Every year at Costanoa, we see thousands of early-stage fundraising decks from a wide array of industries. Despite obvious differences, great decks all have the same general characteristics: they are clear, concise, look professional, and tell a compelling story. As simple as that may seem, it's far more common to see a pitch deck that fails to tie the pieces together and leaves the reader overwhelmed with information and unable to articulate the main thesis.

Given how close to the business founders are, it's easy to feel the need to cram as much information into a short deck as possible. There is so much to share because founders live and breathe their business and understand it at a level of detail and nuance that no one else can. But that is exactly the challenge: how can you present your idea without overwhelming someone who is seeing it for the first time?