How to build an effective biotech pitch deck

Biotech pitch decks pose a unique challenge. They require a delicate balance between diving deep into the science and meeting your audience where they are. Founders need to translate complex scientific concepts into compelling narratives while ensuring clarity and accessibility for investors with varying levels of technical expertise.

At Wunderdogs, we specialize in helping biotech companies craft pitch decks that resonate. From Seed through Series B and beyond, we’ve supported clients by crafting thoughtful narratives and matching them with engaging, accessible designs. Our cumulative experience has helped clients raise over $800MM in funding, giving us a deep understanding of what makes a biotech pitch deck stand out.

What makes a biotech pitch deck special

Biotech pitch decks often require more depth, detail, and length than those of other industries. This is due to the field’s inherent complexity: biotech products are often technology-intensive, deeply rooted in science, and take much longer to commercialize. Investors need a comprehensive understanding of not only your product’s potential but also the data and validation supporting it.

Biotech companies also tend to adopt platform-based approaches, meaning they offer a foundational technology with applications across multiple use cases. This requires presenting a broad vision while maintaining focus on your immediate, actionable steps.

Narrative elements of a successful biotech pitch deck

Framing and storytelling

Much like in any other industry, a compelling narrative is essential for making your pitch memorable. However, biotech investors tend to be very cautious about grand promises and lofty claims.

Introduce your big vision early in the deck, capturing the audience’s imagination with the potential of your technology. However, balance this with the practical, tangible steps you’re taking to move forward.

Acknowledge the challenges inherent in the industry, such as long commercialization timelines, regulatory hurdles, or essential clinical trials, and show how your strategy mitigates these risks. A narrative that combines ambition with pragmatism is far more likely to gain investor confidence.

Science and data

Science is the backbone of any biotech pitch, but presenting it effectively is a balancing act. Both overloading and under-explaining the science can alienate your audience. Focus on the most critical elements that support your pitch and weave them into your narrative.

Experimental data is another notable cornerstone. The "one slide, one point" rule is invaluable here: use individual slides to emphasize key findings rather than overwhelming your audience with too much data at once. Highlight results that align with your narrative and support your product’s viability.

For more technical or detailed information, include a robust appendix or data room that investors can reference later, or that you can pull from during your pitch when needed.

Human focus

Investors want to see not only that your team has the expertise to develop the technology but also that they understand the challenges of navigating a complex and highly regulated industry.

Beyond the standard team and advisor slide, weave your team’s qualifications into the broader story. Highlight their track record, expertise, and strategic thinking throughout the deck. Show how their combined skills make them uniquely positioned to tackle the challenges of bringing your product to market.

Spotlight on deck design

The design of your pitch deck is just as important as its content. Good design can help transform dense information into a clear, engaging story. Here are some ways in which design can elevate your narrative:

Let your visuals tell a story

Visuals are one of the most powerful tools in a biotech pitch deck, but they need to be used with intention. Infographics, for instance, should focus on illustrating one key point at a time. Think of each infographic as a chapter in your story. Avoid the temptation to cram multiple concepts into a single graphic. Instead, use white space to draw attention to what matters most and ensure your audience grasps the takeaway at a glance.

Design data for impact

Biotech pitches rely on experimental data to back up claims, but too much raw data can drown your message. Tables filled with numbers are hard to digest and often fail to make an impression. Instead, consider how you can visualize your data to highlight key insights. Bar charts, line graphs, and pie charts allow you to showcase trends and relationships in a way that’s easy to understand. Pair these visuals with concise labels and annotations to ensure the data connects directly to your narrative.

Keep the focus on your story

Every design choice should serve your story. Arrange slides in a logical flow, ensuring each one builds on the last. Use section dividers, arrows, or subtle transitions to signal shifts in focus and help your audience follow along. If a slide doesn’t advance your narrative, consider whether it truly belongs in the deck.

Engage without overwhelming

Finally, aim for simplicity. Slides overloaded with text, visuals, or data can confuse your audience and dilute your message. Instead, embrace the power of white space and let your key points shine. A well-spaced, uncluttered design not only looks professional but also gives your audience room to absorb and reflect on your ideas.

Going from Seed to Series A

The jump from Seed to Series A is often one of the most challenging transitions for all startups, and biotech is no exception. While other industries focus on proving product-market fit at this stage, biotech founders need to place their product within the larger framework of the industry.

Seed-stage decks typically introduce early experimental data and outline a potential application for the technology. By Series A, investors expect to see more extensive data alongside a clearer definition of your product and its role in the industry. This might include regulatory insights, preliminary feedback from potential partners, or further development of your commercialization plan.

Investors want to see not only that your science is sound but also that you’re starting to carve out a path toward market integration. Your pitch should address how your product aligns with existing workflows, solves a specific problem, or creates a meaningful opportunity within the industry. For platform products, it’s usually helpful to zero in on a specific application and build on that. By Series A, investors will want to see achievable milestones and an addressable market instead of compelling grand promises.

Conclusion

In biotech, complexity is the norm, so building a deck requires a deep and thoughtful approach. Balancing science with a clear, compelling narrative is no easy task, but it’s essential for capturing investor attention.

By focusing on a strong story and clean, intentional design, you can distill complexity into clarity and ensure your deck resonates. Remember, every slide should serve your narrative and reflect the promise that defines your company. With the right balance of depth and simplicity, your pitch deck can open doors to your company’s future.

Want to learn more? Get in touch with Wunderdogs!