Included Health Pitch Deck: Slide-by-Slide Breakdown

Introduction: The Advocacy-First Pitch

Included Health’s 2020 Seed deck is a focused narrative on a specific demographic's struggle with the American healthcare system. Rather than pitching a broad health-tech tool, the company positions itself as a necessary layer of advocacy and navigation for LGBTQ+ employees. With a $2.3 million raise, this deck demonstrates that a strong mission coupled with clear B2B incentives can overcome the absence of traditional slides like team bios or financial models.

Slides 1-2: The Vision and The Value Proposition

The deck opens with a clean, minimalist title slide featuring the tagline 'Get Included.' Slide 2 immediately defines the target audience and the core offering: 'A Better Healthcare Solution for your LGBTQ+ Employees.' By listing Access, Advocacy, Support, and Care Equality as the four pillars, the company sets an emotional and functional tone. The use of high-quality lifestyle photography featuring the target demographic reinforces the brand's focus on inclusivity from the first few seconds of the presentation.

Slides 3-4: Defining the Problem and the Employer ROI

Slide 3, titled 'Why is this Needed?', provides the statistical backbone for the pitch. It cites that 40% of the LGBTQ+ community has had a negative experience in healthcare, leading to care avoidance that is 3-4x higher than non-LGBTQ+ patients. This is a critical slide because it moves the conversation from a social issue to a clinical and financial one: 'People are not getting the care they need.'

Slide 4 pivots to the 'Partners: Employers.' This is where the business model is justified. The slide distinguishes between 'Soft ROI' and 'Hard ROI.' The Soft ROI includes talent acquisition and D&I (Diversity and Inclusion) goals. The Hard ROI is more aggressive, claiming a healthier workforce, reduced unnecessary healthcare costs, and increased productivity . By framing inclusive policies as a driver for 'better performance & profitability,' Included Health speaks directly to the CFO and HR leads, not just the D&I department.

Slides 5-7: The Service Model and Member Experience

Slide 5 breaks down 'Our Services' into three categories: an LGBTQ+ Affirming Provider Directory , Care Navigation (including a Transgender Center of Excellence and billing support), and a Support System (advocates and provider education). This slide clarifies that Included Health is not just a database, but a service-heavy platform that assists with the complexities of insurance and claims.

Slide 6, 'Ways We Can Support,' uses specific personas to illustrate use cases. These range from a trans male seeking surgery support to a parent whose daughter just came out. This humanizes the technology and shows the breadth of the 'navigation' promise. Slide 7 maps out the 'Member Experience,' promising that members are connected to providers within 48 hours . The workflow shows a transition from an initial request to ongoing care navigation, including benefits consultation and Rx affordability support.

Slides 8-9: Traction and Timeliness

Slide 8, 'Included Health Update,' provides the 'Why Now' and current momentum. It notes that services are 'now live' and that 1,500+ providers are already in the vetted directory. It also mentions a proprietary research study with 1,800+ responses , which serves as significant market validation for a Seed-stage company. The mention of 'Only 3 spots available' for their Wave 2 Early Adopter Enrollment is a classic tactical move to create FOMO (fear of missing out) among potential partners or investors.

Slide 9 addresses the 'Covid-19 Response.' In 2020, this was a mandatory slide. Included Health highlights how social isolation and elective procedure cancellations specifically impacted the LGBTQ+ community. They list the 'Top 3 requests for assistance' based on initial data: LGBTQ-friendly therapists, providers for Gay men and PrEP, and Trans benefits support . This slide proves the team is responsive to real-time market shifts.

Slides 10-12: Social Proof and Data Validation

Slide 10 utilizes member testimonials to prove efficacy. Quotes from the Northeast, Southwest, and South emphasize that the service is 'genuinely life changing' and helps users find doctors who treat them with 'dignity and respect.' Slide 11 returns to the proprietary survey data. It reinforces the 40% negative experience stat but adds a powerful new figure: 89% would like to use a service like Included Health . Slide 12 provides qualitative 'Requests from Respondents,' highlighting the 'nerve-wracking' nature of not knowing which doctors to trust. This trio of slides builds a wall of evidence that the market demand is both high and underserved.

Slides 13-15: The Close

Slide 13 lists 'Product Build Designs' but lacks the actual visuals, which is a missed opportunity to show the platform's sophistication. Slide 14, 'Want More Information?', repeats the call to action regarding the research study and the Early Adopter Program, mentioning a #GetIncluded Launch Campaign for PRIDE Month (June) . The deck concludes on Slide 15 with a simple 'Thank you' and a confidentiality notice. Notably, there is no slide detailing the founders' backgrounds, the amount of money being raised, or the specific milestones the $2.3 million will fund.

What Works in the Included Health Deck

Clear Market Segmentation: The deck doesn't try to be everything to everyone. It identifies a specific pain point for a specific group and stays focused on that throughout. · Dual ROI Framing: By splitting the value proposition into Soft and Hard ROI, the company appeals to both the emotional and the fiscal sensibilities of corporate buyers. · Proprietary Data: The survey of 1,800+ people is a massive asset. It proves the founders did the work to understand their users before asking for millions of dollars. · Urgency: The use of 'Only 3 spots available' and the specific COVID-19 impact analysis creates a sense that the problem is both urgent and the solution is in high demand.

What is Missing from the Included Health Deck

The Team Slide: This is the most glaring omission. In a Seed round, investors are betting on the people. Without bios for the founders or key medical advisors (like the mentioned 'Dr. Burton'), the deck feels incomplete. · The Ask: The deck never explicitly states how much money is being raised or what the valuation expectations are. While these are often discussed in person, a 'Use of Funds' slide is standard. · Competitive Landscape: There is no mention of how Included Health differs from general navigation platforms like Accolade or Quantum Health, or other niche providers. · Financials and Unit Economics: There is no mention of the pricing model (e.g., PEPM - Per Employee Per Month) or projected revenue growth.

What a Founder Should Copy

Use Specific Personas: Slide 6 is a great example of how to explain a complex service through simple, relatable human stories. · Validate with Surveys: If you don't have thousands of customers yet, do what Included Health did: run a massive survey. 1,800 responses is a statistically significant way to prove 'Product-Market Interest.' · Map the User Journey: Slide 7 clearly explains what happens after a user signs up. Founders often forget to show the 'how' of their service. · Address the Macro Environment: Slide 9 shows how to pivot your messaging to stay relevant during a global crisis (like COVID-19) without losing sight of your core mission.