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Crafting an effective scientific pitch deck is an art, especially when it involves communicating complex models and concepts. For nearly a decade, our design studio <\/span>has been working on complex pitch deck designs from seed to IPO. Unlike software startups, scientists often find it harder to close capital raises. Why? This is partly due to the level of innovation, the associated risks, and often hard-to-prove commercialisation models.<\/span><\/p>\n I’ve noticed that, at times, scientists struggle to explain their solutions succinctly to non-scientific audiences. A hot take: VC funds and investment analysts often work within a narrow framework of \u201cinnovation,\u201d which can lead them to overlook genuine breakthroughs outside of technology. So, super-smart science founders\u2014it\u2019s not entirely your fault, but here\u2019s a set of design principles to help refine your story and commercial ask.<\/span><\/p>\n The title of each slide in your deck is the anchor of your narrative. It shouldn\u2019t be just a content header; it should tell a piece of the overall story. Every title should be a consistent, solution-oriented statement addressing the problem you\u2019re solving, the market need, or a larger planetary concern. Think of it this way: if you were to place all the slide titles into one document, they should read like a coherent script. This approach helps your audience stay engaged and ensures that every part of your pitch is purposeful and connected.<\/span><\/p>\n Investors and partners need to quickly understand how your scientific innovation translates into commercial success. Since you\u2019ll need time to explain what you\u2019ve invented, rip the commercial bandaid off early. While your business model may be backed by a complex Excel sheet, the challenge is to simplify it. When scientists visualise their business models in a digestible, diagrammatic format, it becomes more believable. <\/span><\/p>\n This approach is rare in the science world, but highly effective. By simplifying and visually representing your business model, you create clarity around commercialisation and give yourself more time to explain the science and innovation. If you\u2019re far from having a business model, do the same with a well-designed roadmap or timeline that visually represents your trajectory.<\/span><\/p>\n The core of getting a science pitch right is making room for simplified \u201caha\u201d moments. I suggest using the 70:30 rule for content density: around 70 per cent of your slides should contain substantial information\u2014data, insights, diagrams\u2014while 30 per cent should act as visual \u201cbreathers.\u201d These lighter slides might contain a core statement or a single impactful metric. This balance gives your audience the mental space to absorb complex content while the key insights sink in. Avoid “chapter” pages\u2014opt instead for key metrics or core statements that provide natural pauses in the narrative.<\/span><\/p>\n Also Read:\u00a0Save yourselves and stop making these pitch deck mistakes<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n The last page of your deck shouldn\u2019t be a generic \u201cAny Questions?\u201d slide. Use this opportunity to provide external validation and further resources. Include media coverage, industry articles, or video links that offer credibility. If you don\u2019t yet have media coverage, try securing industry-specific press or articles before going out to raise capital. In case potential investors still don\u2019t fully grasp the science by the end of the deck, providing extra content, such as simplified explainer videos, can help them understand and get them over the line.<\/span><\/p>\n This is a great exercise for any entrepreneur crafting a pitch deck. Once you\u2019ve created your slides, ask yourself for each one: Can it go in the appendix? Ideally, your deck should be concise\u2014no more than 10 slides. Scientific projects are complex, but the key is to prioritise the content that directly supports why your project is worth investing in. Detailed technical data, case studies, or secondary information can go in the appendix, allowing those interested in a deeper dive to explore further while keeping the core deck streamlined.<\/span><\/p>\n If I had a penny for every time I\u2019ve overheard or read a founder\u2019s opening line and had no idea what they do! Designing your pitch isn\u2019t just about the slides\u2014you need to have a clear idea of what you\u2019ll say pre-pitch and how you position both yourself and the project. <\/span><\/p>\n Whether the pitch happens over email, via video call, or in person, take the time to design the impression you want to give. Want to show you have scale? Open by mentioning co-founders or your executive team. Want to show you have customers? Find a subtle way to weave them into the intro. Role-playing with a team member\u2014or even practicing in front of a mirror\u2014can help refine this approach.<\/span><\/p>\n A scientific pitch deck isn\u2019t just about presenting your research\u2014it\u2019s about crafting a narrative that inspires confidence. By following these design principles, you\u2019ll ensure that your deck is strategically designed to communicate the value and potential of your scientific project.<\/span><\/p>\n —<\/p>\n Editor\u2019s note:\u00a0e27<\/b>\u00a0aims to foster thought leadership by publishing views from the community. Share your opinion by\u00a0submitting<\/a>\u00a0an article, video, podcast, or infographic.<\/p>\n Join us on\u00a0Instagram<\/a>,\u00a0Facebook<\/a>,\u00a0X<\/a>, and\u00a0LinkedIn<\/a>\u00a0to stay connected.<\/p>\n Image credit: Canva Pro<\/p>\n This article was first published on November 12, 2024<\/p>\n The post The art behind scientific pitch decks: 6 design principles to sell your science<\/a> appeared first on e27<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Crafting an effective scientific pitch deck is an art, especially when it involves communicating complex models and concepts. For nearly a decade, our design studio has been working on complex pitch deck designs from seed to IPO. Unlike software startups, scientists often find it harder to close capital raises. Why? This is partly due to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":369,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[14],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.fresnoforeclosure.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/367"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.fresnoforeclosure.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.fresnoforeclosure.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.fresnoforeclosure.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.fresnoforeclosure.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=367"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/www.fresnoforeclosure.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/367\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":370,"href":"http:\/\/www.fresnoforeclosure.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/367\/revisions\/370"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.fresnoforeclosure.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/369"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.fresnoforeclosure.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=367"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.fresnoforeclosure.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=367"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.fresnoforeclosure.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=367"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Your titles tell a story<\/strong><\/h1>\n
Design the business model<\/strong><\/h2>\n
The 70:30 rule on density<\/strong><\/h2>\n
The back page is your last chance to sell<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Could it go in the appendix?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Design the conversations around your deck<\/strong><\/h2>\n