Key insights

• 🎯 Adapt pitches for investors and customers differently
• 💬 Use industry jargon and focus on the problem when pitching to customers
• 📈 Investors may not have the same problem, focus on the solution's potential for building a big company
• 📞 Use customer pitch in sales calls, website front page, FAQ, and user interviews
• 🚫 Avoid jargon when pitching to investors
• ✨ Clear and succinct explanations are crucial for effective pitches
• 💼 Investor pitch should use simple language and focus on product stage, market size, and team composition
• 🔍 Investors prioritize founders' capability to develop the product and business viability

Q&A

• Why are investor pitch and customer pitch different, and how are YC founders taught to approach them?

  Investor pitch and customer pitch are distinct because they address different motivations and needs. YC founders are initially inclined to combine the pitches, but constant practice convinces them to have separate pitches. Investors focus on the potential for a big business, while customers focus on whether the product solves their problem.

• What do investors and customers prioritize in a pitch?

  Investors prioritize founders' capability to develop the product and business viability. On the other hand, customers are concerned about product functionality, onboarding process, and specific problem-solving capabilities. Investor conversations delve into market size, customer demand, and business viability.

• What should an investor pitch focus on, and how should it be kept separate from customer-facing content?

  An investor pitch should use simple language and focus on key aspects such as product stage, market size, and team composition. It's important to avoid industry jargon and keep the investor pitch separate from customer-facing content such as the website. Key aspects of an investor pitch include product stage, total addressable market, revenue model, unique market insights, and team composition.

• What is crucial for an effective pitch, and what should founders focus on instead of vague descriptions?

  Effective pitches provide clear and succinct explanations of a product or service, focusing on tangible benefits and features. It's important to avoid vague descriptions and provide relatable examples to help others understand the value of the product or service.

• Where can a customer pitch be used, and what should founders avoid when pitching to investors?

  A customer pitch can be utilized in various settings such as sales calls, website front page, FAQs, and user interviews. When pitching to investors, founders should avoid using jargon and marketing language to ensure clarity and use clear and understandable language instead.

• How should founders adapt their pitches for investors and customers?

  Founders should adapt their pitches differently for investors and customers. When pitching to customers, they should use industry jargon and focus on the problem the product solves. However, when pitching to investors, they should avoid jargon and marketing language, and instead highlight the solution's potential for building a big company.

• 00:00 Founders should adapt their pitches for investors and customers differently. Use industry jargon and focus on the problem when pitching to customers. Investors are interested in building a big company and may not have the same problem, so tailor the pitch to highlight the solution's potential.
• 01:00 Your customer pitch can be used in various settings such as sales calls, websites, FAQs, and user interviews, but when pitching to investors, avoid jargon and marketing language to ensure clarity.
• 01:54 Effective pitches provide clear and succinct explanations of a product or service, helping investors or customers understand its value. It's important to avoid vague descriptions and instead focus on tangible benefits and features.
• 02:48 Investor pitch should be concise and focused on key aspects like product stage, market size, and team. Avoid industry jargon and keep it separate from customer-facing content.
• 03:50 Investors focus on founders' ability to build the product and business viability, while customers are more interested in functionality, onboarding process, and problem-solving capabilities of the product.
• 04:55 Investor pitch and customer pitch are different; YC founders are taught to have separate pitches for investors and customers to address their distinct motivations and needs.