Are you wondering how to make your pre-seed pitch deck stand out among the thousands of other early stage startup companies in the midst of pre-seed fundraising? In this blog post, we’ll show you what investors look for in a startup at the pre-seed stage. We will also give you real-life examples of successful pre-seed pitch decks from venture capital funded startups so that you can learn first hand what it takes to impress potential investors.
In these startup pitch deck examples, you will see firsthand what works and what doesn’t work in pre-seed startup pitch decks, and most importantly what start to get an idea of what may work for your investor pitch deck.
But first, let’s take a look at what pre-seed fundraising, and what goes into a pitch deck at the pre-seed stage…
What Is Pre-Seed Fundraising?
Pre-seed fundraising is the process of raising money from venture capital investors or angel investors before you have a fully developed product. It’s an essential part of early stage startup fundraising, allowing startups to validate ideas, build prototypes and prove out market conditions before launching fully formed products.
How Is Pre-Seed Stage Funding Different than Seed Stage Funding?
Pre-seed funding is typically a smaller round than seed stage fundraising. Pre-seed rounds usually range from $50,000 up to $750,000 and often involve SAFE notes or convertible debt. Seed stage rounds, on the other hand, are larger and more structured rounds of at least one million dollars.
Most importantly, though, pre-seed startups are still in the early stages of their development. They are still validating their business idea, and are raising money to build out that idea, test their business hypothesis, and get their business of the ground. In many cases, pre-seed startups may be in accelerator program or incubator program to help them build out their early stage business. (For more on accelerators and incubators, please see our 14 Best Fintech Accelerators and Incubators, 10 Best Blockchain Accelerators and Incubators, and 5 Best Sports Accelerators and Incubators.)
This is in contrast to seed stage startups who have generally already launched their business, and are raising a larger seed round to grow it or Series A startups who are gearing up for revenue growth and scale. (For more on Series A, see 17 Essential Series A Pitch Decks by VC-Funded Startups).
(For more on startup fundraising read our articles: How to Raise Venture Capital Funding for Your Startup, Pre-Seed Funding: What it Is and How to Get It. How to Create a Startup Pitch).
What Investors Look For in Pre-Seed Pitch Decks
Because it’s usually the startup’s first pitch deck, putting together a pre-seed deck can be a daunting task. However, understanding what investors like venture capitalists are looking for in a pre-seed startup pitch deck can ease some of the stress.
Typically, pre-seed round investors are looking for companies with an exceptional team that can show strong product-market fit and a market size that can support a strong return on investment. Pre-seed startups are generally pre-revenue, with little to no traction, so a lot of investors will focus on the quality of the team (especially, the co-founder team), and how well they have thought about what will go into building the startup into a success.
That includes looking for a strong analysis of the market size, and a well thought out go-to-market strategy. Also, even though there is rarely much (if any) revenue yet, savvy investors will still take a close look at the deck’s financials section to make sure that projected revenues and costs have all been accounted for, and that the startup’s financial plan to reach their next round of funding makes sense. A good rule of thumb is that a funding round should last 18-24 months. Clear, considered financials, market validation and user engagement metrics are major elements that pre-seed investors will focus on when reviewing pre-seed decks.
For more on how to build a stellar pitch deck, read our article on How to Create an A+ Venture Capital Pitch Deck, and for a list of pre-seed venture capital firms, check out our 15 Pre-Seed Venture Capital Firms who Invest in Early Stage Startups.
Now, let’s take a look at some examples!
TK Pre-Seed Pitch Deck Examples from VC-Funded Startups
1) Dropbox Pitch Deck
Pre-Seed Startup Details
Business Model: SaaS
Industry: Cloud, IT
Customer Model: B2C, B2B
Pre-Seed Pitch Deck Details:
Amount Raised: $1.2M
Deck Funding Year: 2007
Company Link: Dropbox
AngelList: AngelList
Dropbox is one of the best examples of a SaaS pitch deck that really manages to explain a challenging technical problem and how the company’s solution and team solve it for its potential customers, wrapped in a compelling story. The slide deck does a crisp job of explaining both the product’s capabilities and the the ins and outs of the SaaS business without overwhelming the audience, and it’s no wonder that the company had investors writing major checks.
2). Parkbench Pitch Deck
Pre-Seed Startup Details:
Business Model: SaaS
Industry: Real Estate, Proptech, Events, Marketing, Advertising, Collaboration, Travel
Customer Model: B2B, B2C
Pre-Seed Pitch Deck Details:
Amount Raised: $125K
Deck Funding Year: 2016
Company Link: Parkbench
AngelList: AngelList
Parkbench is a comprehensive sales and marketing online platform that helps real estate agents build their personal brand and company identity and gain more clients in their neighborhood. With a suite of powerful tools, Parkbench enables real estate agents to create targeted marketing campaigns, showcase listings, monitor bidding wars, publish deals, manage time-consuming open houses, track analytics, and monitor customer feedback. Parkbench also provides an easy-to-use real estate agent dashboard that simplifies the process of managing client relationships.
3) Instamojo Pitch Deck
Pre-Seed Startup Details:
Business Model: SaaS
Industry: FinTech, Payments, Retail
Customer Model: B2B
Pre-Seed Pitch Deck Details:
Amount Raised: $500K
Deck Funding Year: 2013
Round: Seed
Company Link: Instamojo
AngelList: AngelList
Instamojo is an Indian payment gateway and e-commerce platform. It provides merchants with the ability to accept payments from customers in over 100 different ways, including credit cards, debit cards, net banking, UPI, wallets and more. Instamojo also offers various services such as inventory management, invoicing, shipping and marketing solutions to help businesses of all sizes grow.
Instamojo is an Indian payment and ecommerce platform that helps merchants manage cash flow.
Instamojo’s pre-seed funding raised $500K from angel investors in 2013 with this pre-seed deck.
4) Linguatrip Pitch Deck
Pre-Seed Startup Details:
Business Model: Marketplace
Industry: EdTech, Travel
Customer Model: C2C
Pre-Seed Pitch Deck Details:
Amount Raised: Undisclosed
Deck Funding Year: 2015
Company Link: Linguatrip
AngelList: AngelList
Linguatrip is an online language learning platform that provides users with a comprehensive range of language courses, educational solutions and offers adaptive learning material. With personalized engaging and educational classes, customized learning plans and interactive games, Linguatrip strives to make language learning convenient, enjoyable and effective for all. They offer over 30 languages from around the world, including Spanish, French, German, Italian and more. Their experienced team of native-speaking tutors provide guidance and support throughout each course to ensure users are getting the most out of their experience.
5) FinCheck Pitch Deck
Pre-Seed Startup Details:
Business Model: SaaS
Industry: FinTech, Payments, AI, Analytics
Customer Model: B2C
Pre-Seed Pitch Deck Details:
Amount Raised: Undisclosed
Deck Funding Year: 2017
Company Link: Fincheck
AngelList: AngelList
Fincheck is a digital financial services platform that helps South Africans make smarter decisions about their money and personal finance. The company provides users with a comprehensive overview of the financial products available in the market from big service providers, including credit cards, loans, savings accounts and insurance. It also offers budgeting tools, advice and education to help customers manage their finances more effectively.
Fincheck’s pre-seed round was raised in 2017, most likely from angel investors, using this pre-seed deck.
6) Glambot
Pre-seed Startup Details:
Business Model: E-commerce
Industry: Retail, Fashion
Business Model: B2C
Pre-Seed Pitch Deck Details:
Amount Raised: Undisclosed
Year: 2015
Round: Pre-Seed
Company Links: Glambot
AngelList: AngelList
Glambot is an online platform that specializes in buying and selling pre-owned makeup. Founded in 2013, Glambot has grown to become a leader in the beauty industry, offering customers a safe, easy, and affordable way to buy and sell their favorite beauty products. Their selection of products ranges from high-end brands to drugstore finds. Glambot also offers free shipping on all orders over $50.
7) Brewpublik Pitch Deck
Pre-seed Startup Details:
Business Model: eCommerce
Industry: Food, Logistics
Customer Model: B2C
Pre-Seed Pitch Deck Details:
Amount Raised: $150K
Year: 2015
Company Links: Brewpublik
AngelList: AngelList
Brewpublik was an online craft beer delivery service that offered customers access to over 1,000 craft beers from around the world. The company tried to bring high-quality beer to customers’ doorsteps and make it easy for them to discover new brews. They offered monthly curated beer boxes, customized beer selections, and expert recommendations for pairing beers with food and occasions. Brewpublik also provided educational resources on their website about the brewing process, beer styles, and other aspects of craft beer culture.
Unfortunately, despite eventually raising over $5 million in venture capital, and becoming a startup darling that delivered craft beer to the headquarters of such major Silicon Valley companies as LinkedIn, Google, and WeWork, Brewpublik was unable to grow as quickly as its debts and eventually filed for bankruptcy in 2019.
8) Sideline Swap Pitch Deck
Pre-Seed Startup Details:
Business Model: eCommerce, Marketplace
Industry: Sports
Business Model: C2C
Pre-Seed Pitch Deck Details:
Amount Raised: Undisclosed
Year: 2014
Company Links: Sideline Swap
AngelList: AngelList
Sideline Swap is an online marketplace for buying and selling of new and used sports gear and apparel. With a wide variety of products from more than 500 sports brands, Sideline Swap offers shoppers the opportunity to find great deals on their favorite sporting goods items anytime, anywhere. The company is committed to providing reliable customer service, secure payment methods, and fast shipping to ensure customers have a positive shopping experience.
This pre-seed deck was used to raise capital during Sideline Swap’s pre-seed round in 2014, and through this pitch deck, Sideline Swap was able to convince investors of its potential and successfully raised an undisclosed amount at the end of their round. (For more on pre-seed funding, read Pre-Seed Funding: What It Is and How to Get It).
9). Blue Wire Pitch Deck
Pre-Seed Startup Details:
Business Model: Other
Industry: Audio, Media, Entertainment, Sports
Customer Model: B2C
Pre-Seed Pitch Deck Details:
Amount Raised: $1.2M
Deck Funding Year: 2020
Company Link: Blue Wire
AngelList: AngelList
Blue Wire is a digital media company that specializes in creating engaging content and experiences for the sports industry. They provide content marketing, video production, podcasting, social media management, and other services to help brands reach their target audiences. Blue Wire partners with professional athletes, teams, leagues, and other organizations to produce impactful content that resonates with fans.
10). Mars Reel Pitch Deck
Pre-Seed Startup Details:
Business Model: Marketplace
Industry: Sports, Media, Video
Customer Model: B2C
Pre-Seed Pitch Deck Details:
Amount Raised: $125K
Deck Funding Year: 2015
Company Link: Mars Reel
AngelList: AngelList
Mars Reel is a leading digital media company that focuses on producing and curating original content for young sports fans. They produce videos, articles, and other content that capture the stories and culture of high school athletes across the United States. Mars Reel works with brands to create innovative marketing solutions and provides access to exclusive content from professional athletes. They are dedicated to inspiring the next generation of athletes and using sports as a platform for social change.
11) Transtutors Pitch Deck
Pre-Seed Startup Details:
Business Model: Marketplace
Industry: EdTech
Customer Model: C2C
Pre-Seed Deck Details:
Amount Raised: $125K
Year: 2015
Round: Pre-Seed
Company Link: Transtutors
AngelList: AngelList
Transtutors is an online educational platform that provides students with personalized learning experiences, providing online tutors. The company offers academic help in a variety of subjects, including math, science and English on their exam prep platform, as well as tutoring services for college-level and advanced courses, facilitating knowledge acquisition. Through its interactive interface, Transtutors connects students to experts around the world who can help them understand difficult concepts and complete assignments quickly and accurately.
12) Blurbiz
Pre-Seed Startup Details:
Business Model: SaaS
Industry: Video, Marketing, Social Media, Advertising, Art
Business Model: B2B, B2C
Pre-Seed Pitch Deck Details:
Amount Raised: $125K
Year: 2016
Round: Pre-Seed
Company Links: Blurbiz
AngelList: AngelList
Blurbiz is a digital social media marketing and advertising agency that specializes in helping small businesses grow. They provide their clients with services such as web design, search engine optimization (SEO), social media services, social media strategy and management, social content marketing, email marketing, and more. Their team of experienced professionals are dedicated to creating effective campaigns that will help their clients reach their goals. Blurbiz also offers a suite of tools to help businesses track and measure their success.
13) Promolta
Pre-Seed Startup Details:
Business Model: SaaS
Industry: Advertising, Media, Video, Social Media, Marketing
Customer Model: B2B
Pre-Seed Pitch Deck Details:
Amount Raised: $100K
Year: 2014
Company Link: Promolta
AngelList: AngelList
Promolta is an online advertising and social media agency that specializes in helping brands get more exposure and drive higher sales. With a powerful combination of technology, data, creativity and social media strategy, Promolta helps clients reach more customers through targeted campaigns across social media, video networks and other digital channels. Their goal is to help prospective clients achieve maximum ROI by making sure their brand and message reaches the right audiences.
14) Folia Water
Pre-Seed Startup Details:
Business Model: Other
Industry: Cleantech, Biotech, Manufacturing, Retail
Business Model: B2B2C
Pre-Seed Pitch Deck Details:
Amount Raised: $150K
Year: 2017
Round: Pre-Seed
Company Links: Folia Water
AngelList: AngelList
Folia Water is a sustainable bottled water company that provides premium spring water in eco-friendly packaging. Their products are made with 100% recycled plastic and are free of BPA, phthalates, and other harmful chemicals. In addition to their bottled water, Folia Water also offers a range of reusable bottles, perfect for on-the-go hydration. They are committed to reducing plastic waste while providing high quality water at an affordable price.
15) Yellowdig
Pre-Seed Startup Details:
Business Model: SaaS
Industry: EdTech, Collaboration
Customer Model: B2B2C
Pre-Seed Pitch Deck Details:
Amount Raised: $100K
Year: 2015
Company Link: Yellowdig
AngelList: AngelList
Yellowdig is a online learning platform that connects learners to experts and peers in order to facilitate powerful learning experiences and fosters peer-driven learning. It utilizes advanced algorithms and technology to curate a personalized experience for each user, allowing them to interact with relevant content and people in their field. With the platform, educators can easily create interactive assignments, discussions, polls, and more. Yellowdig is an invaluable tool for creating meaningful connections between students and instructors.
16) Blue Studios
Pre-Seed Startup Details:
Business Model: Subscription
Industry: EdTech, Media, Entertainment, Video
Customer Model: B2B2C
Pre-Seed Pitch Deck Details:
Amount Raised: $150K
Year: 2015
Round: Pre-Seed
Company Link: Blue Studios
AngelList: AngelList
Blue Studios is a live-streaming platform dedicated to providing engaging and educational classes for kids of all ages. With an experienced team of professionals, Blue Studios offers a wide range of classes from art, music, and sports to science and technology. Their interactive virtual environment makes learning fun and accessible for children around the world.
17) Prolaera Pitch Deck
Pre-Seed Startup Details:
Business Model: Subscription, SaaS
Industry: Accounting, EdTech, LegalTech
Customer Model: B2B
Pre-Seed Pitch Deck Details:
Amount Raised: $35K
Year: 2015
Round: Pre-Seed
Company Link: Prolaera
AngelList: AngelList
Prolaera is a startup that specializes in providing CPAs with the tools and resources they need to stay up-to-date on their continuing professional education (CPE). Their services include automated CPE tracking, personalized learning plans, online learning and training event management. With Prolaera’s comprehensive suite of tools and resources, licensed professionals can easily manage their CPE requirements and continue to stay ahead of the curve.
18) Almabase Pitch Deck
Pre-Seed Startup Details:
Business Model: SaaS
Industry: Social Media, EdTech
Customer Model: B2B2C
Pre-Seed Pitch Deck Details:
Amount Raised: $100K
Year: 2018
Round: Pre-Seed
Company Link: Almabase
AngelList: AngelList
Almabase is an EdTech company that in helps universities manage, build, engage and retain their alumni communities and improve their alumni giving programs and fundraising efforts. They offer a cloud-based fundraising platform with powerful features such as custom branding, automated emails, donor & volunteer tracking and more. With the help of Almabase, institutions can create vibrant alumni networks that are essential for career and fundraising success.
19) Option Alpha
Pre-Seed Startup Details:
Business Model: Other
Industry: EdTech, IT, Media, Collaboration
Customer Model: B2C
Pre-Seed Pitch Deck Details:
Amount Raised: Undisclosed
Year: 2014
Round: Pre-Seed
Company Link: Option Alpha
AngelList: AngelList
Option Alpha is an online investment platform that helps investors of all levels to build and manage their portfolios with options trading. It provides a comprehensive suite of tools and resources for traders, including educational courses, webinars through its live streaming platform, tutorials, and analysis of market trends. The platform also includes advanced trading technology such as custom stock screening, option chains, order tracking and analytics for more profitable trades.
The Bottom Line on Pre-Seed Pitch Decks
A compelling investor pitch deck is a powerful tool for pre-seed startups to help them build relationships with the right investors and secure funding. With the right funding strategy in place, these pitch decks can be an invaluable asset for companies looking to raise their first capital!
Need More Pitch Deck Inspiration?
Check out our:
25 Essential SaaS Pitch Decks for Startups,
25 Fintech Pitch Decks by VC-Funded Startups,
25 Best eCommerce Pitch Deck Examples from Funded Startups,
8 Best Biotech Pitch Deck Examples from Established Startups,
16 Best Social Media Pitch Deck Examples from Well-Known Startups,
31 Best Marketplace Pitch Deck Examples from VC-Funded Startups,
11 Best Real Estate Pitch Deck Examples from Established Startups,
5 Best Crypto Pitch Decks from VC-Funded Startups,
12 Essential Healthcare Pitch Decks from VC-Funded Startups,
10 Successful Sports Pitch Deck Examples from VC-Funded Startups,
12 Best Travel Pitch Decks from VC-Funded Startups,
11 Pitch Decks from Top Proptech Startups,
7 Pitch Decks from Established InsurTech Startups,
5 Essential Pitch Decks from Top Hospitality Startups,
14 Pitch Decks from Top Machine Learning Startups,
4 Essential Pitch Decks from VC-Backed Agriculture Startups,
10 Essential Pitch Decks by VC-Funded CleanTech Startups,
and 19 Best Edtech Pitch Deck Examples.’
