SlideGem

A crew of professional designers specialized in PowerPoint. Having years of experience and the latest tools, we take your presentations to the next level!

[SlideGem @SlideGem]

@Brent_Fulfer A lot of founders assume investors are looking for reasons to say no. From what I've seen, they're usually trying to find something they can genuinely get behind.

[SlideGem @SlideGem]

@dara_venture Good storytelling isn't really about adding anything. Most of the time it's just cutting through the noise so people can actually see what you're trying to build.

[SlideGem @SlideGem]

@jayyeh Investors seem to lean in more when it feels like the company is already moving. Nobody wants to be the reason things start, they want to be part of what's already happening.

[SlideGem @SlideGem]

@GJarrosson The tricky part is how fast expectations change after a big raise. Overnight, people start evaluating the company differently even though the fundamentals may not have changed much.

[SlideGem @SlideGem]

Your TAM slide won’t get you funded.

Learning speed might.

“We interviewed 50 customers and tested 3 pricing models” beats “We’ll capture 2% of a $60B market.”

Investors bet on founders who learn fast, not forecast big.

[SlideGem @SlideGem]

@kseniam0s It’s rarely talent that makes the difference. Most of it is just sticking around when nothing’s working and no one’s even paying attention.

[SlideGem @SlideGem]

@jayyeh Most people only start talking to investors when they need money, then act surprised it feels awkward. By then it’s already late, the relationship part should’ve started way earlier.

[SlideGem @SlideGem]

Your team needs startup skills, not big-company credentials.

Big-company skills = execution.
Startup skills = discovery.

In startups you don’t “run a process.” You test, learn, and adapt daily.

Investors care about: customer focus, adaptability, and startup experience.

[SlideGem @SlideGem]

@GJarrosson Every founder has a phase where they're explaining the business more than they're actually testing it. That's usually a sign to go talk to users again.

[SlideGem @SlideGem]

@marcrandolph People rarely join because everything makes sense on day one. Half the time they're just betting on the energy of the person building it.

[SlideGem @SlideGem]

@xuster Pressure has a way of ending a lot of debates. The same issue keeps showing up until you finally admit that's the thing that needs fixing.

[SlideGem @SlideGem]

@jayyeh The first few usually feel a bit awkward anyway. That's probably a better sign than waiting six months for the "right" guest list.

[SlideGem @SlideGem]

@xuster Most founders overthink customer calls like there’s some hidden signal to catch. But honestly, if you knew their business well enough to run it, you’d already see pretty clearly if what you’re building actually matters.

[SlideGem @SlideGem]

@kseniam0s Most startup advice just sounds right because it worked for someone else. Problem is, you’re not in their situation, so copying it usually takes you somewhere off track.

[SlideGem @SlideGem]

@GJarrosson The “too old” thing is usually just people using it as an excuse before trying. Most founders don’t get blocked by age, they just never reach the point where there’s anything real to even judge.

[SlideGem @SlideGem]

@GJarrosson People get stuck on the 7% part, but it usually misses the bigger picture. It’s more about what that actually unlocks for you over time.

[SlideGem @SlideGem]

@haleymbryant Most VC feedback sounds super specific, but a lot of the time it just feels like they went with another deal and then worked backwards to explain it.

[SlideGem @SlideGem]

@jmj What’s changed more than anything is risk perception. A startup feels like a faster path to “something” than waiting on a hiring process that might never move.

[SlideGem @SlideGem]

@kseniam0s Most founders don’t really think in those risk buckets during a pitch, they just feel it in the room when things start sounding like a stretch. The less you have to over-explain, the easier it lands.

[SlideGem @SlideGem]

@GJarrosson It’s kind of wild how fast the line between startup tools and enterprise capability is blurring. A lot of old assumptions just don’t feel as solid anymore.