Video for Pitch Deck to Raise Money
By Adam petty
Video for Pitch Deck: The 2025 Founder’s Guide to Raising Money Faster
If you’re reading this, you’ve probably stared at a blank slide deck at 2 a.m. wondering why your brilliant idea still feels… flat. Good news: adding a video for pitch deck can turn that flat deck into a 3-D fundraising magnet. In the next ten minutes, you’ll learn exactly how to plan, script, and ship a pitch deck video that investors actually watch—and, more importantly, remember.
(Yes, we’ll even share the exact checklist Flowjam uses with 100+ YC startups, so bookmark this page now.)
Contents
- What Is a Video for a Pitch Deck?
- Step-by-Step: How to Create a Video for Pitch Deck (That Doesn’t Suck)
- Best Practices & Micro-Tips for a Scroll-Stopping Pitch Deck Video
- Real Examples of Video for Pitch Deck That Raised Millions
- Common Mistakes Founders Make (So You Don’t Have To)
- Video for Pitch Deck vs. Traditional Pitch Deck—Side-by-Side
- FAQ – Everything Else You’re Too Embarrassed to Ask
- SaaS Launch Strategy for Startups—Plugging Your Video into the Pre-Launch Funnel
What Is a Video for a Pitch Deck?
A video for pitch deck is a 60- to 180-second cinematic summary that sits at the top of your slide deck (or replaces it entirely) and tells your startup story in motion. Think of it as the movie trailer to your Series A. Instead of bullet points, you get voice-over, sound design, product demos, and founder charisma—all compressed into the time it takes to sip a coffee.
Why does it matter?
- Investors skim 100+ decks a week ((Source: DocSend 2024 Report).
- Video increases retention by 95% vs. text (Insivia).
- YC now asks for a 1-min video in their new batch application (Y Combinator).
Step-by-Step: How to Create a Video for Pitch Deck (That Doesn’t Suck)
Below is the exact workflow we run at Flowjam for seed-stage founders. Copy it, tweak it, and thank us in your IPO speech.
✅ Step 1: Nail the Goal in 15 Minutes
Ask: What single emotion do I want investors to feel after watching? Most founders say “excitement,” but seasoned VCs crave “FOMO.” Whichever you choose, write it on a sticky note and keep it visible while you script.
✅ Step 2: Choose the Format
Pick one
- Talking-head + product demo (fastest, most human)
- Animated explainer (great for deep tech)
- Hybrid (talking head + kinetic text + screen capture)
✅ Step 3: Script Like a Hollywood Trailer
Use the 4-part “ABCD” framework from Flowjam’s internal template:
- Attention (hook in first 5 seconds)
- Big Problem (statistic or visceral pain)
- Crushing Solution (your product in action)
- Demand (clear ask—raise amount, traction, CTA)
Keep it under 150 words. Need inspiration? Dropbox’s 2010 pitch video still holds up (YouTube).
✅ Step 4: Storyboard in Figma
Each frame = 3–4 seconds. Use the pitch deck video long-tail keyword “checklist to launch SaaS product” as a slide label so Google knows what’s up.
✅ Step 5: Record
Gear:
- iPhone 15 Pro or Sony ZV-1
- Lavalier mic (Rode Lavalier II)
- Neewer ring light
- Clean background—no unmade beds, please
Pro tip: Record at 4K/30fps so you can crop punch-ins in post.
✅ Step 6: Edit in 3 Passes
- Assembly—drop clips on timeline, sync audio
- Polish—color grade, lower-third text, royalty-free track from Artlist
- Compression—export 1080p, <20 MB so it emails cleanly
Tools: CapCut Desktop (free) or Descript for overdubbing stumbles.
✅ Step 7: Host & Embed
- Vimeo (password-protected)
- Google Drive (view-only link)
- Loom (if you want instant analytics)
Then embed the video on slide 2 of your deck and add a QR code on slide 1 for in-person meetings.
Best Practices & Micro-Tips for a Scroll-Stopping Pitch Deck Video
- Front-load the logo—investors forget names fast.
- Captions on by default—85% of LinkedIn videos are watched muted (Facebook IQ).
- Use pattern interrupt—change visuals every 4–5 seconds to reset attention.
- End with a hard CTA—“Reply with ‘interested’ and I’ll send the data room.”
- Compress the thumbnail—investors decide to click in 1.8 seconds(Netflix Tech Blog).
Real Examples of Video for Pitch Deck That Raised Millions
- Front (Series C, $65M) – 90-second hybrid with customer testimonials intercut with product screen recordings.
- Notion (Seed, $2M) – Simple screencast + upbeat music; proved traction with live graphs.
- Flowjam’s own launch video – 60-second parody of “Behind the Music,” ended with a $250k pre-seed lead from an investor who hates reading decks (Watch here).
What made them work? Relentless focus on one value prop and a crystal-clear ask.
Common Mistakes Founders Make (So You Don’t Have To)
✅ Mistake #1: Reading slides verbatim – You’re not an audiobook.
✅ Mistake #2: 4-minute runtime – After 2:30, drop-off skyrockets (Wistia).
✅ Mistake #3: Stock footage overload – Nothing screams “template” like waving-hand business people.
✅ Mistake #4: No captions – See above.
✅ Mistake #5: Weak thumbnail – A blurry founder screenshot doesn’t scream “invest.”
Video for Pitch Deck vs. Traditional Pitch Deck—Side-by-Side
Traditional decks hold investors for roughly 30 seconds per static slide, rely on still images for emotional punch, travel as emailed PDFs, take hours to redesign when numbers change, and only show basic page-view stats.
A video for pitch deck grabs the full 90-second attention span in one go, layers voice, music and motion for a deeper hook, spreads via a shareable link across social, updates with a quick re-export, and hands you granular analytics on play rate, watch time and rewatches.
Bottom line: Use both. Slide deck for deep dive, video for the hook.
FAQ – Everything Else You’re Too Embarrassed to Ask
How long should my video for pitch deck be?
60–90 seconds for cold outreach, up to 3 minutes for warm intros.
Do I need to hire an agency?
Not at seed. DIY with this guide. Series B+? An agency like Flowjam pays for itself by shaving weeks off your raise.
What file format do investors prefer?
MP4, 1080p, under 20 MB. Always include a backup Google Drive link.
Can I reuse the video for crowdfunding?
Absolutely. Swap the last slide’s CTA from “Invest” to “Back this campaign.”
Should I include subtitles in other languages?
If you’re targeting international funds, yes—especially for EU and APAC investors.
SaaS Launch Strategy for Startups—Plugging Your Video into the Pre-Launch Funnel
Your video for pitch deck isn’t just for VCs. Repurpose it:
- Pre-launch SaaS marketing tactics: Post a teaser cut on LinkedIn and Twitter 48 hours before your Product Hunt launch.
- Best way to validate SaaS MVP: Embed the video in a Typeform waitlist—see who actually watches to 75%.
- Checklist to launch SaaS product: Add the video to your Calendly confirmation email so prospects show up primed.
Conclusion: Press Record, Raise Money, Change the World
Creating a video for pitch deck is no longer a “nice-to-have.” It’s the fastest way to cut through investor noise, show product-market fit, and, let’s be honest—prove you’re not another boring SaaS clone.
If you’d rather spend time building product than learning Premiere shortcuts, Flowjam will craft your pitch deck video in 7 days flat. YC founders get 10% off because we’ve been there, done that, and still have the hoodie to prove it.
Ready to turn your deck into a blockbuster?
