Pitch Decks: Your Questions Answered

Nov 7, 2025

New for the 2025-26 school year, six competitive events will replace the previously required 10-page written paper with a 20-slide pitch deck. Below are a number of FAQs on these changes to help answer any questions you have.

The goal of this change is to help align the competitive event requirements with industry standards and continue to prepare members for real-world scenarios.

1. Which competitive events are moving toward pitch decks?

Innovation Plan
Start Up Business Plan
Integrated Marketing Campaign-Event
Integrated Marketing Campaign-Product
Integrated Marketing Campaign-Service
Stock Market Game

2. Why the move to pitch decks?

The intent of these competitive events has always been to make a pitch. For example, the intent of the Innovation Plan is for a student to pitch a concept and get a “green light” for an investor if they think it is viable. Theoretically, the student would then continue to build the business plan. From an agency perspective, the Integrated Marketing Campaign is essentially pitching the campaign concept, complete with strategy and creative, to a potential client.

The industry solution for these scenarios is a pitch deck. “Pitch decks are concise presentations that help investors and clients understand more about your business, including products, services, goals, and strategies,” according to Mailchimp.

3. What are the structure and content requirements for the pitch deck slides?

The guidelines in the DECA Guide for each competitive event include a section called “Pitch Deck Guidelines.” This content must be included in the pitch deck. Similarly to written entries, links, graphics, photos and videos may be embedded, but keep in mind that they will be converted to a PDF when uploaded. Students should not expect judges to navigate beyond the pitch deck.

The pitch deck follows a specific structure with distinct requirements for each competitive event so check the guidelines for each specific event but below is some general guidance.

Cover Slide (Slide 1):

This is the first slide of the pitch deck.
It does NOT need to be numbered "1" since it is the cover slide.
The cover slide can be a visual/branded introduction to your presentation. It may include:
- the company’s name
- the company’s logo or a dynamic hero photo or graphic
- a tagline used for the integrated marketing campaign or business idea

Title Slide (Slide 2):

It must be numbered "2".
It includes the following information (in any order):
- Name of the competitive event (e.g., "INNOVATION PLAN")
- Name of high school
- School address
- City, State/Province, ZIP/Postal Code
- Names of all participants
- Date

Table of Contents (Slide 3):

Must be numbered "3"
Should outline all sections of your pitch deck

Body of the Pitch Deck (Slides 4+):

Begins with slide 4 and continues in sequential numbering
Must follow the specific outline provided for your competitive event
Each section must be clearly titled
All slides continue numbering through the bibliography and any appendix

Bibliography:

Required for all pitch decks
Must be numbered in sequence
Lists all sources of information used

Appendix (Optional):

If included, all slides must be numbered in sequence
May include supporting materials such as sample questionnaires, letters, background data, or meeting minutes
Should contain exhibits that support the pitch deck but aren't essential to the main body

Important Notes:

All slides except the cover slide must be numbered sequentially
The total pitch deck cannot exceed 20 slides (including cover, title, table of contents, body, bibliography, and appendix)
Specific content requirements for body sections vary by competitive event—refer to your competitive event's guidelines in the DECA Guide

4. Are there formatting requirements for the pitch decks?

The slides must be in a 16:9 aspect ratio. Participants should export the file as a PDF versus printing as a PDF to ensure the slides are in the correct 16:9 aspect ratio. Creative and compelling visuals that strategically convey the most important content are highly encouraged. Otherwise, there are no requirements for font size or spacing, but students are encouraged to apply design principles and best practices for slide decks.

5. Will pitch decks be required to be uploaded prior to ICDC?

Yes, during the ICDC-Qualifying Prepared Entry Submissions window (March 25-April 8, 2026), a PDF version of the pitch deck must be uploaded, similar to uploading the 20-page written entries. The completed Prepared Event Statement of Assurances and Academic Integrity must uploaded as a separate file at the same time.

At ICDC, the judge will have the opportunity to view the pitch decks in the morning when they report to volunteer and before seeing student presentations. They will have access to the pitch deck throughout their entire shift. Following each student presentation, the judge will complete the Presentation Evaluation Form based on the presentation and pitch deck. There is not a separate rubric for the pitch deck itself.

7. Will pitch decks be penalty pointed?

Yes, the “Pitch Deck” portion of the Penalty Point checklist on page 60 of the DECA Guide will be used.

8. Do members have to use the pitch deck that is uploaded when presenting?‍

Members may use any of the visual aids that meet the criteria under Presentation Guidelines for the event when presenting to the judge.

9. For 20-page written events, the title page and table of contents did not count toward the total pages. Is this true with the pitch decks?

The pitch decks must be a maximum total of 20 slides. This includes the cover slide, title slide, table of contents, all components of the body and appendix. With the exception of the cover slide (because it’s the first slide), all slides must be numbered in sequential order to 20.

10. What resources will be available?

DECA partnered with a cross-functional team at Adobe to develop the Integrated Marketing Campaign Event Resource Guide for using the Integrated Marketing Campaign events in the classroom.