Every Startup Should Have Artificial Intelligence in Its Pitch Deck

December 29, 2024February 6, 2025 moneymetrics.org_admin Technology

Mary Ann Azevedo
June 5, 2024
32 minutes
Listen on Apple Podcasts
Listen on Spotify

Consumer startups have taken a hit when it comes to venture funding. However, according to Eurie Kim, partner at Forerunner Ventures and founding member of All Raise, consumer is where it’s at.

Table of Contents

The State of Consumer Investing

Eurie Kim joined Mary Ann Azevedo on Equity to discuss the intricacies of the space. She pointed out that last year, just 7% of seed capital went to consumer startups. Yet, research shows that consumer company performance has outpaced enterprise, Kim contends.

Forerunner itself has backed the likes of Oura, Chime, and Prose, among others. "We actually found that the consumer bucket was more likely to go public after raising that Series B, or after reaching a certain threshold," she said.

The Advantages of Dedicated Investors

Kim also talked about the advantages of being dedicated investors in a space that has seen a number of tourist VCs drift in and out. "We as consumer investors have been through thick and thin, up and down," Kim shared. "And so it’s actually kind of nice, because now with a little less attention, we could have the time that we always liked to have to get to know our potential investments and really think through what the strategy is."

The Investment Landscape

In addition to discussing the state of consumer investing and what consumer investors are looking for, the venture capitalist shared her thoughts on the investment landscape as a whole. What’s up with IPOs? Why every startup should have AI in its pitch deck.

"What company out there isn’t thinking about how to leverage AI to create efficiencies in their business?" Kim asked. "You’d be living under a rock, if you aren’t thinking about is there marketing efficiency out there or is there customer service or sales efficiencies out there?"

The Rise of AI in Startups

It’s no secret that AI has become an essential tool for startups to create efficiencies and drive growth. But what does this mean for the future of investing? Will every startup need to have AI in its pitch deck?

Kim believes that AI is not just a trend, but a necessary component for any successful business. "You’d be living under a rock, if you aren’t thinking about how to leverage AI to create efficiencies in your business," she said.

The Future of Consumer Investing

So what does the future hold for consumer investing? Will it continue to outpace enterprise? According to Kim, yes. And why is that?

"Consumer company performance has outpaced enterprise," Kim contended. "We actually found that the consumer bucket was more likely to go public after raising that Series B, or after reaching a certain threshold."

The Benefits of Dedicated Investors

But what about tourist VCs? Will they continue to flock to the consumer space, only to leave when things get tough?

Kim believes that dedicated investors like Forerunner are better equipped to navigate the ups and downs of the consumer market. "We as consumer investors have been through thick and thin, up and down," Kim shared. "And so it’s actually kind of nice, because now with a little less attention, we could have the time that we always liked to have to get to know our potential investments and really think through what the strategy is."

Conclusion

In conclusion, consumer investing is where it’s at, according to Eurie Kim. With its outpaced performance compared to enterprise companies, dedicated investors like Forerunner are poised for success.

But what does this mean for startups? Will they need to have AI in their pitch deck?

According to Kim, yes. And why is that? "You’d be living under a rock, if you aren’t thinking about how to leverage AI to create efficiencies in your business," she said.