this as well to set those up as options.

What are your priorities? Are they:

• Learning as much as you can from your audience?
• Getting the money? And if so what for?
• Enrolling more experienced people as backers and ambassadors ?
• Increasing your credibility and visibility?
• Letting the world know about your product?

In many cases funding is the primary driver. Yet, in many scenarios, the outcome of a pitch deck being presented is not getting a check handed to you on the spot.

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If you walk out with a signed, proposed term sheet, that is often as close to walking out with a check as you’ll get in most scenarios.

Though it is always good to believe and think big and bold too. Still, if the ideal outcome is a meeting or term sheet, that is what everything should be focused on achieving.

So you see, figuring out how to end a pitch deck presentation is critical for success.

Set It Up Well From The Start

Fundraising is about strategy. We’ve already touched on reverse engineering your pitch deck and presentation.

So, from beginning to end your deck and verbal pitch should be setting up a smooth finish.

From the introduction through to your closing slide your visuals, words, tone, and body language should all be leaving your audience with the same outcome in mind as you.

The battle is won before you even get to the close or ask.

This is done through subconscious branding with your color and font choices . How you present your team, and your financial projections.

Your slides should be checking off the investors’ boxes one by one, and overcoming their objections in advance.

In their minds it should be “check, check, check, okay we better get in and fund this thing before someone else does. We need to get them in for a real meeting to finalize the details and lock this up asap.”

That’s the goal to have in mind when planning how to end a pitch deck presentation.

Whether you’re planning a robust conclusion at the start or developing the final slide as you start at the top, you’ll need to know how to create a pitch deck. Check out this video I have created explaining how it’s done.

Use A Strong Recap

A pitch audience is only going to be able to remember one to three things from your presentation. That’s it.

Not only does this reinforce the importance of using a very short deck of slides and verbal pitch, but staying focused on those ones to three major points that will pivot them to taking the action you want them to.

Use your wrap-up time to quickly recap those stand-out points that put you ahead of the rest of the crowd.

Be sure you’ve covered the essentials for making a sale. The what, who, why, and why right now.

Open Up A Q&A Session

If you’ve been disciplined with your timing then you should have already budgeted time for questions and answers.

This is just as, if not more essential than the time you spend actively pitching and selling. There are three main purposes to the Q&A time.

• Learning from your audience and what is really important to them
• Overcoming their objections on the spot
• Building personal rapport, likability, and trust

Before walking into any pitch presentation you should already have a list of the most common questions your investors are going to ask.

As well as your answers and rebuttals to any outstanding objections.

A Strong Closing Slide

It is common to either have the financial ask  or a thank you as the last slide.

These are both acceptable options. Though it is probably most important to ensure you have your contact information prominently displayed on your final pitch deck slide.

Someone in your audience may have to rush out and leave. They could be in the back and unable to hear you well.

Or they may want to follow up privately. Whatever the case, having your contact information big and front and center means it can be captured with a screenshot, snapped with a mobile phone camera, or jotted down in a hurry.

It is also super easy for them to find your contact information if they have a link to your pitch deck hosted online.

The last thing you want to happen here is to fail simply because the convinced investors who really wanted to invest in your startup didn’t have your contact info handy.

That would be tragic. Especially, if they fund your competition instead, just due to this one factor.

Make sure to add this information when working out how to end a pitch deck presentation.

Ask For The Sale

You’ve got to ask for the sale. Everyone in the room knows the purpose of your pitching is to raise money.

They are there to invest their money that is burning a hole in their pockets. Be sure to ask for the sale.

Far too often in both formal and casual sales settings from car dealerships to retail stores, websites, and social and networking the bulk of sales are missed because of a lack of call to action.

You miss all of the shots you don’t take. Be sure to end your pitch deck presentation with a strong call to action and to buy in.

Be Clear About What You Want

Your pitch deck presentation should make it pretty clear how much money you need for your venture, as well as any other resources and help you are seeking.

However, you also need to end your pitch by being clear about what you want them to do as the next step.

This applies to having emailed out your pitch deck, as well as presenting it live in person or online .

What’s the next step they should take right now? Is it to send you funds on the spot?

Is it to use your calendar link to set an appointment for a more private investor meeting?

Or is it to simply pick up the phone, email, or text you? Be sure about the action you’re expecting when figuring out how to end a pitch deck presentation.

Explain The Fit

There are countless investment opportunities for startup investors, as well as sources of financing for entrepreneurs.

What makes the difference is the alignment and fit between a specific set of investors and founders.

Explain why you are the best fit, and how you are aligned better than the other options. From your own research, why have you chosen them as investment partners over others?

This can be more important than the amount you are raising, the terms of funding, and even the product.

Explain Why Now Is So Important

There are endless nice business ideas and investment opportunities. The difference between those that are just nice, and those that investors will take action on is the ability to confer a sense of urgency, and why this is the moment they must act.

This may be market timing, or your round becoming oversubscribed. Show them the pain of failing to act right now.

Ask For Advice

If you are afraid to ask for the sale or don’t feel your pitch has gone well, then ask for their advice. Most people like to share their opinions and to help.

Ask open-ended questions to get their feedback. Catalog that data and use it to tweak and improve your venture, pitch deck, and presentation for your next meeting.

Keep in mind that in fundraising storytelling is everything. In this regard for a winning pitch deck to help you here, take a look at the template created by Silicon Valley legend, Peter Thiel ( see it here ) that I recently covered. Thiel was the first angel investor in Facebook with a $500K check that turned into more than $1 billion in cash.

Remember to unlock the pitch deck template that is being used by founders around the world to raise millions below.

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Get A Commitment

It is easy for people to say that they like your invention or mission, and will buy or invest. Nailing them down to actually doing it can be something entirely different.

Don’t just take feeble and vague compliments. Don’t leave without a specific commitment to taking the next step.

That may be as bold as wiring you a certain amount of funds by 11 am on Monday morning, setting a follow-up call for tomorrow afternoon at 4 pm, or an investor meeting with other partners next Wednesday at 3 pm at their office.

Make sure to snag that commitment when working out how to end a pitch deck presentation.

Anticipate The Sale

If you are doubting yourself, your company, and your presentation it is going to show up in your pitch and closing.

It is going to be weak. You will self-sabotage yourself with your own words and body language.

Instead, exude confidence in having closed the deal. The next step is just nailing down the specifics or the mechanics of sending the funding and executing the paperwork.

Your attitude and projected confidence will make all of the difference in getting the results you really want.

Follow Up, Follow Up, Follow Up

90% of selling is in the follow-up. Get those commitments and then follow through.

Show up on time for those calls and meetings and with your updates or answers to questions, you said you would provide.

You have nothing to lose by continually following up until you get a yes.

In fact, the one difference between getting funded or not may be the startup that follows up that one more time after their competition gives up.

Make Sure That You Are Really Listening

Typically, the number one thing standing between you and the money your startup venture needs is you listening.

Investors will tell you what they want and how to get their money, or at least give you clues at a minimum. At least if you really listen.

Get Professional Help

If you are presenting and still coming up empty-handed, or just don’t want to blow important investment opportunities and presentations, invest in expert help.

It can pay the best dividends of anything you’ll do. It will show investors that you are serious about doing the best with their money too.

This can include getting pro copywriting help with your pitch script and supporting materials, expert deck design, and getting a pitch coach to help you with your verbal delivery.

You may find interesting as well our free library of business templates. There you will find every single template you will need when building and scaling your business completely for free. See it here .

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By Sophie Lizard

7 Winning Ways to End Your Pitch, Query or LOI

Do you know what editors and potential clients do when they reach the end of your email?

You should.

How? Because they should be doing whatever you just told them to do!

The process of winning new clients through direct marketing is simple:

• Identify your ideal clients
• Get the right contact information
• Send them a message to introduce yourself as a freelance blogger
• If you’ve got an interesting idea for their blog, give them a brief description or outline at the same time
• They send you a message back if they’re interested (and the nicest people get back to you even if they’re not interested)

Do you see the yawning abyss there between Step 4 and Step 5?

That’s where you forgot to make shit happen .

Write Your Happy Ending

It’s not just you.

More than half of the bloggers I mentor say that they don’t know how to close an email when they’re seeking work.

If you don’t know how to close the email, then you don’t know how to close the deal .

Whether you think of your message as a pitch, a query or an LOI (letter of introduction), you need to include a call to action. So *ta-da!* here’s a list of successful ways to wind up your email…

1: “Does that suit your needs and budget?”

This is one of my favourite ways to wrap up a proposal (a service offer that includes pricing information). It’s straightforward, practical, and prompts the prospect to let me know if there’s anything they’d like me to change about the proposal –vital information for me if I want to win the gig.

2: “What do you think? Shall I send you a draft?”

This works well for guest post pitches as it’s low pressure, yet direct and focused on the recipient’s opinion.

3: “Shall I send you a more detailed proposal?”

If you’re emailing a potential client to outline what you can do for them, this is a good way to get a response from anyone who’s curious about your services or your rates.

4: “May I write this post for you?”

Keeping it this simple often works well at the end of a detailed, well-researched query.

5: “Let me know if you’re interested in any of these ideas and I’d be happy to write up a fully-fleshed pitch for you.”

Linda Formichelli suggests this call to action for hybrid query/LOI messages that include only brief descriptions of your ideas.

6: “If that sounds like a good fit for your blog, hit reply and let me know.”

An informal approach like this means you can be even more specific in your call to action, without sounding like a cheesy salesperson. Instead of just asking a question or saying “let me know”, your chatty “hit reply” tells the recipient exactly what you’d like them to do next.

7: “May I send you some clips?”

This is one of Carol Tice’s  tips for a winning LOI , because it gives your prospect a question that’s easy to say yes to.

Now, I don’t know if you remember the Underpants Gnomes from South Park… so here’s a distracting video. Don’t worry, it’s only 10 seconds long.

Sound familiar? “Phase 1: Send email. Phase 2: ??? Phase 3: Profit.”

If you don’t know what you want your prospect to do, then they don’t know either. 

Figure out the one thing you’d most like them to do. What will increase your chance of winning this gig?

It can be as simple as getting your prospect’s permission to send them something more, or something more complex like inviting them to Skype with you. That’s your call; research your prospects and try to find out what’s most likely to get a favourable response.

Now you know what you want them to do. So at the end of your email…

Then add your regards, thanks, or whatever signoff you normally use, and your name.

That’s it. Your email’s all wrapped up like bait on a hook a lovely gift with a bow on top. 😉

Featured image: Theresa Thompson

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About Sophie Lizard

Founder of Be a Freelance Blogger, creator of the free Ultimate List of Better-Paid Blogging Gigs and the Freelance Blogger's Client Hunting Masterclass . Hello!

June 9, 2013 at 4:49 pm

Your timing with this is so perfect! I just began Linda Formacelli’s “Writing for Magazines” course today. Nothing like being in the right place at the right time. I will add this to my course info.

Thanks for the reminder that the ending is the last thing readers see and so it had better be damn good. It is so easy to spend so much time on the lede and the rest of the pitch that the ending becomes an afterthought. Seems so obvious now that you’ve pointed it out:)

June 9, 2013 at 5:34 pm

Yep, that call to action is vital. The stronger it is, the better your chance of getting a reply, so don’t leave the recipient in any doubt about what to do next!

June 9, 2013 at 4:59 pm

What I like here, Sophie, is the fact that nearly all of your call-to-action suggestions are questions.

People pretty well feel obliged to answer if you them ask a question.

And because most of the above are also closed questions, requiring little more than a yes or no, you’re making it a doodle for your prospect to take things further.

So, too true: Ask them!

And make it a closed question while you’re at it.

June 9, 2013 at 5:37 pm

Exactly –if all they need to do is say “Yes, go ahead” then you’ve made it easy on them *and* guided them into the specific next step you want.

June 14, 2013 at 5:32 am

Yes, I too agree that clients often respond to close questions because it saves their time and they don’t bother that much while replying to such closed call to action letters.

Now, when it comes to pitching a prospective client then I must say Sophie that I love the very 1st call that you have suggested and it really works often – “Does that suit your needs and budget?”

The best thing about this call is that there is always a scope for negotiation about the rates and negotiation means that chances for winning a project increases manifold provided someone knows how to win negotiations in self favor without losing client.

In fact I have won lots of good clients through negotiation and all the rate deal was in my favor and I have even wrote some tips too on effective negotiation on my blog.

But the very important step of triggering these process is knowing the proper way of – how to close your pitch effectively to make the client say YES and Sophie, you really deserve more than thanks for sharing lots of effective ways that will help every freelancer.

Thanks again

June 9, 2013 at 5:09 pm

Great post and great examples of CTAs to close an email with! Bonus points for the South Park reference…that’s one of my all time favorite episodes. I *love* the gnomes “plan”!!!

June 9, 2013 at 5:39 pm

South Park is the bomb for random-but-true lessons in life and business. 😀

June 9, 2013 at 5:47 pm

Sophie, I must say this is a very useful article. While writing pitches, I usually use points 1, 2 and 6 . Most of the times, the person replies in positive tone.

June 9, 2013 at 9:06 pm

Glad to hear it! If you’re skilled at nudging your prospects into action, then you’ll rarely be short of work.

June 9, 2013 at 6:09 pm

Good post. I’ve used #7 for years and just about every response I get asks to see clips. I like 1 and 6 too. I’m trying to think up a way I can incorporate the 3 of them into the final couple sentences of my email. Hmmm. Gave me something to think about today!

June 9, 2013 at 9:01 pm

Ooh, love to hear what kind of triple-slam closers you come up with!

June 9, 2013 at 6:29 pm

This post is gold! Thanks Sophie. Making it easy to say yes = half the battle in closing the deal, right?

Right, Esther. Make *everything* as easy on your prospect as you can, and they’ll keep hiring you time after time. 😉

June 9, 2013 at 8:34 pm

Thanks for the mention, Sophie! But that tagline really originates with Linda Formichelli of The Renegade Writer.

June 9, 2013 at 8:58 pm

Thanks, Carol – I saw that you both suggested it in different blog posts, but I didn’t know which of you came up with it first. Linda kicks query ass!

June 10, 2013 at 2:32 am

Thanks, Carol, and thanks to you, Sophie, for the mention!

June 9, 2013 at 10:00 pm

Thank you for this, Sophie. It’s exactly what I needed. I use LOIs a lot in my marketing and the one thing I always struggle with is how to close the email. Now I can go back to my template and tweak it this week. 🙂

June 10, 2013 at 8:16 am

You’re welcome, Savannah. If you struggle with the closing, that means you’re over-thinking it. Sometimes the best thing to do is 1) step away from the email so that you’re not fretting over your words anymore 2) say aloud, “All I want you to do is…” and finish the sentence as quickly and simply as you can. For example, “…agree to read a full draft,” or “…confirm your budget will cover this.” 3) take the second part of what you just said and put it at the end of your email, tweaking the wording to keep it clear and polite

June 10, 2014 at 8:22 pm

Thanks for that specific “how to write your CTA” response, Sophie! I’m a champion over-thinker, and “step back and fill in your own blank” is a great end-around for it! 🙂

June 10, 2014 at 10:50 pm

You’re welcome! “Workaround” ought to be my middle name. I have a million silly tricks for getting past these mental blockages. 😉

June 9, 2013 at 11:55 pm

Your blog post confirms two universal truths, Sophie:

1. The simplest solutions are usually the best ones. 2. The easiest way to get what you want is to ask for it.

Having said the above, let me say this:

Even if we do close properly, some editors will go out of their way to leave us hanging. Just because they can.

There will always be rude and unprofessional people in the world who choose not to respond no matter what we do. But that’s no reason for us to conduct ourselves that way. How we do what we do says the most about us as freelance writers. Clear, concise and straight-to-the-point calls to action show decision makers that we know what we want and how to get it. A great way to prove that is by posing a simple question that requires a simple answer.

So ask and ye shall receive. But if you don’t ask, chances are pretty good that editors will give you what you didn’t ask for…

Stellar job as always, Sophie! 🙂

June 11, 2013 at 12:18 pm

Yep, editors are human. They just want to know what you’ve got and what it’s going to do for them!

June 10, 2013 at 12:12 am

Great tips, Sophie! Thanks for sharing.

You’re welcome, Larry. 🙂

June 10, 2013 at 12:42 am

Being honest about it Sophie, when I sent you my query, I just went ahead and asked you–Do you like this idea?

Then I attached my simple outline.

This was my call to action.–“Do you like this idea?”

Question: May I know why you allowed me to guest post on your blog?

[Dying to know your answer.:)]

June 11, 2013 at 12:24 pm

Because I liked your idea, Anthony. 😉

It was a good, low-pressure call to action: you weren’t asking me to give you anything more than a “yes, that sounds interesting”, and I wanted to see what you’d make of the idea.

Plus I’d only seen one post before that linked Gangnam Style with freelance writing attitude [that was on Carol Tice’s blog] so it was a relatively unique post rather than a generic “10 reasons to become a freelance writer” type of pitch. Like you said in the post, being different enough to stand out is important!

June 11, 2013 at 2:10 pm

Thanks Sophie! Now the reasons are clear to me. I can go and apply those principles I have used on my query. I’m positive, I’ll have bigger chances of clinching more opportunities to guest post on other big blogs.

Again, thanks for the awesome break.:)

June 10, 2013 at 4:56 am

Great advice! As someone who has spent many (many) years coaching salespeople, I’ve always said that if you’ve done all the right things throughout the process, the close should be a simple, non-event at the end. A logical next step of the process.

And as you said above… “Keeping it this simple often works well at the end of a detailed, well-researched query.”

You’ve given seven straight-forward ways to “just ask” at the end of a pitch. And the South Park clip made me laugh out loud – which is weird because I’m sitting here all alone. 🙂

June 11, 2013 at 12:46 pm

Thanks! As someone who’s learned by trial and error how to sell my services, it’s good to hear a sales pro supports my thinking.

P.S. The video is a test, Gary. You passed. 😉

June 10, 2013 at 5:43 am

Sophie, your posts always seem so timely. Great stuff here!

I find when I’m deciding how to end a pitch, I sum up what I was trying to accomplish in writing the pitch in the first place. I simply ask, “Are you interested? Do you want it? Can I send it? Does this sound good to you?” I ask myself, “What do you want to know?” and then I ask. Kind of like the tips in this post. 🙂

Always great stuff!

June 11, 2013 at 12:48 pm

Keep on doing that, Leslie, and you’ll be fine. You’re a natural closer!

June 10, 2013 at 8:06 am

Such great examples. I think we sometimes feel like we have to be clever or crafty when a simple, direct question works the best. I follow this practice in the rest of my life, now I just need to use it in my work life…thanks for the reminder.

Clear and easy beats clever. Every time. And you’re welcome!

June 10, 2013 at 10:23 am

When I study a good resource on how to send a great query, I pay a lot of attention to how to finish the email, and I have learned some nice tips. But I really like it that you’ve dedicated an entire post to it, because “writer’s block” does tend to creep up right towards the end. Thanks for this one!!! 🙂

June 11, 2013 at 4:44 pm

I know how that goes! It’s one of the most common problems people without sales experience have when they start trying to market freelance services.

June 10, 2013 at 10:29 am

I think there are three widely acclaimed approaches for writing last sentence in your marketing email; Offering something further Prompting to take decision Giving an impression that recipient will buy the product (it is quite tricky)

June 11, 2013 at 4:45 pm

Thanks Edson–love to hear more about how you tackle that third point!

June 10, 2013 at 3:07 pm

Hello Sophie, Thanks so much for this useful post. Often times I believe I have lost many opportunities because I failed to end my blog post or pitch the way I should have ended it. One of the major actions i will start implementing in my emails, posts and other communications is to concluded in a way that will compel my audience to take an action.

June 11, 2013 at 5:26 pm

Excellent, Joseph. Hope you’ll share your success stories with us!

June 10, 2013 at 7:32 pm

Thx so much, Sophie! These are wonderful examples, and this is the piece of the LOI or query that I often struggle with the most. My husband is always telling me that I stink at ‘asking for the sale’ — these closers will be great to help me do that eloquently and effectively. Thx!

June 11, 2013 at 5:30 pm

You’re welcome, Lori! Just think of it like you’re serving them tea and cake. 🙂 Find out what they like and then offer it to them without pressure (on you or them).

June 10, 2013 at 8:05 pm

I try to make my closing not just as a call to action, but also personalized for the magazine/website/business I’m interested in. For example, when I pitched print gaming trade magazines, I ended with “If you’re interested, I can send you some clips as fast as Mario zooms around the track in a cart.”

I didn’t do the work to see if it was an effective approach, but I’d say that with every 10 LOIs I sent out, I got at least 3 responses telling me “we don’t have room,” “we’ll keep your info,” or “yes, here’s an assignment.”

June 11, 2013 at 5:31 pm

Nice idea, Bree! I might give that a try.

June 10, 2013 at 11:42 pm

These are awesome ideas — I never really thought about how to “close” my email to people I’m trying to pitch even though I teach a writing class and always tell them to make sure they do a call to action in their cover letters.

June 11, 2013 at 5:33 pm

It’s always easier to spot other people’s weaknesses than our own, MaryBeth. 😉 That’s what makes your writer friends so invaluable!

June 11, 2013 at 3:04 am

These are great points Sophie. You definitely need a call to action at the end of every email. Your pitch is a marketing message and needs to be treated as such! I usually offer my contact information and suggest a Skype conversation or phone call to discuss in more detail.

June 13, 2013 at 11:53 pm

Live communication is always good if you can get it. You often have a better chance of winning the gig if you’ve spoken with the person doing the hiring, instead of just emailing them. Sounds like you’ve got this one nailed!

June 11, 2013 at 12:14 pm

Thanks so much for this, Sophie. Something so simple and obvious – yet so important. I can see that I’ve not always been super clear with my pitches and I’m sure this advice will help.

I’m going to check out Danny’s and Carol’s courses as well. Having just made the transition to full-time blogger and musician, I need all the help I can get on productivity! 🙂

June 14, 2013 at 2:18 am

Thanks, Leanne! Check out LiveHacked and Lifehack for a bunch of productivity tips (for writers, and for life in general). They’re good people.

June 14, 2013 at 2:20 pm

Good advice, Sophie. I am terrible at calls to action, both in pitches and in posts. I suppose something in me rebels at the idea of telling people what to do. But I agree, it’s so much more effective, and the way people read/skim online, they need something clear and unambiguous. I usually end with something vague like “I look forward to hearing from you”, but I’ll aim to be more direct next time!

June 15, 2013 at 6:18 pm

Glad to hear it, Andrew. 🙂 It’s much more effective to ask than to hope…

June 17, 2013 at 1:16 pm

These tips are really amazing and it is important for us to have a happy ending instead of losing the readers. Thanks for sharing.

July 8, 2013 at 5:10 pm

I have been referring back to this post repeatedly. Very helpful. P.S. Soon, I will have to track which ending was most helpful in landing assignments

July 17, 2013 at 7:20 am

Glad you found it so useful, Larry! 🙂

I have a ton of BAFB posts bookmarked as well. They’re timeless!

Thank you for commenting.

December 24, 2013 at 7:29 am

Amazing closings. I have chose a few that I would like to try out. I have been asking for a posting time frame at the end: Please let me know if you have time in your posting schedule to publish this article in the next week or two?

It has been working 🙂

January 14, 2014 at 2:27 am

I agree that the ending is as important as the rest of the query. In many ways it summarizes the reason for the query; which, in the form of a question, prods a reply from the potential client.

September 6, 2015 at 9:50 pm

Excellent tips, great post – like all BAFB posts, of course 🙂 I used #6 a while ago in an email and it helped land me an interview for the blogging job the same day (they replied 2 hrs later) 🙂

May 5, 2016 at 10:03 am

I find this post really helpful as getting better at queries/LOI’s is one of my main focuses right now, and this makes it so clear. Well done.

I couldn’t help but get distracted and start laughing at the Southpark scene, though. I’ve been referencing that scene randomly for however many years its been since the episode first aired. Any situation where I have an idea and outcome but no idea how to get there… I recite the 3 phases. Hahaha. 😉

June 6, 2016 at 5:47 pm

Thank you Sophie, I never thought of the ending as a continuation. I would have used, ” thank you for your time.” I realize now that would be an ending in itself. You options keep the conversation going.

It looks like there hasn’t been a response to these comments in a while. I want to respond to them anyway. I need to get in the habit of writing and actually hitting post.

Good luck to us all, Sandi

June 22, 2019 at 8:04 pm

death of porn

September 3, 2022 at 6:56 am

I wonder why such simple things are made so complicated. Is it needed? Pitching has become a model, robot-like. Pitching turned out to be some kind of trick; editors know it and like it. Otherwise, they would not feel so important. All these examples are nothing but puffing editors’ egos. And the readers they claim to care so much about are their last concern.

Like what you're reading?

How to create a successful pitch presentation

Get your team on prezi – watch this on demand video.

Anete Ezera December 18, 2023

When it comes to startups and entrepreneurs, getting that first big deal can be tricky. It can be hard to put your business idea forward in a way that’s going to convince potential investors or partners. This is where pitch deck presentations come in handy as they are often short and precise. The goal is to explain your idea in a way that gets straight to the point and is easy to understand. These quick, punchy presentations are critical for those looking to make a strong first impression and secure funding for their business venture. Let’s talk about what a pitch presentation is and how you can create one with the help of Prezi. 

What is a pitch presentation? 

To get a better understanding of what a pitch presentation really is, let’s look at some of the important elements that make one: 

Conciseness: It’s typically short, usually 10-20 slides. This fast pace enables the presenter to captivate the audience and maintain attention. 

Clarity: The aim is to keep the content clear and straightforward, avoiding complicated jargon so that the message is understood. 

Powerful storytelling: It will often tell an interesting story about the problem being solved, the solution offered, and the potential market opportunity. 

Key information: Because of its fast-paced nature, it will often be packed with vital information like the business model, financial projections, and the unique value proposition of the product or service being pitched. 

Appealing visuals: Like other styles of presentation, having visuals that can draw in the audience is a must. Pitch deck presentations will often use graphics and minimal text to convey information better. 

To get a visual understanding of what a pitch presentation is, explore the following pitch presentation:

The evolution of pitch presentations: a look back and ahead

Ever wondered how pitch presentations became such a big deal? They started as simple PowerPoint slides but have evolved into something much more dynamic. This journey reflects changes in business, technology, and what investors look for. In the early days, pitch decks were pretty straightforward – just a few slides outlining a business idea. But as technology advanced, so did the expectations. Now, we see pitch presentations with interactive elements, attractive visuals, and even storytelling elements. This evolution shows how we’ve learned to communicate complex ideas more effectively. Understanding this history helps us understand how pitch decks have evolved into what they are today. 

Is a pitch deck the right presentation style for me? 

A pitch deck is perfect if you’re looking to present a business idea, especially if you’re aiming to attract investors or partners. It’s designed to be concise yet impactful, focusing on the key aspects of your business or project. Think of it as showcasing your business- you’ve got a limited amount of time to make a strong impression. So, if you’re in the early stages of a startup, seeking funding, or trying to win over some stakeholders with a clear, compelling story about your business or idea, a pitch presentation could be just what you need.

People who might also benefit from pitch presentations 

Pitch presentations are a versatile tool that can greatly benefit a wide range of individuals and organizations. We’ve discussed the role of pitch decks for startups and entrepreneurs, so let’s look at some other instances where these presentations might be particularly useful: 

• Business executives: Established business owners can use pitch decks to propose new projects or strategies to stakeholders, boards, and investors. 
• Sales and marketing professionals: To pitch products or services to potential clients or partners, highlighting their unique selling points.
• Non-profit organizations: For presenting their mission, impact, and funding needs to donors, sponsors, or grant agencies.
• Researchers and academics: To secure funding or collaboration for research projects, especially when presenting to funding bodies or at academic conferences.
• Inventors and innovators: To attract investors, partners, or attention to their new inventions or innovations. 
• Freelancers and consultants: To pitch their services and unique value proposition to potential clients or agencies.

What makes a good pitch deck presentation?

When we talk about pitch presentations, it’s important to compare the differences between a great pitch deck and the ones that just don’t hit the mark. 

What a pitch deck should look like 

A successful pitch deck should have a clean, uncluttered design . This way your audience can take in the information without being distracted by over complicated slides. Any images used should be of high quality, and be relevant to the text. A pitch presentation should flow logically , so the information provided tells a story about what you’re aiming to achieve. 

The colors used should match that of your brand, often logos and fonts will correspond with the theme of the brand, organization, or company. This is a great way to reinforce who you are and what you stand for. A good pitch presentation will captivate the audience by using each slide to convey a single key point, this way, the message is concise and easily absorbed. 

Pitfalls to avoid 

Now, let’s talk about what a pitch presentation shouldn’t look like. If you want to entice your audience, don’t cram too much information onto your slides . This is going to overwhelm your audience and make their attention span drop. Don’t stray away from key points by including irrelevant information. You want your pitch deck to persuade people to take action and have faith in you and your product, so don’t go off on a tandem.

Use a language tone that’s relatable to everyone – don’t use overly technical terms or industry-specific jargon. This can be off-putting for potential investors who don’t work in your field. One of the biggest mistakes you could make is to be inconsistent with your theme, color, and fonts. Remember, the idea is to appear professional, and inconsistency screams amateur. 

Things to consider when preparing to create your pitch presentation

Although it might be appealing to dive straight into making your presentation, there are certain points you should consider to get the best out of your pitch. Here are some things to think about when planning: 

Know your audience

Consider who you’re presenting to and include criteria that are going to be appealing to them. For instance, what resonates with venture capitalists may be different from what appeals to potential partners or customers. 

Engaging storyline

You want to hold your audience’s attention throughout the whole presentation, so tell your story in a way that builds anticipation and makes them want more. 

Keep each slide simple. Your audience will respond better to clear, concise content that’s not too busy and complicated. Keep text easily readable and appropriate for all levels of knowledge. 

Key messages

Plan out the purpose of each slide beforehand, that way you can be sure the key messages come across well. 

You can include things like graphs or charts to simplify complex data, but do this in a way that doesn’t overcrowd the slides. Remember to stay consistent with colors and fonts to reinforce clarity. 

Data and validation

Do your research when preparing to make your pitch presentation. It’s crucial to back up your claims, such as market research, growth projections, or case studies. Using real-world examples is a good way to back up your credibility. 

Business model

Think about how you’re going to explain your business model in a way that comes across clearly. Always be honest about your revenue streams, pricing strategies, and your position in the market. 

Investors often invest in people as much as they do ideas, so think about how you can highlight the strengths of yourself and your team. 

You need to clearly state what you’re asking for. Whether it’s funding, support, or a partnership, make sure your audience knows what you need from them. 

Practice your pitch so that it flows well and fits with the time constraints. Rehearsals are great for realizing flaws, which means you can rectify where needed to ensure the best possible pitch on the day. Be prepared to answer questions and address potential concerns- you can do this by listing some possible queries and preparing an adequate answer. 

Beginning and ending

How can you draw the audience in from the minute you start speaking? A successful pitch presentation often starts with a bang, such as a powerful punch line, a vibrant image, or a brain teaser. When it comes to ending your pitch, summarize the main points and offer a chance for discussion. 

Discover other crucial and noteworthy tips on creating and delivering pitch presentations by watching the following video:

Presenting your pitch deck presentation

Your presenting skills must be just as effective as the pitch presentation you’ve created. Imagine spending all that time and effort on making each slide perfect, to go and blow your opportunity by poorly presenting it. Here are some tips to help you own the stage for your pitch: 

Body language

• Posture: Stand tall and proud. A good posture reflects confidence and keeps you physically engaged. 
• Gestures: Gestures should be natural and purposeful. For example, you might use hand gestures to emphasize important points. Avoid being overly dramatic with gestures as this can be distracting. 
•  Movement: Moving can add energy to your presentation, but be careful not to pace around the stage, as this can make you appear nervous. A simple step forward when you’re reaching the punchline of your story can elevate impact. Similarly, turning your body to face different sections of the audience can make everyone feel included. 

Facial expressions

• Eye contact: Make eye contact with your audience, and maintain it. Don’t just focus on one area, move your gaze around the room to add a personal element to your presentation. This is going to help you build a connection and keep them engaged. 
• Smiling: Smile where appropriate. This is going to make you seem approachable and passionate about your subject. However, you don’t want to unnerve your audience by wearing a forced smile throughout the whole presentation. 
• Expressiveness: Your facial expressions should match the tone of what you’re saying. They can be a powerful way of transporting emotions from the screen onto the audience. 

Voice control

• Volume: You want everyone in the room to hear you, so speak loudly, but avoid shouting. 
• Pace: Remember that your audience needs to clearly hear every word for maximum impact, you can do this by keeping a moderate pace throughout. Speaking too fast can be hard to keep up with, and talking too slowly can become boring. 
• Tone: Use a varied tone to maintain interest, as monotone speech can be disengaging. For instance, you could change the pitch and intensity of your tone when discussing something positive or exciting. 
• Duration: Stick to the allotted time for your pitch presentation. Running too long can lose your audience’s interest, while cutting it too short may not deliver enough information. 
• Pauses: Pauses are handy for creating suspense, or allowing key points to sink in. They can also be helpful for a smooth transformation from one topic to another. 

Dealing with nerves

• Practice: The more familiar you are with your content, the less nervous you’re going to be. Practice your body language cues, speaking clearly, and using the right facial expressions. 
• Visualization: Envision a successful pitch presentation. It’s when we worry about the things that could go wrong that causes anxiety to kick in. 
• Relaxation techniques: Before taking the stage, simple techniques can help with nerves, such as mindfulness practices and progressive muscle relaxation. 
• Deep breathing: Practice deep breathing to control nerves and keep a steady voice. This helps in delivering a calm and confident pitch. 

If you’re struggling with nerves, watch the following video on how to not be nervous for a presentation:

Audience interaction

• Question prompts: To make your pitch presentation more interactive, encourage audience participation and questions. 
• Read the room: Always be aware of the audience’s reactions and adjust accordingly. If they seem disinterested, you might need to change your approach or pace.

As a pitch deck presenter, your role is to deliver your content in a way that makes an impact. Mastery of body language, voice, and timing all play a crucial role in yielding the results you want. 

Prezi: Your tool for creating pitch presentation

If you’re aiming to create a pitch presentation that sets you apart from competitors, Prezi is the tool for you. Here’s why: 

Unique presentation style

Unlike traditional slide-by-slide presentations, Prezi allows you to create a more fluid and dynamic pitch deck. You can move freely around the canvas, zooming in on details and out to the bigger picture. This helps in structuring your pitch presentation in a way that best suits your story, making it more engaging for your audience.

Zooming user interface

This is one of Prezi’s signature features. You can zoom in to focus on specific details and zoom out to show the overall context of your idea. Since pitch presentations are all about emphasizing key points, this feature is essential. 

Visual storytelling

The best way to tell a story through your pitch presentation is to turn complicated information into digestible parts. With Prezi, you can use appealing visuals to simplify ideas and make data easier to interpret. Prezi supports images, visuals, graphics, and animations, so you can create a pitch that captivates your audience. 

Experience visual storytelling in action in a Prezi presentation:

Templates and customization 

Prezi offers a variety of templates , which can be a great starting point for your pitch presentation. These templates are fully customizable, meaning you can align the design with your brand’s look and feel. 

As an example, take a look at this product launch template by Prezi. This would be a solid choice for a pitch deck presentation, particularly if you’re about to launch a new product or service. It provides a structured layout that guides you through the essential elements of a pitch. If you’re hoping to make a good impression, the design of this template looks clean and professional while focusing on key points. It allows you to highlight what sets your product apart in a compelling way. 

Like most Prezi templates, it offers customization options. You can tweak colors, add your images, and moderate the content to align with your brand and product. These are all essential elements for creating a personalized and relevant pitch. 

Collaboration tools

Prezi’s collaboration features come in handy when you’re working with a team. Multiple people can work on the pitch presentation at the same time, offering valuable inputs and different ideas. This way, your pitch deck presentation can reach its full potential. If you like to delegate tasks and give each team member a role in the creation, this feature is great for coordinating efforts. 

Prezi Video

For remote pitching, Prezi Video is the perfect solution as it allows you to add a video of yourself presenting alongside your content. This enables you to make your pitch just as personal as it would be in person. 

To explore how Prezi Video works, watch the following video:

Path tool for story flow

To help create a natural flow for your story, Prezi lets you set paths to move between topics. This easily guides your audience through your presentation in a logical way, which is crucial when it comes to pitch decks. 

Prezi is keeping up with the AI revolution by bringing you a set of AI presentation tools: AI text editing and layout features. These features give you text and layout suggestions, so you don’t need to stress about finding the right words or structure. It can adjust to your writing style, keeping your pitch personal to you but with added clarity and relevance. Discover more about Prezi AI features here .

Successful business pitch presentation examples

Many well-known companies famously used pitch decks in their early stages to secure funding and partnerships. Here’s some you may know: 

Back in 2008, Airbnb was just starting out and needed funding, so they created a pitch deck. This wasn’t just any pitch deck—it was really clear and straightforward, showing off their business model and what they hoped to achieve. They ended up raising $600k from an angel investment round. Their pitch presentation was so successful that people still talk about it today. It’s a classic example of how a good pitch can really set a company on the path to success.

Did you know about Uber’s beginnings? On their ninth anniversary, Garrett Camp, one of the co-founders, shared their first pitch deck. It was a 25-slide presentation that they used way back when they were just starting out. This pitch presentation was a major part of their strategy and really helped in the company’s early growth and evolution. It’s pretty impressive to think how those early slides contributed to making Uber the giant it is today. 

We all know how significant Facebook is when it comes to social media platforms, but it’s all down to their original pitch presentation back in 2004 that propelled them into such success. The pitch deck contained mix-and-match slides for summarizing Facebook’s value proposition, key metrics, and audience demographics. Shortly after the launch of facebook.com, Eduardo Saverin, who was 21 at the time, took their presentation to New York. He was there to pitch Facebook’s Ad platform to potential clients. Now, fast forward to today, Facebook for Business has grown massively. It’s the second biggest digital advertising platform, just behind Google, and holds more than 25% of the market share.

These examples are not only inspirational but show just how important pitch presentations are. A strong pitch is critical for making a good first impression, forming business relations, and opening up opportunities for scaling your business. 

Final thoughts on pitch deck presentations

To wrap up, pitch decks are more than just presentations; they’re your chance to make an impact. They’re vital for anyone looking to get their idea off the ground, especially in the startup world. So when you’re putting one together, keep it straightforward, focus on your key points, and make sure it reflects what you and your business are all about. A well-crafted pitch presentation can open doors, attract investment, and set the stage for your future success. Remember, simplicity and clarity are your best tools. Good luck, and here’s to making your ideas shine!

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5 Tips for a perfect pitch presentation

Next to your business plan or grant proposal, a good pitch presentation is one of the most important elements to convince investors and secure funding. This applies to both private equity and subsidy funding. In private equity you will always have to pitch your project or company to investors, while in grant funding several programs such as the European Commission’s EIC Accelerator include a pitch presentation in front of a jury as a last step to select the winners. The following points can help you perfect your pitch and maximize your chances of obtaining funding:

1. Prepare several pitches and use comprehensive language.

You never know when you will have the opportunity to pitch for an investor or how much time you will have to convince him/her. For this reason, you should always have several pitches of different duration prepared: a short 1-2 minutes elevator pitch, a 10-minute pitch, and a 40-minute pitch. Keep in mind that your pitches should be comprehensible for any audience, so do not use acronyms or technical jargon. You cannot assume that the decision makers are specialized in your field. Practice your pitch with your family or friends to make sure your innovation is understandable for the broader audience.

2. Always start with the problem and connect with the audience.

In order to get the attention of the audience, you should always start by describing the problem that you are trying to solve. The market pull approach is in most cases more effective than the technology push approach. Start with the customer/patient need and then explain how your technology solves the problem. When describing the problem, try to connect emotionally with the audience, for example presenting the need as a personal story rather than just describing it: e.g. ‘I am here today to share Susan’s story. Susan is a 53 year old mother who suffered a heart attack on her way to work. A heart attack occurs when…’. After introducing the problem, you should try to highlight your passion by answering the question ‘why am I doing this?’ before presenting your solution.

3. Know your numbers.

Quantify as much as possible, provide facts instead of editorializing. ‘100 million patients suffer this disease’ sounds better than saying ‘a huge amount of people suffer this disease’. You have to know your numbers very well! The judges or investors will ask you questions after the pitch, and providing numbers during your answers will always make a good impression in their minds.

4. Include all the elements of your business plan.

It is very important to briefly touch all sections of your business plan . This includes: problem, solution, market, competition, unique selling points, intellectual property, workplan, and financials. Try to avoid the mistake of focusing on just one section, such as the technology, as your time might be very limited and investors want to see the full picture.

5. Practice, practice, practice.

Forgetting some part of your pitch in the presentation day will create a bad impression on the judges. You should practice a thousand times if necessary. There is always room for improvement! Take into account that the delivery is as important as the content itself, so also practice your tone of voice, speed, pronunciation, and even body posture and hand gestures. Practicing in front of the mirror or recording yourself are a perfect way to identify what you are doing wrong. Furthermore, be very careful with the time limit, as some judges might just cut your microphone after the end of the countdown. Do not try to pack everything you want to explain. If the judges still want to know something, they will ask you during the Q&A following the pitch.

This article was written by David Alonso Amado , Life Sciences Consultant at Catalyze.

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Blog Graphic Design 30+ Best Pitch Deck Examples, Tips & Templates

30+ Best Pitch Deck Examples, Tips & Templates

Written by: Ryan McCready Jul 04, 2023

A startup is, by definition, a fast-growing company. And to grow you need funding.

Enter the pitch deck.

In this post, we’ll look at the best startup pitch deck templates from heavy-hitters such as Guy Kawasaki, Airbnb, Uber and Facebook. We’ll also uncover the secrets of their successful startup pitch decks, and how you can leverage them to attract investor dollars, bring on new business partners and win new client contracts.

Haven’t created a winning pitch deck before? Then, use Venngage’s Presentation Maker to easily edit the templates — no technical expertise required.

 Table of contents (click to jump ahead):

• What is a pitch deck?

30 pitch deck examples for businesses

What makes a good pitch deck, what is the difference between a pitch deck vs business plan, pitch deck faq, create a pitch deck in 4 easy steps, what is a pitch deck .

A pitch deck is a presentation created to raise venture capital for your business. In order to gain buy-in and drum up financial support from potential investors, these presentations outline everything from why your business exists, to your business model, progress or milestones , your team, and a call-to-action.

The best startup pitch decks can help you:

• Prove the value of your business
• Simplify complex ideas so your audience can understand them (and get on board)
• Differentiate your business from competitors
• Tell the story behind your company to your target audience (and make that story exciting)

What is a pitch deck presentation?

A pitch deck presentation is a slideshow that introduces a business idea, product, or service to investors. Typically consisting of 10–20 slides, a pitch deck is used to persuade potential investors to provide funding for a business. It serves as a comprehensive overview of your company, outlining your business model, the problem you solve, the market opportunity you address, your key team members, and your financial projections.

1. Buffer pitch deck

Industry: Social Media Management

Business model: Subscription-based SaaS (Software as a Service)

Amount raised: $500k, according to Buffer’s co-founder Leo Widrich .

Location: San Francisco, California, USA

Website: Buffer.com

Key takeaway : The traction slide was key for Buffer: it showed they had a great product/market fit. If you have great traction, it’s much easier to raise funding.

What’s interesting about Buffer’s pitching process was the issue of competition, as that’s where many talks stalled. Investors became confused, since the social media landscape looked crowded and no one was sure how Buffer differed.

Eventually, they created this slide to clear the air:

To be frank, I’m still confused by this addition to the Buffer pitch deck, but perhaps their presentation would have cleared things up.

In any case, we’ve recreated Buffer’s pitch deck with its own traction, timeline and competitor slides, plus a clean new layout and some easy-to-customize icons:

Design tip : don’t forget to add a contact slide at the end of your pitch deck, like in the business pitch example below.

Because sometimes you’re going to pitch to a small room of investors. Other times, it will be to an auditorium full of random people in your industry. And I can guarantee that not everyone is going to know your brand off the top of their head.

You should make it extremely easy for people to find out more info or contact your team with any questions. I would recommend adding this to the last slide, as shown below.

Alternatively, you could add it to the slide that will be seen the longest in your pitch deck, like the title slide. This will help anyone interested write down your information as event organizers get things ready.

Related:  Creating a Pitch Deck? 5 Ways to Design a Winner

2. Airbnb pitch deck

Industry: Hospitality, Travel, and Technology

Business model: Online marketplace (peer-to-peer) for lodging and travel experiences

Amount raised: $20k at three months and $600k at eight months (seed), according to Vator .

Website: airbnb.com

Key takeaway: A large marketplace, impressive rate of traction and a market ready for a new competitor are the factors which made Airbnb stand out early on, says Fast Company. The organization’s slide deck clearly demonstrates these points.

Your pitch deck should explain the core information in your business plan in a simple and straightforward way. Few startups have done this as well as Airbnb.

We’ve re-designed Airbnb’s famous deck as two light and airy sample pitch deck templates. The focus here is on engaging visuals, with minimal text used.

Airbnb fundraising slide deck

This type of deck is also called a demo day presentation .  Since its going to be viewed from a distance by investors while you present, you don’t need lots of text to get your message across. The point is to complement your speech, not distract from it.

Another great thing about Airbnb’s fundraising slide deck format is that every slide has a maximum of three sections of information:

As one of the most popular presentation layouts , the rule of three design principle has been drilled into my head. And for good reason!

Here’s one of the slides that demonstrates why this pitch deck design tip works:

VIDEO TUTORIAL:  Learn how to customize this pitch deck template by watching this quick 8-minute video.

Minimalist Airbnb pitch deck template

This simple sample pitch deck template is clean and incredibly easy to customize, making it perfect for presentation newbies.

Don’t forget to insert your own tagline instead of the famous “Book rooms with locals, rather than hotels” slogan. Hint: your tagline should similarly convey what your business offers. Airbnb’s pitch deck offers up tantalizing benefits: cost savings, an insider’s perspective on a location and new possibilities.

Design tip : Click the text boxes in our online editor and add your own words to the pitch decks. Duplicate slides you like, or delete the ones you don’t.

Related:  How to Create an Effective Pitch Deck Design [+Examples]

3. Uber pitch deck

Industry: Transportation, Technology, and Logistics

Business model: On-demand transportation network and logistics platform

Amount raised: $1.57M in seed funding in 2010, reports Business Insider .

Website: uber.com

Key takeaway : Successful pitch decks clearly highlight the key pain point (the inefficiency of cabs) and a tantalizing solution (fast, convenient 1-click ordering).

Uber co-founder Garrett Camp shared the company’s very first pitch deck from 2008 via a  Medium post .

While there’s a surprising amount of text, it still manages to hit on every major part of their business plan succinctly — including key differentiators, use cases and best/worst-case scenarios.

Want something similar? We’ve updated the classic Uber pitch deck template with a sharp layout:

Uber investor deck

Many of the best pitch deck presentations out there are rather brief, only covering a few main points across a handful of slides. But sometimes your deck needs to provide more information.

There’s nothing wrong with having a longer investor pitch deck, as long as you switch up the slide layouts throughout — no one wants to see basically the same slide (just with different metrics or points) 25 times over.

This sample pitch deck template we created based on the infamous Uber deck has 20 or more slides and a diversity of layout options:

Design tip : Replace the photos with your own or browse our in-editor library with thousands of free professional stock images. To do so, double click any image to open our “replace” feature. Then, search for photos by keyword.

Blue Uber slide deck

In this navy version of the Uber pitch deck template, we’ve added bright colors and creative layouts.

Again, it’s easy to swap out the icons in our online editor. Choose from thousands of free icons in our in-editor library to make it your own.

Related : 9 Tips for Improving Your Presentation Skills For Your Next Meeting

4. Guy Kawasaki pitch deck

How much did they raise?  Guy Kawasaki’s Garage Capital raised more than $315 million dollars for its clients, according to one estimate .

Key takeaway : Avoid in-depth technical discussions in your pitch deck. Focus on the pain point you’re solving, how you’ll solve it, how you’ll make money and how you’ll reach custvomers.

Guy Kawasaki’s 10 slide outline is famous for its laser focus. He’s renowned for coining the 10/20/30 rule : 10 slides, 20 minutes and no fonts smaller than 30 point.

While you may be tempted to include as much of your business plan as possible in your pitch deck, his outline forces you to tease out your most important content and engage investors or clients within a short time span.

We’re recreated his famous outline in two winning templates you can adapt and make your own:

Gradient Guy Kawasaki pitch deck

This clean pitch deck template has all the sections you need and nothing you don’t.

Kawasaki’s format steers you towards what venture capitalists really care about : problem/solution, technology, competition, marketing plan, your team, financial projections and timeline.

Read our blog post on persuasive presentations for more design and speaking tips.

Design tip : Quickly add in charts and graphs with our in-editor chart maker. You can even import data from Excel or Google sheets.

Blue Guy Kawasaki pitch deck

This more conservative pitch deck template design keeps all the focus on the core information.

Remember: opt for a 30-point font or larger. This will force you to stick to your key points and explain them clearly. Anything smaller, and you’ll risk losing your audience — especially if they’re busy reading while tuning out what you’re actually saying.

5. Sequoia capital pitch deck

How much did they raise? Sequoia Capital is actually a Venture Capital firm. According to TechCrunch , they’ve raised almost $1B for later-stage U.S. investments.

Key takeaway : “If you can’t tell the story of the company in five minutes, then you’re either overthinking it or you haven’t simplified it down enough.” – Mike Vernal, Sequoia Capital

VC firm Sequoia Capital has its own  10-slide pitch deck format to rival Guy Kawasaki’s famous example that we’ll take a look at a little later on. Its highly-curated, clarified format shines a spotlight on innovative ideas.

As the video above suggests, effectively communicating your mission, not just listing features, is key. Below is our take on the Sequoia Capital pitch deck example; you’ll find it clean, clear and easy to create.

Design tip : Click the blue background and select a new color from our color wheel (or one of your own brand colors via My Brand Kit, available with Venngage for Business ) to create a pitch deck with your branding.

Related:  How to Make Successful Financial Pitch Decks For Startups

Blue and pink iconics pitch deck

Ready to try it for yourself? Add a pop of color to your version of the Sequoia pitch deck template with this pink and blue slide deck. The contrasting colors will make your information stand out.

6. Facebook pitch deck

How much did they raise? $500K in angel funding from venture capitalist Peter Thiel (first round).

Key takeaway : If you don’t have revenue traction yet, lean heavily on other metrics , like customer base, user engagement and growth.  Use a timeline to tell a story about your company.

The best pitch decks tell the real story about your company or brand. You should not only want to sell the audience on your product but also on the hard work you’ve done building it from the ground up.

Design tip: Try data visualizations to relay a company or product timeline . Since people are familiar with the format and know how to read them quickly, you can convey the information impactfully and save room while you’re at it.

Here, Facebook’s classic pitch deck shows the incredible schools that’ve already signed on and describe when future launches will happen.

The sample pitch deck template featured below shows another example of a company or product timeline . This would have been a great fit in the Facebook pitch deck, don’t you think?

Plus you can summarize a ton of information about your brand on a single slide. Check out how well the timeline fits into this pitch deck template below:

If the designer wouldn’t have used a timeline, the same information could have been spread over five or six extra slides! Luckily, Venngage’s timeline maker can help you visualize progress across a period of time without any design experience required.

7. TikTok Pitch Deck

How much did they raise? $150.4M in funding in 2014 (back when TikTok was called Musical.ly), says Crunchbase .

Key takeaway : Use icons as visual anchors for written information.

(The full slide deck is available to Digiday subscribers , though you can view some of the key slides in this Medium post . Keep in mind: this TikTok pitch deck was created for potential advertisers, not investors. No other TikTok pitch decks are publicly available.)

What TikTok does really well in the above example is use icons as visual anchors for their stats. (I could write a whole article about using icons in your presentations correctly. There are so many ways you can use them to upgrade your slides.)

If you’re not sure what I’m talking about, just look at the slide deck template below.

Each of the main points has an icon that gives instant visual context about what the stat is about to the audience. These icons draw the eye immediately to these important facts and figures as well.

Design tip: Remember to use icons that have a similar style and color palette. Otherwise, you run the risk of them becoming a distraction.

8. Y Combinator pitch deck

How much did they raise? This startup accelerator has invested in over 3,500 startups to date, according to the company website . They state their combined valuation nears $1 trillion.

Key takeaway : Create clear, concise pitch deck slides that tell a story investors can understand in seconds.

The classic Y Combinator pitch deck is incredibly simple, and for good reason. Seed stage companies can’t provide much detail, so they should focus on telling a story about their company.

That means your slides should tell a story investors can immediately understand in a glance.

Note that one of Y Combinator’s key components is the problem (above) and solution (below) slides.

Explaining how your startup is going to solve a pain point is a vital part of any slide deck. According to Y Combinator , startups should use the problem slide to show the problem your business solves, and how this problem currently affects businesses and/or people. Additionally, if you’re starting a new startup, forming an LLC could be a great choice to launch your business in the right direction, especially if you are focused on asset protection .

Without that information, investors are going to be left with more questions than answers.

The solution slide should show the real-world benefits of your product/service. I recommend using data visualization to show traction, like the chart above, with a couple of notes for context.

To ensure your problem and solutions slides are easily understood, use a similar layout for both, as shown below.

This will help the audience quickly recall the main problem you want to solve, and connect it to your solution (even if the slides are separated by a few other points or ideas).

9. Front pitch deck

How much did they raise ? $10M in Series A funding

Key takeaway : Use a simple flowchart to visualize a problem your product/service solves.

Not everyone is going to be able to explain their problem and solution as succinctly as the previous examples. Some will need to take a unique approach to get their point across.

That’s why I want to highlight how Front masterfully communicated the problem to be solved. They likely realized it would be a lot easier (and cleaner) to create a flow chart that visualizes the problem instead of text. (Did I mention you can make your own flowcharts with Venngage?)

Also, I really like how they distilled each down to a single phrase. That approach, combined with the visuals, will help it stick in investors’ minds as one of the best pitch decks.

Here’s another example pitch deck that uses a chart to convey their problem/solution:

It splits the competition slide right down the middle to illustrate the differences. It also shows exactly how the processes differ between the two entities using mini flowcharts.

Helping the audience make the right conclusions about your company should be an important part of your pitch deck strategy. Without saying a word, the visual choices you make can greatly impact your message.

10. Crema pitch deck

How much did they raise? $175K in seed funding .

Key takeaway : Choose background images carefully — making sure they have a similar color palette.

The best pitch decks keep things consistent, mainly because there are so many moving parts in any presentation. You want each of your slides to feel like they’re connected by a singular feeling or theme. An out-of-place presentation background image can throw that off.

Keeping things consistent when you use a solid background color or pattern isn’t hard. But things can get tricky if you want to use different photos for your backgrounds.

However, if you pick presentation background images that have a similar color palette, you’ll be fine. Check out the images Crema used in their startup pitch deck below:

If you’re struggling to find exactly the same colored photos, you can use a color filter to make things more uniform.

11. WeWork pitch deck

How much did they raise? $6.9M in seed funding in 2011, says Crunchbase .

Key takeaway : Put your metrics on display.

The behemoths at WeWork still have one of the best software pitch decks, despite recent troubles (layoffs, and a valuation that dropped from $47 billion to $2.9 billion).

In fact, this investor pitch deck actually helped them raise money at a $5 billion valuation.

My favorite thing from this is how their key metrics are on the second slide. They waste no time getting down to business!

A lot of the time brands hide these metrics at the end of their presentation, but WeWork made sure to put it front and center in their slide deck.

This approach puts the audience in a positive state of mind, helping them be more receptive to the pitch.

12. Crew (Dribble) pitch deck

How much did they raise? $2M in seed funding

Key takeaway : Start your presentation with a simple statement to set the tone.

Sometimes you have to set the mood of the room before you jump into your slide deck. A simple way to do this is by adding a powerful statement or famous quote at the beginning of your slides.

This may sound cliche, but the creatives over at Crew (now Dribbble ) used this approach well in their pitch presentation.

By claiming that every business is an online business, they instantly change the way that people think about the business sector.

Additionally, the designers used this straightforward statement to set up the rest of the presentation. In the next few slides, the potential market is explained. Without the statement, I don’t think these numbers would be as impactful.

Let’s take a look at the graphs and charts the Dribble team used in their slide deck. In the below business pitch example, you can see that the line charts use the same color palette, size, and typography.

One of my favorite tips from my presentation ideas roundup article states you should never make the audience do the math.

You can also use this mantra when you’re adding data visualizations to your slides. Make each slide extra easy to consume, as well as, easy to compare to other visualizations.

Below the pie charts use the exact same color palette, size, and typography as well:

If the designers would have used a different example, the audience would be distracted trying to decipher the information.

But consistent design across multiple visualizations will ensure your audience can make comparisons that lead to the right conclusions.

Pro Tip: You can use a comparison infographic to summarize key points you’re comparing.

13. Aspire Food Group pitch deck

How much did they raise? $1M from the Hult Prize in 2013 to scale their project.

Key takeaway : Simple graphics clearly illustrate the problem (food security), the size of the market and Aspire’s unique farming project (spoiler alert: it’s insects).

Nonprofits pitching donors or social enterprises pitching for funding have a slightly different challenge than other organizations. They need to present a unique solution and  make an emotional connection to their audience.

Aspire’s simple pitch deck graphics allow investors to grasp their unique business idea at a glance. Plus, by introducing the audience to one of their customers and describing how insect farming has impacted her food budget, the concept is made relatable to many.

Another simple design hack is to choose a unique background for your nonprofit or social enterprise pick deck. Take this sample pitch deck template:

There are millions of stock photos out there for you to pick from, so finding one that will work shouldn’t be too hard.

However, when you’re picking your presentation background images , it’s important to make sure it matches your message or brand.

In the above example, the pitch deck’s slightly crumpled paper background fits an eco-friendly startup well.   Especially because eco-friendly living and minimalism share similar tenants.

Another great example is this sponsorship pitch deck above. It elevates the message by opting for a simplistic background choice.

With a beautiful yet minimalistic slide deck like this, who wouldn’t want to donate?

Most of the time your pitch deck background images are supposed to be used in a supporting role. However, you can also design your presentation around the background images to create some of the best pitch decks out there.

As you can see in this pitch deck template, we added written content to the white space in each of the stock photos:

Plus no one can really copy your pitch deck layout, so you will instantly stand out from other companies.

Be sure to pick photos that share the same color palette and theme. Otherwise, the benefits of using these presentation backgrounds will be lost.

14. Mattermark pitch deck

How much did they raise? A total of $17.2M so far, says Crunchbase .

Key takeaway : Use screenshots in your pitch deck to show the problem you’re solving.

Highlighting digital problems is tough when you have limited space and time…like when you’re pitching your new digital product to a room full of investors.

That’s why some of the best pitch decks include screenshots of the problem being solved.

As you can see above, the people from Mattermark used screenshots to show how unorganized SAAS reporting was. At that time it was spread over a ton of different sites, with different reporting standards and values.

It would be difficult to sell an investor on their product just by talking about the market. Mainly because not a lot of people have experience in that specific niche.

But with a handful of screenshots, they were able to highlight the product potential almost instantly.

In terms of design, the team at Mattermark stuck to the rule of three (see slide below). This rule will help you keep your team from overwhelming the audience with a flood of stats or figures.

They also decided to make these figures easier to consume by highlighting them in different colors

Compared to a boring list of figures, it’s a lot easier to remember three distinct colored numbers. Plus because the background colors darken as they go, it naturally guides the reader’s eyes down the slide.

15. Dwolla pitch deck

How much did they raise? $12M in funding as of 2018.

Key takeaway : Give the reason your company was founded in one quick sentence.

In many of our own presentations, we talk about how Venngage started from humble beginnings before undergoing tremendous growth in just a few years.

That’s because people love origin stories — they help your audience connect with your brand and appreciate all the work put into it.

Take a look at the pitch deck slide from Dwolla above. In a single sentence, they outline their reason for doing business, and what they hope to solve.

Just be sure to talk about your company founding in the first few slides of your pitch. Otherwise, it won’t have the same impact.

On another note, as a design company, we always love to see people create great visualizations in their pitch decks — particularly when these visuals communicate key information well….like when it comes to your ideal users!

I have seen a lot of brands just talk about their users, but I recommend creating visual user personas instead. Our persona guides can help you with this!

As you can see above, Dwolla visualized their user personas for each use case.

These visual user personas allow audiences to put a “real” face to your user base. And if you have many ideal users (like Dwolla), it helps keep each group organized.

16. Kickfolio (App.io) pitch deck 

How much did they raise? $1M in seed funding.

Key takeaway : Go for huge graphs! The bigger, the better.

Be proud of your brand’s growth and metrics in your slide deck.

You worked hard to grow a company from nothing, and that’s a big achievement! So why would you want to make that growth hard to see?

However, I’ve seen a lot of people inadvertently hide their key metrics by using small graphs or charts.

The only solution to this problem is…get bigger with your graphs! And I mean huge, like the ones App.io deployed in the pitch deck above. Their graph is so large and imposing, every audience member could see it clearly.

Venngage’s  graph maker can help you do this for your own pitch decks too.

17. Yalochat pitch deck

How much did they raise? $15M in Series B funding, says TechCrunch.

Key takeaway : Use icons as illustrations to add instant context.

Icons have been making a comeback in the design world over the past few years. According to recent reports on graphic design trends , they’ll continue to be popular.

This presentation from Yalochat is one of the best examples of how to use illustrated icons correctly.

Each icon perfectly illustrates the point being made on each slide, giving instant context. They will definitely catch the eyes of any audience member.

Just remember to follow their lead and  use consistently designed icons !

18. Brex pitch deck

How much did they raise? $1.5 billion to date.

Key takeaway : Include a single slide about your team and highlight what makes them truly exceptional.

Another important part of your story is the people who helped you build your company. These people are the lifeblood of your brand, and what helps it stand out from the competitors.

Corporate card startup Brex does this well by using team member photos, and including their titles and company affiliations to build credibility. You can download the Brex slides for free, thanks to Business Insider .

Let’s tale a look at a sample pitch deck that employs a similar philosophy.

I’m guessing you already planned on adding something similar to your pitch deck. Again, I would recommend using only a single team slide like they did.

You can use a team photo if you want to talk about the whole team, or add an organizational chart instead. Alternatively, like Brex, you can highlight the most important individuals, like this business pitch example:

Whatever you choose to do, don’t forget to talk about your team on a team slide, and highlight the people who make your company truly great.

Read More:  12+ Organizational Chart Examples and Templates

19. Purple Go pitch deck

How much did they raise? Undisclosed.

Key takeaway : Use a contrasting hue to draw your audience’s attention to key information.

Color isn’t just about making your designs look good — it can also draw your audience’s attention to important information.

For example, take a look at this simple pitch deck from Purple Go . They contrast deep purple with white to help certain sentences pop.

This is a simple way to make your slides have a lot of impact; pick colors that contrast boldly with each other.

20. Mint pitch deck

How much did they raise? $31M to date, according to Mint.

Key takeaway : Add visual cues, such as illustrations and icons, to help explain your brand to investors.

I’m guessing your pitch deck is already going to touch on how you stand out from the competition. But just listing a few things that set you apart may not be enough on your slide deck!

You may need to add some visual cues to help the audience out.

We decided to redesign Mint’s original deck for a contemporary take on this.

In this minimalist pitch deck template, our designers used visuals to make the main company stand out even more. And best of all, it doesn’t distract from the minimalist theme.

This simple addition to your slides will help your information jump off the page, providing a rewarding visual break from related companies.

21. Park Evergreen (Plot) pitch deck

How much did they raise? $400k in seed funding.

Key takeaway : Give each metric its own slide.

Generally, slide decks are full of important metrics that you’re supposed to remember. But not all of those numbers are presented in a way that would make them easy to.

Some are hidden in long paragraphs, while others are smashed together with less important findings.

That’s why I’m a huge fan of how Park Evergreen (now called Plot ) included important numbers in this slide deck. As you can see below, each metric is given its own slide:

With this approach, the audience members place their full attention on that number. And they’ll be able to recall the information a lot quicker.

It may look overly simple to some, but the best pitch decks use this tactic a lot.

22. Hampton Creek (Eat Just) pitch deck

How much did they raise? $1.5M in Series A.

Key takeaway : Create a minimalist title slide to build anticipation for your presentation.

You probably know that presentations don’t always run as smoothly as planned. With long breaks and technical problems, the time between presentations can end up running rather long.

Translation: you might spend more time looking at the title slide than the actual presentation itself.

So if you really want to build some anticipation for your pitch, create a minimalist (some might even say, mysterious) title slide. As you can see, the team at Eat Just (once known as Hampton Creek) did just that.

The lack of information makes spectators want to learn more about your brand, effortlessly engaging them.

The only negative is that no one is going to know the name of your company — yet.

23. Sickweather pitch deck

How much did they raise? $2.6M to date, according to Crunchbase.

Key takeaway : Pull out the main metrics from your graphs and charts to make your slide a snap to understand.

Remember when I said: “Don’t make your audience do the math”?

Yeah. That’s because people hate doing math — so you never want to make investors try to calculate your data themselves. Especially when dealing with millions of dollars, tiny percent changes or other complicated numbers.

Out of all the tips in this article, this one might be the most important. Mainly because forgetting this idea all but guarantees your failure.

That’s why I recommend you “do the math” on every slide where you include a graph or chart — like how Sickweather did above.

By pulling out the main growth metrics from the graph, they made this slide a lot more consumable, and showed the audience exactly what they should pay attention to.

24. Dutchie pitch deck

How much did they raise? $35M in 2020, according to TechCrunch .

Key takeaway : Set the tone by putting your most impressive stat(s) in the introduction.

Dutchie, an all-in-one technology platform for eCommerce, POS and payments, wastes no time coming out the gates with one impressive insight: “10% of all legal cannabis in the world” is purchased through their product.

Now I don’t know about you, but that’s pretty tantalizing.

So it makes perfect sense they would pull it out from their market share figures and feature it in their introduction. By doing so, investors get an idea how successful and established Dutchie is right off the bat.

25. Studysmarter pitch deck

How much did they raise?  $15M according to TechCrunch .

Key takeaway : Illustrate your vision over several slides.

Rather than dedicate one slide to their vision for the company, digital learning company Studysmarter continuously brings up how their product will be understood in the future — as “the world’s central hub” for “lifelong” learning, becoming the “largest learning platform in Europe” by 2021.

While this visionary sentiment is not new to the pitch deck industry, it makes sense Studysmarter would want to focus much of their presentation slide deck on this idea: the idea of an unlimited target market and use cases.

Design wise, their illustrations are consistent, using visuals to illustrate their message and various target demographics.

These graphics build off the sleek, modern interface Studysmarter’s brand image invokes. It also illustrates what they want investors to envision for the future of the brand.

26. Clearbanc (Clearco) Pitch Deck

How much did they raise? $70M in series A funding, according to TechCrunch.

Key takeaway : Use flow charts to communicate complicated processes.

As a company that offers startups “growth capital for the new economy” through non-dilutive revenue-share agreements, Clearco (previously known as Clearbanc) wins big by communicating how the process works in less than a slide’s time.

That’s right: the company uses a flowchart .

For complicated business processes that would normally take several slides of text to communicate, a flowchart is a smart way to visualize a process while saving space and keeping your audience engaged.

Particularly for a company like Clearco, this is key for getting investors up to speed. Then you can move on to the other facts and figures they’ll surely want to hear.

27. Foursquare Pitch Deck

Key takeaway : Show how the end-product looks in your presentation.

Okay look, I get it. This slide deck from 2009 is certainly behind on times when it comes to design tips in this current day and age…

BUT take it back to more than a decade ago, and you’ll see why Foursquare’s pitch deck won big with investors.

As one of the first businesses to employ gamification, the company lets this selling proposition shine by using an iPhone graphic to show how the app’s points and badges look to the end-user. These visuals communicate the appeal by showcasing exactly how consumers will interact with, and understand, the product.

In essence, it takes the guesswork out of their pitch.

So while the text-heavy aspect of this sample pitch deck isn’t exactly ideal, their use of visuals can teach us a lesson.

28. TalentBase pitch deck

How much did they raise?   $330K to date.

Key takeaway : Let the numbers do the talking.

Rather than take up a ton of slide space in this pitch deck example, TalentBase, an affordable payroll solution , focused their real estate on the real deal-closers: the numbers.

While this won’t work for every business, as you may need to add more slides to truly explain the environment your organization exists in and your processes, TalentBase uses their positioning to drive forward a captivating narrative.

And this narrative utilizes only numbers to connect the dots in the mind of potential investors about the value TalentBase offers, in terms of market capture.

29. Peloton pitch deck

Key takeaway : Discuss both the tangible and intangible benefits your product offers.

In 2018, back before the real pandemic hey-day of this tech unicorn, Peloton dazzled in a funding round and managed to capture in $550M funding.

Part of this can be attributed to Peloton’s emphasis on the benefits it brings customers.

Across multiple slides, the exercise equipment and media company highlights how customers’ lives are improved in various emotional and functional ways. Since this connection lays the groundwork for long-term B2C relationships, investors can immediately identify the value encompassed by this modern fitness tool.

Looking to try something similar? Check out the below Peloton sample pitch deck, reimagined by our Venngage design team.

30. Ledgy pitch deck

How much did they raise? $ 10M in September 2021.

Key takeaway : Cut down on space with text and graphics that follow a clear logical narrative.

In just seven slides, the equity management and investor relations platform, Ledgy, was able to convince their audience that their product was worth investing in.

By putting their mission first, and following it up with engaging visuals, the company tells a story despite using minimal text.

Yoko Spirig, CEO and co-founder of Ledgy, echoed this sentiment in an interview : “Starting with the ‘why’ lets you build the business case for the product, and create a logical narrative that investors can follow.”

That’s why, design-wise, this is one of the cleanest pitch deck examples in the bunch. It’s one of the shortest too.

I also appreciate how their brand colors are used in conjunction with white to keep everything consistent (something that Venngage’s automated branding feature My Brand Kit can help you out with).

To summarize, some of my favorite pitch deck design tips include:

• Adding icon headers to your most important insights
• Use similar charts and graphs for easy comparisons across slides
• For longer pitch decks, switch up the slide layouts
• Pick a consistent theme for your presentation background images
• Don’t just list your ideal users, create visual personas
• Use a timeline to show how your company has grown
• Always do the math for your audience

Now let’s take a look at what’s the difference between a pitch deck and a business plan.

A pitch deck and a business plan serve different purposes in the world of entrepreneurship, each playing a crucial role in showcasing and strategizing a business venture. The main distinction lies in their format, level of detail and intended audience.

Pitch decks typically consists of a series of carefully crafted slides, highlighting key aspects of the business such as the value proposition, target market, revenue model, competitive advantage and team expertise.

The goal is to pique interest, generate excitement and secure further engagement or funding opportunities. A pitch deck emphasizes storytelling, persuasive visuals, and concise messaging to create an impactful impression.

On the other hand, a business plan is a comprehensive and detailed document that provides an in-depth roadmap for the entire business venture. It outlines the company’s mission, vision, goals, market analysis, marketing strategies, operational details, financial projections and risk assessment.

A business plan serves as a strategic blueprint, guiding the entrepreneur and internal stakeholders in executing the business idea effectively. It tends to be more exhaustive, often spanning several pages or even chapters, and is typically presented in a written format.

What should a pitch deck contain?

A well-crafted pitch deck should contain key information that effectively communicates your business concept, value proposition, and growth potential. While the specific content may vary depending on your industry and target audience, here are the essential elements that a pitch deck should typically include:

• Problem statement
• Market opportunity
• Business model
• Competitive analysis
• Marketing and sales strategy
• Team members
• Financial projections
• Milestones and timeline
• Investment opportunity

Not a graphic designer? No sweat — creating your own pitch deck is a breeze using Venngage’s Presentation Maker . (We’ll go over the basics here; for a more in-depth look, check out this article .)

Step 1: Sign up on Venngage for free using your email, Gmail or Facebook account. If you already have an account, log in to access the platform.

Step 2: Browse through our selection of professionally designed pitch deck templates and select one that suits your needs and preferences.

Step 3: Once you’ve selected a template, start customizing it to match your branding and content. Venngage’s drag-and-drop editor allows you to easily modify every aspect of the template, including colors, fonts, images and layout. Replace the placeholder text with your own content, such as your company information, product or service details, market analysis and financial projections.

Note: there are hundreds of templates available that you can design and share for free. If you want to access certain designs, take advantage of in-editor features like My Brand Kit/Team collaboration .

Step 4: Once you’re satisfied with your design, you can download it in various formats such as PDF or PNG. Alternatively, you can use also Venngage’s sharing options to present your pitch deck directly from the platform or share it with others via a generated link.

To leave a lasting impression on your audience, consider transforming your slides into an interactive presentation. Here are 15  interactive presentation ideas  to enhance interactivity and engagement.

Now that you know how to create the best pitch decks to communicate your ideas, present your startup or raise venture capital, take action and start designing your own pitch deck today!

And if you want to learn more, there are a ton of other presentation design resources you can take a look at next:

• 20+ Business Pitch Deck Templates and Design Best Practices
• 120+ Best Presentation Ideas, Design Tips & Examples
• 15 Presentation Design Statistics to Know For 2019
• 7 Tips for Designing a Persuasive Presentation [Presentation Design Guide + Templates]
• 20+ Consulting Proposal Templates

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Tom Brady’s first game at Fox will feature the Cowboys. No mention of Greg Olsen.

Tom Brady will be Fox’s top analyst this season alongside Kevin Burkhardt, replacing Greg Olsen in the booth.

If you haven’t heard, Tom Brady will be Fox’s top NFL analyst this season, replacing former Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olsen in the network’s No. 1 booth alongside play-by-play announcer Kevin Burkhardt.

Brady joined Fox’s upfront pitch to advertisers Monday in New York, where Michael Straham broke the news that the Dallas Cowboys will kick off their season on Fox in Week 1 against the Cleveland Browns.

“America’s team — it’s going to be little hard for me to say that all the time, understanding they were the competition,” Brady said. “I’ve obviously been going against them for a long time, and now I get to tell everyone how great they are.”

Fox also announced it will broadcast an extra regular-season game in Week 16 on Saturday, Dec. 21. NBC previously announced it had also acquired the rights to broadcast a game the Saturday before Christmas.

The NFL will announce the full 2024 schedule Wednesday.

Strahan also announced Fox’s 4:25 p.m. game in Week 1 will be in an exclusive national window, meaning CBS won’t also air a national game. Brady’s lucrative first season in the booth — he’s reportedly being paid $375 million over 10 years — will end in New Orleans, with Fox broadcasting Super Bowl LIX.

It remains unclear where Olsen will land — he was noticeably absent from Monday’s upfront presentation — though he could easily slide down to the No. 2 booth and call games alongside Joe Davis, who was paired last season with veteran announcer Daryl “Moose” Johnston.

Unlike CBS , changes aren’t expected for Fox’s top NFL pregame show, Fox NFL Sunday , which will once again feature Terry Bradshaw, Curt Menefee, Howie Long, Michael Strahan, Jimmy Johnson, and Rob Gronkowski.

“I just want to let you know that you’re the rookie now, brother, so dinner’s on you tonight,” Gronkowski told Brady during the presentation.

“When’s it not on me, Gronk?” Brady responded.

This will be Fox’s 31st season broadcasting NFL games, and it will feature its fair share of the Eagles. While Fox no longer has a traditional NFC package, part of its new TV deal includes airing a minimum number of Eagles games.

» READ MORE: New shows coming to NBC and Peacock, including a Kevin Hart 1970s crime drama and an extra NFL game

Fox’s new shows include lifeguards and a South Jersey-inspired animated series

While Fox’s focus was understandably on sports, the network did use its presentation to promote a few new shows that will premiere later this year.

There’s Rescue: Hi-Surf, a Hawaiian lifeguard drama that will land the coveted slot following next year’s Super Bowl. There’s also the psychological crime drama Murder in a Small Town , starring The Handmaid’s Tale’s Rossif Sutherland and Smallville’s Kristin Kreuk and based on the Karl Alberg series of mystery novels by L.R. Wright.

Dennis Leary is also returning to TV to star in Going Dutch , a new comedy series about a arrogant U.S. Army colonel is reassigned to an unimportant post in the Netherlands.

Fox will also launch a new animated series, Universal Basic Guys, created by South Jersey brothers Adam and Craig Malamut, best known for their Game of Zone series on Bleacher Report. The show, about two brothers who lose their jobs to automation, has already been picked up for a second season.

Notably missing from Fox’s Sunday night lineup is Family Guy . The network is holding new episodes of the popular Seth McFarlane cartoon until midseason, in order to promote Universal Basic Guys and second-year animated series Krapopolis during the NFL season. Fox is also holding back The Great North and the Jon Hamm-led Grimsburg , Fox network president Michael Thorn told reporters Monday.

Tubi, the popular steaming platform you don’t hear much about

Fox devoted a large chunk of its upfront presentation to advertisers on Tubi, the network-free, ad-supported streaming service that had a larger audience than Peacock, Max, Paramount+, and Apple TV+ in March, according to Nielsen.

Tubi features a mix of movies, classic series, and original programming. Among the new shows touted Monday include The Z-Suite , a new comedy starring Lauren Graham set at a New York ad agency experiencing generational upheaval.

Fox 2024 fall TV lineup

8 p.m.: 9-1-1: Lonestar

9 p.m.: Rescue: Hi-Surf

8 p.m.: Accused

9 p.m.: Murder in a Small Town

8 p.m.: The Masked Singer

9 p.m.: The Floor

8 p.m.: Hell’s Kitchen

9 p.m.: Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test

8 p.m.: Fox College Football Friday

7 p.m.: Fox Sports Saturday

7 p.m.: The NFL on Fox

7:30 p.m.: The OT

8 p.m.: The Simpsons

8:30 p.m.: Universal Basic Guys

9 p.m.: Bob’s Burgers

9:30 p.m.: Krapopolis