Before proceeding with product planning, we conducted extensive research to identify the optimal strategy. At that time, the market featured at least 40 competing services, each positioned as a presentation creation tool. We tested each and categorized them into several groups:

Creating a presentation involves three key components: developing a structure, preparing content, and applying visual customization. Our goal with PitchDeck was to streamline this process, providing the shortest path to an effective presentation.

To begin with the structure, we integrated a comprehensive library of templates covering all common document types into the service. Users can search and sort these templates by task types and business departments, making it easy to find exactly the type of document they need. Once a template is selected, users are presented with a straightforward editing interface, reminiscent of familiar tools like PowerPoint and Keynote. If the chosen template lacks certain slides, users can effortlessly add them from the library, ensuring their presentation is complete and tailored to their requirements.

Once the presentation structure is established, PitchDeck provides a range of flexible customization options for users. PitchDeck’s main unique selling proposition is delivering "strong visual results in minutes." With this in mind, our goal was to offer extensive customization capabilities while avoiding the pitfalls of complex "font games" and intricate design manipulations.

Instead of overwhelming users with a myriad of individual design tweaks, we developed a cohesive design system that allows for batch processing of styles throughout the entire document. This system ensures consistency and maintains a high level of graphic quality at every stage of the presentation’s development. By streamlining the customization process, users can effortlessly apply and adjust styles across their presentations, achieving professional and visually appealing results efficiently.

In addition to providing robust structure and customization options, PitchDeck also focuses on the third major component of presentations: content creation. Understanding that users spend considerable time crafting compelling content, PitchDeck addresses this challenge with AI-powered copywriting features. Available to premium users, this functionality enables rapid text generation akin to ChatGPT.

Users simply need to guide the AI by selecting the presentation type and providing a general description of the task. This streamlines the content creation process, allowing users to quickly generate high-quality text and focus more on their presentation's overall impact.

The last barrier that users have to overcome when creating a presentation is the need to enter data themselves. In pitch decks, for example, this is not critical - it is enough to change a dozen figures, but in annual reports it is very much so. To relieve this pain, we made it possible to connect a GPT neural network for contextual analysis of documents, capable of extracting data and “pulling” it onto a template of the user’s choice

As a result, to implement the planned modules available to paid subscribers, Pitchdeck uses half a dozen AI APIs, including IBM Watson Visual Recognition, ChatGPT, Google Cloud AutoML Tables, Microsoft Azure Cognitive Services and others. Having discovered a way to make them work harmoniously, we implemented this feature, unique on the market, and reducing the time to create a presentation to a record minimum.

Having completed the main tasks of creating a presentation, we shifted our focus to establishing a business-friendly environment in Pitchdeck that promotes seamless collaboration. Recognizing that teamwork is a crucial factor in the creation of effective presentations, we prioritized this aspect based on insights from a survey conducted at the beginning of our platform development. The survey revealed that presentations are frequently created by multiple individuals, highlighting the need for robust collaboration tools.

Consequently, we implemented features that enable users to work together efficiently, share feedback in real-time, and manage access rights meticulously. Our goal was to provide a collaborative workspace that supports dynamic teamwork and ensures that every participant can contribute effectively, while maintaining control over document access and editing privileges. This approach not only enhances productivity but also fosters a more cohesive and cooperative working environment.

All offline tools are increasingly transitioning to online platforms, and presentations are no exception. Additionally, with the majority of online traffic—and email communications, where 90% of presentations are sent—coming from mobile devices, reading PDFs on these devices can be cumbersome.

Taking these trends into account, we’ve integrated functionality into PitchDeck that addresses contemporary needs. This ensures that presentations are optimized for the online environment and mobile accessibility, providing a smoother and more user-friendly experience for all users.