Dec 29, 2024

You Have Under 3 Minutes: Why Investors Skim Pitch Decks - and How to Make Yours Count

Learn why being concise is critical and how to design a deck that holds investor attention from the first slide.

Ali Ager

Creative Director

Dec 29, 2024

You Have Under 3 Minutes: Why Investors Skim Pitch Decks - and How to Make Yours Count

Learn why being concise is critical and how to design a deck that holds investor attention from the first slide.

Ali Ager

Creative Director

When it comes to pitching your startup, attention is limited—and so is time. According to a widely cited report from DocSend (acquired by Dropbox), investors spend an average of less than 3 minutes reviewing a pitch deck. Some estimates even suggest that the first 30 seconds determine whether they keep reading. That means your deck isn’t just competing with other startups—it’s competing with inboxes, Slack pings, and meetings.

Why It Matters
A concise pitch deck doesn’t mean a short one—it means a deck where every slide earns its place. Investors are looking for quick clarity, not detail overload. Think of your deck as the trailer, not the full movie.

What You Can Do

  • Front-load the value
    Highlight your solution, traction, and market opportunity early—don’t save the best for last.

  • Keep slides focused
    One idea per slide. One message per chart. Less is more.

  • Use strong visual hierarchy
    Make important data points or headlines impossible to miss at a glance.

  • Cut the fluff
    If a word, slide, or stat doesn’t drive your story forward—cut it.

The Takeaway
If your deck takes too long to get to the point, you might lose your shot before you’ve even made it. Clear, concise storytelling backed by sharp design isn’t just a bonus—it’s the baseline.

Let’s keep in touch.

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