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Haiku Deck provides intuitive software for crafting visually compelling presentations. Its platform offers a streamlined interface, integrating millions of Creative Commons images and professional templates. The core product enables individuals to construct rich slide decks, prioritizing clarity and impactful communication over traditional, text-heavy formats, enhancing storytelling.
Co-founded by Adam Tratt, Kevin Leneway, and Kyle Kesterson, Haiku Deck stemmed from existing presentation tools producing complex, uninspiring slides. Their vision: an elegant, user-friendly solution, initially mobile-first. The company later expanded to web-based editing, meeting demand for broader accessibility in crafting visual stories.
Haiku Deck serves diverse users, from professionals to educators, enhancing communication through striking visual presentations. Its long-term vision empowers individuals to convey ideas effectively and artistically. Ensuring impactful, inspiring presentations remain straightforward and enjoyable, it elevates visual storytelling standards across applications.
Haiku Deck has raised $3.9M across 3 funding rounds.
Haiku Deck has raised $3.9M in total across 3 funding rounds.
Haiku Deck has raised $3.9M across 3 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $3.0M Series A in April 2013.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 1, 2013 | $3M Series A | — | Collaborative Seed & Growth Partners, EonCapital, Founders Co OP, Madrona Venture Group, Tsvc Capital, Uncork Capital, Unusual Ventures, Version ONE Ventures, DAN Shapiro, Matt Shobe, Sarah Leary | Announced |
| Jun 1, 2012 | $300K Seed | — | Collaborative Seed & Growth Partners, EonCapital, Founders Co OP, Madrona Venture Group, Tsvc Capital, Uncork Capital, Version ONE Ventures, DAN Shapiro, Matt Shobe | Announced |
| Apr 1, 2011 | $600K Seed | — | Founders Co OP, Madrona Venture Group, Uncork Capital, Version ONE Ventures, DAN Shapiro, Matt Shobe | Announced |
Haiku Deck is a Seattle-based software company that developed an intuitive presentation app designed as a mobile-first alternative to tools like Microsoft PowerPoint and Google Slides. It enables users to quickly create visually stunning slide decks by emphasizing simplicity, high-impact images, consistent formatting, and single-idea-per-slide principles, solving the pain of time-consuming, ugly presentations.[1][2][3][5] Targeted at professionals, educators, startups, and anyone needing to pitch ideas or share stories, the app garnered millions of users, awards like GeekWire's 2013 App of the Year, and over $4 million in funding before its 2018 acquisition by edtech firm BookRags, after which it operated with a small team of about 5 employees and $2 million in revenue.[1][2]
Haiku Deck traces its roots to 2010-2011, when co-founders Adam Tratt, Kevin Leneway, and Kyle Kesterson formed at Startup Weekend and were selected for Techstars Seattle accelerator from over 650 applicants.[1][3] Initially launched as Giant Thinkwell, a social game developer featuring celebrity Sir Mix-A-Lot, the venture failed to scale despite buzz; a pivot to social video also flopped, nearly shutting the company down.[1][3] Frustrated by the tedium of crafting investor pitch decks, the team pivoted again in 2011 to Haiku Deck—a simple iPad app for "10X faster" creation of "10X more beautiful" presentations—which exploded in popularity after Wall Street Journal coverage and iTunes featuring.[1][3][5] Early traction included investor backing from Madrona Venture Group, Founder’s Co-op, and Techstars; Leneway handled tech until leaving for Pioneer Square Labs in 2017, while Kesterson exited in late 2011.[1]
Haiku Deck rode the early 2010s mobile-first wave and democratization of visual storytelling, capitalizing on iPad's rise and frustration with desktop-heavy tools amid the startup boom.[1][4][5] Its timing was ideal: post-2008 recession, accelerators like Techstars amplified lean pivots, while edtech demand grew for accessible communication tools amid remote work precursors.[1][3] Market forces like app store virality and VC interest in productivity software favored it, influencing the ecosystem by popularizing "beautiful simplicity" in presentations—paving the way for Canva's ascent and shifting norms toward image-driven, mobile-native decks in pitching and education.[1][5] Post-acquisition by BookRags, it bolstered Seattle's edtech cluster, blending startup agility with learning platforms.[1]
Acquired in 2018 after a "roller coaster" journey, Haiku Deck now integrates into BookRags' edtech offerings, likely emphasizing AI-enhanced visuals and collaborative features amid rising demand for hybrid work tools.[1][2] Trends like generative AI for slides (e.g., auto-design from prompts) and immersive formats (AR/VR decks) will shape it, potentially evolving into a full storytelling platform for educators and enterprises. Its legacy of pivots and user love positions it to influence edtech quietly, reminding innovators that simplicity endures in a crowded productivity space—tying back to its origins in making pitches "awesome" for the next generation of founders.[1][3][5]
Haiku Deck has raised $3.9M in total across 3 funding rounds.
Haiku Deck's investors include Collaborative Seed & Growth Partners, eonCapital, Founders Co-op, Madrona Ventures, TSVC Capital, Uncork Capital, Unusual Ventures, Version One Ventures, Dan Shapiro, Matt Shobe, Sarah Leary.
