Investors know MVPs don’t make money—yet
At the MVP stage, you’re not expected to have revenue. What matters more is:
Market size and urgency of the problem
Your unique approach to solving it
User signals (interest, engagement, retention)
Founder insight and credibility
Your pitch should prove one thing: “This has the potential to work big.”
What investors really look for in an early-stage pitch
They’re not just betting on your app. They’re betting on your process. Key elements to highlight:
Traction signals: Signups, waitlists, usage time—even with 50 users
Problem depth: Show pain points with real quotes, not just stats
Founder's clarity: Why you, and why now
Product thinking: What you learned from building the MVP, what you’d change next
Roadmap realism: What happens with $50k vs. $150k
Slide-by-slide: What your MVP pitch deck should include
The problem – Who feels it, how often, and why it's painful
Your solution (MVP) – Demo screenshots, core features, early feedback
Market opportunity – Realistic TAM/SAM/SOM, bottom-up if possible
Why now – Timing, tech shifts, user behavior trends
Traction so far – User actions, retention, pre-launch growth hacks
The team – Background, skin in the game, ability to execute
Ask – How much you’re raising, what it unlocks, your next milestones
Budgeting: What your MVP should cost (and why)
Transparency is key. Show how you’ve spent (or plan to spend) every dollar. Examples:
$8k – MVP built with no-code and part-time dev
$15k – React Native app + Firebase backend
$40k – MVP + early growth experiments + user interviews
Good budgeting shows investors that you're resourceful, not cheap.
What not to say (even if it’s true)
“We just need marketing money.” – Implies the product’s done (it never is)
“We’ll figure monetization later.” – Say instead: “We’re testing 2 models, both validated in adjacent markets”
“We’re the Uber of X.” – Be specific and show why your use case needs a different playbook
Summary
Investors know that MVPs don’t generate revenue on day one. But they must show direction, evidence of user interest, and product clarity. If your app solves a real problem, and your deck tells that story with confidence, the money might follow—even before the profits do.
