The founder\u2019s pitch deck had 47 slides.<\/p>\n
I hung up after 7 minutes.<\/p>\n
That was March 2026. Another Tuesday, another overproduced presentation.<\/p>\n
The deck looked like a design masterpiece. Every animation perfect. Every transition smooth. Every font choice deliberate.<\/p>\n
But slide 12 still couldn\u2019t answer: \u201cHow do you make money?\u201d<\/p>\n
The brutal truth behind most failed fundraises isn\u2019t the market or timing.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s founders who fall in love with the presentation instead of the problem.<\/p>\n
I’ve seen this across 200+ pitches while writing checks for millions of dollars across multiple startups. The decks that got funded were never the prettiest ones.<\/p>\n
They were the clearest ones.<\/p>\n
Now I ask every founder: \u201cExplain your business in 3 slides. Problem. Solution. Traction. That\u2019s it.\u201d<\/p>\n
If you can\u2019t hook me in 3 slides, 47 won\u2019t save you.<\/p>\n
Which matters more when you\u2019re raising: the story or the slides?<\/p>\n
\ud835\uddde\ud835\uddff\ud835\uddf6\ud835\ude00\ud835\uddf5\ud835\uddfb\ud835\uddee \ud835\udddf\ud835\uddee\ud835\uddf8\ud835\uddee\ud835\uddfa\ud835\ude00\ud835\uddee\ud835\uddfb\ud835\uddf6 | \ud835\uddd8\ud835\uddfb\ud835\ude01\ud835\uddff\ud835\uddf2\ud835\uddfd\ud835\uddff\ud835\uddf2\ud835\uddfb\ud835\uddf2\ud835\ude02\ud835\uddff \u00b7 \ud835\udde9\ud835\uddf2\ud835\uddfb\ud835\ude01\ud835\ude02\ud835\uddff\ud835\uddf2 \ud835\udde6\ud835\ude01\ud835\ude02\ud835\uddf1\ud835\uddf6\ud835\uddfc \ud835\uddd9\ud835\uddfc\ud835\ude02\ud835\uddfb\ud835\uddf1\ud835\uddf2\ud835\uddff \u00b7 \ud835\udddc\ud835\uddfb\ud835\ude03\ud835\uddf2\ud835\ude00\ud835\ude01\ud835\uddfc\ud835\uddff
Writing at the intersection of AI, capital, and the future of the human job market \u2013 sharing mylife lessons, reflections, and honest takes from the founder-investor\u2019s seat.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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