Every entrepreneur knows the thrill of getting a chance to present their business ideas to investors or partners. However, there is a nuance – you usually have strict timing limits. And this is where many go wrong – they try to square the circle and mess up everything. Imagine you have 15 minutes to make your case. So, how many slides per minute can you show? What is the best presentation pacing? Learn how to craft your presentation timing strategy from our new article!
Whenever you need to present to investors or partners, you must follow modern business etiquette and create a concise slide deck. What is a pitch deck? It’s your business story in slides. Well, you may have the next logical question: How many slides per minute should I show if I have only 15 minutes for all? The consensus among investors points to approximately 1-2 minutes per slide, so it’s 10-15 slides for a 15-minute presentation. However, it’s not an absolute slide per minute rule - let’s look at what experts say:
Mark Cuban, Shark Tank investor, emphasizes that 5-6 slides are enough to explain a business idea. He said, “If you need more than that, you don't understand your business well enough.”
Sequoia Capital, one of the top VC firms in Silicon Valley, suggests using no more than 10 slides for a pitch.
Y Combinator, the startup accelerator, recommends 10 to 12 slides, but says it’s better to cover fewer slides well than to rush through too many.
As you see from the above, there is no ideal number of slides, and you will hardly impress a potential investor with a slide disco. Less is more – this is the principle you should follow when preparing for public speaking. Follow visual presentation best practices:
One slide is one idea. Don’t overload your audience with too much information. Each slide should show just one key message or point.
Keep text minimal. Use short phrases or keywords instead of lengthy explanations. Your slides should only briefly support what you say. You will fill in the details during the presentation.
Use public speaking visuals wisely. Charts, graphs, and images explain complex ideas better than words. But they also must be clear, relevant, and easy to understand.
Keep it clean. Use large fonts (30-point is a good rule), lots of white space, and a consistent layout when creating a pitch deck. Avoid clutter and bullet point overload.
Every element must have a purpose. If something doesn’t help tell your story or strengthen your point, simply remove it.
Pick deck dimensions depend on the type of your pitch. Here are some basic guidelines on 15 minute presentation how many slides you need:
Investor pitch deck
This type of presentation is used for fundraising. Keep it short and to the point with 10–12. Focus on the problem, your solution, the market size, how you make money, your team, traction so far, and what you’re asking for. The goal is not to explain everything but to get investors interested enough to ask for a second meeting.
Sales pitch deck
If you're selling a product or service, your slides should show how it solves a real problem for the customer. You need 10–15 slides. Include the problem, your solution, product features, benefits, proof it works (like reviews or case studies), and pricing. Finish with a clear call to action. Make it easy for the customer to say yes.
Internal pitch deck
Use this kind of deck when you want to pitch a new idea to your team or leadership. You’ll need about 8–15 slides. Focus on the problem or opportunity, your proposed solution, why it matters to the company, what it will take to do it, and next steps. Your task is to show how it helps the team or business.
Partnership pitch deck
This pitch is for starting a collaboration with another company. Use 10–15 slides to show why working together makes sense. Include the shared opportunity, how each side benefits, how it would work, and what the next step is. Make it clear how the partnership helps both sides succeed.
How long to spend per slide if you have only 15 minutes? It may seem like nothing for presentation planning, but with the right structure, it’s absolutely enough to deliver a compelling story. Use these slideshow timing tips to use this time effectively and even leave some room for engagement. So, you will roughly have 10-12 slides to show, and it means 1 -1,5 presentation slides per minute. per slide. Here is how to structure slides per minute presentation:
Title slide (Company name, tagline, contact info) – 15 seconds
The problem (What pain are you solving?) – 1 minute
The solution (Your product/service) – 1.5 minutes
Market opportunity (Market size, growth, target audience) – 2 minutes
Business model (How you make money) – 1.5 minutes
Traction (Customers, revenue, milestones) – 2 minutes
Competitive advantage (Why you’ll win) – 1.5 minutes
Financial projections (3-year forecast, key metrics) – 2 minutes
Team (Core members, relevant expertise) – 1 minute
Ask and next steps (Funding goal, what’s next) – 1 minute
It all will take 14 minutes and leave you a minute buffer for a short Q&A or interruptions.
Even if your slide transitions and timing are perfect, these small mistakes can spoil it all:
Too many slides. Theoretically, you can squeeze in 20+ slides in 15 minutes but you’ll have to rush and it will affect the quality.
Too much text and data. No one will read long texts or delve into confusing numbers. Save the detailed data for follow-up conversations.
Going over time. Respect time management for presentations. Always practice with a timer so you know exactly how long you need.
Reading slides word-for-word. People want to hear your insights, not just what's already on the screen. Be ready to explain your slides.
No clear call to action. Never end your pitch without telling what you want. Clearly express what you need - funding, a partnership, or a second meeting.
No Q&A time. Many investors decide based on the answers you give in the last few minutes. Make sure to leave a minute at the end for questions.
In a 15-minute presentation, every second counts. Plan 10–15 slides for your pitch, but keep things simple and don’t overwhelm your audience. Fewer, stronger slides will always be more effective than rushing through a cluttered deck. The secret of a great pitch is practice. Rehearse until you're comfortable with the timing, and cut out anything that’s not essential.
Need help? At DreamX, we're always ready to explore your idea and craft a pitch deck that wins over investors. So,don’t hesitate to reach out. Together, we’ll build a pitch deck that leaves a lasting impression!
15-minute presentation – how many slides make it a success?
Responsible for strategic partnerships. Create and implement lead generation strategies, manage the team and analyze data.
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