Powerpoint vs. Google Slides For Pitch Decks

Which is the better software tool, Powerpoint vs. Google Slides for pitch decks?

Pitch decks are such a fundamental part of a startup. Even seemingly small factors like which presentation software you use for creating your pitch deck can make a significant difference.

When the fundraising process is already challenging and has enough hurdles, even for a perfect startup and founders with connections and reputation, you don’t need to make it even more difficult.

So, is Google Slides or Microsoft Powerpoint better? How do they compare? What other factors should be considered when trying to make a winning pitch deck?

Pitch Deck Templates: The Best Hack For Your Fundraising Efforts

The fastest and most sure way to create a pitch deck that works is to get your hands on a proven template.

There are many other things you are going to have to invent, create from scratch, experiment with, and be willing to fail hard at. This shouldn’t be one of them.

Fundraising is already time-consuming at the best of times. Being efficient and taking the proven path is just the intelligent move here.

Find a pitch deck template that is being recommended by investors themselves. It’s like them giving you the answers to the test. It would be crazy to ignore that.

This template may already be in one of these document types, though Powerpoint and Slides can be interchangeable to some extent too. At least with the exception of some theme features.

Options For Creating Your Pitch Deck

Whether using a template or trying to create your own deck from scratch there is more than one path to take in designing your deck. Do your homework and find out all you can about using Powerpoint vs. Google Slides for pitch decks.

Inhouse Team Members

Founders sometimes try to delegate their pitch deck design to their existing in-house employees. If you do already have a team of strong copywriters and graphic designers who really have a handle on the fundraising process and what investors want as well as slide presentations, then by all means use them. In most cases, they are not best suited for this task. Recognize the value in taking the most efficient route.

Design Agencies

There are a bigger and bigger number of various types of agencies popping up to offer their services online. Some are generic. Some are trying to position themselves to take advantage of the surge in interest in pitch decks.

They may vary greatly in the level of services they offer and bundle together. The best will have talented teams and subcontractors that can do world-class work.

Though you can also expect to pay for that. Agencies may charge anywhere from $5k to $50k for a deck.

Freelance Contractors

Often these agencies simply subcontract out your project to freelance designers and writers. If budget is an issue, then you may find these professionals directly online via platforms like UpWork.

This may achieve you 30% or more on the cover price. Yet, keep in mind that this also comes with more active management and communicating with multiple individuals versus going through an agency.

This can be especially useful if you already have a template or a designer or writer, and just want to fill in the blanks in your own team, and put a savvy pitch deck pro on the job. Again, the key to success is fundraising and startup-specific expertise.

The Solo Approach

It is not the most efficient or professional approach, but if you are desperately bootstrapping your way until you land this first round of funding, and you have some design and writing skills, then you can take the DIY approach, and create your own presentation using Powerpoint vs. Google Slides for pitch decks.

Just make sure you learn as much as you can before digging in. Take all of the advice available, and look for a template to save you time and get the framework right.

Keep in mind that in fundraising storytelling is everything. In this regard for a winning pitch deck to help you here, take a look at the template created by Silicon Valley legend, Peter Thiel (see it here) that I recently covered. Thiel was the first angel investor in Facebook with a $500K check that turned into more than $1 billion in cash.

Remember to unlock the pitch deck template that is being used by founders around the world to raise millions below.

The Keys To Creating Successful Pitch Decks

Start With Why

Don’t even consider playing with graphics or writing out a single pitch deck slide until you have a real handle on the why and purpose.

Is it for your own personal use? For your team? For fundraising? Aside from being clear about the amount of capital you want to raise, make sure you have clarity on the investors you want to bring on board, what you want them to feel and do on viewing your deck, and even how they will talk about it to others if it isn’t the right time for them to invest in you.

You can sugar coat it all you want, but this is simply another form of advertising. It is a sales pitch. Your deck must move people from awareness to sending money, or at least setting a serious follow-up meeting.

For this to work your deck has to:

• Differentiate you from the crowd
• Be engaging and interesting
• Establish capability and credibility
• Create and facilitate action

Clarity

Well over 1,000 pitch decks are created and sent to investors each day. On average, investors now spend less than four minutes viewing the decks that finally make it through the filters and into their inboxes.

They simply do not have time to try and figure out what you are trying to say if you are not being clear.

Keep it crisp. Limit it to only the main points. Keep it incredibly simple.

Differentiation

This doesn’t mean creating bizarre and confusing presentations. It means ensuring your startup stands out as being different. It has something which really resonates and is more inspiring and memorable than the rest.

And just sometimes, if you simply check all the boxes investors are looking for that may really help your deck stand out from the pack too.

It Flows Correctly

One of the most common blunders that startup entrepreneurs make is to make up their pitch deck flow as they go. That is not the way to do it.

There is a very specific flow of information and order to a pitch deck that investors expect. Follow it if you hope to get funded. Evaluate the best software tools like Powerpoint vs. Google Slides for pitch decks before choosing the one that works best for you.

The Opportunity Is Big Enough

Serious startups are only interested in massive opportunities. That is the only type of venture they can afford to fund.

Investing in startups is risky. They are shooting for 100x returns. When you are raising big money, that means it really needs to be a huge space you are taking on to be able to deliver on that.

The dominating market players are getting bigger and bigger too. You should be thinking and presenting in terms of tens of billions of dollars in market value. Market sizes are now hundreds of billions and trillions of dollars.

The Right Team

Your deck must demonstrate that you have the right team to execute this idea. This is far more important than the business idea itself.

Investors are looking to back a team that is not just technically talented but has a well-rounded skill set to create a real business out of this. The best in their disciplines in this industry.

Even more than that, the team needs to show the grit and indomitable perseverance to strive through the daily challenges that is entrepreneurship.

It’s Customized

The most effective pitch deck that closes the optimal investors on the best terms and gets the most out of them is the one that is specifically customized for them. It is tailored to your audience and ideal investors.

Make sure you know who they are, what they are looking for, and what will resonate and engage them before you begin putting your deck together.

Be Easy & Convenient To Engage With

Just having the right facts and answers in your deck isn’t enough. Sometimes it won’t matter at all. Not if your pitch deck isn’t easy to open, view, engage with, find and view again, and share with others.

This doesn’t just mean the time you show off your deck live in front of an audience. It has to be just as user-friendly when emailing it to potential investors, and when they view it on their mobile phones.

Work out which software Powerpoint vs. Google Slides for pitch decks works best.

Picking Your Presentation Software: Microsoft Powerpoint Versus Google Slides

Now that you know how you need to show up in your pitch deck, which slide presentation software will you choose?

If you’ve found a great template in a specific format, that may make the decision simpler. Though you can also often convert that if you choose to.

Google Slides and Powerpoint are very similar. Most of the features are interchangeable. You can download, upload, share and convert. Though there may be glitches with theme designs and fonts when it comes to editing.

Microsoft Powerpoint

Microsoft is one of the oldest brands in software. Powerpoint is certainly a household staple when it comes to creating presentations.

If you already have some experience and proficiency with Powerpoint that can be an advantage. If you are already a Microsoft power user, and you use Outlook for email, Word for documents, etc.. then this may influence your decision. It may make integrating daily tasks easier.

If you don’t already have Powerpoint, then you need to get access to it. Students may get free access. Or you may get a free trial with a new laptop. Otherwise, Office 365 online subscriptions are probably the most affordable way to get your hands on it.

Google Slides

Google is a newer entrant to the presentation game, but they have certainly done a pretty good job at copying Powerpoint, with all of the extra productivity benefits Google offers.

The theme’s menu may be a little leaner than Powerpoint. Though you shouldn’t come up wanting or needing anything more than Slides offers when it comes to raising money for your startup.

If you are already a Google user for cloud storage, email, video meetings, chat, ads, and other services, then this may be a no-brainer for you. The integration is great.

Slides also stands out for collaboration. It is easy to work on creating your deck with a team, engaging with advisors, and publishing, sharing, and tracking performance.

Anything Slides may lack in-depth or history is easily made up for in usability and productivity.

If you are not currently a Google user, then you will need to set up a Google account. It’s fast, free, and simple. Get it on your phone and laptop, and sync them.

Even as you’re figuring out the best tool, Powerpoint vs. Google Slides for your pitch decks, you would also want to have a clear pitch deck outline before you get started. Check out this video I have created explaining how to get started.

Which Is Best?

The best choice for you and your startup may somewhat weigh on which suite of products you already use.

There is little difference in price. So, if you are not using either right now, then it is probably a matter of what format you are getting a template in, and which helps you work most efficiently.

There is also Apple Keynote, tools like Canva and others, but these two giants are probably where your choice really lies.

Scout around for the best options like Powerpoint vs. Google Slides for pitch decks.

Steps To Creating Your Pitch Deck

Once you’ve chosen your pitch deck software, it’s time to get building.

Begin by listing out your slides.

1. Cover
2. Problem
3. Solution
4. Market
5. Product
6. Traction
7. Team slide
8. Competition
9. Financials
10. The ask

Research

Make sure you have all of your data and intel lined up. Who is your customer? Who are your investors? What’s the market and what’s happening in it, etc.

Build It

• Name your file
• Choose your theme or background
• Pick your fonts and sizes
• Paste in your text and images
• Review and polish

Practice & Present

Rehearse your presentation. Make it natural and own it. Then get out there. Put your deck to work. Send it, present it, and get funded. And find out which software works best, Powerpoint vs. Google Slides for pitch decks.

You may find interesting as well our free library of business templates. There you will find every single template you will need when building and scaling your business completely for free. See it here.