OPSANA Pitch Deck Structure
I have built and seen many pitch decks, and the OPSANA framework is one of my favorites.
While there is no universal formula for a perfect pitch deck (check out the Y Combinator Seed Deck Template), I’ve found the OPSANA framework to be an effective structure. It ensures your story flows logically, builds excitement, and answers the key questions investors will have.
The OPSANA Framework
Opportunity → Problem → Solution → Advantage → Next Step → Ask
Each element serves a specific purpose and can span multiple slides if necessary. Here’s how to break it down:
1. Opportunity: Paint the Big Picture
What to Cover: How big is this market? Why should everyone care about it? Why is now the right time to go after it?
Purpose: This section sets the stage and gets investors excited (or teach them) about the potential upside. Use real data to show that the opportunity is massive and worth pursuing.
2. Problem: Define the Challenge
What to Cover: Why has no one capitalized on this opportunity yet? What are the obstacles or pain points?
Purpose: Establish your domain expertise by demonstrating a deep understanding of the market’s challenges. This builds credibility and positions you as the team to solve the problem.
3. Solution: Present Your Vision
What to Cover: How will your product, game or service solve the problem and capture the opportunity? What makes your solution unique?
Purpose: Showcase your concept, demonstrate its potential, and prove how it addresses the identified problem. Be clever and build directly off the opportunity and problem sections. Explain how you will win.
4. Advantage: Highlight Your Edge
What to Cover: What gives your team the ability to execute this vision better than anyone else? This could include proprietary tech, early traction, or a standout team.
Purpose: Build confidence that your company can deliver on its promise and outperform competitors. Explain why you will win.
5. Next Step: Show the Path Forward
What to Cover: What’s the next major milestone, and how will achieving it significantly increase the company’s value? Provide a clear and credible plan to get there.
Purpose: Explain what the investor is buying—a bet on your ability to hit that next inflection point.
6. Ask: Make Your Request Clear
What to Cover: What resources do you need to achieve the next step? Why is this specific partner the right fit to help you get there?
Purpose: Close the loop by making a clear and compelling request. Personalize the ask to the specific audience and convince them they are the right partner to take the company to the next level.
Final Thoughts
There’s no silver bullet for creating the perfect pitch deck, but a strong framework ensures you cover all the key areas that matter to investors. OPSANA helps guide the narrative, starting with the big picture and ending with a focused ask. Each section builds on the last, creating a logical and persuasive story about your company’s potential.