🎯 5 Things Investors Want to Hear in Every Pitch

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.

🔗 Want more tactical advice like this?
Check out my course The Funding Accelerator to fast-track your raise →The Funding Accelerator

Keep building,
Steve
The Hands On Angel