This free eBook goes over the 10 slides every startup pitch deck has to include, based on what we learned from analyzing 500+ pitch decks, including those from Airbnb, Uber and Spotify.
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The deck avoids detailing the business model, instead using a single data point: $8,000 in July revenue. This implies a functioning monetization strategy without getting bogged down in pricing specifics at this early stage. This tactic works because it proves market validation and piques investor interest, prompting them to ask for more details.
Our Tip: Clearly articulate your pricing tiers and the core value metric you charge for, connecting it directly to the customer's return on investment.
Nodal's go-to-market strategy is not explicitly stated, but the prominent contact information suggests a direct, founder-led sales approach. This is a strong signal for early-stage investors, as it shows the founders are directly engaged in acquiring their initial customer base. The simplicity of this approach is appropriate for a company validating its initial market.
Our Tip: Outline your primary customer acquisition channels for the next 12-18 months and the key assumptions behind your customer acquisition cost estimates.
The deck mentions a "core team" and "active entrepreneur advisors" without giving specific names, which builds credibility at a high level. This approach establishes that a capable team is in place while keeping the slide uncluttered. The goal here is to signal that experienced individuals are backing the venture, deferring deep dives on individual backgrounds for follow-up conversations.
Our Tip: Showcase key team members with headshots and two to three points each that highlight their most relevant experience, not their entire resume.
Nodal uses a single, powerful metric for traction: $8,000 in revenue for the previous month. This data point immediately serves as validation that customers are willing to pay for the solution. By focusing on revenue, the deck directly answers the critical investor question of whether the business can generate money.
Our Tip: Present your traction chronologically, using a simple chart to show month-over-month growth in your single most important metric.
The Nodal deck proves that you do not need to answer every possible question; you only need to answer the most important ones. By omitting details like team bios and market size, they focus all attention on their single most impressive metric: revenue. Apply this by identifying the one or two strongest proof points in your story and ruthlessly cutting everything else that distracts from them.
Nodal avoids making promises about future success and instead provides concrete proof of present-day validation. The $8,000 revenue figure is more powerful than any detailed business model slide because it proves customers will pay. Replace descriptive slides about your strategy with hard data that demonstrates your strategy is already working, even at a small scale.
