Perplexity’s chief executive, Aravind Srinivas, told Business Insider that the era of elaborate slide decks for AI startups is over. Investors now gravitate toward live demos, product traction and real‑world results, treating a polished pitch as a secondary, almost decorative, element.
Srinivas argues that AI’s rapid evolution has shifted the fundraising landscape from storytelling to proof‑of‑concept. VCs are more interested in seeing a working model, user growth metrics and revenue streams than in glossy forecasts, because the technology’s potential can be demonstrated instantly.
The shift reflects a broader trend where data‑driven evidence outweighs speculative narratives. Startups that can showcase measurable impact—such as reduced inference costs, faster model training or clear market adoption—are securing funding faster, often bypassing lengthy due‑diligence cycles.
While traditional pitch decks still have a place for context and team background, Srinivas advises founders to prioritize a live, interactive demo and a concise one‑pager that highlights key metrics. This approach aligns with investor appetite for tangible outcomes and accelerates the path from concept to capital.
