This free eBook goes over the 10 slides every startup pitch deck has to include, based on what we learned from analyzing 500+ pitch decks, including those from Airbnb, Uber and Spotify.
Everything you need to raise funding for your startup, including 3,500+ investors, 7 tools, 18 templates and 3 learning resources.
Buy It For $97 $297 →
MySQL AB leads with a powerful and direct tagline: "The World’s Most Popular Open Source Database." This statement immediately establishes market leadership and a clear category, which builds credibility from the very first slide. The choice of words showcases confidence and frames the entire presentation around their dominant position in the open-source space.
Our Tip: Craft a tagline that defines your market category and claims leadership within it to instantly anchor your position in an investor's mind.
The deck presents its solution not just as a product but as a philosophy, centering its value proposition on its open-source model. This strategy works because it differentiates MySQL from proprietary databases by highlighting community, flexibility, and ethical business practices. By doing so, they attract investors who are not just looking for financial returns but also for long-term value alignment.
Our Tip: Instead of just listing features, frame your solution around a core value proposition that also reflects your company's unique mission and culture.
MySQL AB’s business model appears to be primarily driven by raising capital and forming strategic partnerships rather than direct product sales. While this is common for open-source projects scaling up, the lack of a clear, repeatable revenue stream is a significant risk for investors. Investors are looking for a clear path to monetization, and the deck leaves this critical question open to interpretation.
Our Tip: Clearly articulate your primary revenue streams and unit economics, even if they are projected, to show investors a concrete path to profitability.
The pitch deck is direct with its financials, stating a €28 million pre-money valuation and a clear €10 million ask. Presenting these numbers upfront shows confidence and sets a clear expectation for the investment conversation. However, without detailed projections or a specific use of funds breakdown, the valuation can feel arbitrary and makes it difficult for investors to assess the potential ROI.
Our Tip: Always justify your valuation and funding ask with a detailed breakdown of how the capital will be used to achieve specific, measurable milestones.
MySQL's deck excels by making bold claims, from its "World's Most Popular" tagline to its direct €10 million ask. This projects confidence, but its effectiveness is weakened by a lack of detailed financial justification, leaving investors to question the substance behind the numbers. In your own deck, pair confident assertions with detailed, data-driven evidence to build unshakable credibility.
The pitch successfully frames MySQL not just as a database but as a movement built on an open-source philosophy, which creates a compelling narrative. However, the story falters by not clearly connecting this powerful mission to a concrete, repeatable business model. Use your company's core values to tell a memorable story, but ensure you explicitly show investors how that story translates into a profitable business.
