Many recently claim that the pitch deck has become obsolete, dead. I strongly disagree with that notion; rather than disappearing, it is undergoing a significant transformation, it is evolving. To understand how it is changing, we must first look at the four primary ways people, humans, real intelligence, not artificial intelligence, absorb information: visually, auditorially, kinesthetically, and analytically. While perhaps not an absolute scientific certainty, this framework offers a highly accurate lens through which to view how humans are learning.

We appear to be offloading everything onto AI, obsessed with the endless mantra of “data, data, data”—frankly, I have heard it enough. While AI excels at collecting, analyzing, reasoning, and drawing conclusions from data, we must remember the principle of “garbage in, garbage out.” AI is incredibly capable, yet there are human elements it cannot master—and perhaps never will—such as the ability to look into someone’s eyes and truly sense their soul, intellect and presence. 

Many studies show over the years that most people (humans) learn Kinesthetically, Visually and Auditorally more than analytically. So saying the pitch deck is dead, maybe, and will be replaced with what? We are currently witnessing a shift where the static slide is being replaced by immersive, multi-sensory experiences that prioritize human connection over mere data points.

As early stage investors, we are not investing in numbers, spreadsheets and data, we invest in people, three dimensional creatures that live and breathe air. While AI can process complex datasets, it lacks the ability to sense presence or intellect through direct eye contact. In our portfolio, we look for founders who can engage these human learning modalities—using visual storytelling and auditory cues to build trust before we ever dive into the analytics.

So, founders, do not buy that, those crazy voices that tell you the pitch deck is dead; it is evolving and we will keep using it for quite a while and maybe for ever. The future of the “deck” is less about the document itself and more about the delivery of a vision, telling your story that resonates with the real, non-artificial intelligence of the investor. 

The old pitch deck is dead, long live the new one!