3 Storytelling Fails Startups Make

Let’s talk about the three biggest ways startups butcher their storytelling and what you can do to get it right.

Mistake 1: Too Much Jargon

If you’re talking like a tech manual, you’re losing people. Does everyone know what a “feedforward neural network” is?

Quick fix: Write like you’re explaining your startup to a friend.  Use short sentences and everyday language.

Mistake 2: You’re Missing Your “Why”

What problem are you solving? People need to understand the deeper purpose behind your product. As Simon Sinek says, “people don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it.”

Quick fix: Define your “why” in one or two sentences. Start with: “We exist to [solve this problem] for [this audience].”

Mistake 3: Mixed Messages

If your pitch deck says one thing, your website says another, and your LinkedIn posts tell a third story, you’re creating confusion.

Quick it: Create one consistent story and use it everywhere—pitch decks, website, LinkedIn posts.

There are so many ways a startup can fail.

A bad story doesn’t have to be one of them.