Among the great many startup 101s’ that are out there, it can be hard to separate the wheat from the chaff. Here is an overview of the most essential startup decks that I have taken notes of. The list is merely a snapshot of hands-on startup methods and tools but a complete list of entrepreneurship literature.
Mint.com Pre-Launch Pitch Deck makes a great example of a startup pitch. For more on pitching it is definitively worth looking into Pitching Hacks: How to pitch investors from Nivi and Naval at VentureHacks (PDF and free sample) to be used in companion with Dave McClure’s Startup Viagra: How to Pitch a VC.
Mint Founder Institute Accounting, this time by Mint founder Aaron Patzer, is a must read on how to draw your business case together and getting the numbers right.
Startup Metrics for Pirates by Dave McClure is the nuts and bolts of how to formalize traction and accountable metrics for your startup, including methods from the Lean Startup.
No One Cares About Your Stupid Little Startup by Xobni founder Matt Brezina takes us through its phases and tactics for building critical mass.
The Lean Startup methodology by Eric Ries combines the best from the agile development paradigm with Steven Blank’s Customer Development methodology (which might as well have been included) into a low-burn startup methodology.
Drop the business plan?! The Business Model Canvas by Alex Osterwalder, is an one-slide template and systematic approach to analyze, brainstorm and sketch out your business model. If you are not familiar with the framework you might want to start with the Business Model Generation book, the lean startup business model pattern and Steve Blank’s post on how to process it.
There sure are several interesting startup decks, and no such list goes without mentioning Guy Kawasaki’s The Art of the Start and Garage‘s Perfecting your Pitch. I will read SEO Moz’s Venture Capital Process again. Not to forget Getting Real and Rework – the business, design, programming, and marketing philosophies of 37signals’ (see aslo Eric Santos’ summary). Neverthless, keep up to date with Lean Startup news.
Do you know of other essential startup decks, we would love to know about them.
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The Methodologist 
Good list, thanks for compiling. Was that first Mint deck actually used? (seems I read somewhere it was for a b-school class project). Either way it’s crisp and clear, and I’ve been using it as a guide for a pitch deck I’m working on. Nathan
I use the “Business Model Generation” book by Alexander Osterwalder on a daily basis to communicate business models, partnership models, and revenue/cost structures. It’s really essential to me.
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With Warm Regards.
I have posted a deck that we raised 1.2M with in 8 days. Previously, the concept could not raise any capital. the deck is here, http://www.pitchanything.net/example.php