DIY vs Professional Pitch Deck: The Best Way to Impress Your Investors

Are you seeking funding for your startup? Engaging potential investors is crucial. An impressive pitch deck not only demonstrates the impressive growth potential of your business, but it also sets the stage for future expansion. However, designing the pitch deck - its style, delivery, and concept - often becomes a daunting task, requiring significant time and energy to fully realize your vision.

Since you're reading this article, it's clear you understand the critical importance of a pitch deck. After identifying what aligns with your company's ethos, you might decide to create it yourself (DIY). Alternatively, you might consider enlisting the help of a pitch design agency. To assist you in making this decision, we'll compare these two strategies, helping you determine the best route for you.

DIY Pitch Decks Explained

Many startups operate within a tight budget, frequently not exceeding $100,000. This economic constraint often leads them to choose the do-it-yourself (DIY) route when it comes to creating their pitch decks. Now, let's explore why you might want to consider crafting your own pitch deck.

Cost efficiency

Creating a pitch deck requires nothing more than your time. This approach is the most budget-friendly, enabling fledgling businesses to keep their initial costs low. The money saved by not hiring professional designers can be redirected into crucial development activities

Complete design control

Startup owners retain full control over the creative process, leaning on their unique vision. They decide what elements to incorporate in the presentation, the information to share, and how to deliver it. However, they need to be ready to undertake comprehensive research to polish their content and choose the right design tools. The effectiveness and quality of the final deck largely depend on their current skill set.

Opportunity for skill development

Although the initial stages might be challenging, entrepreneurs can acquire and refine new skills throughout the creation process. Each iteration of the pitch deck offers a learning opportunity, helping them focus on important aspects and avoid mistakes. This process can yield invaluable lessons that prevent future missteps.

Using templates

Creating a DIY pitch deck can consume over 100 hours. A well-structured template can considerably speed up this process. Instead of starting from square one, you can download a premade format and adjust it to fit your needs. Numerous free templates are accessible online. If you're confident in your abilities, a template can save significant time. Just be sure to select one that matches your requirements.

However, off-the-shelf templates have their drawbacks. They lack personalization and the standard slide set may not make your presentation distinctive. Additionally, these pre-configured slides may not optimally display your content.

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Despite these challenges, if you have professional design skills, you might be well-prepared to construct your own pitch deck. Even with the right expertise, conveying your story in a way that captivates an investor's attention can be challenging. Keep this in mind when considering crafting your brand presentation.

Challenges of DIY Pitch Decks

Certainly, creating a pitch deck independently brings its own benefits, particularly considering the abundance of resources available online. You have the opportunity to delve deep into specific topics, such as the business model slide, to improve your execution and ensure a compelling presentation.

However, is the DIY approach truly the best for a startup? Let's consider a few factors that might cause you to think twice.

Time-consuming process

Without professional design experience, expect to invest a substantial amount of time in research, organizing your work, and delivering a solid outcome. Rushing the process may result in a subpar presentation, and numerous updates, which further consumes time and resources.

Lack of professional design expertise

An experienced designer could craft a quality pitch deck in 5-10 days - a timeline that is likely unfeasible for beginners. You'll need time to comprehend the subject matter, assess your business needs, and integrate those elements into a cohesive result. Without inherent creative skills, the quality of your final product may be in question.

Not knowing the latest trends and best practices

Building a pitch deck requires more than just talent and experience. It demands a current understanding of best practices and contemporary trends, ensuring you create a modern and market-responsive product that effectively engages potential investors.

Potential for inconsistency in messaging and visuals

The content of your presentation should be concise and logically linked. All blocks of information should connect, and visuals should serve a purpose, not just fill space. Ensure your presentation transitions smoothly from one slide to the next, leaving a unified impression on your audience.

In the end, the DIY approach might require more time and effort to produce a satisfactory outcome. Weigh these considerations before choosing to tackle the task independently.

Hiring a Design Agency

Many startups acknowledge a gap in their own creative abilities and opt to hire a presentation design company to develop their pitch deck. These professionals have a firm grasp of business strategies and market entry tactics. Some even offer financial calculations or pitch presentation coaching as supplementary services.

At some point, you might contemplate hiring a professional design studio. Let's explore the benefits before making a final decision.

Expertise in design and storytelling

Professional designers assess the quality of your startup's pitch deck. With extensive experience, they can share useful practices. They ensure your deck is both visually and contextually appealing to potential investors. Besides making a great first impression, they strive to present your business message in the best light possible.

Access to a team of experts

Designers specialize in crafting pitch decks. They understand how to deliver this type of work. They've done it before and can do it for you now. This means you'll not only receive assistance with your story and messaging, but the deck will also be tailored to your corporate needs. Whatever information you want to include in your presentation, simply communicate it to the experts.

Customized design tailored to your brand

If you have a clear vision of the content, deck flow, and desired outcomes, relay these details to the specialists. Designers from professional presentation design services will then customize your presentation to align with your brand's needs, leveraging their design expertise to create striking, brand-oriented decks.
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Time savings and focus on core business activities

As a business owner, you understand the value of time. You need to concentrate on your core business activities and aim to represent them in your presentation as swiftly as possible. A professional design agency can deliver quality work in a short time frame, utilizing all necessary resources to complete a deck without compromising quality.

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A professionally designed presentation leaves a lasting impression. It facilitates comprehension for potential investors, thereby increasing your chances of securing the necessary funding. An average design agency stands a solid chance of delivering impressive results.

Investment and Return on Investment (ROI)

The pitch deck is often the primary tool used to secure funding from potential investors. Whether you opt for a DIY approach or hire a design studio, understanding the associated costs is a vital consideration for startups.

DIY

With a DIY option, you're in complete control of the process, which can result in substantial financial savings. However, this approach comes with its own set of costs:

• Lower upfront costs: you don't need to pay for any external experts, thus minimizing initial expenses.
• Potential for lower-quality results: crafting everything yourself may yield less impressive results. There's no guarantee your presentation will captivate potential investors, and even if you secure funding, it might be less than your business requires.‍
• Lower investment efficiency: a poorly crafted pitch deck might affect the balance between the return and the total cost of an investment. The presentation may not meet your financial expectations.

Design agency

When you choose to work with a professional team on your pitch deck, you must consider the associated costs. Depending on the agency you choose, you might pay a substantial sum for a few days' work. Here are the general costs associated with this approach:

• Higher upfront costs: hiring professionals means paying for their services, which could consume a significant portion of your budget, potentially reducing funds available for other essential needs.
• Professional quality results: professional designers have the skills and knowledge to significantly increase the chances of delivering a compelling pitch deck. A higher quality initial project can lead to greater returns on investment.‍
• Higher investment efficiency: a successful pitch deck suggests higher investment productivity, potentially leading to adequate funding for your future business initiatives.

Conclusion

When it comes to pitch deck design, you can either rely on your own capabilities or enlist the help of professionals. Regardless of the path you choose, success is within reach, though the potential outcomes may vary.

A DIY option allows you to save on costs, maintain control over the design process, develop new skills, and utilize templates. However, be prepared to invest substantial time and effort due to a lack of expertise, limited knowledge, and potential inconsistencies in messaging and visuals.

A design agency, on the other hand, has the resources to deliver high-quality pitch deck presentations in a short time frame. They offer expert guidance, an experienced team of creators, and understand customization requirements.

In deciding the best option, assess your resources realistically. It's essential to present your startup in the best possible light, so don't attempt to outsmart others when you're inexperienced with pitch decks.

Contact our design agency to discuss your project details. You're welcome to schedule a free consultation with a presentation expert for personalized advice and guidance. Give us the opportunity to deliver excellent results within your budget and timeframes.