State the pain clearly, prove it is real, and make it urgent.
Last updated: 2025-10-08
What is the problem slide?
Start here. If the problem is not clear, urgent, and real, investors stop reading.
State the core problem clearly
Show why it needs solving now (what changed?)
Ground it in data or real-world examples
Hint at the business opportunity (quantified pain = potential gain)
Avoid general industry rants or buzzwords. Prove there is a pain worth paying to fix.
What investors look for
Criteria used in real pitch reviews:
Clear problem statement - Is the pain obvious, focused, and specific?
Why this needs solving now - Is there urgency? Market shift? Cost of waiting?
Specific examples and data - Are there proof points or anecdotes that make it real?
Quantified impact - What is the cost, revenue loss, or operational drag of not solving this?
If any of these are missing, investors won't see the opportunity as worth their attention.
Good vs bad examples
✅Strong
"Product-led SaaS companies lose up to 40% of users during onboarding. Most rely on generic walkthroughs or tickets. Mid-market CS teams lack time, tooling, and insight."
Clear segment (product-led saas)
Real data (40% loss)
Reason to act (manual support costs time)
❌Weak
"Customer success is outdated. AI is changing everything."
Vague
No urgency
No data
Common mistakes
Too general: "Hiring is hard" tells you nothing. Be specific. Who's struggling? Why?
Fluff instead of proof: Replace vague pain with quotes, stats, or real stories.
Jargon overload: If an outsider can't understand it, you've already lost.
Best practices
Anchor in urgency: What's broken now, not what might be.
Use the customer's voice: Direct quotes are better than made-up summaries.
One core problem: Focus. Don't shotgun a list of minor annoyances.
Target reaction: "Yes, this is real and it sounds painful."
How Pitchkit helps
Pitchkit's problem slide builder walks you through:
Crafting a clear, focused problem statement
Injecting urgency with market context
Adding examples and impact
You get section feedback based on the same criteria investors use.