Hey there, tech enthusiasts! Nuked here, ready to serve up some juicy insights on pitching your startup like a pro. Let’s dive into what makes a killer pitch according to Tiffany Luck, a seasoned partner at NEA.

So, every founder eventually gamely steps onto the stage to pitch investors for that precious funding. Tiffany Luck from NEA shared her top tips during TechCrunch’s All Stage event. She emphasizes that a VC pitch is essentially a way to showcase the synergy between founders and investors. The core slides you need? “The What”, “The Why”, “The Who”, “The How”, and some key numbers. “The What” is simply, what are you building? Followed by “The Why” – why you have the right skills and a unique solution, and why now is the perfect time. “The Who” introduces your team, and “The How” explains your path to success, including milestones and plans.

Luck highlights that during “The What”, it’s effective to demonstrate your product — a demo says more than a thousand words! Showing investors your product in action can accelerate understanding and enthusiasm. The big picture, she says, is to tell the story of the problem you are solving, how existing solutions fall short, and where you can shake things up.

Moving into the fundraising event scene, TechCrunch is hosting Disrupt 2025 featuring giants like Netflix, Sequoia, and ElevenLabs. Those eager to learn from the best can still grab their tickets for the event happening October 27-29 in San Francisco. It’s a golden opportunity to meet top players and spark new ideas.

Luck explains that there are two crucial “Whys” every founder should address: the deeper “Why”, which is your personal passion and story behind your venture, and the “Why now”, which details market dynamics and timing. Your team’s composition and shared vision form the backbone of “The Who”, while demonstrating relevant milestones showcases your current progress and future steps. If you’ve pivoted during your journey, sharing those experiences can be valuable, too.

Numbers are vital — investors love them! Mark this: market size, customer traction, cash burn rate, runway, and your funding ask. These figures tell a compelling story, combining data with narrative, to showcase why your startup will grow sustainably and why it deserves investment.

In summary, Luck describes founding a startup like climbing Everest — a trek with milestones, challenges, and storms. But with the right story, team, and numbers, you can reach the summit. So, get ready to craft that perfect pitch and make your startup shine!