In short
A pre-seed pitch deck is about the founders, the problem and early proof of demand. Lead with a sharp problem and why your team is the one to solve it, show any evidence such as customer interviews, a waitlist, pilots or a working prototype, and ask for enough money to reach clear seed-stage milestones.
At pre-seed there is usually little or no revenue, so investors judge the team, the insight and the speed of learning. A short, focused deck of around 10 slides is often enough.
Who invests at the pre-seed stage
Pre-seed money usually comes from founders, friends and family, angel investors, angel networks, accelerators and incubators, pre-seed funds and, in many countries, government seed schemes and grants, such as the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme in India.
Recommended slide order
| Slide | What to show |
|---|---|
| Title | Company name and a clear one-line description. |
| Problem | The pain, from real customer conversations. |
| Team | Why you are the right founders, placed early. |
| Solution | Prototype or mock-up and the key insight. |
| Why now | What has changed. |
| Market size | A simple bottom-up estimate. |
| Early evidence | Interviews, waitlist, letters of intent, pilots. |
| Business model | How you expect to make money. |
| The ask | Amount, use of funds and the milestones that set up a seed round. |
| Closing | Summary and contact details. |
Metrics investors expect at pre-seed
| Metric | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Customer interviews | Shows you have tested the problem with real people. |
| Waitlist or sign-ups | Shows interest before launch. |
| Letters of intent or pilots | Shows organisations willing to try or buy. |
| Prototype usage | Early engagement from first users. |
| Speed of progress | What you have built and learned in a short time. |
What makes a pre-seed pitch deck stand out
- Founders with personal experience of the problem.
- A non-obvious insight about the market.
- Evidence gathered quickly and cheaply.
- An ask tied to specific, measurable milestones.
Common mistakes
- Five-year projections with no basis.
- A long deck for an early idea.
- Overstating traction.
- Raising without knowing what milestones the money buys.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I raise at pre-seed?
Enough to reach the milestones that make a seed round possible, usually with 12 to 18 months of runway. Amounts vary widely by country and sector, so look at what similar companies near you have raised.
Written by Gachi Foundation, a non-profit in Jharkhand, India. All pitch deck resources.