How it Works
PitchLab helps startup founders prepare for financing rounds by facilitating practice pitches with experienced investors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I choose the investors for my sessions?
No, you can only choose the experience level of investors. Ideally, you’ll be scheduling more than one session and be able to pitch to a broad base of investors (similar to what happens during your fundraising process) and get advice from different perspectives and backgrounds.
PitchLab Sessions are designed for reviewing your deck, storytelling, presentation skills and asking questions about the fundraising process. They are not designed for technical or industry specific advice or evaluations.
Are all sessions in English?
Yes. Investors and founders that use PitchLab are based all around the world. However, for the time being, all PitchLab Sessions are expected to be held in English. We will soon add other languages as well (contact us if you have a request).
What experience do the investors actually have?
PitchLab screens all investors to make sure they have the right amount of experience in order to give you quick but meaningful feedback on your pitch and deck. In addition to experience, we look for professionalism and generosity as additional traits and qualities for our Network.
What stage is right for this service?
The service is right for early stage companies: for founders with ideas on a slide deck all the way to Series A rounds. Some founders are completely new to this, and others are experienced entrepreneurs that just want to rehearse or get an extra set of ears and eyes on their pitch.
What type of company is this for?
We recommend PitchLab Sessions for tech-based startups, or for companies that follow similar standards and processes for fundraising. Non-tech companies often require a different approach that may not fit with the experience and criteria of our Investor Network.
Should I worry about confidentiality?
During your fundraising, you’ll find that most VCs will not sign an NDA just to hear a pitch or review a deck. And most startups will also not include confidential or sensitive information in their early presentations. The same should be true for your PitchLab Sessions.
Nevertheless, Investors are expected to decline a Session if they identify a potential conflict of interest, and uphold the same professionalism as they do in their firms.
How are the prices set for the sessions?
PitchLab fees are designed to be accesible to founders, but in most cases are below market value of what would be an hourly rate for experiences investors. Most PitchLab investors get involved because of their love for their work and devotion to giving back to the startup community.
When will I be charged?
Founders will be charged 25% upfront and the rest after the Session is over.
Can I reschedule or cancel my Sessions?
You can reschedule a Session with 12 hours or more in advance of the scheduled time. You can cancel a Session with 24 hours or more in advance of the scheduled time. You can do this by visiting the My Sessions page. Keep in mind there is a 5 minute time tolerance for each Session and that missing a scheduled Session will not trigger a refund.
Where can I see or manage my scheduled Sessions?
You can see and manage your Sessions in the My Sessions page.