Why Start-Ups Need More Than Just a Pitch Deck

Raising capital is one of the toughest challenges facing early-stage businesses. Founders often assume the key is simply to write a compelling pitch deck and send it to as many investors as possible. Unfortunately, that strategy — known as the “spray and pray” approach — rarely works.

In the UK alone, tens of thousands of pitch decks are created every year. Many investment firms receive 50 to 100 submissions a week, yet may only move forward with one or two investments each quarter. The real challenge isn’t just having a good idea — it’s getting it noticed, understood, and taken seriously by the right people.

The Cold Pitch Problem

The first mistake most founders make is assuming that a well-written deck speaks for itself. In truth, the majority of decks sent cold to investors are either ignored, skimmed, or rejected within the first two minutes.

There are a few reasons why:

Let’s put it into context:

• UK investors receive an estimated 30,000–50,000 decks annually
• A typical early-stage VC may review 2,000+ deals per year
• Fewer than 2% receive investment

In this climate, even a solid business with real traction can fall through the cracks.

This results in missed opportunities — especially for first-time founders or innovators working in underrepresented sectors.

AI Isn’t the Silver Bullet

Ploughing through piles of Pitch Decks is pretty draining and in early checks the decks will get at best a 3 1/2 min read before being excluded or put forward for a more thorough read. It’s no surprises then, as with many other tasks of this nature AI is playing a growing role in the investment process, especially in the early-stage screening of decks and data rooms. It evaluates certain characteristics: clear market size, unit economics, IP defensibility, team credentials, and more. But it often:

• Rejects good ideas for minor structural or stylistic issues.
• Promotes weak businesses that tick formulaic boxes.
• Misses nuances — like a strong founder story, market timing, or differentiated positioning.

Just like a manual quick review, AI may eliminate your pitch before a human even sees it — regardless of how viable or visionary the business might be.

Brokers vs. Trusted Advisors

In response to this bottleneck, many founders turn to brokers to introduce their pitch to investors. While some brokers are credible and well-connected, many take a volume-based approach, forwarding decks with minimal preparation or understanding of the business.

This creates problems:

• Investors quickly learn which brokers send reliable deals and which don’t.
• Start-ups risk being blacklisted by being presented too early or with an unclear proposition.
• Founders don’t get the benefit of hands-on support to refine their materials, fix gaps, or clarify assumptions.

The Kognise Difference: Relationships and Rigor

At Kognise, we work differently. We’re not brokers — we are investment advisors trusted by both entrepreneurs and investors.

What we do for founders:

• Assess: We review your materials, plans, and team to understand where you stand and what needs strengthening.
• Refine: We shape the narrative, the deck, and your financial model to tell a compelling, investor-ready story.
• Present: We introduce you to decision-makers — not gatekeepers — through our long-standing relationships with VCs, family offices, and angels.

We will not forward a pitch we don’t stand behind. That’s the reputation we’ve earned — and why investors open what we send.

Why This Matters More Than Ever

Even great businesses struggle to raise money if they aren’t positioned properly. Investors want:

• Clarity around the problem and solution
• Evidence of traction or validation
• A credible go-to-market plan
• Clear economics and a route to profitability
• Confidence in the team’s ability to execute

This needs to come through clearly and coherently in your materials — and most decks fall short.

We help you bridge the gap between where you are and what investors expect to see, giving you a real shot at funding.

How Kognise Works With Investors

On the investor side, we’re not just introducers — we’re collaborators. We understand each investor’s mandate, thesis, and appetite. We pre-screen and prepare businesses in ways that reduce friction and increase deal flow quality.

We also provide post-investment support to ensure growth plans are executed and founders stay focused.

That’s why when a pitch comes from Kognise, it gets attention — not because of the logo, but because of the quality of what’s inside.

Your Pitch Is a Campaign, Not a Transaction

Fundraising is rarely a one-shot process. It requires:

• Iteration
• Timing
• Credibility
• Access

We help you structure that campaign — from early prep to closing the round — so you’re not just sending out emails and hoping something sticks.

Final Word: Don’t Leave It to Luck

Sending a cold deck into the void is a lottery.

AI is a helpful filter — but a blunt tool. Brokers offer access — but not always support. Most decks never make it past the gatekeepers.

If you’re serious about raising capital, work with people who understand both sides of the table — and who have the experience to make every introduction count.