How to Create a Winning Pitch Deck Problem Slide (With Examples)

Getting the Problem slide right can make or break your pitch deck.

Investors move fast. On average, they spend less than 4 minutes reviewing a deck—and just 10 to 15 seconds deciding if it's worth their time. That means your early slides need to hit hard. The Problem slide is one of those. If it doesn’t catch attention or make sense right away, most people will skip the rest.

This part of your deck needs to do one thing: show there’s a real problem worth solving. Not a small annoyance. A clear, painful issue that affects real people or businesses. A good slide makes investors nod. A bad one makes them pass.

But here’s the tricky part. Most startups either try to say too much or stay too vague. Some flood the slide with stats. Others use big words without real meaning. Neither works.

In this guide, we’ll walk through how to create a Problem slide that actually works. You’ll learn what to include, what to leave out, and how to write it so it sticks. We’ll also look at common mistakes that sink slides fast.

By the end, you’ll have everything you need to build a clear, sharp, and convincing Problem slide that makes investors want to learn more.

Let’s get started.

A Problem slide explains the main issue your startup is solving. It shows what’s broken, missing, or frustrating in the market.

This slide comes early in your pitch deck, usually right after the introduction.

Think of it as your opening statement. It tells investors why your startup matters.

The best Problem slides are clear and direct. They describe a specific issue that real people or businesses deal with often. They don’t try to cover everything. They focus on one strong, important point.

Here’s a simple example:

“Finding affordable short-term housing is hard for travelers. Hotels are expensive. Rentals are unreliable.”

That’s the kind of message that worked for Airbnb in their early pitch.

The goal is to make investors think, “Yes, that’s a real problem.” If they feel that pain, they’ll want to hear your solution.

Here’s what a Problem slide is not:

This slide should focus only on the pain—what’s wrong, missing, or frustrating.

Use real facts if possible. For example:

Back it up with numbers, but keep it simple. One clear problem, one big message.

A good Problem slide sets the tone for everything that follows. If you get this part right, your audience will stay interested.

And that’s the whole point.

Most investors don’t read every word in your deck. They skim. They look for signals. And one of the strongest signals is the Problem slide.

This is where they decide: Is this problem real? Is it worth solving?

If they don’t feel the problem, they won’t care about your solution.

A 2023 DocSend study found that investors spend 23% of their total pitch deck time on just two slides—the Problem and Solution. That means your Problem slide carries real weight.

Startups exist to fix problems. If the problem isn’t clear, the pitch falls flat.

Here’s what your Problem slide needs to do:

For example:

“70% of customer support teams say they waste over 2 hours a day switching between apps.”

That one sentence says a lot. There’s a pain point. It’s common. And it’s costing time and money.

They want to see that:

The Problem slide is your proof.

It’s also the start of your story. Every great pitch has a clear setup. That setup starts here. If the problem is weak, the whole story falls apart.

So, keep it simple. Keep it sharp. And make sure your reader feels it.

A good Problem slide doesn’t just explain the issue. It makes people care. If you want investors to stay interested, your slide needs to do five things really well. Let’s break each one down.

Start with one big, sharp sentence. It should say what the problem is and who’s facing it. Avoid general words like “inefficiency” or “disruption.” These sound nice but say nothing.

Example:

“30% of online shoppers leave a website because the checkout process is too slow.”

That’s a real problem. It’s easy to understand. It affects revenue. And it has a clear target: eCommerce businesses.

Your sentence should be short. Think of it like a headline. You want someone to glance at it and get the point.

This one sentence sets the tone. Don’t make people guess what the issue is. Say it clearly and say it fast.

A good problem isn’t just real—it’s common. If only 100 people have the issue, the business won't grow.

You need to show that a lot of people feel this pain, or that the impact is huge. This helps prove the business has room to scale.

Example:

“45% of small businesses fail due to poor cash flow management.”

That number shows reach. And it points to a huge market of small businesses.

You don’t need to show your total market size here. Save that for a later slide. Just focus on showing the problem is big enough to care about.

Use data, surveys, or news reports. Keep it simple. One number that supports your point is enough.

Data is good. But stories stick.

If you can show how the problem hurts real people, your slide becomes more powerful. Try to describe the problem in a way that creates a picture in the reader’s mind.

Example:

“Freelancers often wait weeks to get paid. Some skip rent or borrow money just to stay afloat.”

Now we’re not just talking numbers. We’re showing pain. That matters.

This kind of language helps people connect with the issue. It builds trust. And it makes your pitch more memorable.

You don’t have to write a long paragraph. One sentence with real emotion is enough. Just make sure the pain feels real.

Adding a short story can make the problem feel more grounded. It’s one thing to say “X% of people have this problem.” It’s another to say, “Meet Sarah, a teacher who faces this every week.”

Stories add color. They also help show that you understand your users, not just your idea.

Example:

“Mark runs a local bike shop. Every month, he loses hours managing bookings with pen and paper. Customers forget appointments. He loses sales.”

This paints a simple but clear picture. One that’s easy to believe.

Just make sure your example matches your audience. If you're pitching to B2B investors, show a business problem. If you're B2C, focus on everyday users.

Most decks are scanned, not read. That means your slide needs to be quick to understand. Long paragraphs won’t work.

Stick to one headline. Add 2–3 bullet points, each under 10 words. Keep your language simple and clear.

Instead of:

“Users struggle with inefficient onboarding workflows leading to decreased satisfaction.”

Try:

“Onboarding takes too long → users leave.”

Use plain words. Avoid fluff. Every word should earn its spot.

If your slide looks too full, cut something. The goal is to make your point fast—and make it stick.

Even strong ideas can fall flat if the Problem slide isn’t clear. Many founders try too hard to impress or over-explain. The result? Confusion or lost attention. Here are some of the most common mistakes that weaken a pitch deck—and how to avoid them.

One of the most common problems is being unclear. Statements like “the system is broken” or “users are unhappy” don’t say much. They sound dramatic but don’t explain what’s really wrong.

A vague slide leaves investors guessing. That’s not good.

Instead, use exact phrases and real examples. Say who is affected, what’s causing the issue, and what the impact is. For example:

“Small business owners waste 6+ hours per week managing payroll manually.”

This is clear. It’s focused. And it tells the reader exactly what’s going wrong. Pick one strong point and build around it. Don’t try to cover everything.

Yes, data is important. But too much on one slide can hurt your message.

Long charts, dense stats, or heavy paragraphs can overwhelm your audience. Instead of helping, the numbers can confuse.

Use only the data that proves your point. One strong number is more powerful than a long list.

Example:

Pick one clear stat that supports the problem. Keep the rest in your notes or for later slides. Make your slide easy to read in under 10 seconds.

This is a slide about the problem—not your app, tool, or platform.

Many founders jump ahead and start pitching too soon. They explain features or hint at solutions. But that breaks the story.

Your goal here is to build tension. Show the pain first. Let the reader want to know how it gets fixed. That curiosity is powerful.

Bad example:

“Our AI tool solves this by offering 24/7 support.”

Good example:

“Customers wait an average of 11 hours to hear back from service teams.”

Save your features and benefits for the next slide. Let the problem stand on its own.

It’s tempting to talk about a general problem that sounds big. But big doesn’t mean better. A problem that isn’t tied to a clear audience feels flat.

For example, saying “People are overwhelmed with data” is too broad. Who are these people? Students? Doctors? HR teams?

Instead, be specific:

“Marketing managers waste hours building weekly reports across 5 tools.”

Now it’s clear who’s struggling—and what their day looks like.

A good Problem slide shows you understand your audience. That makes the rest of your pitch more believable.

Even if your copy is strong, bad layout can ruin it.

If everything on your slide looks the same—same font size, same color, same spacing—nothing stands out. Investors don’t know where to look.

Use simple design rules:

You don’t need a fancy design. Just make it easy to scan. Think like this:

If your slide feels crowded, remove something. A clean slide keeps attention longer—and that’s what you want.

Building a good Problem slide doesn’t have to be complicated. You just need a clear structure that helps investors understand the issue fast. This framework breaks it down into simple parts. Follow each step, and you’ll have a slide that feels clean, direct, and easy to pitch.

Your headline should say what the problem is—in one sentence. Keep it short and clear. This is the first thing investors will read, so make it count.

Example:

“Healthcare workers spend 30% of their time on manual paperwork.”

That’s specific. It shows who’s affected and what the problem is. No fluff. No buzzwords. Just the core issue.

Make sure the problem is something people care about. If it feels too soft or too broad, rewrite it. A strong headline makes people want to know more.

Once you state the problem, back it up with a number. A good stat adds weight. It proves the issue is real, not just something you made up.

You can use:

Example:

“87% of HR managers say outdated tools slow down hiring.”

Use one number. Don’t overload the slide. You want to support your message, not distract from it. Always cite the source if you have space. That builds trust.

This part adds a human touch. Tell a brief story that shows how the problem affects someone.

Example:

“Emma runs a small bakery. She loses hours each week balancing her books in Excel. She often forgets to send invoices.”

Keep it real. Keep it simple. You’re helping the reader see the problem in action. This makes it more relatable and easier to remember.

You can use a customer, a persona, or even yourself if your startup came from personal experience.

Now, explain why this problem matters. What does it cost in time, money, or lost opportunity?

Example:

“Small businesses like Emma’s lose thousands a year due to late payments and missed tasks.”

This part should tie everything together. The goal is to show that ignoring the problem has real consequences. Investors want to fund painkillers, not vitamins.

Just one sentence is enough. Keep the focus on results. Use simple words.

Design matters. A messy slide makes your message harder to understand. Stick to a clean layout:

Avoid long paragraphs. Use bullet points if needed. Use visual spacing to guide the eye. Your slide should be readable in 5–10 seconds.

Bonus tip: Test your slide on a friend or mentor. If they “get it” without asking questions, you’re on the right track.

This structure helps you say more with less—and that’s exactly what a good pitch deck needs.

A well-written Problem slide can still fall flat if the design is cluttered or hard to follow. Good design helps people focus. It makes your message easier to understand and remember. Below are five design tips that make your Problem slide clear, clean, and effective.

Keep your text short and sharp. Investors don’t read full paragraphs—they scan. Stick to one headline, a few short bullet points, and maybe a small caption or stat. That’s it.

Avoid long sentences. Instead, write like you talk.

Example:

Short text keeps attention. Make every word count. If it doesn’t add value, cut it. Less text means faster reading and better focus on your main point.

Colors influence how people feel. Pick colors that match the tone of the problem you’re showing. If it’s urgent or painful, use red or orange. If it’s related to finance, blue builds trust. For health or wellness, green feels fresh and calm.

Don’t use too many colors. Two or three is enough. Make sure your text stands out from the background. Use contrast for better readability.

Avoid neon or very bright tones—they can distract. The goal is to guide the eye, not overwhelm it. Keep it clean and simple.

Icons can help you say more without writing more. Use small, simple visuals next to your text to show what you mean. For example, a clock icon for “time wasted,” or a dollar sign for “lost revenue.”

Charts or infographics can also work, but keep them basic. Don’t cram five data points into one small graph. One visual is enough.

Remember, the point of design is to highlight, not decorate. Every image should help your reader understand the problem faster.

Your font should be easy to read. Use simple, clean fonts like Arial, Open Sans, or Helvetica. Stay away from fancy or script fonts. They may look cool but are hard to read quickly.

Use font size to guide attention. Make your headline larger than the rest of the text. Keep space between each section. Don’t let your slide feel crowded.

A good rule: If everything looks the same, nothing stands out. Use size, weight (bold), and spacing to create visual order. This helps readers know where to look first.

Your slide should follow a natural reading flow—top to bottom or left to right. Start with the problem headline, then show your stat or story, and finish with the impact or consequence.

Keep related items close together. Separate different parts of the slide with white space. Don’t try to fit too much. One message per slide is enough.

Think of your slide like a billboard. You have a few seconds to get your message across. Good layout makes that easy.

The pitch deck problem slide is one of the most important parts of your presentation. If it’s weak, the rest of your pitch may not even get a second look. But if it’s strong, clear, and relatable, it pulls investors in and makes them want to hear more.

You don’t need fancy words or flashy design. What you need is a real problem, shown with clarity, backed by data, and told in a way that feels human.

Keep your message simple. Focus on one clear pain point. Use real numbers. Add a short story or example. Make your slide easy to read in just a few seconds.

Many great startups got their first “yes” because their Problem slide made sense right away.

Take your time with this one. It’s worth getting right.

If you do, your pitch deck won’t just be read—it will be remembered.

A good problem slide clearly shows one specific issue your target audience faces, backed by a real statistic or example.
It should highlight a pain point that’s easy to understand and worth solving. Keep the language simple, include a strong headline, and add a short data point or story that supports your message. Avoid vague statements and focus on impact.

The problem slide should take up no more than one or two slides in your pitch deck.
Investors usually spend just a few seconds on each slide, so keep it clear and brief. Stick to one big problem, use minimal text, and include only what’s needed to get the point across fast.

The solution slide should come right after the problem slide.
Once you explain the issue, the next step is to show how your product or service fixes it. The transition should feel natural—problem first, then the fix. This keeps your pitch clear and easy to follow.

No, you should not mention the solution in the problem slide.
Keep the focus on the problem only. Let the reader feel the pain before showing the fix. Saving the solution for the next slide builds interest and keeps your story strong.