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.
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Vangst effectively frames the problem by identifying hiring as the “top challenge” for cannabis businesses, immediately establishing a high-stakes pain point. They quantify the issue by linking it to a rapidly growing market, which signals a large and urgent opportunity for investors. This approach successfully validates the market problem before even discussing the solution.
Our Tip: Frame the problem not just as a user inconvenience but as a significant business bottleneck that costs companies measurable time and money.
The pitch deck presents a clear, integrated platform as the solution, directly addressing the previously stated pain points of a fragmented hiring process. Vangst's value proposition is powerfully communicated through its claim of being the market leader, used by 80% of the largest cannabis businesses. This combination of a practical solution with dominant market positioning creates a compelling narrative of effectiveness and inevitability.
Our Tip: Clearly connect each feature of your solution back to a specific pain point you established on the problem slide to demonstrate a perfect fit.
Vangst uses concrete metrics like filling over 1,200 cannabis gigs and achieving a $150,000+ revenue run-rate to provide tangible proof of market adoption. This data serves as powerful validation, showing investors that the business model is not just a theory but is already generating revenue and delivering value. Mentioning partnerships with major cannabis businesses further solidifies their credibility and market leadership.
Our Tip: Showcase traction with a mix of key performance indicators and logos from well-known customers to build both quantitative and qualitative credibility.
The team slide builds immense credibility by highlighting founder Karson Humiston's recognition in Forbes 30 under 30, which acts as powerful third-party validation. Each key team member's role is paired with relevant, high-impact experience, assuring investors that a capable team is in place to execute the vision. This focus on proven expertise directly de-risks the investment from a human capital perspective.
Our Tip: For each team member, highlight one specific, impressive accomplishment or past role that proves their ability to succeed in their current position.
Vangst built its entire narrative around owning the cannabis hiring space, making their leadership position feel inevitable. By focusing on a specific, underserved vertical, they created a defensible moat that generalist competitors cannot easily cross. Apply this by identifying a growing niche where you can become the undisputed leader and frame your entire pitch around that singular focus.
Vangst masterfully combines storytelling with hard evidence, making their success feel both compelling and credible. They validate every major claim with a powerful mix of quantitative data like revenue and qualitative social proof like customer logos and awards. Build investor confidence by constructing a clear story and then reinforcing each chapter with undeniable proof points.
