Do I need to build my pitch template before sending messages to investors?

Can I send messages to investors without building a pitch?

Yes — it’s strongly recommended that you upload your pitch template or deck before beginning any investor outreach on Startups.com. Doing so allows you to take full advantage of the platform’s investor matching and outreach tools, ensuring that your first impression with potential investors is as strong and compelling as possible.

When you upload your pitch deck or an equivalent document, the platform leverages AI to automatically generate personalized outreach templates, craft coherent messaging, and match you with the most relevant investors based on your business profile and funding goals. This significantly increases your chances of connecting with the right investors and getting meaningful responses.

Accepted formats include PDF, PPT, DOC, and TXT, so you can upload whichever version of your pitch materials works best for you. If you don’t have a complete investor pitch deck yet, you’re not stuck — simply fill out all the sections in the pitch builder. The system will then use the information you provide to generate a structured and compelling pitch, even without an uploaded deck.

By preparing and uploading your materials ahead of time, you’re setting yourself up for more effective investor outreach and better results.