1. The Investor’s Lens

Investors aren’t here for a crash course in your science—they’re scanning for a fast, confident answer to three questions:

• Is this a big, urgent problem?

• Does this team have the solution?

• Is the market large enough to make money?

"I would recommend that you don't start with 'Hi, this is…' because people don’t care who we are yet. They care about what problem you can solve for them." — Sabrina Runbeck

Common Mistakes:

• Opening with your team bios instead of the problem.

• Overloading the first slides with jargon.

• Burying traction or differentiation deep in the deck.

Pro Tip: Front-load your hook: Problem → Solution → Market → Traction.

2. Translating Complexity Without Dumbing It Down

If you try to explain everything, you’ll lose everyone. Sabrina calls it the "zoom technique"—start with the big picture, then zoom into one or two differentiators that prove your edge.

"Outcome is that we would save lives… Feature is usually how we do what we do. We want to see more of an outcome than features." — Sabrina Runbeck

Tactics:

• Use analogies (“Think of it as a digital health passport”).

• Limit stats in a 2-minute pitch to 2–3 impactful numbers.

• Make every metric answer the “So what?” question.

Example: Instead of listing device specs, contrast a week-long diagnostic process with your 15-minute point-of-care test.

3. Storytelling That Converts

Investors remember stories, not spreadsheets. A strong pitch often starts with one of three hooks:

• Patient story (human impact)

• Founder story (personal mission)

• Market story (urgent industry shift)

Pair that story with validation: clinical trial data, partnerships, revenue.

Data to back it up: 12 million Americans are misdiagnosed annually, costing the system $300B. That’s urgency investors understand.

Framework: Before → After → Your Role.

4. Holding Investor Attention: Deck & Delivery

Your deck is not a script—it’s a visual guide to keep the investor focused.

Structure Tips:

• Hook & problem on slide 1.

• Competitive edge and traction early.

• Visual data, not text-heavy slides.

"Research before you go into an investor meeting, figure out how they typically make decisions, and then customize your talk to them." — Sabrina Runbeck

Delivery Tips:

• 100–200 words per minute pacing.

• Use pauses and movement to emphasize points.

• Avoid “podium lock”—own the space, even virtually.

5. Navigating the Women-Led Founder Funding Gap

Women-led healthtech founders face unique hurdles: bias, unfamiliarity with femtech problems, and the "too niche" label.

Counter Strategies:

• Prove your TAM with credible sources.

• Highlight traction and clinical validation.

• Leverage strategic partnerships to amplify credibility.

"Usually I don’t like to end with the ask on just money. I tie it back to something that’s mission for us—because what you’re building is human longevity. People make decisions with emotion." — Sabrina Runbeck

6. Action Plan: From Lab to Investor ‘Yes’

Checklist:

1. Simplify: Ditch excess jargon, keep core science.

2. Humanize: Lead with a relatable story.

3. Validate: Use concise, context-rich stats.

4. Focus: Tailor to the investor type.

5. Invite: End with both the ask and the mission.

Closing & Next Steps

In healthtech, your science is the engine—but clarity, connection, and conviction are your fuel. If you’re ready to sharpen your pitch and accelerate funding:

• Join our monthly Pitch to Yes workshops and Boardroom advisory sessions: PulsePointPath.com/Boardroom

• See if our Boardroom is the right fit: PulsePointPath.com/Apply

• Free Pitch to Yes workshop: PulsePointPath.com/PitchToYes

• Investor Interview Series: YouTube.com/@PulsePointPath

Because the shortest path to “yes” is telling the right story, the right way.