yc style pitch outline

Prompt
yc style pitch outline
DeepSeekDeepSeek
yc style pitch outline

Of course. Here is a Y Combinator-style pitch outline, designed to be clear, concise, and compelling in a very short amount of time (typically 2-3 minutes).

This outline follows the classic "YC formula" that investors are familiar with and expect.

The YC-Style Pitch Outline

Total Time: ~2.5 minutes (Aim for 20-25 slides, spending ~7-10 seconds per slide)

Core Philosophy: Be direct, focus on the problem and solution, and use clear, simple language. Show, don't just tell.

Part 1: The Foundation (The "What" and "Why")


  • The One-Liner / Company Name

  • Slide: Your logo and name.

  • Script: "Hi, I'm [Your Name] from [Company Name]."

  • The Problem

  • Slide: A single, powerful sentence or image that illustrates the pain point.

  • Script: "Today, [target customers] struggle with [a specific, painful problem]. The current solutions are [expensive, slow, inefficient, non-existent]."

  • The Solution

  • Slide: A clear, concise description of what you do.

  • Script: "We have built [Your Product] that [clearly and simply solves the problem you just stated]."

  • Why Now?

  • Slide: Key trends (technological, regulatory, social) that make your solution possible and urgent.

  • Script: "The market is ready because of [a specific trend, e.g., the rise of AI, new regulations, post-pandemic shifts]."


Part 2: The Business (The "How")


  • How It Works (Demo)

  • Slide: A single, crystal-clear screenshot, GIF, or screen recording of your product. This is your demo.

  • Script: "Let me show you how it works. [Walk through the core user journey in 20-30 seconds]. As you can see, it's incredibly simple."

  • The Magic / Secret Sauce

  • Slide: What is your unfair advantage? Your unique insight or technology.

  • Script: "The magic is our proprietary [algorithm, data, process, network] that allows us to [do something 10x better]."

  • The Market Size (TAM)

  • Slide: A bottom-up calculation is most convincing.

  • Script: "We are going after the [Specific Market Segment], which is a [$X Billion] opportunity. We calculate this by [e.g., # of potential customers x average revenue per user]."


Part 3: The Traction (The "Proof")


  • Traction

  • Slide: A simple graph or key metrics going up and to the right.

  • Script: "In just [X months], we've achieved [Key Metric 1: e.g., $X MRR, X users] and [Key Metric 2: e.g., X% month-over-month growth]."

  • Competition

  • Slide: A simple 2x2 grid. You are in the top-right quadrant.

  • Script: "Unlike [Competitor A] who is [expensive and complex] and [Competitor B] who is [cheap but weak], we are the only solution that is both [powerful] and [easy/affordable]."


Part 4: The Team & The Ask (The "Who" and "What's Next")


  • The Team

  • Slide: Headshots and titles of the founders.

  • Script: "My co-founder [Name] and I built [relevant, impressive achievement, e.g., 'X at Google,' 'scaled Y to Z users,' 'PhD in the relevant field']. We are the perfect team to solve this problem."

  • The Ask

  • Slide: How much you are raising and what you will achieve with it.

  • Script: "We are raising a [$Y] round to [achieve 1-2 specific, measurable goals in the next 12-18 months, e.g., 'hire 3 engineers and reach $100k MRR']."

  • Thank You & Contact

  • Slide: Your logo, name, and contact info.

  • Script: "Thank you. Questions?"


Crucial YC Pitch Principles to Remember:


  • **Talk about what you've done, not what you will do.** Traction beats vision in a short pitch.

  • Be Specific. "We have 1,500 paying users" is better than "We have great traction."

  • Use Simple Language. Avoid jargon. Explain your product as you would to a smart 12-year-old.

  • Show, Don't Tell. A 10-second GIF of your product is worth 1000 words.

  • Practice, Practice, Practice. It should sound natural and confident, not rushed or robotic. Time yourself relentlessly.


This outline is a proven framework. Fill it with your specific, impressive data, and you'll have a powerful and effective pitch.

20:49
GeminiGoogle
yc style pitch outline

Okay, let's outline a pitch for a YC-style demo day. This is a high-pressure, short-format pitch, so every second counts. Here's a structure with key elements and considerations:

I. The Hook (First 10-15 Seconds - CRITICAL!)

  • Grab Attention Immediately:

  • Pain Point Focus: Start with the biggest problem your target audience faces. Be specific and relatable. E.g., "Small businesses waste countless hours and thousands of dollars each month on tedious invoice processing."

  • Surprising Statistic: Use a data point that highlights the scale of the problem. E.g., "80% of small businesses struggle to maintain a consistent online presence."

  • Bold Statement: Make a confident assertion about the future. E.g., "We're building the AI-powered assistant that will eliminate email overload for busy professionals."

  • Avoid Generic Openings: Don't say "Hi, we're [Company Name]" or "We're excited to be here."


II. Problem (15-30 Seconds)
  • Deep Dive into the Pain:

  • Expand on the Hook: Elaborate on the problem introduced. Why is this a real problem? What are the current inadequate solutions or workarounds?

  • Target Audience: Clearly define who experiences this problem. Be specific (e.g., "Freelance graphic designers," "eCommerce businesses with under 10 employees," "enterprise sales teams").

  • Quantify the Impact: Show the financial (or time-related) cost of the problem. "$X lost per year," "Y hours wasted per week," or "Z% churn due to..."

  • Illustrative Anecdote (Optional): A brief, compelling story about a user's experience can be powerful. Keep it very concise.


III. Solution (30-45 Seconds - The Heart of the Pitch)
  • Introduce Your Product/Service:

  • Concise Explanation: Explain what you do in one clear, understandable sentence. Avoid jargon. Focus on the benefit to the user. E.g., "We provide a platform that automates invoice creation and payment reminders, saving small businesses time and money."

  • Key Features (Highlight 2-3): Focus on the most compelling features, and tie them directly to solving the problem you just described. Use strong action verbs. E.g., "Our platform automatically extracts data from invoices, generates personalized payment reminders, and integrates seamlessly with existing accounting software."

  • Demo (If Possible - Very Short): A quick, visually engaging demo is ideal, if you can pull it off smoothly within the time constraint. Focus on the core workflow and the "aha" moment. If not possible, skip the demo and continue with highlighting features.

  • Unique Value Proposition (UVP): What makes you different from existing solutions? Why is your approach better? E.g., "Unlike other solutions, we use AI to personalize payment reminders, resulting in a 30% faster payment cycle."


IV. Traction/Validation (15-30 Seconds - Prove It!)
  • Social Proof is Key:

  • Metrics (Most Important): Show key metrics that demonstrate you're gaining traction. Focus on metrics that demonstrate product-market fit. Examples:

  • User Growth: "[X]% month-over-month growth in active users."

  • Revenue: "$Y in monthly recurring revenue (MRR)."

  • Engagement: "Users spend Z hours per week on our platform."

  • Conversion: "A% conversion rate from trial to paid subscription."

  • Retention: "B% monthly user retention."

  • Customer Testimonials (Optional, Very Brief): A short quote from a satisfied customer can add credibility.

  • Partnerships (If Relevant): Mention any significant partnerships that validate your business.

  • Early Adopters: Highlight use cases from recognizable customers.


V. Team (10-15 Seconds - Who are you?)
  • Highlight Relevant Expertise:

  • Briefly Introduce Key Team Members: Don't list everyone. Focus on 2-3 people and their most relevant accomplishments or experience.

  • Emphasize Complementary Skills: Show that you have the right team to execute your vision. E.g., "Our team combines expertise in AI, finance, and software engineering."

  • Confidence and Passion: Convey your belief in the product and your ability to succeed.


VI. The Ask (5-10 Seconds - Be Direct)
  • State Your Funding Needs:

  • Specific Amount: "We're raising $X to..."

  • Use of Funds: "...accelerate user acquisition, expand our engineering team, and scale our infrastructure."

  • Clear Call to Action: "We're looking for investors who understand the power of AI to transform [industry]." or "Come talk to us if you're passionate about solving the [problem]!" or "Email us at [email] to learn more about our round."


Important Considerations for YC Demo Day:
  • Practice, Practice, Practice: Rehearse your pitch until it's second nature. Time yourself rigorously. Every word counts.

  • Know Your Audience: Tailor your pitch to the specific interests of YC investors. Focus on growth potential and market opportunity.

  • Keep it Simple: Avoid technical jargon and complex explanations. Focus on clear and concise messaging.

  • Confidence and Enthusiasm: Project confidence and passion for your product.

  • Slides (If Allowed): Keep them minimal and visually engaging. Use large fonts and clear graphics. Focus on key metrics and demos. Avoid walls of text.

  • Be Prepared for Questions: Anticipate potential questions from investors and have concise, well-rehearsed answers. Common questions: "What's your burn rate?", "Who are your competitors?", "What are your key assumptions?", "What's your plan for scaling?"

  • Be Coachable: Be open to feedback and willing to adapt your pitch based on investor input.

  • Follow Up: Send a thank-you note to investors who showed interest and provide them with additional information.

  • Focus on the Future: While traction is important, investors are also looking for your vision for the future. Where do you see your company in 5-10 years?


Example Pitch Outline (Condensed):
  • (Hook - 10s): "Freelancers lose $30 billion a year chasing late payments."

  • (Problem - 20s): "Current invoicing tools are clunky and don't automate reminders. This leads to cash flow problems and wasted time for freelancers."

  • (Solution - 30s): "We're building an AI-powered invoicing platform that automatically generates personalized reminders, integrates with Stripe, and gets freelancers paid faster. [Brief Demo: Show personalized reminders] Our AI increases payment speed by 40%."

  • (Traction - 20s): "We've grown 20% month-over-month with $5k MRR. Our users love the personalized reminders – 'I've never been paid so fast!'"

  • (Team - 10s): "Our team combines AI expertise with a deep understanding of the freelance economy. We built [previous successful startup]."

  • (Ask - 5s): "We're raising $500k to scale user acquisition. Talk to us if you're passionate about empowering the creator economy!"


Remember to adjust this outline to fit your specific company and product. Good luck!

20:49
GrokxAI
yc style pitch outline

A Y Combinator (YC) style pitch is a concise, compelling way to present your startup idea to potential investors or accelerators like YC. YC pitches are typically short (around 2-3 minutes) and focus on clarity, problem-solving, and traction. Below is an outline for crafting a YC-style pitch, inspired by the structure YC often emphasizes during Demo Day or application videos.

YC-Style Pitch Outline


  • Introduction (10-15 seconds)

  • Who You Are: Briefly introduce yourself and your team (if applicable). Mention relevant credentials or expertise.

  • Your Company: State your company name and a one-sentence description of what you do (your tagline).

Example: "Hi, I’m Jane, co-founder of HealthSync, a platform that connects patients with affordable telehealth services."
  • Problem (20-30 seconds)

  • Clearly define the problem you’re solving.

  • Make it relatable and specific—use data, anecdotes, or real-world examples to show the pain point.

  • Highlight the scale of the problem (e.g., market size, number of affected users).

Example: "Over 30 million Americans lack access to affordable healthcare, often waiting weeks for appointments or paying high out-of-pocket costs for basic care."
  • Solution (20-30 seconds)

  • Describe your product or service as the solution to the problem.

  • Explain what makes your solution unique or better (your "secret sauce").

  • Keep it simple—focus on the core value proposition.

Example: "HealthSync is a mobile app that connects patients to licensed doctors for virtual consultations in under 24 hours, at half the cost of traditional visits."
  • Market Opportunity (15-20 seconds)

  • Define your target market and the potential size of the opportunity (Total Addressable Market - TAM).

  • Show that there’s a big, growing market for your solution.

Example: "The telehealth market is worth $250 billion and growing at 20% annually, driven by increasing demand for accessible care."
  • Traction (20-30 seconds)

  • Share evidence of demand or progress (e.g., user numbers, revenue, partnerships, waitlist signups).

  • If you’re pre-launch, mention early validation (e.g., user feedback, pilot programs).

  • Highlight momentum to build credibility.

Example: "Since launching our beta 3 months ago, we’ve onboarded 5,000 users and generated $50K in revenue, with a 40% month-over-month growth rate."
  • Business Model (15-20 seconds)

  • Explain how you make money (or plan to).

  • Keep it straightforward—focus on scalability of the model.

Example: "We charge a $10 subscription fee per user per month, with a 70% gross margin, and plan to introduce premium features for additional revenue."
  • Team (10-15 seconds)

  • Highlight why your team is the right one to solve this problem.

  • Mention relevant experience, skills, or past successes.

Example: "Our team includes a former healthcare executive with 15 years of experience and a tech lead who previously built apps for 500K+ users."
  • Ask & Vision (15-20 seconds)

  • State what you’re asking for (e.g., funding amount, partnerships, or support).

  • Close with your big vision—where you see the company in 5-10 years.

Example: "We’re seeking $500K to expand our team and scale to 100K users by next year. Our vision is to become the go-to platform for affordable healthcare worldwide."
  • Closing (5-10 seconds)

  • End with a punchy, memorable statement or call to action.

Example: "Thank you. We’re excited to make healthcare accessible for everyone—let’s talk about how we can work together."

Tips for a YC-Style Pitch


  • Keep it under 2-3 minutes: YC often requires video pitches or short Demo Day presentations, so practice timing.

  • Be clear and concise: Avoid jargon or overcomplicating. Every sentence should add value.

  • Show passion and confidence: Investors invest in people as much as ideas—let your enthusiasm shine.

  • Focus on traction: YC loves evidence of progress. If you don’t have revenue or users yet, show other forms of validation (e.g., customer interviews, pre-orders).

  • Tailor to your audience: If pitching to YC, emphasize why you’re a fit for their program (e.g., scalability, founder-market fit).

  • Practice relentlessly: Rehearse until it feels natural, and get feedback from mentors or peers.


This outline is flexible and can be adjusted based on your startup’s stage or the specific audience. If you’re applying to YC, align your pitch with their application questions (e.g., problem, solution, traction) as they often overlap. Good luck!

20:49

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Analysis

This comparison demonstrates the different approaches each AI model takes when responding to the same prompt. Here are the key differences observed:

Response Characteristics

DeepSeek: Provides a direct response with 78 sentences.

Gemini: Provides a direct response with 124 sentences.

Grok: Provides a direct response with 69 sentences.

Key Takeaways

  • Each model brings unique strengths to this type of query
  • Response styles vary significantly between models
  • Consider your specific use case when choosing between these models

Try This Comparison Yourself

Want to test these models with your own prompts? Visit SNEOS.com to compare AI responses side-by-side in real-time.

This comparison was generated using the SNEOS AI Comparison ToolPublished: October 03, 2025 | Models: DeepSeek, Gemini, Grok