30,000 Pitch Decks Later: What Startups Should Learn From VC Wisdom (But Often Don’t)

At Zyla Accountants, we spend a lot of time helping ambitious tech founders turn their big ideas into scalable, investable businesses.

But even the best idea needs a compelling pitch – and recently, Fuel Ventures gave us a behind-the-scenes look at what really works (and what doesn’t) when pitching for capital.

After a decade in venture capital and over 30,000 pitch decks reviewed, Fuel have surfaced some juicy insights from the front lines of startup funding. It’s basically the Dragons’ Den highlight reel – without the awkward pauses or polyester suits.

Here’s what every founder (or future founder) should know, with a few eyebrow-raisers, a couple of cautionary tales, and plenty of takeaways to keep you on the right side of the fundraising table.

1. Founding Solo? Better Bring Your Cape

Turns out, 76% of funded startups had co-founders, not lone wolves. Why? Because investors know that building a startup is basically an extreme sport – and having a co-founder means shared skills, shared stress, and someone to fetch snacks when the server crashes at 2am.

That said, if you’re a solo founder, don’t despair. Just be ready to prove you’re more Iron Man than Mr Bean – especially when things go sideways.

2. Female Founders on the Rise – Finally

There’s some good news in the diversity department: female founder submissions have jumped 45% since 2014, including a big spike in the last five years. The gender gap’s not closed yet, but the trend is promising – and long overdue.

(And yes, the world does need more women pitching SaaS platforms. It’s 2025 – let’s not act surprised.)

3. Move Over, Shoreditch – The UK’s Gone Regional

Once upon a time, if you didn’t have a London postcode, you might as well have sent your pitch via carrier pigeon. But no more: Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Bristol – even Glasgow and Cardiff – have all seen pitch volumes rise by 50–120%.

It’s official: UK innovation is no longer postcode-dependent. You don’t need a flat white in Clerkenwell to build a unicorn.

4. The Rise of the Midlife Founder

Founders over 40 are stepping up, and they’re not here to play. Pitches from this demographic are up 35%, showing that experience, networks and war stories from the industry trenches still count for something.

Yes, the 25–34 crowd still dominates overall – but the next wave of innovation may well come from someone who remembers dial-up. And frankly, we’re here for it.

5. AI: The Buzzword That Ate Your Pitch Deck

In 2024, 86% of pitch decks included the word “AI”. (Which is impressive, considering only 20% of those businesses had actual AI in their product.)

Other offenders: “disruption” (61%), “scale” (52%), and – our personal favourite – “pivot” (32%). Pro tip: don’t just sprinkle AI in your pitch like parsley on chips. If it’s not central to your solution, don’t force it.

VCs can sniff out buzzword bingo a mile off. Keep it real.

6. When You Pitch Matters Almost as Much as What You Pitch

January and September are the months when investor inboxes are buzzing, but if you want your deck to actually get read, send it on a Tuesday. Submissions on Tuesdays are 18% more likely to get a response than those sent on Fridays (when, let’s be honest, everyone’s already mentally in the pub).

Timing won’t save a bad pitch – but a good pitch, sent on the right day, can make all the difference.

7. 127 Slides Is Not a Power Move

Some founders still think “more is more.” Spoiler: it’s not. The sweet spot for pitch decks is 18–24 slides. Just enough to tell your story without inducing investor fatigue (or carpal tunnel from endless scrolling).

The worst pitch decks aren’t necessarily wrong – they’re just bloated. Keep it sharp. Keep it focused. Think steak, not buffet.

What It All Means for Founders (and Their Accountants)

If you’re raising funds in 2025, here's what this data tells us:

• Investors love teams. Bring one.

• Authenticity wins. Buzzwords don’t.

• The UK’s startup scene is thriving beyond London. Embrace it.

• Experience matters. So does timing.

• A great deck is concise, clear, and connected to reality. No fluff required.

And yes – your numbers still need to stack up. That’s where we come in. At Zyla, we don’t just tidy up your books; we help you build a solid financial foundation that gives investors confidence (and keeps HMRC happy while we’re at it).

So whether you're pitching to VCs, angels, or just your very patient spouse, remember: numbers tell a story too – and they deserve a starring role in your next big deck.

Need help building a pitch-ready financial model? Want to make your startup’s numbers VC-proof?
Drop us a line – the experts at Zyla Accountantsd will help you crunch them, without crushing your soul.