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How to pitch to investors?

HOW Question

Quick Answer

Pitch investors with a 10-15 slide deck covering: problem, solution, market size, traction, business model, team, and ask. Focus on storytelling (why you, why now), show strong metrics (revenue growth, user engagement), and practice until you can deliver confidently in 10 minutes.

Detailed Explanation

Investor pitches follow proven structure: (1) Problem—What painful problem exists? Use story/stat to make it real. (2) Solution—Your product in 1 sentence. Demo if possible (seeing > explaining). (3) Market Size—TAM/SAM/SOM. Show ₹10,000 crore+ market potential. (4) Traction—Revenue growth, user metrics, customer testimonials. This is most important slide. (5) Business Model—How you make money, unit economics, path to profitability. (6) Go-to-market—Customer acquisition strategy, CAC:LTV ratio, sales process. (7) Competitive Landscape—Who else exists, your unfair advantage. (8) Team—Why you're uniquely qualified. Founder-market fit matters. (9) Financials—3-year projections (revenue, expenses, burn rate). (10) The Ask—How much raising, what valuation, use of funds. Delivery matters: (1) Tell story, don't recite facts. "I watched my father lose ₹5 lakhs to broker fees" beats "brokerage market is inefficient." (2) Show, don't tell—Live demo beats screenshots. Customer video testimonial beats claims. (3) Practice 50+ times—with founders, mentors, non-experts. Refine based on questions. (4) Anticipate objections—If market is crowded, explain differentiation proactively. (5) Energy and conviction—Investors bet on founders, not just ideas. Passion is contagious. Common mistakes: Too much text (use visuals), focusing on product features vs customer benefits, weak traction (wait to raise until you have strong metrics), unclear ask (know exact amount and terms).

Real-World Examples

Airbnb: Pitched cereal box funding story (scrappy) + "book rooms with locals" simple concept. Rejected 7 times before yes.

Uber: Pitch emphasized "push button, get car" simplicity + massive TAM (everyone needs transportation). Clear vision convinced VCs.

Razorpay: Showed strong product-market fit (merchants switching from competition), emphasized compliance expertise in complex Indian payments.

Key Takeaways

  • Structure: Problem → Solution → Market → Traction → Team → Ask
  • Traction slide is most important—show revenue/user growth
  • Tell stories, not just facts—emotional connection matters
  • Practice 50+ times until delivery is natural and confident
  • Know your numbers cold—burn rate, CAC, LTV, runway

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should my pitch be?

10 minutes presentation + 20 minutes Q&A. Investors have short attention spans. Get to traction slide by minute 5.

Should I include financial projections?

Yes, but don't dwell on them. 3-year revenue/expense forecast shows you've thought about path to scale. Investors know they're guesses.

What if I don't have much traction yet?

Show alternative proof: Team credentials, pilot customer commitments, product waitlist, revenue from beta. Something > nothing.

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How to pitch to investors? - Complete Answer (2025) | startupideasdb.com