At a Glance
- Three seasoned investors dissected what makes a pitch deck win or fail at News Of Los Angeles Disrupt.
- Their top gripe: overused buzzwords, especially “AI”.
- They boiled investor expectations down to three questions: market size, founder fit, and validation.
- Why it matters: Startups can sharpen decks and boost funding chances by following these simple rules.
At the recent News Of Los Angeles Disrupt in San Francisco, Jyoti Bansal, Medha Agarwal, and Jennifer Neundorfer took the stage to break down the secrets of a successful pitch deck. They warned founders about the pitfalls of buzzword overload, especially the overuse of “AI.” The panel ran from October 13-15, 2026, offering a deep dive into what investors truly want.
Investor Insights on Pitch Decks
During the panel, Medha Agarwal highlighted the danger of relying on buzzwords, noting that founders who truly innovate will naturally weave their technology into the story rather than making it the centerpiece. Jyoti Bansal outlined the three questions investors ask: is the market big enough, why is this founder the right person, and what evidence of traction exists? He emphasized that a pitch must convince investors a company could become a billion-dollar business.
Medha Agarwal said:
> “The people who are doing things that are really innovative, they’ll talk about it, and it’s built in, but it’s not the core of their pitch,”
Jyoti Bansal said:
> “There has to be something unique about you,”
Jyoti Bansal said:
> “Why would you win? If the problem is interesting, there will be 20 other companies trying to solve it, so why would you win and what’s your opportunity?”
Jyoti Bansal said:
> “Traction with customers,”
Jyoti Bansal said:
> “Validation could be initial customer feedback, revenue, something, but some kind of validation.”
Jyoti Bansal said:
> “Focus on building your product.”
Medha Agarwal said:
> “Some of you have “lost some credibility with me because you didn’t have it on your slide,”
Jennifer Neundorfer said:
> “The companies that catch her attention are those enabling new behaviors rather than simply improving an existing process incrementally.”
| Question | Focus |
|---|---|
| Market size | Is there a large enough market? |
| Founder fit | Why is this founder the right person? |
| Validation | What traction or feedback exists? |
These guidelines aim to help founders craft decks that address investor concerns head-on, increasing the likelihood of securing capital.
Advice for AI Startups
Panelists also tackled how AI firms can stand out in a crowded market. Jennifer Neundorfer stressed that startups must enable new behaviors rather than merely tweaking existing processes. Medha Agarwal urged founders to be transparent about competitors and to clearly show how AI drives product efficiency.
Key Takeaways
- Focus on a clear market opportunity and prove its size.
- Highlight unique founder expertise and why you’ll win.
- Show tangible validation, such as customer traction or revenue.
By cutting through buzzwords and answering these three questions, startups can present a compelling case to investors. The panel’s insights offer a practical roadmap for anyone preparing a pitch deck at News Of Los Angeles Disrupt or beyond.
