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Why Custom Pitch Decks Are Essential for Startups – And When Templates Fall Short
In the fast-paced world of startups, there’s one thing every founder is told: “You need a pitch deck to raise funding”. But here’s the truth—most pitch decks fail, not because of your business idea. It’s because most startups rely on generic presentations that don’t truly connect with investors.
Sure, you can find templates from popular sites like Pitch.com or Slidebean, but here’s the problem: templates without proper insights are setting you up for failure. They may offer aesthetically pleasing designs, which I still disagree with, but do they help you craft the narrative investors seek? More often than not, the answer is no.
When Templates Work and When They Don’t
Let’s be clear: templates aren’t inherently bad. They can be an excellent starting point, especially if you’re just getting your startup off the ground or need a quick structure for your presentation. In fact, at Startup73, we offer high-quality templates designed to guide you through the process and ensure you cover all the critical points investors look for.
However, not all templates are created equal. What separates a good template from a generic one is the level of insight it provides. Many competitors—like Pitch.com, for example—offer basic frameworks that help you organize slides. But the real question is, do these templates offer a deeper understanding of what investors are truly interested in? Often, they don’t.
If you want your pitch deck to stand out, a pretty slide template isn’t going to cut it. You need a deck that goes beyond looks and actually conveys the story behind your startup, the problem you’re solving, and the market opportunity in front of you.
The Real Cost of Using Templates from Competitors Like Pitch.com
Here’s the cold, hard truth—templates from sites like Pitch.com could be costing you your startup. Why? Because these generic templates often lack the storytelling framework that helps you communicate your unique value proposition to investors. Investors sift through hundreds of pitches every month. If your deck looks like everyone else’s and doesn’t speak directly to the investor’s interests, it gets tossed aside.
Many of these platforms focus on design and ease of use, but they miss the mark when it comes to substance. Investors don’t care about how pretty your slides are if they don’t clearly convey why your business is worth investing in.
Your pitch deck needs to tell a compelling story that aligns with your business, your vision, and what the investors are looking for. Only a custom deck or a template that has been designed with insights into the fundraising process can do that. This isn’t about making your deck “look nice”; it’s about making it effective.
Why Copying Airbnb’s Pitch Deck Won’t Guarantee You Funding
Many founders are inspired by the Airbnb pitch deck that famously helped the startup raise millions. It’s a solid structure, no doubt—but the startup world evolves rapidly. What worked in 2009 won’t necessarily work in 2024 (Airbnb raises its first seed investment). The Airbnb deck worked because it told a unique story that captured the market’s attention at the time. Simply copying that structure now won’t give you the same results.
Why? Because investors have changed, and so have their expectations. What may have been innovative 10 years ago could now be seen as outdated or irrelevant. That’s where a custom pitch deck comes into play—it ensures your message is tailored to today’s market and designed to make investors take notice.
Investors are looking for innovation, market relevance, and most importantly, your story. They want to understand the unique value proposition of your business. The Airbnb deck is a great case study for its time, but it doesn’t account for the current startup landscape and the increasingly competitive funding environment.
That’s why simply plugging your numbers into a Pitch.com template or copying a famous pitch deck won’t cut it. You need to tell your story, and that requires either a custom deck or a template that gives you flexibility and expert guidance—something that Startup73 specializes in.
Custom Pitch Decks vs. Templates: When to Choose Each
The answer depends on your startup’s stage and specific needs:
- Templates are great if you’re early in the process and need guidance on structuring your deck. They provide a framework to organize your thoughts and data effectively. However, not all templates are built with investors in mind. While platforms like Pitch.com may offer nice designs, they often lack the critical insights into investor psychology, market dynamics, and storytelling that are necessary for a successful pitch.
- Custom Pitch Decks are essential when you need to take it to the next level. They help you build a tailored narrative, integrate your branding, and truly highlight what makes your startup different. At Startup73, we’ve seen startups raise over $500M by creating pitch decks that captivate investors from the very first slide.
We focus not just on design, but on storytelling, investor psychology, and market fit—all the essential elements that lead to success. Our decks are built from scratch to meet your needs, unlike generic templates from competitors that offer a one-size-fits-all approach.
Why Startup73’s Templates Are Different from Competitors’
It’s true that Startup73 also offers templates—but what makes our templates stand out from those sold by competitors like Pitch.com or Slidebean?
- Guidance Throughout the Process: Unlike many other template providers, we include detailed guidance on how to use the template effectively. Our templates don’t just give you slides; they provide insights on how to fill in each slide with content that will resonate with investors.
- Built for Storytelling: Our templates are designed with storytelling in mind. We know how important it is to weave a narrative that captures investor attention. Each slide is structured to guide you through the key elements of a successful pitch, from problem definition to market opportunity and financial projections.
- Customization Ready: Even though our templates provide structure, they are designed to be easily customized. We know that every startup is unique, and we’ve made it easy for you to tailor your deck to reflect your startup’s individual story and value proposition.
- Access to Additional Resources: At Startup73, we also offer free pitch deck reviews and a range of services like speech writing and investor outreach lists. This means that even if you start with a template, you can still get expert help refining your deck to make it pitch-perfect.
- Real Investor Insights: Our templates are built based on the insights we’ve gained from helping startups raise over $500M. Unlike many competitors who focus solely on design, we ensure that our templates help you communicate the right message to investors, giving you a higher chance of success.
Templates From Competitors Like Pitch.com Can’t Replace Expert Guidance
Here’s the problem with many competitor templates: they’re often designed for convenience, not effectiveness. Platforms like Pitch.com may offer easy-to-use slides, but they don’t give you the investor insights needed to create a truly compelling pitch.
Investors are more likely to respond to decks that are crafted specifically for their interests, and generic templates don’t offer that level of customization. At Startup73, we offer custom pitch decks built from the ground up, combining storytelling, design, and market expertise to give you the best shot at securing funding.
But for founders looking for a more affordable option, our templates are still a powerful tool—because we’ve integrated the same principles into them, unlike competitors who focus solely on aesthetics.
Investors Don’t Just Want Templates—They Want Stories
The truth is, investors invest in stories, not just slides. While a template gives you a structure, it’s the story you tell that will make investors believe in your vision. Custom pitch decks help you articulate that story, but even if you start with a template, it’s important to evolve it into something that’s uniquely yours.
Not sure which is right for you? Take advantage of our free pitch deck review to get feedback on your current deck. Whether you’re using one of our templates or need a fully custom deck, we’re here to help you succeed!
Conclusion: Custom Pitch Decks and Strategic Templates – Why Startup73 Stands Out
To summarize, not all templates are created equal. While templates can be a good starting point for some startups, they often lack the depth and flexibility needed to make an impact on investors. At Startup73, we offer both templates and custom pitch decks that are designed with investor insights, storytelling, and market fit in mind—giving you the best chance to stand out and secure the funding you need.
Don’t fall into the trap of relying on generic templates from platforms like Pitch.com. Invest in a deck that tells your story, or start with one of our templates and refine it to suit your unique business. No matter what, we’re here to help you succeed—with custom pitch decks, expert reviews, and everything in between.
