What problem is Ediket trying to solve?

Ediket aims to solve the inefficiency and high costs associated with traditional editing and writing consulting services. The deck highlights that existing 'Editing Service Agencies' take a '50% Commission' and that writing, especially for non-native English speakers, can be 'Difficult' (Slide 3, 4).

Who is Ediket's target market?

Ediket's primary target market is identified as the '1.5 billion Non-native English Speakers' (Slide 2). The problem statement also suggests a focus on individuals like students studying abroad who face writing challenges (Slide 3).

How does Ediket differentiate itself from competitors?

Ediket differentiates itself by being a specialized marketplace for 'Writing + Editing', contrasting with 'Catch-All Marketplaces' like Upwork and Fiverr. It positions itself alongside other specialized platforms like 99designs for Design and GIGSTER for Programming (Slide 7).

What is the total market size Ediket is addressing?

Ediket addresses a 'Current Market' estimated to be over $5.6 billion, composed of 'Traditional Agencies' ($5B+), 'Freelance Marketplaces' ($500M+), and 'Machine Grammar Checking' ($100M+) (Slide 9).

Ediket Pitch Deck (2017): 38-Slide Breakdown

See all 38 slides of the Ediket pitch deck — a 2017 deck — with a slide-by-slide teardown of what the deck does well and where it falls short.

The Ediket pitch deck, dated December 2017, introduces a freelance marketplace for editing and writing consulting, targeting the 1.5 billion non-native English speakers globally. The deck highlights an inefficient existing market dominated by agencies taking 50% commission, and positions Ediket as a solution offering vetted editors and a streamlined process. Key metrics presented include a Customer Acquisition Cost of $20, an Annual Contract Value of $150, and an Average Price Per Job of $50. Ediket aims to capitalize on the trend of specialized freelance marketplaces, differentiating itself…

Key takeaways

The company, Ediket, operates as a 'Freelance Marketplace for Editing + Writing Consulting' (Slide 1).
The target market is identified as '1.5 billion Non-native English Speakers' (Slide 2).
The problem statement includes a personal anecdote about the difficulty of writing while studying abroad in the USA (Slide 3).
The existing market is characterized as an 'Extremely Inefficient Market' where 'Editing Service Agencies' take a '50% Commission' (Slide 4).
Ediket's solution involves a three-step process: 'SUBMIT WRITING', 'MATCH VETTED EDITOR', and 'GET & RATE THE RESULT' (Slide 5).
Key financial metrics are provided: '$20 Customer Acquisition Cost', '$150 Annual Contract Value (ACV)', and '$50 Average Price Per Job' (Slide 6).
Ediket positions itself within the trend of specialized marketplaces, stating that 'Freelance offerings are beginning to separate into specialized marketplaces' (Slide 7).
The team slide introduces a 'Global Team' with roles such as CEO/Co-founder, CTO/Co-founder, Operation, and Quality Control, showing US and Canadian flags for team members (Slide 8).

Ediket Pitch Deck Teardown: Freelance Marketplace for Editing + Writing Consulting

This teardown analyzes the Ediket pitch deck, titled 'Ediket Pitch Deck (English) - December 2017' from SlideShare. The deck presents Ediket as a freelance marketplace specializing in editing and writing consulting. This analysis focuses on the first 10 slides provided, out of a total of 38 slides in the full deck. The company positions itself to address the needs of non-native English speakers and the inefficiencies within the existing editing and writing services market.

Slide-by-Slide Breakdown

Slide 1: Title Slide

The first slide serves as the title slide, prominently displaying the company name 'ediket' in bold, black letters against a blurred, grayscale background featuring a person working on a laptop. Below the company name, a dark gray bar contains the text 'Freelance Marketplace for Editing + Writing Consulting'. This slide clearly states the company's name and its core business function, immediately setting the context for the presentation.

Slide 2: Market Size / Problem Introduction

This slide features a large, bold white number '1.5 billion' centered on a coral-colored background, overlaid on a group photo of diverse individuals. Below the number, in smaller white text, it reads 'Non-native English Speakers'. This slide aims to establish the vast potential market size by highlighting the number of non-native English speakers, implying a significant demand for editing and writing consulting services.

Slide 3: Personal Problem Statement

This slide presents a personal anecdote to illustrate the problem. On the left, there is a photograph of two young individuals in what appears to be a computer lab. On the right, a screenshot of a Facebook post from 'Susan Choi' dated 'April 9, 2011' reads 'Editing min kyu's paper at 12am =o=;;;'. A large yellow text overlay at the bottom of the slide states, 'While studying abroad in USA, Writing was Difficult for me'. This slide uses a personal narrative to make the problem relatable and underscore the challenges faced by non-native English speakers in academic or professional writing contexts.

Slide 4: Market Inefficiency

Titled 'Extremely Inefficient Market', this slide uses a flowchart to depict the current landscape of editing services. It shows 'Researchers' submitting a 'Thesis' to 'Editing Service Agencies'. 'Research Organizations' 'Pay' these agencies, which then conduct 'Sales & Rebate'. The agencies 'Deliver' work to 'Freelance Editors' who perform 'Revision' and 'Deliver' back. A large yellow starburst graphic highlights '50% Commission' taken by 'Editing Service Agencies'. This slide visually explains the traditional, agency-centric model and points out a significant inefficiency: the high commission fees.

Slide 5: Ediket's Solution / Product Flow

This slide illustrates Ediket's streamlined process with three main steps: 'SUBMIT WRITING', 'MATCH VETTED EDITOR', and 'GET & RATE THE RESULT'. Each step is accompanied by a screenshot of the Ediket platform interface. The 'SUBMIT WRITING' section shows a text input area. The 'MATCH VETTED EDITOR' section displays profiles of three editors: 'Jonathan Feldheim (Attorney, Northwestern University Journalism)', 'Maddison Wallace (Copywriter, University of Melbourne Publishing & Communications)', and 'Brittany Lozano (ESL Curriculum Writer, Korea University International Commerce)'. The 'GET & RATE THE RESULT' section shows a completed editing job with a review and rating. This slide demonstrates the user journey and highlights the platform's ability to connect users with qualified editors.

Slide 6: Key Metrics

Titled 'We know what to do!', this slide presents three key financial metrics in large white text within red circles, set against a blurred background of a person relaxing on a beach chair with a laptop. The metrics are: '$20 Customer Acquisition Cost', '$150 Annual Contract Value (ACV)', and '$50 Average Price Per Job'. These figures provide a snapshot of Ediket's unit economics, indicating their understanding of customer acquisition and revenue generation.

Slide 7: Market Positioning / Specialization Trend

This slide is titled 'Freelance offerings are beginning to separate into specialized marketplaces'. It categorizes marketplaces into 'Catch-All Marketplaces' (featuring logos for Freelancer, Upwork, Fiverr, Guru) and specialized categories: 'Design' (99designs, with 'Raised $45M USD', 'Founded in 2008'), 'Programming' (GIGSTER, with 'Raised $12.5M USD', 'Founded in 2013'), and 'Writing + Editing' (ediket logo). An arrow connects the catch-all marketplaces to the specialized ones, with a yellow callout stating 'Same Functions & Workflows for Different Services'. A yellow starburst graphic indicates '15% of Online Freelancing' next to the specialized marketplaces. This slide positions Ediket within a broader industry trend towards niche platforms and highlights its focus on writing and editing.

Slide 8: Team Slide

Titled 'Global Team with understanding of Target Markets', this slide introduces four team members with their photos, roles, and national flags. The members are: 'CEO/Co-founder' (US flag), 'CTO/Co-founder' (Canadian flag), 'Operation' (Canadian flag), and 'Quality Control' (US flag). Below the team photos, logos of educational institutions and companies are displayed: 'THE GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY', 'RICE', 'SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS', and 'DIMENSION IMAGING'. This slide aims to establish the credibility and relevant experience of the founding team, emphasizing their global background and understanding of the target market.

Slide 9: Current Market Analysis

This slide, titled 'Current Market', breaks down the market into three segments: 'Traditional Agencies', 'Freelance Marketplaces', and 'Machine Grammar Checking'. For each segment, it provides 'Size', 'Business', and 'Document Type' information. 'Traditional Agencies' are listed with a '$5B↑' size, '20,000+ Business (No Dominant Business)', and 'Academic Research, Business Documents'. 'Freelance Marketplaces' show '$500M↑' size, logos for freelancer, Upwork, fiverr, guru, and 'many others' as businesses, and 'Resumes, Cover Letters, Press Releases' as document types. 'Machine Grammar Checking' shows '$100M↑' size, logos for grammarly, WhiteSmoke, 1Checker, GradeProof, and 'Emails, Assignments' as document types. Footnotes indicate sources for the size figures: '(1) ibisworld.com, 2014' and '(2) Freelance Marketplace Market Size - Payment Volume'. This slide provides a comprehensive overview of the competitive landscape and the total addressable market, quantifying the opportunity for Ediket.

Slide 10: Writing Consulting Complexity

This slide is titled 'Writing Consulting is too complicated to be offered online.' It presents a linear flow diagram starting with 'Writing Consulting' leading to a blank document, then documents labeled 'A', 'B', 'C', and 'C''. Below the flow, four red icons with descriptions illustrate the process: a lightbulb for 'Let's Brainstorm Together', two stethoscopes for 'Change Your Topic' (appearing twice), and a pen for 'I Will Edit It'. This slide highlights the perceived complexity of writing consulting, suggesting that traditional methods involve multiple iterative steps and personal interaction, which might be challenging to digitize.

What Works Well

The Ediket deck effectively introduces a clear problem and solution. The opening slides immediately establish a large target market of '1.5 billion Non-native English Speakers' (Slide 2), which is a compelling figure for investors. The personal anecdote on Slide 3 makes the problem relatable and demonstrates founder empathy. The visual representation of the 'Extremely Inefficient Market' on Slide 4, particularly the '50% Commission' figure, clearly articulates the pain point Ediket aims to solve. The solution flow on Slide 5 is well-illustrated with product screenshots, showing a tangible and user-friendly platform. The inclusion of key metrics like 'Customer Acquisition Cost', 'Annual Contract Value', and 'Average Price Per Job' on Slide 6 provides early validation of the business model and unit economics. Slide 7 effectively positions Ediket within a growing trend of specialized marketplaces, differentiating it from broader competitors. The team slide (Slide 8) highlights a 'Global Team' with relevant experience, which is important for a company targeting an international market. Finally, the 'Current Market' analysis on Slide 9 provides a detailed breakdown of the total addressable market, backed by sources, offering a robust view of the opportunity.

What Is Missing

Based on the provided 10 slides, several critical components typically found in a comprehensive pitch deck are not yet present. There is no explicit 'Ask' slide, which would detail the funding amount sought and how it will be used. While some unit economics are presented on Slide 6, a more detailed financial projection, including revenue forecasts, profitability, and burn rate, is absent. A clear business model beyond the general 'freelance marketplace' description, such as specific pricing tiers or revenue share percentages, is not fully elaborated. The competitive advantage or unique selling proposition (USP) of Ediket beyond specialization is not deeply explored; while it shows how it differs from catch-all platforms, it doesn't detail its edge over other potential specialized writing/editing services. There is no mention of traction, such as user numbers, growth rates, or revenue generated to date. A roadmap outlining future product development or market expansion plans is also missing. Furthermore, while the team is introduced, a deeper dive into their individual expertise and specific contributions to Ediket's success is not provided.

What a Founder Should Copy

Founders can learn several lessons from the Ediket deck. Firstly, the immediate presentation of a massive market opportunity (Slide 2) is an effective hook. Using a personal story to illustrate the problem (Slide 3) is a powerful way to build empathy and demonstrate a deep understanding of the user's pain. Visually depicting market inefficiencies with clear figures, like the '50% Commission' on Slide 4, helps investors quickly grasp the problem's scale and the potential for disruption. Showcasing the product's user flow with actual screenshots (Slide 5) makes the solution tangible and easy to understand. Presenting early unit economics (CAC, ACV, Average Price Per Job) on Slide 6 is crucial for demonstrating business viability. Positioning the company within a broader industry trend (specialized marketplaces on Slide 7) helps investors understand the strategic context. Lastly, a clear market segmentation and sizing (Slide 9) with cited sources provides credibility and quantifies the opportunity, which is essential for any fundraising effort.

Frequently asked questions

What problem is Ediket trying to solve?: Ediket aims to solve the inefficiency and high costs associated with traditional editing and writing consulting services. The deck highlights that existing 'Editing Service Agencies' take a '50% Commission' and that writing, especially for non-native English speakers, can be 'Difficult' (Slide 3, 4).
Who is Ediket's target market?: Ediket's primary target market is identified as the '1.5 billion Non-native English Speakers' (Slide 2). The problem statement also suggests a focus on individuals like students studying abroad who face writing challenges (Slide 3).
What are Ediket's key business metrics presented in the deck?: The deck presents three key business metrics: a 'Customer Acquisition Cost' of '$20', an 'Annual Contract Value (ACV)' of '$150', and an 'Average Price Per Job' of '$50' (Slide 6).
How does Ediket differentiate itself from competitors?: Ediket differentiates itself by being a specialized marketplace for 'Writing + Editing', contrasting with 'Catch-All Marketplaces' like Upwork and Fiverr. It positions itself alongside other specialized platforms like 99designs for Design and GIGSTER for Programming (Slide 7).
What is the total market size Ediket is addressing?: Ediket addresses a 'Current Market' estimated to be over $5.6 billion, composed of 'Traditional Agencies' ($5B+), 'Freelance Marketplaces' ($500M+), and 'Machine Grammar Checking' ($100M+) (Slide 9).

Cover slide of the Ediket pitch deck — 2017 — Ediket pitch deck, slide 1 (2017)

Ediket pitch deck: the facts

Company: Ediket
Year: 2017
Stage: Early Stage (implied by pitch deck content and metrics)
Slides: 38
Sector: Freelance Marketplace, Education Technology
Deck type: Pitch Deck
Outcome: Not stated in source listing
Headquarters: Not stated in provided slides

Ediket pitch deck PDF

The full Ediket deck is embedded on this page and can be read slide by slide in the browser — no download or account required. Each slide is covered in the breakdown above.

What the Ediket pitch deck was used for

This deck is Ediket’s English‑language pitch from December 2017, for a 38‑slide fundraising presentation targeting early‑stage investors. The company operates a specialized freelance marketplace for English proofreading and writing consulting, focused on helping non‑native English speakers with academic papers, resumes, business emails, and advertising copy. The stage in 2017 appears early, with the deck positioning Ediket as a niche but scalable platform in the broader freelance marketplace and edtech sectors. No specific round size, valuation, or named investors are externally documented for this particular 2017 raise.

Business model: Freelance marketplace and online platform connecting non‑native English speakers and other users who need English proofreading and writing consulting with verified native‑English editors and copywriters.

Founded: 2014

Headquarters: Originally founded and operated from Seoul, South Korea; later corporate office listed in Wilmington, Delaware, United States.

Industry: Freelance Marketplace; Online Proofreading and Copy‑editing; Education Technology; Language‑learning / writing support.

What the Ediket deck got right

Clear and sizable problem for a focused user segment. Ediket addresses a well‑defined and persistent pain point: non‑native English speakers needing high‑quality written English for academic papers, theses, cover letters, business emails, and online advertisements, which is extensively documented in media profiles.
Differentiated marketplace mechanics and editor pool. External descriptions highlight a marketplace model with features like instant matching of requests to one of approximately 300 qualified native‑English editors and options for one‑on‑one expert requests, creating a differentiated service experience compared to generic freelance platforms.
Multilingual platform enabling regional scalability. The platform is available in multiple languages (Korean, Japanese, traditional and simplified Chinese, and English), which supports cross‑border usage and strengthens the case for regional scalability across East Asia and beyond.
Technology‑oriented approach with room for AI enhancement. InnoForest and other profiles characterize Ediket as a technology‑driven IT startup with goals of overcoming language and cultural barriers through platform and, later, AI‑proofreading technology, suggesting a foundation for ongoing product innovation.
Experienced founding team with startup recognition. LinkedIn entries and media coverage indicate a founding team and early staff with multiple years of operational experience from 2014 onward and recognition as an award‑winning IT startup, which bolsters credibility in early‑stage fundraising.
Real‑world usage and pricing evidence supporting product maturity. User reviews and blog posts describe concrete pricing (e.g., around $0.03 per word) and real‑time or expert matching flows (Ediket Now and Ediket Expert), providing tangible proof of product maturity and customer value beyond conceptual claims.

What could have been stronger

No public information on round size, valuation, or investor participation. The 2017 deck is not accompanied by any externally verifiable disclosure of the specific round size, target amount, valuation, or named investors, which limits investors’ ability to benchmark the raise against market norms or comparable companies.
Limited externally documented traction metrics around 2017. Externally visible information emphasizes Ediket’s marketplace concept and product features, but there is little publicly available quantitative traction data for 2017 such as active users, GMV, revenue, or editor engagement, making it harder to assess growth and scalability at the time of the deck.
Potential ambiguity between core proofreading service and later AI/freelance platform positioning. Multiple external descriptions highlight Ediket as a proofreading marketplace but also suggest later AI‑proofreading and broader freelance platform ambitions; without clear, dated product snapshots in 2017, investors may find it difficult to distinguish the original core product from subsequent strategic expansions.
Absence of visible institutional funding history. While Ediket is profiled on startup directories and media, there is no easily accessible record of major institutional funding rounds, which may prompt questions about the company’s capital efficiency, growth constraints, or reliance on non‑institutional capital.
Potential geographic concentration and unclear global expansion strategy in 2017. The service is inherently global but much of the commentary and reviews are in Korean, suggesting possible concentration in the Korean market in 2017 and raising questions about global go‑to‑market and localization strategy for investors focused on international scale.

How an investor would read this deck

What draws attention

Strength of the niche: a focused marketplace for English proofreading and consulting aimed at non‑native speakers addresses a clear pain point and leverages both demand from students and professionals and supply from freelance editors.
Product differentiation: real‑time matching (Ediket Now) and expert selection (Ediket Expert) mechanisms, multi‑language availability, and quality‑controlled native‑English editors can create defensible service quality.
Market expansion potential: the underlying problem of English writing quality for global users is large and persistent, which may allow Ediket to expand beyond Korea and Asia into broader international markets.
Operational experience: LinkedIn and media profiles indicate a founding team with several years of operational experience prior to 2017, including award‑winning startup recognition, which can increase investor confidence.
Later AI‑proofreading direction: subsequent references to AI‑proofreading and broader freelance platforms hint at technological evolution beyond the initial marketplace, which could be attractive for investors considering longer‑term differentiation.

Risks that stand out

Crowded marketplace dynamics: generic freelance platforms and other proofreading services may compete directly on price and convenience, putting pressure on Ediket’s margins and growth unless differentiation is strong.
Dependence on non‑native English speaker demand: the core market is tied to ongoing demand for English writing support, and changes in education technology, automated writing tools, or language‑learning patterns could affect growth.
Limited visible funding history: the lack of publicly documented institutional funding rounds or large capital injections may constrain marketing, product development, and international expansion, particularly against well‑funded competitors.
Execution complexity of global operations: managing a distributed pool of hundreds of native‑English editors across time zones, ensuring quality and compliance, and servicing users in multiple languages can be operationally challenging.
Strategic focus risk: later references to AI‑proofreading and broader freelance platforms suggest potential scope creep; without careful prioritization, this could dilute focus on the core marketplace’s economics and user experience.

Questions this deck invites

What were Ediket’s core traction metrics (active users, repeat usage, GMV, revenue, editor pool size, order frequency) at the time of the December 2017 deck, and how have they trended since?
What funding, if any, did Ediket secure around or after the 2017 pitch, including round type, total capital raised, lead and follow‑on investors, and use of proceeds?
How does Ediket acquire both users and editors cost‑effectively, and what are the unit economics (CAC, LTV, take rate, margins) for the marketplace circa 2017 and now?
What quality‑assurance processes and technology (including any AI‑proofreading capabilities) are used to maintain editing standards and differentiate Ediket from generic freelance platforms?
How has Ediket navigated regulatory, tax, and labor issues for its global freelance editor base, and what corporate structure shifts (e.g., expansion to the US office listed later) occurred after 2017?

What founders can take from the Ediket deck

A focused niche—such as English proofreading for non‑native speakers—can form a compelling core story in an early‑stage pitch, provided the pain point and user segments are clearly illustrated with concrete use cases like academic papers, resumes, and CPC/CPM ads.
Marketplace pitches benefit from detailing both sides of the market: Ediket’s external narrative mentions hundreds of qualified native‑English editors and specific user categories, underscoring the importance of describing supply and demand in parallel.
Demonstrating multilingual reach (Korean, Japanese, traditional and simplified Chinese, and English) can strengthen an edtech marketplace’s case for regional scalability, as seen in Ediket’s positioning for students and professionals in East Asia.
User reviews and media coverage, even in local languages, can substantiate claims about product experience, pricing, and value, suggesting that founders should proactively incorporate third‑party validation into decks where possible.
Clarity around evolution—from a simple proofreading marketplace to incorporating AI‑proofreading or broader freelance capabilities—needs to be carefully framed so investors understand what exists today versus future roadmap.
Having team members with prior startup experience and recognition (e.g., award‑winning IT startup background) can materially enhance credibility in early‑stage fundraising and should be highlighted explicitly in pitch narratives.

Ediket pitch deck: common questions

What does Ediket do?

Ediket is a web‑based freelance marketplace that connects users who need English proofreading or writing help with verified native‑English editors for documents such as academic papers, theses, resumes, business emails, and online advertisements.

When and where was Ediket founded?

Available external information indicates Ediket was founded around 2014 as an IT startup in South Korea focused on solving language and cultural barriers for non‑native English speakers by providing online proofreading and copy‑editing services.

What funding round does the December 2017 Ediket pitch deck correspond to?

As of the sources retrieved, there is no publicly documented specific funding round (amount, investors, valuation) tied directly to the December 2017 English pitch deck, although Ediket is profiled as a startup operator of an online proofreading platform.

How does Ediket’s service and pricing model work?

Ediket’s marketplace offers on‑demand proofreading and premium one‑on‑one expert editing, with pricing reported externally at about $0.03 per word in at least one user review and minimum credits from $19, with occasional promotional credits.

Who is Ediket’s target customer for its proofreading marketplace?

The deck and external profiles indicate Ediket targets non‑native English speakers including students, professionals, and entrepreneurs who need high‑quality English writing for academic work, job applications, business communication, and online advertising, leveraging a pool of several hundred qualified native‑English editors.