Your deck should be an incomplete canvas with details to be filled in - it should invite questions, not answer everything. Leave room for conversation.
Company name, logo, "Confidential Information" notice, and one sentence that captures why your company exists.
What market opportunity are you addressing? What's the challenge that makes it hard?
How do you solve the challenge? Keep it high-level - details come later in due diligence.
What makes you unique? This could be:
- Proprietary technology or AI capabilities
- Unique data assets or network effects
- Specialized team with rare expertise
High-level architecture showing how your technology works. Don't reveal trade secrets.
Screenshots or demos of what you've built. Show, don't tell.
Users, revenue, growth rates, retention. Be honest but highlight strengths.
TAM/SAM/SOM or relevant market data. Show you're playing in a meaningful space.
Key team members and their backgrounds. Acquirers are often buying the team.
Paint a picture of what joining forces could unlock:
- New markets or customer segments neither could reach alone
- Enhanced product offerings through combined capabilities
- Expanded distribution channels
- Accelerated roadmap execution
The goal of your deck is not to close a deal - it's to get a meeting. Your deck should make the reader curious enough to want to talk to you. If they can understand everything from the deck alone, you've given away too much.