LinkedIn carousel posts (a.k.a. PDF carousels or swipe posts) are a goldmine for organic reach – especially if you’re a scrappy, bootstrapped founder.

These posts let you upload a multi-page PDF that readers can swipe through in their feed, creating an interactive slideshow effect.

Not only do they stand out visually, but LinkedIn’s algorithm actively favors carousel content. In fact, Buffer’s data shows document posts (carousels) have about a 4.2% engagement rate, making them one of the top-performing post types on the platform.

The best part? You don’t need a single dollar of ad spend – you can achieve solid reach purely through engaging content.

LinkedIn itself recommends using document posts to share things like insights, trend reports, event recaps, and other knowledge-sharing content.

No wonder many brands and creators (from startups to Duolingo) use carousels for a variety of content formats, including industry news, how-to guides, behind-the-scenes stories, data visuals, and more.

This versatility means you can leverage carousels for many purposes: educating your audience, building your personal brand, showcasing product features, or repurposing existing content into a new format.

In this article, we’ll walk through 8 LinkedIn carousel templates with free design ideas tailored for early-stage founders.

Each carousel idea below is “plug-and-play” – you can take the concept, drop in your own content (using the free Canva designs provided), and publish a thumb-stopping LinkedIn post that builds awareness without any paid ads.

We’ve also included tips on why each carousel format works so well on LinkedIn, and how to make the most of it.

(Pro tip: If you’re embedding these carousels on your website or blog, remember to add descriptive, keyword-rich alt text to each image for SEO. You can even mark up a list of examples with an ItemList schema in your HTML for extra SEO credit.)

LinkedIn Carousel Template #1: Founder Story Highlights

Nothing beats authenticity on LinkedIn.

Use a carousel to tell a personal founder story – for example, your startup journey, a pivotal lesson learned, or a failure that taught you something valuable. Break the story into a sequence of slides with short, punchy headings and maybe an illustrative image or two.

The first slide should hook the reader (e.g. “How I Went From $0 to $100K ARR in 1 Year” or “Lessons I Learned from My First Startup Pivot”) to entice people to swipe. Subsequent slides can then walk through the narrative or key points of your story, and the final slide might wrap up with a key takeaway or call-to-action (like “Let me know if you’ve had a similar experience!”).

Why this works:

• It humanizes your brand – sharing personal experiences builds an emotional connection with your audience, which is crucial for early-stage founders building trust.

• Story-driven carousels stand out because they aren’t just dry facts; they’re relatable. People are more likely to spend time swiping through a genuine story and comment with their own insights or encouragement.

• Founder story carousels often spark higher engagement because you’re being authentic and transparent – traits that resonate on LinkedIn and can prompt conversations (comments, messages) with potential supporters, partners, or investors.

LinkedIn Carousel Template #2: Step-by-Step How-To Guide

Teaching something useful is a surefire way to provide value.

This carousel format lets you break down a how-to process or tutorial into a series of easy steps.

For example, if you’re a SaaS founder, you might create “5 Steps to [Achieve a Result] Without Hiring a Team” or a tutorial on a specific skill relevant to your industry. Each slide should cover one step with a concise headline and a brief explanation or visual.

This format is essentially a mini-playbook that your audience can swipe through and learn from in under a minute.

Why this works:

• You’re delivering quick, actionable value. Followers can swipe and immediately take away a set of tips or instructions. This positions you as a helpful expert in your niche.

• Breaking information into a slide-per-step format distills complex info into digestible chunks. Busy LinkedIn users appreciate content that’s skimmable and to-the-point.

• How-to carousels often get saved and shared. Because they have lasting utility, people might bookmark your PDF carousel or even share it with colleagues, extending your reach further.

• This is a perfect format for content repurposing: you can take a blog post or webinar you’ve done and turn it into a swipeable quick guide (we talk more about repurposing in the tips section below).

LinkedIn Carousel Template #3: Industry Insights & Data Roundup

Establish thought leadership by curating some industry insights, trends, or research in a carousel.

As a founder, you likely stay on top of industry news – why not compile the most important trends or statistics into a visual slideshow?

For example, a fintech startup founder might share “7 Key Fintech Trends in 2025” with each slide highlighting one trend along with a statistic or quote (maybe with a simple chart or graphic). Or you could summarize a recent industry report into a “cheat sheet” of insights.

Make sure to cite your data sources on the slides for credibility (and tag the original source in your post text if appropriate).

Why this works:

• You’re doing the homework for your audience by aggregating valuable info in one place. As Buffer notes, the best carousels often pull together insights from multiple sources into one cohesive piece. Busy professionals love a one-stop summary that saves them time.

• Visualizing data or trends in slide format makes complex info easier to absorb. Rather than dumping a text paragraph of stats, each slide can focus on one key data point with a simple visual – turning dense info into an easily digestible frame.

• Sharing timely insights and trends positions you as a thought leader. You’re showing that you have a finger on the pulse of your industry. This can lead to higher engagement and shares, as people may forward your carousel to others or reference it in discussions.

• Such LinkedIn carousel ideas also invite conversation. Ask a question on the final slide like “Which trend do you think is most disruptive?” to encourage comments.

LinkedIn Carousel Template #4: Product or Project Showcase

Use a carousel as a mini portfolio or demo to show off your product, service, or project.

Early-stage founders can leverage this to highlight different features or use cases of their product on each slide.

For example, if you launched a new app update, Slide 1 could be a catchy cover (e.g. “New in [Product]: 5 Features to Power Up Your Productivity”), and Slides 2–6 each show a screenshot or graphic of a feature with a brief description of its benefit.

This also works for service businesses or agencies: you could showcase 5 recent projects or client case studies, each on its own slide with a result or testimonial (more on testimonials next!).

Keep the design clean – use visuals (product UI images, before/after graphics, etc.) with minimal text overlay so that the imagery speaks for itself.

Why this works:

• Show, don’t just tell: Carousels let you demonstrate what you do. Instead of writing a text post that lists features, you’re visually walking viewers through your product, which is far more engaging.

• It’s essentially a free mini-brochure in the LinkedIn feed. For cash-strapped founders, this is an excellent way to pitch your product benefits without paying for ad space. The interactive format can hold attention better than a static image because viewers are curious to see what’s on the next slide.

• You can repurpose existing materials for this. Have a pitch deck or sales presentation? Turn it into a PDF carousel by selecting the most important slides – voila, you have a LinkedIn-friendly product tour.

• Visually rich showcase posts tend to catch eyes while scrolling. A bold product screenshot or a before/after graphic on that first slide can make people stop and swipe. Plus, LinkedIn users often share or tag others on such posts if they find the product relevant.

💡 Download Free Canva Carousel Templates: Grab our free pack of 8 customizable LinkedIn carousel templates (in Canva) to jumpstart your design. Each template matches one of the ideas in this article – simply add your text and images in Canva, and you’ll have a swipe-ready PDF in minutes. Perfect for founders who want polished carousel posts fast without hiring a designer!

LinkedIn Carousel Template #5: Before-and-After Case Study

Nothing builds credibility like a concrete case study.

This carousel format tells the story of a transformation – it could be how a client achieved results using your product, or how your startup solved a tough problem over time.

Start with the “Before” scenario on slide 1 (e.g. “Before: Struggling with X problem”), use a few middle slides to illustrate the process or solution implemented, and end with the “After” on the final slide (e.g. “After: Achieved Y result”). Include real numbers or outcomes if possible (e.g. “50% increase in conversion”, “$100K cost savings”, etc.), as well as visuals like charts, or a comparison graphic.

Essentially, you’re creating a mini case-study report in a storytelling flow.

Why this works:

• It’s storytelling with evidence. The narrative “problem → solution → result” format is compelling and easy to follow, and it

helps your audience understand the impact of your work.

• Case study carousels build social proof and boost credibility. When viewers see measurable results, they’re more likely to trust your product or service and want to try it themselves.

• The transformation angle works well in showing the tangible benefits of your startup. People love before-and-after stories because they highlight clear, visible progress.

LinkedIn Carousel Template #6: Behind-the-Scenes Insight

Take your audience behind the curtain to show them how your company works, whether it’s your day-to-day life as a founder, your design process, or an inside look at how your team collaborates.

For example, if you run a remote team, you might share “A Day in the Life of Our Remote Startup” with each slide showing a different aspect (e.g. morning standup, brainstorming sessions, team bonding time, etc.).

Alternatively, you could share product development insights – showing how your team brainstormed features, designed mockups, or iterated on feedback.

Why this works:

• People want to feel connected to the humans behind the brand. Behind-the-scenes content lets your audience see the people, values, and systems that drive your startup, helping them build a connection to your brand.

• It sparks curiosity. Viewers want to peek into your processes and get a sense of what it’s really like to run a startup – it feels exclusive.

• Showcasing your team or work process can humanize your brand, turning it from a faceless business into a relatable and approachable startup.

LinkedIn Carousel Template #7: Testimonials & Social Proof

Sharing positive feedback, reviews, or testimonials from clients, customers, or collaborators is an easy way to build trust.

A carousel is a perfect format for this – each slide could feature one glowing testimonial from a different person or client. Make sure to highlight their name, position, and company for credibility.

Include their photo if possible, as posts with faces tend to perform better on LinkedIn.

Why this works:

• Testimonials are powerful social proof – they show that others trust you, and are willing to vouch for your startup. This can help attract new clients or leads.

• It’s engaging. By rotating through multiple testimonials, you keep the post dynamic and visually interesting.

• Personal photos can increase trust. Testimonial slides with faces are particularly compelling, since people tend to trust recommendations from real individuals over generic logos or faceless quotes.

LinkedIn Carousel Template #8: Quick Industry Facts

This type of carousel shares a series of interesting facts or statistics relevant to your industry.

For example, “5 Facts About [Industry] That Will Blow Your Mind” with one fact per slide.

Each slide should be easy to scan – include a bold headline fact, and keep the text minimal (use visuals or icons to help explain each one).

Why this works:

• It catches the reader’s attention with compelling facts and piques their curiosity. People are often intrigued by eye-catching stats, especially if they’re surprising or counter-intuitive.

• Short, punchy facts paired with visually engaging design make these carousels extremely shareable and likely to get saved. You’re giving your audience quick, snackable insights they can use or share with others.

With these templates and ideas, you’re now equipped to create engaging, high-performance LinkedIn carousels for your startup.

These content formats are proven to drive organic reach and engagement, whether you’re sharing a product update, teaching a new skill, or building thought leadership.

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