Investors at TechCrunch Disrupt Urge Startups to Ditch Buzzwords, Focus on Fundamentals

SAN FRANCISCO – Venture capitalists at TechCrunch Disrupt advised startups to avoid overusing buzzwords like "AI" in their pitch decks and instead focus on demonstrating a deep understanding of the problem they are solving. The investors emphasized that a clear articulation of a large addressable market, the founding team's unique advantages, and early customer validation are crucial for securing funding.

During a panel discussion at the conference, Jyoti Bansal, a founder-turned-investor, Medha Agarwal of Defy, and Jennifer Neundorfer of January Ventures shared their insights on what makes or breaks a pitch deck. According to TechCrunch, the investors identified "buzzword overload" as a major pet peeve.

Agarwal noted that overuse of terms like "AI" can be a red flag. "The more a founder says AI in the pitch," she said, "the less AI the company likely uses." She added that truly innovative companies integrate the technology seamlessly, making it a built-in aspect rather than the core of their pitch.

Bansal, who has built and sold multiple companies, distilled investor expectations into three core questions. First, he assesses whether the startup is tackling a sufficiently large market. Investors prioritize pitches that clearly articulate the scope and potential of the market they are addressing.

The investors at TechCrunch Disrupt emphasized that startups should focus on showcasing early customer validation to prove the viability of their business.