Summary: How to Pitch Your Startup

I'm trying something new with this post. After watching the incredible "How to Pitch Your Startup" talk of YC Startup School, I asked Perplexity (an AI tool) to draft a handout to apply the presented ideas in practice. I am sharing it here as I found it very useful. Make sure to watch the original talk as well:

Key Takeaways

A startup idea is a hypothesis: It consists of three parts—the problem, the solution, and the insight (your unique advantage).

Start with the problem, not the technology: Investors care about the real-world issue you’re addressing.

Clarity is everything: Your pitch should be clear, concise, and easily understood—even by someone with no background in your field.

Avoid muddy language: Stay away from ambiguity, complexity, mystery, jargon, and ignorable “MBA-speak” or buzzwords.

Be conversational: Explain your idea as you would to your mom. If she understands and is proud, you’re on the right track.

Make it reproducible: The listener should be able to picture what you’re building, who it’s for, and what problem it solves.

Use “X for Y” analogies carefully: Only use this shortcut if “X” is a household name and “Y” is a large, compelling market that needs that solution.

Lead with what, not why or how: Start by stating what your company makes.

Concision signals mastery: Use as few words as possible while preserving clarity. This demonstrates deep understanding and efficiency.

Emphasize your top 2-3 points: Investors will only remember a couple of things; make them count.

Practice constantly: Regularly rehearse your pitch to refine clarity and excitement.

A clear idea drives organic growth: Word of mouth is fueled by ideas people can easily understand and repeat.

Step-by-Step Guide: Creating a Startup Pitch