Friday at 5pm and ten investors need the deck before Monday. PDF is the universal format. The pressure isn't the conversion — it's making sure the PDF is presentable.
Convert from PPTX or Keynote
If your deck is in PowerPoint: File > Save As > PDF, or use Flint's PowerPoint to PDF. If it's in Keynote: File > Export To > PDF. If it's in Figma: export to PDF directly from Figma.
Each path produces a clean PDF with embedded fonts and full visual fidelity.
Font embedding matters here
Investors will open your PDF on every device imaginable — old iPads, work laptops, phones. Embed fonts so the deck looks consistent everywhere. PowerPoint's Save As PDF embeds by default; verify in Acrobat (File > Properties > Fonts).
If the deck uses brand fonts not commonly installed, embedding is essential. Substitution makes investors think you're sloppy.
File size for email
Investor email inboxes often reject anything over 10MB. After conversion, check the file size. If it's too big, compress the PDF — usually shaves 50-70% without visible quality loss.
Large investor email lists may need cloud links rather than attachments. Google Drive, Dropbox, DocSend — all reasonable for sharing decks at scale.
Protect the source
Don't send the editable PPTX or Keynote file unless you specifically want to enable edits. PDF prevents accidental changes and (with a bit of effort) makes copying content harder.
For extra control, services like DocSend track who opens your deck. For most early-stage rounds, a plain PDF is fine.
FAQ
PDF or PPTX for investors?
PDF for distribution. Send PPTX only if asked.
Should I add a watermark?
Confidential watermarks are common for advanced rounds. For seed and early-stage, often not needed.
How big should the file be?
Aim under 10MB for email attachments. Under 5MB is even better.
Should the PDF be password-protected?
Adds friction; investors prefer easy access. Use unless your deck contains genuinely sensitive financial detail.
Polish the source, convert cleanly, ship by Sunday. Convert your pitch deck to PDF and send.