Your pitch deck isn’t just a PDF—it’s a filter. A litmus test. A silent first impression that determines whether an investor hits delete or leans in.
Digital health founders often get this wrong. Either it’s a glorified product demo with no business model, or it’s a 40-slide manifesto that reads like a regulatory policy doc.
In a space where both clinical outcomes and business outcomes matter, your deck has to walk a tightrope: visionary, but grounded. Clear, but nuanced. Let’s get it right.
1. The Golden Rule: Know Your Audience
You’re pitching people who:
- Have seen thousands of decks
- May not be doctors—but understand the industry
- Want clarity fast
The deck’s job is not to close the round. It’s to get a meeting.
2. Ideal Structure for a Digital Health Deck
Here’s a format that works. Tweak based on stage and model.
1. Cover Slide
- Company name, logo, tagline
- Founder name + contact
2. Problem
- What’s broken?
- Who feels the pain (user + buyer)?
- What’s the cost of doing nothing?
3. Solution
- What you’ve built
- How it solves the pain
- Bonus: video demo or screenshots
4. Market
- TAM/SAM/SOM is optional—what matters:
- Who you’re targeting first (beachhead)
- Why now is the right time
5. Business Model
- Who pays you?
- Pricing structure
- LTV and CAC (if known)
6. Traction / Milestones
- Pilots, users, revenue
- Partnerships, case studies
- Clinical outcomes (if any)
7. Go-To-Market
- Wedge market
- Sales model
- Channels and early signals
8. Competitive Landscape
- Who else is playing here?
- Why you win
- Defensibility (data, tech, partnerships)
9. Team
- Bios + why this team is uniquely qualified
- Advisors (if they’re relevant)
10. Ask
- How much are you raising?
- Use of funds
- What milestone this round gets you to
3. Make the Deck Look… Not Ugly
This sounds harsh, but VCs are humans. And if your deck looks like a 2003 PowerPoint with WordArt and Times New Roman, you’re starting behind.
- Use consistent fonts and colors
- Add whitespace—let slides breathe
- Include visuals: charts, photos, UI shots
Design isn’t fluff—it’s signal. Good design suggests attention to detail and user empathy.
4. What VCs Actually Look For
Mr. Min-Sung Sean Kim has scanned thousands of decks. Here’s what catches attention:
- Clarity in the problem and target user
- Real traction, even if early
- Evidence of understanding regulatory hurdles
- A believable GTM path
- A founder who gets healthcare
Red flags? Vague go-to-market, hand-wavy revenue models, or ignoring HIPAA/FDA when clearly applicable.
5. Bonus Slides (If You Have Room)
- Clinical Validation: Any data, trials, or published studies
- Tech Architecture: If the stack matters (e.g. AI, interoperability)
- Security/Compliance Overview: For B2B healthcare
Don’t bloat the deck—but if these support credibility, include them.
6. Pitch Deck Distribution: Use the Right Tools
- DocSend: Track views and control access
- Notion: Create a live, scrollable deck for async sharing
- PDF: Still works—just compress it and name it smartly (e.g. AcmeHealth_SeedDeck_2025.pdf)
Final Word: Don’t Make VCs Work to Understand You
The best decks don’t impress with flash. They impress with clarity.
If a VC has to guess what you do, who it’s for, or how you’ll make money—you’ve already lost the room.
Dial in your story. And remember: the deck is just the first step. The real pitch happens live.
To prep for that, read:
- How to Find the Right VC
- Pitch Mistakes Founders Make
- Investor Decision-Making Process
- Go-To-Market Guide
He has invested in startups including American Well, Neuronation, Mimi, and most notably mySugr – which was recently acquired by Roche. Min-Sung is also a contributing writer for mediums including TechCrunch and Tech.EU and studied Business Economics at Witten/Herdecke, Harvard, St.Gallen, and in Seoul.