🎯 5 Things Investors Want to Hear in Every Pitch

And while every investor is different, they’re all listening for a few core signals in every pitch. Nail these, and you dramatically increase your odds of a follow-up meeting. Miss them… and you’re back in the inbox ether.

If you’re not saying these, you’re losing them.

Hey Founders,

Let’s cut to it—you’ve got less than 5 minutes to make an investor lean in, not check out.

And while every investor is different, they’re all listening for a few core signals in every pitch. Nail these, and you dramatically increase your odds of a follow-up meeting. Miss them… and you’re back in the inbox ether.

Here are the 5 things investors want to hear—every single time. 👇

1. “We’re Solving a Real (and Expensive) Problem”

This isn’t about being interesting. It’s about being necessary.

🔍 Ask yourself:

• Is the pain urgent?

• Are customers actively searching for a solution?

• Will they pay to solve it?

💬 Try this:“We discovered that [target audience] wastes $X every month because of [problem]. Our platform eliminates that loss in minutes.”

2. “Here’s Why We’re the Team to Build It”

The best ideas fall flat without the right team behind them.

✅ Investors want to know:

• Do you have founder-market fit?

• Have you done something like this before?

• Can you attract top talent?

💬 Try this:“I’ve spent the last 5 years inside this industry. My co-founder built the exact type of tech we’re scaling now. Together, we’re uniquely positioned to solve this.”

3. “There’s a Clear Path to Revenue (and Growth)”

Yes, even pre-revenue startups need to show a path.

💸 Questions to answer:

• Who pays?

• How much?

• How do you reach them?

💬 Try this:“Our early pilots pay $500/month. Our goal is to land 30 more over the next 6 months through partnerships we’ve already secured.”

4. “We Have Early Traction—and We’re Moving Fast”

Traction = confidence. It shows the market wants what you’re building.

📈 Traction can be:

• Revenue

• Waitlist growth

• Partnerships

• Retention metrics

💬 Try this:“We’ve grown MRR 30% month-over-month for the past 3 months. And we’re just getting started.”

5. “Here’s What We’re Raising—And What It’ll Unlock”

Investors want to know what you’ll do with their money—and what they get in return.

🎯 Be clear on:

• How much you’re raising

• What milestones it funds

• Where you expect to be after the round

💬 Try this:“We’re raising $750K to get us 12 months of runway, hire our first sales rep, and hit $50K MRR by Q2 next year.”

💥 Final Thought

Too many founders spend their pitch on what they’re building. Great founders focus on why it matters, who it helps, and how it becomes a business.

Investors aren’t just buying into your deck. They’re betting on your clarity, urgency, and ability to execute. Show them that in your pitch—and they’ll follow up fast.

Cheers,

Steve Walsh

Hands On Angel