How Startups Raise Money Without a Pitch Deck

Episode 18 of The Series A Show explores a growing trend: venture firms raising funds without pitch decks. Lucas and Luna discuss how firms like a16z and Sequoia are using data-driven memos and founder referrals instead of slide decks, saving time and focusing on substance. They reference recent data showing that 35% of Series A rounds in 2026 were done without a formal pitch deck, up from 12% in 2022. The hosts also touch on the impact of AI tools that analyze startup metrics pre-meeting, reducing the need for back-and-forth. Glean, the AI search startup, crossed $300M in revenue—a case study in how deep metrics can replace flashy slides. The episode includes a brief, natural donation segment for listener support. #VentureCapital #StartupFunding #SeriesA #PitchDeck #AI #Glean #a16z #Sequoia #Business #Technology #StartupMilestones #DataDriven #RevenueGrowth #FundraisingTrends #NoPitchDeck #StartupTips #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo