Sequoia & Y Combinator Pitch Deck Template [Format, Examples & Guidelines]
- Ink Narrates | The Presentation Design Agency
- Jul 7, 2024
- 12 min read
Updated: Jan 22
Our client, David, asked us a question while we were working on their investor pitch deck
"Which pitch deck format is better? Sequoia or Y Combinator"
Our Creative Director answered,
"It’s not about which is better, it’s about which helps you tell your story better."
We work on investor pitch decks year-round, and we've observed a common challenge: founders often get stuck choosing between different pitch deck formats (templates), thinking one format will guarantee success. The reality? Investors care less about the format and more about how well your deck communicates your startup’s potential.
So, in this blog, we’ll cover the 2 most popular pitch deck formats: Sequoia Capital & Y Combinator Templates, breaking down why they work and how to apply them.
In case you didn't know, we specialize in building investor pitch decks. We can help you by designing your slides and writing your content too.
Why Should You Study the Pitch Deck Templates of Sequoia and Y Combinator
We’ve worked with enough startups to know this: there’s a clear difference between a pitch deck that opens doors and one that disappears into the void. And here’s what most founders get wrong, they treat the deck like an afterthought. It’s not. It’s your story, your strategy, your one shot at making someone believe you might just be the next big thing.
Over time, we’ve seen how investors and accelerators tune in to different signals. Some chase the vision. Others want proof, numbers, traction. If you don’t know what they’re listening for, you’re already behind.
That’s why, in this piece, we’re breaking down three pitch deck styles that keep showing up in winning hands.
The Sequoia Capital Pitch Deck Format/Template
The Y Combinator (YC) Pitch Deck Format/Template
1. The Sequoia Capital Pitch Deck Template/Format
Here's the Sequoia Capital Pitch Deck format for your quick reference...
Sequoia Capital is one of the most prestigious venture firms in Silicon Valley. They’ve backed companies that became household names. So, when they share what they look for in a pitch deck, it’s worth paying attention.
The Sequoia pitch deck format is straightforward. It doesn’t try to be clever or overly creative. It cuts straight to the information investors care about most. Ten slides. Ten things you need to nail.
Let’s go through each slide, one by one, and talk about how to apply them while building your own pitch deck.
1. Company Purpose
This is the mission distilled into one clear, memorable sentence. Sequoia calls it the most important part of your pitch. If you can’t explain your purpose simply, it’s a red flag.
What to include: One sentence that explains what your company does and why it matters.
How to apply it: Think of it like your headline. Airbnb’s early purpose was, “Book rooms with locals, rather than hotels.” That’s it. Clean. Direct. Avoid jargon or buzzwords. Your purpose should be so clear that anyone can repeat it after hearing it once.
2. Problem
Investors want to understand what pain you’re solving. This is where you set up the urgency of your business.
What to include:
The specific pain point your target audience experiences.
How people currently address it (and why that’s inadequate).
How to apply it: Be concrete. Don’t say, “The healthcare system is broken.” That’s too broad. Say, “Patients wait an average of three weeks to see a doctor for non-urgent conditions, costing both time and money.” The sharper and more relatable the problem, the stronger the hook.
3. Solution
Now that the problem is clear, show how you solve it. This isn’t about listing features. It’s about showing the transformation your solution delivers.
What to include:
A simple description of your product or service.
The value it creates for users.
Why it’s better than the alternatives.
How to apply it: Use plain language. Investors don’t want a feature dump, they want to see impact. If your product saves people time, say exactly how much time. If it saves them money, quantify it. Keep it practical, not theoretical.
4. Why Now
This is one of Sequoia’s smartest additions. Even if your product is brilliant, timing can kill it. This slide answers the question: Why is this idea inevitable today, not five years ago?
What to include:
Market trends that make your solution possible.
Shifts in technology, regulation, or consumer behavior.
Proof that the market is ready.
How to apply it: Don’t just throw buzzwords like “AI” or “blockchain.” Show the real, measurable tailwinds that make your timing right. For example, if you’re building a climate-tech product, highlight how new regulations or corporate sustainability mandates create demand right now.
5. Market Potential
Investors don’t just back products. They back markets. Even the best solution won’t attract funding if the opportunity feels too small.
What to include:
Total Addressable Market (TAM)
Serviceable Addressable Market (SAM)
Serviceable Obtainable Market (SOM), if possible
How to apply it: Keep your numbers credible. Don’t inflate your TAM into a trillion-dollar pie. Investors have seen that too many times. Instead, show how the market is large enough and growing, and then demonstrate how you realistically capture a piece of it.
6. Competition
If you say you have no competition, you’ve already lost. Sequoia wants to see that you understand the landscape and where you fit.
What to include:
Direct competitors, indirect competitors, and substitutes.
A clear map of where you sit in relation to them.
Your unique advantages.
How to apply it: A competitive matrix works well here — but keep it simple. Pick two dimensions that really matter (cost, speed, usability, etc.) and show how you stand apart. Investors want to see that you’re aware of the battlefield and that you have an edge.
7. Product
This is the first time you really show your product in detail. But remember, investors don’t want a live demo at this stage. They want to see what you’ve built and how it works.
What to include:
Screenshots, mock-ups, or photos.
The core features that matter most.
Proof that your product is real or in progress.
How to apply it: Focus on the “aha” moment. What’s the one thing users love most when they try your product? Put that front and center. And don’t over-design the slide. Clear visuals beat walls of text every time.
8. Business Model
This slide answers a blunt but critical question: How do you make money?
What to include:
Who pays you (and how much).
How you price the product.
Early signs of monetization (if you have them).
How to apply it: Keep it practical. If you’re pre-revenue, explain your model and why it’s viable. If you’re generating revenue, show numbers, even if they’re small. Investors want to see that you’ve thought through how money flows, not just how users click around.
9. Team
The idea matters, but the team behind it matters more. Investors are betting on execution, and that comes down to people.
What to include:
Founders and leadership team.
Key backgrounds and expertise.
Advisors, if they add credibility.
How to apply it: Don’t overload this with long resumes. A headshot, title, and one-line expertise summary is enough. For example: “Sarah – 10 years in supply chain management at Amazon.” The goal is to prove that your team has the skills and grit to pull this off.
10. Financials
Finally, the numbers. This slide is about showing ambition grounded in reality.
What to include:
3 to 5 years of financial projections.
Revenue, expenses, and key metrics.
Assumptions that drive your model.
How to apply it: Be transparent. Investors know your projections won’t be perfect, but they want to see how you think about growth. If you’re pre-revenue, focus on metrics like user acquisition, engagement, or pipeline deals. Show where you’re heading, not just where you are.
Why the Sequoia’s Deck Works
The genius of this format is its balance. It gives investors exactly what they need — problem, solution, timing, market, competition, product, business, team, and numbers — without drowning them in extras.
We’ve seen founders try to bolt on more slides: vision statements, testimonials, roadmaps, you name it. But when you stick to Sequoia’s ten, you come across as focused and disciplined. And in a world where investors are reviewing dozens of decks every week, that clarity can make all the difference.
2. The Y Combinator (YC) Pitch Deck Template/Format
Here's the YC Pitch Deck Template for your quick reference (as posted on Y Combinator's website) ...
Y Combinator has funded some of the biggest names in tech — Stripe, Airbnb, Dropbox, Coinbase. Their pitch philosophy is simple: focus on the essentials, strip out the noise, and get to the point fast. YC partners see hundreds of decks every year, and the ones that stand out all have one thing in common: clarity.
That’s why Y Combinator created a straightforward pitch deck template. No gimmicks, no bloated roadmaps, no endless appendices. Just the slides that matter most. Let’s walk through each slide and talk about how to apply them when you’re building your own pitch.
1. Problem
YC starts where every good pitch should — the problem. If the problem isn’t real or urgent, nothing else matters.
What to include:
A simple, sharp statement of the pain point.
Who experiences it and why it’s painful.
If possible, data or anecdotes that make the problem undeniable.
How to apply it: Don’t get abstract. Don’t talk in vague industry generalizations. Show the pain in human terms. For example: “Small e-commerce brands spend up to 20 hours a week reconciling orders manually.” Investors need to feel the frustration before they’ll care about your fix.
2. Solution
Once the problem is set, you present your solution. This is where most founders lose their audience by drowning them in features. Resist that temptation.
What to include:
A one-liner about your product.
A short explanation of how it addresses the problem.
Why it’s better than what exists today.
How to apply it: Think in terms of transformation. What changes for the user when they start using your solution? Keep the language plain. If you can explain it to a 12-year-old without losing accuracy, you’re doing it right.
3. Why Now
This is YC’s secret weapon slide. Plenty of startups solve real problems with real solutions — but timing decides whether they succeed or die on the vine.
What to include:
Market shifts that create urgency (technology, regulation, behavior).
Evidence that the environment is ripe today, not five years from now.
How to apply it: Anchor this slide in proof, not buzzwords. Don’t just say “AI makes this possible.” Show the specific advancements or adoption curves that explain why your company has a shot right now. Investors know timing is everything — show them you’ve thought about it.
4. Market Size
YC cares deeply about markets. A great product in a tiny market won’t become a venture-scale company.
What to include:
Total Addressable Market (TAM).
Serviceable Addressable Market (SAM).
If possible, Serviceable Obtainable Market (SOM).
How to apply it: Be credible. Don’t pull a trillion-dollar number off a report and call it your TAM. Show a bottoms-up calculation tied to real customer spend. For example: “There are 200,000 independent gyms in the U.S. They each spend $15,000 per year on management tools. That’s a $3B market.” Simple math beats inflated charts.
5. Product
This is where you finally get to show what you’ve built. But remember — keep it focused on what matters most.
What to include:
Screenshots or mock-ups.
The features that deliver the core value.
Proof the product is real or in development.
How to apply it: Lead with the “aha” moment. What’s the one thing users love when they see your product for the first time? Highlight that. Avoid overwhelming slides with too many screenshots. Two or three images that tell the story are enough.
6. Business Model
A pitch without a money story is incomplete. YC wants to see you’ve thought about how your business actually generates revenue.
What to include:
Who pays you.
How much they pay.
The mechanics of your pricing.
How to apply it: Be specific. Don’t just say “we’ll monetize later.” Even if you’re early, outline your model and why it works. For example: “We charge SMBs $50 per month for unlimited access. Early users are converting at 12% from free trial to paid.” That level of clarity inspires confidence.
7. Competition
Every startup has competition — either direct rivals or current alternatives your customers use. YC wants to see that you understand your battlefield.
What to include:
Key competitors or substitutes.
A simple visual comparison.
Your unfair advantage.
How to apply it: Keep the slide clean. A quadrant chart with two meaningful axes works well. Avoid putting yourself at the top-right corner automatically; it looks lazy. Instead, highlight the factor that truly differentiates you. If your edge is speed, show how you’re 10x faster than incumbents.
8. Team
Investors bet on people more than ideas. YC knows this better than anyone.
What to include:
Founders and key team members.
Their relevant experience.
Advisors or backers if they add credibility.
How to apply it: Make it visual. Photos, names, and one-line credentials work better than paragraphs. For example: “Maria – ex-Uber product lead. John – scaled payments infra at Stripe.” Keep it sharp and relevant. You’re not showing resumes. You’re proving this team is built to win.
9. Traction
This slide is where you show momentum. If you have traction, highlight it. If you don’t, focus on meaningful progress.
What to include:
Key metrics (revenue, users, growth rate).
Milestones achieved (product launch, pilots, partnerships).
Evidence that the market wants what you’re building.
How to apply it: Charts work better than text here. A simple line showing user or revenue growth speaks louder than paragraphs of explanation. And if you’re early, show pipeline or waitlist numbers. Anything that proves demand is real.
10. Use of Funds
Finally, YC wants to know what you’re raising and how you’ll use it. This slide ties everything together.
What to include:
How much you’re raising.
What the money will go toward (product, hiring, marketing).
Milestones you’ll achieve with this round.
How to apply it: Be precise. Don’t say “we’ll use the funds for growth.” Break it down: “40% product, 30% sales, 20% marketing, 10% operations.” Then connect it to outcomes: “This will get us to 10k paying users within 18 months.” That level of clarity shows discipline.
Why the YC’s Template Works
The Y Combinator format works because it’s brutally efficient. Ten slides that cover exactly what matters: problem, solution, timing, market, product, business, competition, team, traction, and funding. Nothing else.
We’ve seen founders try to bolt on extra slides — visions, testimonials, deep product tours — and it always makes the deck weaker. YC’s template forces you to cut to the chase. And that’s exactly why investors respect it.
Example of a Pitch Deck That Secured Funding from Sequoia Capital
If we set design quality aside, since this is a very early and dated deck, the Airbnb pitch deck is a strong example of a simple deck that successfully secured funding from Sequoia Capital.
The strength of the deck lies not in visuals, but in clarity and structure. We’ve written a detailed breakdown of the Airbnb pitch deck, which you can read here...
Example of a Pitch Deck That Secured Funding from Y Combinator
Brex is a well-known graduate of Y Combinator and a strong example of how clarity beats complexity in early fundraising. Their pitch deck focused on a sharp problem, a clear product advantage, and a credible path to scale, which helped them stand out in a crowded fintech space. We’ve broken down how Brex structured this narrative and why it worked. You can read it here...
Questions Founders Ask Us About Sequoia and Y Combinator Pitch Decks
FAQ: Should I use the Sequoia or Y Combinator templates even if I'm not pitching to them?
Absolutely, but with intention.
The Sequoia and Y Combinator templates are classics for a reason.
They focus on clarity, storytelling, and logic (three things every investor deck needs, regardless of who’s in the room). These templates help you structure your story around the essentials: the problem, your solution, market potential, traction, and the team behind it. If your current deck feels cluttered or scattered, starting with one of these frameworks can bring immediate focus and flow.
That said, don’t follow them blindly. The Sequoia and YC decks are designed for fast-moving startups pitching to venture capitalists who already know the format.
If you’re pitching a luxury brand, creating a deck for a social enterprise, or a niche B2B solution, you’ll need to adapt the tone, visuals, and pacing to fit your audience. Use the templates as a foundation, not a formula. The best decks borrow structure and then rewrite the story to feel unmistakably yours.
FAQ: Does this mean there's no room for creativity with these formats?
No, it doesn’t mean that at all. These formats are not meant to limit creativity; they are meant to contain it. The structure exists to make sure the story is clear and the business logic is easy to follow. Creativity still plays a role in how you frame the narrative, what you choose to emphasize, and how you visually express your brand. The best decks are not creative for the sake of it, they are creative in service of clarity and conviction.
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