How to Help Investors (and Everyone Else) Understand Your Vision

As a founder, you live and breathe your business. You know every detail, every data point, every potential use case. But when it comes time to explain your vision to others - investors, team members, or partners - it often feels like they just don’t get it.

The chances are you're saying too much while they understand very little of it.

The more complex your idea, the harder it is to simplify. And yet, that’s exactly what makes it powerful. Simplifying doesn’t mean dumbing things down; it means distilling your message to its essence so it’s impossible to ignore.

Let’s break down how to simplify complex ideas without losing their impact.

1. Know your core message

   At the heart of every business is one key idea - the problem you’re solving and why it matters. The challenge is to articulate that in a way anyone can understand.

   
   

   How to do it:

   Write down your entire pitch in one sentence.

   • Bad: “We provide real-time AI-driven analytics to optimize the supply chain.”

   • Better: “We help businesses cut shipping costs by 30% with faster data.”
     

   Focus on why your solution is valuable, not just what it does. The simpler your core message, the easier it is for others to repeat it—and that’s when your idea starts to stick.
   

2. Cut the jargon

   Jargon is tempting because it makes you feel credible. But when it’s overused, it creates distance between you and your audience.
   

   Why it fails:

   1. It alienates non-experts, leaving them confused or disengaged.

   2. It often hides the real value of your idea behind buzzwords.

   How to fix it:

   1. Replace technical terms with clear, everyday language.

      Instead of: “Machine learning algorithms designed for scalability and optimization.”

      Say: “Software that learns how to make your operations faster and cheaper.”

   2. Test your pitch on someone outside your industry. If they can’t explain it back to you, simplify further.

   
   

   The only time you want to use technical terms is if you are certain that your audience is technical and will not only fully understand what you are saying but will also appreciate it.

   
   

3. Use analogies and examples

   When explaining new or complex concepts, it helps to ground them in something familiar.

   
   

   Why it works:

   1. Analogies make abstract ideas tangible.

   2. Examples help people visualize how your solution works in the real world.

   
   

   How to do it:

   1. Use analogies that resonate with your audience: “Our app is like a GPS for hiring; it tells you exactly who to target and when.”

   2. Include examples: “One of our customers saved $200,000 last year by reducing downtime.”

   
   

   People remember stories and comparisons better than abstract concepts.
   

4. Focus on outcomes, not features

   Founders often get stuck describing what their product does instead of why it matters.
   

   Why this matters: Investors, customers, and partners all want to know the same thing: What’s in it for me?
   

   How to shift focus:

   1. Translate features into benefits:

      Feature: “Our software tracks inventory in real-time.”

      Benefit: “You’ll never run out of stock again.”

   2. Highlight measurable outcomes: “We helped a client reduce costs by 40% in six months.”
      

   This approach keeps your audience focused on the value you deliver, not the mechanics behind it.
   

5. Use simple visuals

   Sometimes it is much easier to make sense of information when presented visually. The opposite is also true: a cluttered or confusing visual can make it hard for your audience to understand what you are communicating.
   

   1. To simplify data: Use charts or graphs to show trends, comparisons, or growth metrics that might get lost in text.

   2. To show relationships: Use diagrams or flowcharts to explain processes or connections, like how your product fits into the market.

   3. To highlight key points: Use icons or bold visuals to draw attention to the most critical aspects of a slide.
      

   When in doubt, ask yourself: Does this visual make the idea easier to understand? If not, leave it out.
   

6. Practice ruthless editing

   It’s hard to cut parts of your pitch or product description because it all feels important. But simplicity comes from knowing what to leave out.
   

   How to edit effectively:

   1. Ask yourself: If I removed this, would my audience still understand the main point? If the answer is yes, cut it.

   2. Limit your deck to 10-12 slides. Each slide should serve a clear purpose - no fillers.

   3. Save detailed explanations for follow-up questions or appendix slides.
      

7. Test Your Message

   Simplifying your idea isn’t a one-time effort - it’s an iterative process.
   

   How to test:

   1. Pitch to a colleague or advisor who isn’t involved in your business. Ask them to explain your idea back to you.

   2. Pay attention to questions or areas of confusion - they’re often signals that your message needs work.
      

   Iterate until your audience can explain your business as clearly as you can.

Final thought: Simplicity isn’t easy, but it’s powerful

Simplifying complex ideas takes effort. It requires stepping back, stripping away unnecessary details, and focusing on the essentials. But when you get it right, you’ll find your audience leans in, nods along, and—most importantly—remembers your message.

The clearer your communication, the more compelling your business becomes. So start stripping it down today—because simplicity is the ultimate superpower.