Studio Founder

Data Visualizations in Slides That PowerPoint Can't Handle

Interactive D3.js vs static chartsDesign & Content5 min read

Data Visualizations in Slides That PowerPoint Can't Handle

Key Takeaway

We embed D3.js charts, animated counters, and live API data into HTML slides — interactive presentations that PowerPoint literally cannot build.

The Problem

Here's what PowerPoint can do with data: static bar charts. Static pie charts. Static line graphs. Maybe a gradient fill if you're feeling adventurous.

Here's what PowerPoint can't do:

Charts that animate when you reach the slide
Hover states that show exact values on data points
Click-to-drill-down from summary to detail
Live data that updates when you open the file
Responsive visualizations that adapt to screen size
Network graphs, Sankey diagrams, tree maps, force-directed layouts

For internal team meetings, PowerPoint charts are fine. For investor presentations where you're showing portfolio performance, market dynamics, or complex multi-variable data — PowerPoint is a constraint that actively limits your communication.

At PyratzLabs, we present portfolio data to LPs. We show token correlations, sector performance over time, risk distributions, drawdown curves. These aren't "bar chart" data. Forcing them into PowerPoint strips context and interactivity.

The Solution

HTML slides with embedded D3.js visualizations. Every chart is interactive. Data can be live (API-fed) or static (embedded JSON). The presentation runs in any browser.

The agent builds the full deck — layout, transitions, data binding, and interaction handlers — from a spec that describes what you want to show.

The Process (with code/config snippets)

The spec describes each slide's visualization:

yamlShow code

# investor-deck-spec.yaml
theme: dark
transition: fade
font: Inter

slides:
  - type: title
    content:
      heading: "Q1 2026 Portfolio Review"
      subheading: "PyratzLabs | LP Update"

  - type: animated-counter
    content:
      heading: "Quarter in Numbers"
      counters:
        - label: "Return"
          value: 18.4
          suffix: "%"
          color: "#10B981"
        - label: "Sharpe Ratio"
          value: 2.1
          suffix: ""
          color: "#6366F1"
        - label: "Max Drawdown"
          value: -8.2
          suffix: "%"
          color: "#EF4444"
        - label: "Active Positions"
          value: 12
          suffix: ""
          color: "#F59E0B"
    animation: count-up-on-enter

  - type: interactive-chart
    content:
      heading: "Returns by Sector"
      chart: bar
      data_source: embedded
      data:
        categories: ["DeFi", "L2 Infra", "AI/ML", "RWA", "Gaming"]
        series:
          - name: "Q1 Return"
            values: [24.2, 12.8, 31.5, 8.1, -5.3]
      interaction:
        hover: show-value-tooltip
        click: drill-down-to-positions

  - type: live-data
    content:
      heading: "Current Portfolio Value"
      api: "https://api.pyratzlabs.internal/portfolio/summary"
      refresh: 30  # seconds
      chart: line
      display: "Total value over last 30 days"

The animated counter slide:

javascriptShow code

// Counter animation — triggers when slide becomes active
function initCounterSlide(slideEl) {
  const counters = slideEl.querySelectorAll('.metric-counter');

  const observer = new IntersectionObserver((entries) => {
    entries.forEach(entry => {
      if (entry.isIntersecting) {
        animateValue(entry.target);
        observer.unobserve(entry.target);
      }
    });
  });

  counters.forEach(c => observer.observe(c));
}

function animateValue(el) {
  const target = parseFloat(el.dataset.target);
  const suffix = el.dataset.suffix || '';
  const duration = 2000;
  const start = performance.now();

  function update(now) {
    const progress = Math.min((now - start) / duration, 1);
    // Ease out cubic
    const eased = 1 - Math.pow(1 - progress, 3);
    const current = target * eased;

    el.textContent = (target % 1 === 0)
      ? Math.floor(current) + suffix
      : current.toFixed(1) + suffix;

    if (progress < 1) requestAnimationFrame(update);
  }

  requestAnimationFrame(update);
}

The interactive D3.js chart with drill-down:

javascriptShow code

// Bar chart with hover tooltips and click-to-drill-down
function renderInteractiveBar(container, data) {
  const svg = d3.select(container).append('svg')
    .attr('viewBox', '0 0 800 400');

  const x = d3.scaleBand()
    .domain(data.categories)
    .range([60, 760]).padding(0.3);

  const y = d3.scaleLinear()
    .domain([d3.min(data.values) - 5, d3.max(data.values) + 5])
    .range([360, 40]);

  // Bars with animation
  svg.selectAll('.bar')
    .data(data.categories.map((c, i) => ({
      category: c, value: data.values[i]
    })))
    .join('rect')
    .attr('class', 'bar')
    .attr('x', d => x(d.category))
    .attr('width', x.bandwidth())
    .attr('y', y(0))
    .attr('height', 0)
    .attr('fill', d => d.value >= 0 ? '#6366F1' : '#EF4444')
    .attr('rx', 4)
    .transition().duration(800).delay((d, i) => i * 100)
    .attr('y', d => d.value >= 0 ? y(d.value) : y(0))
    .attr('height', d => Math.abs(y(d.value) - y(0)));

  // Hover tooltip
  const tooltip = d3.select(container).append('div')
    .attr('class', 'tooltip')
    .style('opacity', 0);

  svg.selectAll('.bar')
    .on('mouseover', (event, d) => {
      tooltip.transition().duration(200).style('opacity', 1);
      tooltip.html(`<strong>${d.category}</strong><br/>${d.value}%`)
        .style('left', (event.offsetX + 10) + 'px')
        .style('top', (event.offsetY - 30) + 'px');
    })
    .on('mouseout', () => {
      tooltip.transition().duration(200).style('opacity', 0);
    })
    .on('click', (event, d) => {
      // Drill down to show individual positions in this sector
      showDrillDown(d.category);
    });
}

The live data slide connects to an API and refreshes in real-time:

javascriptShow code

// Live portfolio data — updates every 30 seconds
async function initLiveDataSlide(slideEl) {
  const apiUrl = slideEl.dataset.api;
  const refreshInterval = parseInt(slideEl.dataset.refresh) * 1000;

  async function fetchAndRender() {
    try {
      const response = await fetch(apiUrl);
      const data = await response.json();

      renderLineChart(slideEl.querySelector('.chart-container'), data);
      slideEl.querySelector('.last-updated').textContent =
        `Updated: ${new Date().toLocaleTimeString()}`;
    } catch (e) {
      slideEl.querySelector('.last-updated').textContent =
        'Using cached data';
    }
  }

  await fetchAndRender();
  setInterval(fetchAndRender, refreshInterval);
}

The Results

Feature	PowerPoint	HTML Slides
Animated chart entrance	Clunky preset animations	Smooth D3.js transitions
Hover tooltips	Not possible	Built-in
Click to drill down	Not possible	Unlimited depth
Live API data	Not possible	Real-time refresh
Chart types	~10 basic types	Any D3.js visualization
Responsive	Fixed dimensions	Adapts to any screen
File sharing	.pptx (requires PowerPoint)	.html (any browser)
Animations	Slide-level only	Element-level, physics-based

Our LP quarterly review went from "here's a static bar chart of returns" to "hover over any sector to see the breakdown, click to see individual positions, watch the portfolio value update live."

The investors noticed. Three LPs mentioned the presentation format unprompted. One asked if we could build the same thing for their portfolio reports. (We can.)

Try It Yourself

Write a slide spec in YAML describing what each slide should show. The HTML Presentations agent generates the full deck with D3.js visualizations, animations, and interactivity. If you have a data API, point the live slides at it.

For static presentations, everything is embedded in the HTML file. For live data, you'll need to host the file somewhere the API is accessible.

Start free on Mr.Chief →

PowerPoint was designed in 1987. JavaScript has had 35 years of innovation since then. Use the tool that matches the data you're presenting.

D3.jsdata visualizationinteractive slidespresentations

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Studio Founder

Data Visualizations in Slides That PowerPoint Can't Handle

Interactive D3.js vs static chartsDesign & Content5 min read

Data Visualizations in Slides That PowerPoint Can't Handle

Key Takeaway

We embed D3.js charts, animated counters, and live API data into HTML slides — interactive presentations that PowerPoint literally cannot build.

The Problem

Here's what PowerPoint can do with data: static bar charts. Static pie charts. Static line graphs. Maybe a gradient fill if you're feeling adventurous.

Here's what PowerPoint can't do:

Charts that animate when you reach the slide
Hover states that show exact values on data points
Click-to-drill-down from summary to detail
Live data that updates when you open the file
Responsive visualizations that adapt to screen size
Network graphs, Sankey diagrams, tree maps, force-directed layouts

The Solution

HTML slides with embedded D3.js visualizations. Every chart is interactive. Data can be live (API-fed) or static (embedded JSON). The presentation runs in any browser.

The agent builds the full deck — layout, transitions, data binding, and interaction handlers — from a spec that describes what you want to show.

The Process (with code/config snippets)

The spec describes each slide's visualization:

yamlShow code

# investor-deck-spec.yaml
theme: dark
transition: fade
font: Inter

slides:
  - type: title
    content:
      heading: "Q1 2026 Portfolio Review"
      subheading: "PyratzLabs | LP Update"

  - type: animated-counter
    content:
      heading: "Quarter in Numbers"
      counters:
        - label: "Return"
          value: 18.4
          suffix: "%"
          color: "#10B981"
        - label: "Sharpe Ratio"
          value: 2.1
          suffix: ""
          color: "#6366F1"
        - label: "Max Drawdown"
          value: -8.2
          suffix: "%"
          color: "#EF4444"
        - label: "Active Positions"
          value: 12
          suffix: ""
          color: "#F59E0B"
    animation: count-up-on-enter

  - type: interactive-chart
    content:
      heading: "Returns by Sector"
      chart: bar
      data_source: embedded
      data:
        categories: ["DeFi", "L2 Infra", "AI/ML", "RWA", "Gaming"]
        series:
          - name: "Q1 Return"
            values: [24.2, 12.8, 31.5, 8.1, -5.3]
      interaction:
        hover: show-value-tooltip
        click: drill-down-to-positions

  - type: live-data
    content:
      heading: "Current Portfolio Value"
      api: "https://api.pyratzlabs.internal/portfolio/summary"
      refresh: 30  # seconds
      chart: line
      display: "Total value over last 30 days"

The animated counter slide:

javascriptShow code

// Counter animation — triggers when slide becomes active
function initCounterSlide(slideEl) {
  const counters = slideEl.querySelectorAll('.metric-counter');

  const observer = new IntersectionObserver((entries) => {
    entries.forEach(entry => {
      if (entry.isIntersecting) {
        animateValue(entry.target);
        observer.unobserve(entry.target);
      }
    });
  });

  counters.forEach(c => observer.observe(c));
}

function animateValue(el) {
  const target = parseFloat(el.dataset.target);
  const suffix = el.dataset.suffix || '';
  const duration = 2000;
  const start = performance.now();

  function update(now) {
    const progress = Math.min((now - start) / duration, 1);
    // Ease out cubic
    const eased = 1 - Math.pow(1 - progress, 3);
    const current = target * eased;

    el.textContent = (target % 1 === 0)
      ? Math.floor(current) + suffix
      : current.toFixed(1) + suffix;

    if (progress < 1) requestAnimationFrame(update);
  }

  requestAnimationFrame(update);
}

The interactive D3.js chart with drill-down:

javascriptShow code

// Bar chart with hover tooltips and click-to-drill-down
function renderInteractiveBar(container, data) {
  const svg = d3.select(container).append('svg')
    .attr('viewBox', '0 0 800 400');

  const x = d3.scaleBand()
    .domain(data.categories)
    .range([60, 760]).padding(0.3);

  const y = d3.scaleLinear()
    .domain([d3.min(data.values) - 5, d3.max(data.values) + 5])
    .range([360, 40]);

  // Bars with animation
  svg.selectAll('.bar')
    .data(data.categories.map((c, i) => ({
      category: c, value: data.values[i]
    })))
    .join('rect')
    .attr('class', 'bar')
    .attr('x', d => x(d.category))
    .attr('width', x.bandwidth())
    .attr('y', y(0))
    .attr('height', 0)
    .attr('fill', d => d.value >= 0 ? '#6366F1' : '#EF4444')
    .attr('rx', 4)
    .transition().duration(800).delay((d, i) => i * 100)
    .attr('y', d => d.value >= 0 ? y(d.value) : y(0))
    .attr('height', d => Math.abs(y(d.value) - y(0)));

  // Hover tooltip
  const tooltip = d3.select(container).append('div')
    .attr('class', 'tooltip')
    .style('opacity', 0);

  svg.selectAll('.bar')
    .on('mouseover', (event, d) => {
      tooltip.transition().duration(200).style('opacity', 1);
      tooltip.html(`<strong>${d.category}</strong><br/>${d.value}%`)
        .style('left', (event.offsetX + 10) + 'px')
        .style('top', (event.offsetY - 30) + 'px');
    })
    .on('mouseout', () => {
      tooltip.transition().duration(200).style('opacity', 0);
    })
    .on('click', (event, d) => {
      // Drill down to show individual positions in this sector
      showDrillDown(d.category);
    });
}

The live data slide connects to an API and refreshes in real-time:

javascriptShow code

// Live portfolio data — updates every 30 seconds
async function initLiveDataSlide(slideEl) {
  const apiUrl = slideEl.dataset.api;
  const refreshInterval = parseInt(slideEl.dataset.refresh) * 1000;

  async function fetchAndRender() {
    try {
      const response = await fetch(apiUrl);
      const data = await response.json();

      renderLineChart(slideEl.querySelector('.chart-container'), data);
      slideEl.querySelector('.last-updated').textContent =
        `Updated: ${new Date().toLocaleTimeString()}`;
    } catch (e) {
      slideEl.querySelector('.last-updated').textContent =
        'Using cached data';
    }
  }

  await fetchAndRender();
  setInterval(fetchAndRender, refreshInterval);
}

The Results

Feature	PowerPoint	HTML Slides
Animated chart entrance	Clunky preset animations	Smooth D3.js transitions
Hover tooltips	Not possible	Built-in
Click to drill down	Not possible	Unlimited depth
Live API data	Not possible	Real-time refresh
Chart types	~10 basic types	Any D3.js visualization
Responsive	Fixed dimensions	Adapts to any screen
File sharing	.pptx (requires PowerPoint)	.html (any browser)
Animations	Slide-level only	Element-level, physics-based

Our LP quarterly review went from "here's a static bar chart of returns" to "hover over any sector to see the breakdown, click to see individual positions, watch the portfolio value update live."

The investors noticed. Three LPs mentioned the presentation format unprompted. One asked if we could build the same thing for their portfolio reports. (We can.)

Try It Yourself

For static presentations, everything is embedded in the HTML file. For live data, you'll need to host the file somewhere the API is accessible.

Start free on Mr.Chief →

PowerPoint was designed in 1987. JavaScript has had 35 years of innovation since then. Use the tool that matches the data you're presenting.

D3.jsdata visualizationinteractive slidespresentations

Related case studies

Engineering Lead

Cron Job Status Dashboard — Visual Health Check Every Morning

We auto-generate a visual dashboard of all 14+ cron jobs every morning — replacing manual SSH checks with a color-coded health image delivered straight to Telegram.

3 sec glance vs 2-3 min SSH6 min read

Studio Founder

Meeting Agendas as Shareable Images for Group Chats

We render morning meeting data as clean visual agenda cards instead of walls of text — making group chat briefings actually readable and driving proactive preparation from the team.

5-10 sec scan vs 45-60 sec5 min read

Studio Founder

Portfolio Performance Tables That Actually Look Good in Chat

We render investment portfolio data as styled, color-coded images instead of unreadable Telegram text tables — generated on-demand when you ask 'how's the portfolio?'

5 sec to assess vs 60+ sec4 min read

Want results like these?

Start free with your own AI team. No credit card required.

Start Free →Browse agents