How to Avoid Mistakes in Investor Pitches

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Introduction: The Biggest Mistakes People Make When Pitching to Investors

This video explains the three most common mistakes founders and leaders make when pitching to investors — treating it like a presentation, assuming investors share their fascination and talking too much about themselves instead of what investors actually care about. You’ll learn how to avoid these traps and create a pitch that is clear, relevant and genuinely engaging.

What you’ll learn: Avoiding Investor Pitch Mistakes

• Why pitching is about building a relationship, not delivering a presentation
• How to stand out when investors have heard multiple pitches in a day
• Why simplicity and clarity matter more than detailed company history
• How to shift the pitch towards investor priorities, not your own
• What investors really want to hear: prospects, returns and capability
• How to create an investor-first pitch that has purpose and impact

Summary: Build Connection, Keep It Simple and Speak to Investor Priorities

Most investor pitches fail because the presenter forgets what the meeting is really about: building a long-term relationship. Investors back people, not slides. When you focus on connection — person to person or team to group — you create trust and spark interest. Another common mistake is assuming investors share your depth of knowledge. In reality, they’ve already heard several pitches that day. They want clarity, simplicity and a strong sense of purpose. Long backstories and detailed histories rarely help. Investors care about the future: the opportunity, the likely returns and whether your team can deliver. When you speak directly to those priorities, your pitch instantly becomes more compelling.

Mini FAQ: Improving Your Investor Pitch

Why shouldn’t I treat it as a presentation?
Because investors are assessing whether they can work with you long-term. The relationship matters as much as the numbers.

Why do investors want simplicity?
They hear many pitches in a day. Clear messages stand out; complexity blends into the background.

Should I include the full history of the business?
No. Investors care more about prospects, returns and why your team is right for the future.

What do investors want most?
A clear opportunity, realistic returns and confidence in the people leading the business.

Transcript (edited)

Probably the biggest mistake people make when pitching to investors is thinking of it as a presentation. When you talk to investors, you’re building a long-term relationship. Spend more time building that person-to-person or person-to-group connection. If you get the relationship right, investors are much more likely to be interested in what you’re trying to achieve.

Another big mistake is forgetting that you’re probably the fourth, fifth or even eighth opportunity the investor has heard that day. Founders often assume that because they’ve lived and breathed the business for years, everyone else will be just as fascinated. They won’t. Investors hear pitch after pitch — they want clarity, simplicity and purpose. Put yourself in their shoes and make your pitch stand out.

A third mistake is talking too much about yourself. Many people present a long backstory, sometimes dating back decades. But you’re not telling the story of the company — you’re trying to sell part of it. Investors care about the future: the prospects, the likely returns and why your team is the right one to deliver. Talk about what matters to them. That’s how you connect.

Suggested Links

• Avoid common investor pitch mistakes
• Build investor-focused messaging
• Strengthen your investor relationship skills
• Create a clear, simple investor pitch that stands out

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Read our Ultimate Guide to Investor Presentations