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- ♞ Talking competitors
What is the best way to talk about your competition?
Most founders treat their competitor slide like a hit piece. They cherry-pick tiny flaws, use those "feature checklists" where they magically have every green checkmark, and dismiss rivals as "slow" or "old."
You think you’re winning. But to an investor, this looks like a lack of awareness; you’re naive about the real threats in the market.
High-status founders don't dismiss the competition; they show they understand the landscape better than their competitors do.
Today, we’re looking at the "3-Part Narrative" for mapping your rivals.
If you want to command the room, you need to provide a balanced, objective view of the market. For every major player in your space, you need these three clear pillars:
1. The Steel-Man
Start by acknowledging why they are successful.
Example: "Competitor A is the gold standard for basic task management and entry-level teams."
Why? This signals you aren't blinded by ego. It builds immediate credibility.
2. The Structural Gap
Identify the specific point where their architecture or business model reaches its limit.
Example: "However, because they optimized for simplicity, they struggle to handle complex, multi-departmental workflows."
Why? You’re pointing out a built-in trade-off, not just a "missing feature."
3. The Category Win
Position your startup as the logical evolution built specifically for that gap.
Example: "We built our engine specifically for enterprise process automation, handling the complexity they were designed to avoid."
Are you looking to fundraise? Here is how I can help:
📱 Book a Strategy Call to get 1:1 feedback on your pitch, pitch deck and/or fundraising strategy.
Onwards and Upwards,
