At pre-seed, you are selling a bet on the team and the problem. Product-market fit is not expected. Investors are looking for founders who deeply understand a real problem and have the skills to solve it.
Pre-seed investors know most things will change. They are not evaluating your business plan. They are evaluating:
Do you understand the problem better than anyone else?
Why are you the right person to solve this problem?
Have you done anything to validate demand? Waitlist, interviews, pilots?
Are you open to feedback and iteration?
Evidence needed: Personal experience or customer discovery interviews (10-20 minimum)
Must show you deeply understand the pain. First-hand experience is strongest.
Evidence needed: Clear product vision, mockups or early prototype
Focus on the core value proposition. Avoid feature lists.
Evidence needed: Bottom-up TAM calculation, specific target segment
Niche is good at pre-seed. Show you know exactly who you are building for.
Evidence needed: Waitlist, LOIs, pilot customers, or strong engagement signals
5-year revenue forecasts are fiction at pre-seed. Focus on use of funds.
Listing features instead of explaining the core value proposition.
"The global HR software market is $50B" says nothing useful.
"No direct competitors" is a red flag, not a strength.
"We are raising $500K-$1M" shows you have not done the math.
You do not need final pricing, but show you understand the value. "We plan to charge $X/seat based on conversations with Y customers" is credible.
If you have technical moat (AI, data, integrations), explain it simply. Avoid jargon. Focus on customer benefit.
Pitchkit guides you through each slide with stage-appropriate requirements.
Get startedRevenue not expected. Demand signals matter more.
Evidence needed: Relevant experience, founder-market fit, complementary skills
This is often the deciding factor at pre-seed. Why you?
Evidence needed: Honest competitive landscape, clear differentiation
Show awareness, not dismissiveness. Explain your wedge.
Evidence needed: Pricing hypothesis, target customer segment
Directional is fine. Show you have thought about monetization.
Evidence needed: Use of funds, 18-month runway calculation
Detailed projections not expected. Focus on capital efficiency.
Evidence needed: Specific amount, clear use of funds, milestone targets
Typically $250K-$1M. Know your runway and next milestones.