If you have great traction, show it off. Don’t bury your traction story at the end. If you’re doing 20 percent month-on-month growth, put that right after showing your product. Lead with a bang: ‘We’re moving fast, the product’s getting incredible market feedback and people love us.’ Call out specific success metrics such as a high virality ratio or low customer acquisition cost to back up the story.

If your growth has been erratic or you lost your growth for a while, explain that. Label those periods ‘stealth R&D’ or ‘beta testing’, then show your launch and acceleration. Ideally, you want an upward trajectory. If your growth has been up and down but you have revenue, present it as a single number rather than a fluctuating line.

If your product history is short but you’re getting good validation, combine your traction slide with a few great quotes from thrilled customers. This injection of credibility should reinforce your momentum.