Agentic AI is one of the hottest terms in tech right now.
iStock
Agentic AI startups are attracting significant investor interest and raising notable funding rounds.
Business Insider analyzed five buzzy startup decks to gauge what makes a successful presentation.
These pitch decks, shared with BI, had three key features in common.
VCs are keen to back agentic AI startups developing systems that can autonomously make decisions and perform tasks.
But in a crowded field, what grabs investors' attention?
Pitch decks are a vital part of any startup fundraising process. With agentic AI, the "standards went up fast," Jonathan Userovici, general partner at VC firm Headline, told Business Insider.
"Investors don't just want to be impressed — they want to be educated, convinced, and excited. Your deck has to do all three," he said.
BI examined the pitch decks used by founders of five agentic AI startups to gauge what makes a successful presentation.
Here are three things the decks had in common — and what investors think would make a standout slideshow.
Highlight a community and network of supporters and users
Breakout
Having a stamp of approval from advisors from top companies gives investors another avenue to conduct their due diligence and suggests the product is trusted and used by industry heavyweights.
Breakout, a startup that has launched AI sales agents, clearly outlines some key figures backing its mission in its deck. With $3.25 million in fresh funding under its belt, the company is looking to manage software companies' inbound sales.
OptimHire
Similarly, OptimHire, a startup replacing recruiters with AI agents, showcased the agencies it has matched its product with — highlighting a strong product-market fit. It raised $5 million in March using this pitch deck.
Clearly outline a specific solution to an existing market problem
Deckmatch
Deckmatch, a startup that allows private market investors to automate their work, vividly presents a key issue in the market — the way unstructured data makes workflow less efficient when deal sourcing. It goes on to outline solutions to the issue in a deck that helped it bag $3.1 million in seed funding in November 2024.
Deckmatch
This slide exemplifies three ways in which the startup would combat the issue of unstructured data and how its platform could be integrated into the likes of email and WhatsApp.
OptimHire
Similarly, OptimHire also pointed to tangible ways in which its platform has served its users — by cutting the number of hours needed to screen profiles and schedule interviews.
Show retention and budget replacement
Auxia
Revenue and pricing metrics are a key staple in any good pitch deck — but startups should clarify the long-term value-add their platform presents.
Userovici says retention is the new annual recurring revenue, or ARR.
"Many AI apps, especially the 'prosumer' ones, spike immediately as users rush to try them," said Userovici, referring to individuals who consume and produce. "The world is full of flashy demos; retention is your proof of reality. Great decks lean into that."
Auxia, a startup that's developed an AI agent for marketing and sales, raised a combined funding round totaling $23.5 million in March.
Its deck highlighted its consistent growth trajectory over nine months, showcasing how the product is retained beyond an initial use case.
Genie AI
Genie AI, a legal tech startup that's built an AI agent for law firms, raised nearly $18 million in a round led by Google Ventures in October 2024.
Its pitch deck not only demonstrates strong customer retention but also explains how its platform offers strategic value to companies — something investors are keen to see in decks.
Genie AI
"We're seeing a shift in pricing as well. Winning AI founders price like they're replacing a budget — not just selling a tool. Show us the math behind it," Userovici told BI.
"Anchor it to value, savings, or new revenue. Highlight what you replace, not just what you add," he added. "Show us which outsourced services, tools, or vendors you're eliminating. In a way, traditional SaaS was sold to the CIO. AI sells to the operators."