How to make the ask slide in your pitch deck
Based on advice from Aaron Harris (Y Combinator), Geoff Ralston (Y Combinator) · Updated 2 October 2026
Short answer
Say how much money you need and what it gets you. Y Combinator's seed template adds that if you can show where you'll be within a year, ready for a Series A, that's powerful. YC's seed guide says to raise enough to reach your next fundable milestone, usually 12 to 18 months away.
What YC asks for
- How much money you're raising.
- What it gets you.
- Where you'll be within a year, ideally ready for a Series A.
Tie the amount to a plan
- Raise enough to reach your next fundable milestone, usually 12 to 18 months away.
- The amount must be tied to a believable plan.
- It helps to have plans for different amounts, and show the company works with either. The difference is how fast you grow.
In your deck
Check your ask slide says three things: the amount, what it buys, and the milestone you'll reach with it.
Real examples
Airbnb (2008) · slide 14
Airbnb's ask: a $500K round for 12 months, to reach 80,000 transactions and $2 million in revenue.
See the whole Airbnb deck
Read the originals
- How to build your seed round pitch deck · Aaron Harris (Y Combinator)
YC's seed deck template, with what goes on each slide.
- A guide to seed fundraising · Geoff Ralston (Y Combinator)
YC's guide to how much to raise, SAFEs, valuation and closing.
Questions founders ask
- What goes on the ask slide of a pitch deck?
- How much you're raising and what it gets you. Y Combinator adds that showing where you'll be in a year, ready for a Series A, is powerful.
- How many months of runway should a seed round give?
- YC's seed guide says to raise enough to reach your next fundable milestone, usually 12 to 18 months later.
- Should I include a use of funds chart?
- YC's seed template asks for what the money gets you and where you'll be within a year.
Get your deck reviewed the same way.
Comments on every slide, the words to change highlighted, and the 3 fixes that matter.
Keep reading
- How much should you raise in a seed round?
YC's guide: raise enough for 12 to 18 months, tie it to a plan, and try to give up 10 to 20%, never more than 25%. Plus Carta's data on founder ownership.
- SAFE vs priced round: which should you use for a seed round?
YC's seed guide on SAFEs vs priced equity: why most seed rounds use SAFEs, what you negotiate, and why priced rounds cost more time and money.
- How to build a seed pitch deck: YC's template, slide by slide
Y Combinator's seed deck template explained slide by slide: title, problem, solution, traction, insight, business model, market, team and the ask.
- How many slides should a pitch deck have?
Y Combinator's seed template points to 10 to 15 slides. What famous decks like Airbnb, Coinbase, Intercom and Uber actually used.