Here’s What Makes Investors Say YES

At the end of the day, investors have seen thousands of decks. The ones that win? They’re clear, compelling, and show a real business with real potential. No fluff. No BS. Just facts, vision, and a killer team.

At the end of the day, investors have seen thousands of decks. The ones that win? No fluff. No BS. Just facts, vision, and a killer team.

Alright, let me break it down for you—the real deal on what makes a pitch deck actually work. I’ve been in the trenches, raising funds, getting grilled by investors, and figuring out what sticks. Here’s what I’ve learned firsthand from building and pitching my own startup in Southeast Asia.

1. Your Story is Everything

Forget boring slides packed with stats—investors back people and missions. When I pitched my startup, I didn’t just throw numbers at them. I told them why we exist. Think about Althea, the K-beauty e-commerce startup—when they raised $3.5M, they didn’t just say “we sell beauty products.” They sold the dream of making Korean beauty accessible across Southeast Asia. Investors love a strong “why.”

Another great example is Kredivo, the fintech startup that revolutionized BNPL (Buy Now, Pay Later) in Indonesia. Instead of just throwing out numbers on market opportunity, their pitch focused on a core problem: millions of Indonesians, especially young professionals, had no access to traditional credit. CEO Akshay Garg told the story of how banks were failing to serve this generation and how Kredivo could fill that gap with a fast, digital-first approach. That personal, relatable problem statement helped investors connect with the vision on a human level—before even diving into unit economics and scalability. So before you get lost in metrics and market size, start with why you exist. That’s what sticks.

2. Market Size = Investor FOMO

If you want investors to fight over your deal, show them how massive the opportunity is. When we raised our seed round, I made sure to highlight the market size like this:

• Total market: $300B SEA e-commerce industry by 2025

• Our niche: A $50B untapped segment

• Why now? SEA’s digital adoption is skyrocketing (just look at GoTo and Shopee’s growth!)

Numbers don’t lie—when investors see the potential, they’ll start imagining those 10x returns.

3. Traction Speaks Louder Than Projections

Investors don’t care about your future dreams unless you can show what you’ve already done. When I pitched, I didn’t just say, “We’ll grow fast.” I showed them:

• 500,000 users in 6 months

• $10M in monthly transactions

• 3x revenue growth in 90 days

If you’ve got numbers, flaunt them. If you don’t, get some before you pitch. Investors want momentum, not just ideas.

4. Show Them How You Make Money

It’s wild how many founders forget to explain this. When I pitched, I made it stupid simple:

• We charge a $10, $20, and $30 monthly subscription

• Our LTV is $200, CAC is just $50

• Our gross margins? Insanely good

The key? Make them believe you’ll be profitable, not just “high-growth.” Even Netflix burned billions before turning a profit—but they always had a plan.

5. The Right Team is Half the Battle

Look, investors don’t just invest in businesses—they invest in teams that can deliver. When we pitched, I made sure to flex our squad:

• Our CEO (me) has 25+ years in the industry, Ex Microsofties

• Our CTO has a Ph.D. in AI

• Our CMO scaled a previous startup to $10M ARR

We weren’t just passionate—we were the best people to solve this problem. Investors love a team that screams “we got this.”

Final Thought: Keep It Real

At the end of the day, investors have seen thousands of decks. The ones that win? They’re clear, compelling, and show a real business with real potential. No fluff. No BS. Just facts, vision, and a killer team.

One big mistake I see founders make (and yeah, I’ve been guilty of this too) is stuffing their pitch deck with jargon, fancy buzzwords, and consulting-style fluff. Look, investors aren’t here to be impressed by your ability to sound smart—they want to understand your business, fast. Keep it clear, simple, and straight to the point. And here’s a crucial tip: don’t act like you’ve got it all figured out. If your deck makes investors feel like you don’t actually need them, they’ll start wondering, “So… what’s left for us?” Instead, show them why their money, connections, or expertise will be the game-changer for your growth. Make them excited to be part of the journey, not just a bystander.

That’s what worked for us, and trust me—it can work for you too.