𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐏𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐤 After reviewing 300+ pitch decks from funded startups, I break down in this visual the essential components investors expect to see. Key Takeaways: 1️⃣ Start with the problem – Lay out the pain point, urgency, and market gap clearly. Make investors feel the problem before you introduce your solution. 2️⃣ Build credibility fast – Highlight how your product works, why it’s different, your go-to-market plan, and early market validation. 3️⃣ Show who’s behind it – Investors bet on teams. Include relevant expertise, traction, and why you’re uniquely positioned to win. 4️⃣ Ask with confidence – Be specific with your financial ask, metrics, and use of funds. Clarity builds trust. This framework has helped hundreds of founders raise capital — from seed rounds to Series B and beyond. P.S. Want a PDF of The Perfect Pitch Deck? Get it free: https://lnkd.in/ewfPRgiE ♻️ Repost to help people in your network. 💡 Follow Alejandro Cremades for more strategy insights. — 📢 check out for a winning pitch deck the template created by Silicon Valley legend, Peter Thiel https://lnkd.in/eQFrsUnE

📊 Thursday Reflection for Founders As CPAs working with startups, one question we encourage founders to ask every Thursday is: 👉 “Have I spent this week working on the business, or just in the business?” The distinction matters. If your financial data only tells you what already happened, you’re looking in the rear-view mirror. But when your numbers highlight trends, cash runway, and future scenarios, they give you the tools to steer what comes next. Strong founders don’t wait for month-end to gain clarity. They use mid-week insights to shape strategy, protect runway, and position for growth. 💬 What’s one thing you’ve done this week to work on your business instead of just in it? #StartupFinance #FounderTips #FractionalCFO #CFOInsights #KirklandAndAssociates

Successful startups aren’t just built on growth — they’re built on fundamentally healthy businesses, with strong unit economics and a cost structure designed for efficient scaling. Last week, our accelerator cohort heard directly from founders who’ve been in the trenches—sharing what investors really want to see and how to tell the story behind the numbers. 💡 Amanda Epp: “The financial metrics are part of your story. It’s not just about growth at all costs—know your margins and what they signal.” 💡 Melinda Gloriosa: “Which of the numbers are the most important - none - they are all important because together they tell an investor a story.” 💡 Phil George: “Be authentic to who you are—you’re the one who’s going to get peppered with the questions and you will need to back it up.” A huge thank you to our panelists Amanda, Melinda, and Phil for sharing their experiences, and to Kristy Campbell for moderating such an insightful discussion. 

💡 Ready to Turn Your Startup Dreams Into Reality? 💡 Attracting angel investors takes more than a great idea—it takes the right strategy to stand out and win their trust. 🚀 In this article from Complete Controller, you’ll discover: 📝 The must-have elements of a winning pitch 🤝 How to build authentic investor relationships 🏆 Proven ways to stand out in a crowded market 🔮 Strategies to showcase your vision and potential Don’t let your dreams stay dreams. Take the next step toward funding success. Read the full article here! > https://lnkd.in/exUaU32s #StartupSuccess #AngelInvestors #QueenOfCAS #CompleteController

💡 MYTH vs FACT 🚀 Think you need a finished product before meeting investors? Think again. ✅ Investors often back early-stage ideas when the vision is clear and the founder is strong. ✨ Clarity and conviction can attract capital even before code! Start building your network before you build your product. #FoundersMeetup #MythVsFact #StartupFunding #InvestorRelations #EntrepreneurMindset #StartupMyths #FounderVision #EarlyStageStartups #NetworkingMatters #StartupGrowth #PitchPerfect

Why is everyone sprinting toward VCs like they’re giving out oxygen masks on a crashing plane? Every other founder’s pitch now sounds like: “Dear VC, invest today or don’t cry later when I’m on my private jet.” Buddy, you don’t even have an MVP that loads without crashing, relax. What happened to building something first? You know—creating, experimenting, actually selling something. The world doesn’t owe your startup a valuation just because you learned to say “runway” and “burn rate.” Try proving yourself before demanding champagne money for soda-level ideas. VCs aren’t your parents. Build. Sell. Then talk. #StartupReality #VCMadness #BuildBeforeYouBeg #EntrepreneurLife

Drew Leahy, General Partner at SPLY Capital, discusses how understanding and addressing customer pains and gains can lead to exponential growth. Learn how founders can leverage their networks and partnerships to create significant opportunities and drive success. Discover the fundamental principles that underpin effective matchmaking and how they can transform the trajectory of startups in today's competitive landscape. Links: Kevin McCann | Executive Strategy Group: → https://buff.ly/c80KiBc Drew Leahy | SPLY Capital → https://buff.ly/vdmjCoB

Investors love second-time founders—and here’s why: they’ve been through the startup grind, learned from past mistakes, and know how to navigate challenges. Their experience reduces risk, builds credibility, and shows resilience. Simply put, they understand what it takes to turn ideas into scalable businesses—and investors notice.

Last week’s Techstars / FoundersEdge events underscored a familiar truth: startup success is driven by outstanding go-to-market execution and a compelling investor narrative. As a Techstars Boston Accelerator mentor and Venture Partner in two funds, I consistently recommend founders optimize three key areas in their pitches: 1️⃣ GTM Strategy: Move beyond identifying the ICP… detail concrete steps to reach and convert your target customers 2️⃣ Financial Projections: Include thoughtful, transparent assumptions to enable meaningful conversations about levers to achieve revenue and profitability 3️⃣ "Investability": Provide a direct exit narrative and 10X–100X return potential, backed traction data. At the MVP or pilot stage, highlight early validation: signed LOIs, pre-sale commitments, and buyers ready to pay. I am 💫 delighted when I see pitches come through with these, as we end up having much deeper conversations about how the company will be successful versus getting stuck on more surface level topics. ... To founders: Prioritize GTM, traction, pre-orders, and waiting lists, and clearly present the case for investment returns from day one. ... To angels and VCs: Short, candid feedback on these points before a re-review can change the trajectory of a business… and a founder’s life. ✨

Here’s how your investor call can end in 7 minutes. Last week, a founder I know pitched to what seemed like their dream investor. The alignment was almost perfect: • The investor had already backed similar companies. • The startup had strong traction. • The timing was right. Everything seemed set for at least a second call. But 7 minutes into the pitch… it was over. No follow-up. Why? Because the founder buried the story in technical detail. Every slide, every answer was packed with jargon. The “why it matters in the market” was missing. Here’s the thing: Investors don’t pass just because they don’t like your tech. They walk away when they can’t see the impact behind it. Founders often believe if they explain the mechanics well enough, investors will be impressed. But in reality, investors want clarity on: 👉 The problem being solved 👉 The impact in the market 👉 Why now is the time The founder had traction, team, even the right investor in the room… but clarity was missing. That’s why so many great ideas fail to move past the first call.