Setting and Context
During the TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 event, a group of well-experienced investors provided the startups with a transparent view of the most important things in a pitch deck.
Among the panelists were Jyoti Bansal, who had switched from being a founder to an investor; Medha Agarwal from Defy; and Jennifer Neundorfer of January Ventures. Their recommendations emphasized the importance of content rather than using fashionable words.
Avoiding Jargon and Buzzwords
Investors pointed out that if the technology is not completely fused with the product, then marketing terms such as artificial intelligence should not get the limelight in a presentation. Agarwal also added that overuse of buzzwords by startups often means a readiness to obscure poor fundamentals instead of giving real innovation.
Three Key Questions Investors Ask
Bansal condensed investor demands into three basic questions:
- Is there a large enough market for a business with a considerable return? Investors want to determine if the concept can evolve into a big corporation with a vast market, rather than just a small product serving a small market.
- What makes this founder the right one to address this problem? It requires showcasing the personal understanding, the right experience, and the competitive advantages that distinguish the team from others.
- Is there any substantial proof of the idea? Customer sales, their opinions, or quantifiable involvement that indicates the product is attractive to the users can be the forms of such proof.
These inquiries allow the financiers to swiftly judge if a presentation has the potential to turn into a business that is worthy of their investment.
Focus on Long-Term Potential
To investors, the basic question posed by Bansal is if the company would ever be a billion-dollar business. Traction and validation contribute to this wider evaluation. Not only do the founders have to show a grand vision but also that they are indeed making concrete progress towards it.
Advice on Pitch Structure
The investors recommended to the founders that they base their pitches on simple, truthful answers rather than ambiguous claims. They pointed out the need for clarifying the real problem that is being solved, the founder’s and the team’s special qualifications, and the proof that the customers actually want the product.
Investor Perspective on Trends
The panel confirmed that even though the hype around technology trends such as AI is significant, investors are still looking for business reasons. A good pitch not only uses the trendy words but also shows the market fit, the problem-solution clarity, and the founders’ good reputation.
Final Takeaway
In a situation where the pitch was very crowded, the trio of clarity, solid proof, and the realness of the founders counted the most. The investors were looking for a business to show them a credible way to grow and the team to be able to carry out their idea. When the founders emphasize these main points, they increase the likelihood of getting a meaningful investor interest.
