---
title: "Startup pitch deck: free template with investor tips + SEIS/EIS version for HMRC"
id: "1886"
type: "post"
slug: "pitch-deck-template-uk-startups"
published_at: "2019-02-01T12:15:56+00:00"
modified_at: "2026-02-13T09:58:00+00:00"
url: "https://seedlegals.com/resources/pitch-deck-template-uk-startups/"
markdown_url: "https://seedlegals.com/resources/pitch-deck-template-uk-startups.md"
excerpt: "Create the perfect pitch deck with our free template, including tips from industry experts and step-by-step guidance."
taxonomy_category:
  - "Startup Guides"
  - "Funding Guides"
  - "Find Investors"
---

7 min read           Expert reviewed

This article has been fact-checked by a SeedLegals subject matter expert.  
  
[Meet our experts](https://seedlegals.com/authors-and-experts/)
 and learn more about our review process and quality assurance in our [editorial policy](https://seedlegals.com/editorial-policy/)
.

# Startup pitch deck: free template with investor tips + SEIS/EIS version for HMRC

Published: Feb 1, 2019

 Updated: Feb 13, 2026

Contents

[Expert contributors](#expert-contributors)
[Free pitch deck template: what’s inside?](#free-pitch-deck-template-whats-inside)
[Also included: Pitch deck for SEIS/EIS Advance Assurance](#also-included-pitch-deck-for-seiseis-advance-assurance)
[Startup pitch deck FAQs](#startup-pitch-deck-faqs)
[Watch video: 10 pitching mistakes to avoid](#watch-video-10-pitching-mistakes-to-avoid)
[Watch video: The art of storytelling – how to create the perfect pitch](#watch-video-the-art-of-storytelling-how-to-create-the-perfect-pitch)
[Talk to a funding strategist](#talk-to-a-funding-strategist)

Read Next

[The 5 investor personality types — and how to pitch them](https://seedlegals.com/resources/the-5-investor-personality-types/)
[The Art of the Pitch: How to use storytelling to create the perfect pitch deck](https://seedlegals.com/resources/storytelling-for-startups/)
[How to pitch to investors: insider tips to get funded](https://seedlegals.com/resources/how-to-pitch-to-investors/)
[Startup pitch deck: free template with investor tips + SEIS/EIS version for HMRC](https://seedlegals.com/resources/pitch-deck-template-uk-startups/)
[Pitchfalls: 10 mistakes to avoid when you pitch to investors](https://seedlegals.com/resources/ten-pitching-mistakes/)

[CopywriterKaylin SullivanSenior Copywriter](https://seedlegals.com/resources/author/kaylin/)

[ExpertOliver KicksPrincipal at Concept Ventures](https://seedlegals.com/resources/author/oliver/)

[ExpertAnthony RoseCo-Founder and CEO](https://seedlegals.com/resources/author/anthony/)

[ExpertVasu SarinHead of business development](https://seedlegals.com/resources/author/vasu-sarin/)

You know that your company has the potential to be a huge success. But how do you convince investors?

It starts with a winning pitch deck – your one opportunity to pique investor interest and sell them on your idea. In under three minutes, you’ve got to make an impression that impacts the future of your company. No pressure.

We’ve got you covered. We see thousands of pitch decks from founders who create and share their [pitch](https://seedlegals.com/raise/pitch/)
 on SeedLegals and we speak to countless investors who tell us what they need to see in a pitch deck. We’ve combined our experience with insights from industry experts to create the best pitch deck template for you to sell your idea. This free pitch deck template includes:

🎨Customisable framework for an investment-winning pitch deck

🌟Detailed guidance on what to include in each slide

💁‍♀️Insightful tips from experts

🔗Links to additional resources

🆕Bonus SEIS/EIS version – tailor your deck for HMRC

**How to use the template**

The template comes in **PowerPoint** format but you can easily convert it into **Google Slides** if that’s what you prefer. Just upload it to your Google Drive and it will convert automatically. Customise each slide with your company’s details.

### Pitch without a hitch

Build your pitch deck in minutes on SeedLegals. Track page views and investor interest.

[Explore SeedLegals Pitch](https://seedlegals.com/raise/pitch/)

## Expert contributors

[Anthony Rose](https://seedlegals.com/resources/author/anthony/)
  
 *SeedLegals CEO and serial entrepreneur*  
 Anthony is our CEO and Co-Founder. As well as leader of SeedLegals and champion of the startup ecosystem, Anthony is well known as ‘the man behind BBC iPlayer.’

[Oliver Kicks](https://seedlegals.com/resources/author/oliver/)
  
 *Principal Investor at Concept Ventures*  
 Concept Ventures is the UK’s largest dedicated pre-seed fund. They’ve invested in over 50 startups from their fund of over £52 million. Oliver leads the marketing and branding division at Concept Ventures alongside making decisions on which startups to invest in.

[Vasu Sarin](https://www.linkedin.com/in/vasusarin/)
  
 *Exited founder and Head of Business Development at SeedLegals*  
 Ex-Founder and CEO of Tab Care, Vasu has first-hand experience in pitching to investors and successfully raising investment capital. He’s now Head of Business Development and Partnerships at SeedLegals.

## Free pitch deck template: what’s inside?

This pitch deck template contains the essential slides you need to hook investors and tell them what they need to know:

- What problem you’re solving
- Why your company has potential to generate significant returns
- What you need from investors to grow your business

We’ve also included a version of the pitch deck template to use in your [SEIS/EIS Advance Assurance](https://seedlegals.com/start/seis-eis/)
 application. [Jump here](#advance-assurance-pitch-deck)
 to learn about what you need to include.

Our free **pitch deck template** is downloadable as a **PowerPoint** presentation. But if you prefer to work in **Google Slides**, just upload the PowerPoint to your Google Drive and it will automatically convert into a Google Slides presentation.

Our downloadable pitch deck template includes the following slides:

### **Problem**

On this slide, you’ll identify the problem solved by your product or service. You’ll describe the pain point your target customers are experiencing, and explain why existing solutions aren’t as good as yours. This helps investors understand the market opportunity and the potential demand for your solution.

### **Solution**

After you’ve identified the problem, you’ll explain how your product or service solves it. Be specific about the features and benefits of your solution.

### **Product**

Next, you’ll showcase your solution in action:

- Explain how it works (concisely)
- Share images or a video of any prototypes or demos you’ve developed
- List unique features of your product/service (if you didn’t do that on the previous slide)
- List key benefits of your product/service (again, if you didn’t do that on the previous slide)

### Achievements/validation

This is **one of the most important slides**. You’ll need to validate your team and company.  
 On this slide, you’ll set out:

- What you’ve achieved
- Why you’re the best people for the job
- You can include awards, recognition, achievements, significant traction and your team’s unique expertise

### **Market**

Investors need to know why investing in your company is a great opportunity for them. Use the next two slides to showcase:

- Market adoption of your product/service
- Market size

You don’t need to go into too much detail about the total serviceable market or serviceable obtainable market. Just briefly show the market potential.

Add testimonials and short case studies to show that your product is needed and loved.

### **Competition**

No product or service exists in a vacuum, so it’s important to acknowledge and address the competition. Identify your key competitors and briefly show how your solution is different and better than what they offer. Be specific about your competitive advantages, such as:

- Pricing
- Features
- User experience

You can use a simple comparison table to show how the pricing, features and user experience of your product/service stack up against your competitors.

### **Business model**

Investors will want to know how you plan to make money and achieve profitability. But they don’t want to see too much detail in your initial pitch deck. Save the graphs and business plan for your [data room](https://seedlegals.com/raise/data-room/)
. They’ll ask for more information when they want it.

In this slide, keep it to top-line information: outline your revenue streams, pricing strategy, and any recurring revenue opportunities.

### **Team**

This is **one of the most important slides** to build credibility. You can keep it towards the end of your deck but also consider placing it after your product slide.

Investors invest in people as much as they invest in ideas. They want to know that:

- Your team will be a good fit for them
- Your team has the expertise to successfully achieve your company’s goals

Introduce your team and highlight their relevant experience and expertise. This is also a good opportunity to showcase any advisors or mentors that you have on board. Remember to include significant accomplishments for each person that show their key strengths and experience.

### **Deal Summary**

Finally, make sure you clarify what you are asking for from investors. This could be a specific amount of funding, a partnership opportunity, or an introduction to potential customers. Be specific and make it easy for investors to take action.

The deal summary slide is an overview of the core investment proposal and makes it easy for investors to see at a glance how much they can invest and whether they can claim SEIS/EIS tax benefits. It also shows that you understand the investment process.

### Raising startup funding?

We'll help you simplify your funding journey and close your round faster.

[Find out how](https://seedlegals.com/raise/raise-a-round/)

## Also included: Pitch deck for SEIS/EIS Advance Assurance

When you apply for SEIS or EIS, HMRC will ask to see your pitch deck. But unlike investors, they’re looking for different signals – things like business purpose, growth potential, and qualifying criteria.

To make this easier, we’ve included a bonus version of the template tailored specifically for [SEIS/EIS Advance Assurance](https://seedlegals.com/start/seis-eis/)
. It shows you exactly how to adapt your investor pitch deck so it ticks all the right boxes for HMRC.

We highlight the key slides to focus on for your application: **problem, solution, how it works, achievements, roadmap, market, competition, team, revenue model, use of funds, SWOT analysis, financial forecast** and **Deal summary**.

The SEIS/EIS template comes after the investor pitch deck. It has plenty of detail on what to include, but for even more tips see [how to write a 5-year business plan](https://seedlegals.com/resources/5-year-business-plan/)
 and [what to include in your SEIS/EIS pitch deck](https://seedlegals.com/resources/what-to-include-in-your-business-plan-for-an-seis-eis-advance-assurance-application/)
.

## Startup pitch deck FAQs

**What is a startup pitch deck?**

A startup pitch deck is a visual presentation about a company. The deck sets out:

- What problem a company solves
- How you solve it
- Key strengths
- Unique value proposition
- Market opportunity
- Growth potential (for example, through a credible 3-year financial forecast – check out our [free template](https://seedlegals.com/financial-forecast/) )

A pitch deck is typically presented to potential investors, partners, and customers.

A startup pitch deck should be concise, visually appealing, and easy to understand. It should be structured to tell a compelling story about the startup and its potential for success.

**What should a startup pitch deck include?**

A startup pitch deck should include high-level information about how a company solves a problem and why investing in your company is a great opportunity.

A typical startup pitch deck will cover these key topics:

- Problem – What problem or pain point does the startup aim to solve?
- Solution – What is the startup’s proposed solution to the problem?
- Market – What is the size of the target market and what is the startup’s potential market share?
- Business Model – How will the startup generate revenue and what’s the pricing strategy?
- Competition – Who are the startup’s main competitors and what is its competitive advantage?
- Team – Who are the key members of the startup’s team and what relevant experience do they have?
- Deal summary- What are your funding requirements and can you offer investors SEIS/EIS Advance Assurance?

**How do I present my pitch deck?**

You’ll present your pitch deck either by sending it to investors to read in their own time or during live events and investor meetings. If you’re sending your pitch deck as a cold email, check out our guide on [How to write a perfect cold email](https://seedlegals.com/resources/investor-outreach-guide/)
.

If you present your pitch deck in person, aim to be clear, confident, and engaging. Start with a strong opening that grabs the audience’s attention, then walk them through each section of the deck, highlighting key points and providing supporting evidence. Use visuals to enhance your presentation and avoid overwhelming the audience with too much information. Finally, be prepared to answer questions and address any concerns raised by the audience.

[SeedLegals Pitch](https://seedlegals.com/raise/pitch/)
 makes it as easy as possible to share your pitch with investors. It allows you to:

- Send the link to share your pitch – no need to send huge files by email
- Update your Pitch page in real-time – no out-dated information
- Store everything in one place – clean and clutter-free
- Share confidential files in your secure Data Room

**What should I not include in a pitch deck?**

When creating your pitch deck, avoid:

- Irrelevant or unnecessary information that may distract or confuse your audience
- Overloading the presentation with too much data or technical jargon, and focus only on the key points that are essential to understanding the business model and potential for success
- Unsupported claims or exaggerating your startup’s achievements or potential

**What file format should I submit my pitch deck in?**

We recommend submitting your pitch deck to investors as a PDF, PowerPoint or Google Slides presentation.

Luckily, our free pitch deck template download can easily be converted into all three:

- When you download the template it will be in PowerPoint format to easily edit
- If you prefer working in Google Slides, you can easily convert the PowerPoint into Google Slides by uploading it to your Google Drive
- When your pitch deck is ready, you can export it as a PDF from both PowerPoint and Google Slides

**What file format does my pitch deck need to be for SeedLegals Pitch?**

At the moment, we only support pitch decks in PDF format. If your deck is currently in a different format, you can convert it to a PDF. Make sure it’s in landscape orientation.

Our free pitch deck template is available to download and customise as a PowerPoint file on SeedLegals Pitch. When you upload it to share on Pitch, you’ll need to convert it into a PDF. You can [sign up to Pitch for free.](https://app.seedlegals.com/signup)

## Watch video: 10 pitching mistakes to avoid

Investors hear hundreds of pitches. So what can you do to make sure you absolutely nail yours and win that investment? We’ve asked founders and investors about the most common mistakes they see during pitches so you know exactly what NOT to do. Check it out in the video below 👇

## Watch video: The art of storytelling – how to create the perfect pitch

In this video, watch the webinar recording of pitch coach [Claire Macmillan](https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-macmillan-aa50a819/)
 and SeedLegals CEO Anthony Rose exploring what investors look for in a great pitch deck. They discuss how best to structure your pitch and the mistakes to avoid. Claire critiques a handful of pitch decks live in the session – watch and learn from the feedback.

## Talk to a funding strategist

Are you fundraising for your startup? Book a free call with one of our funding strategists to find out how we can help.

Next up in [SeedLegals Academy](https://seedlegals.com/seedlegals-academy/)

[Pitchfalls: 10 mistakes to avoid when you pitch to investors](https://seedlegals.com/resources/ten-pitching-mistakes/)

Nail your pitch and impress investors

Get the pitch deck that’s helping 3,500+ founders raise. 12 customisable slides, plus insider tips from investors.

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