No More Pitch Decks: Fundraising by Vibe

Originally published in SeedStage Digest (Dec 2024)

The traditional pitch deck isn’t dead — but for some early-stage founders, it’s becoming optional. In its place? Twitter DMs. Community clout. Product screenshots. Personal brand equity.

A growing number of founders are raising small rounds — $25K to $250K — without formal decks or lengthy processes. They’re leading with authenticity, product proof, and narrative instead.

“I never sent a deck,” said founder Tanya Okeke, who raised $90K from five angels after sharing her story in a thread about losing her job and pivoting into edtech. “It was messy, but it was *me.* And that’s what resonated.”

**Fundraising by vibe** isn’t just about being charismatic — it’s about being real. It works best when:
- You’re already building in public
- You can show traction or product screens
- You’re solving a problem you’ve *personally* lived
- You’re willing to be transparent about risks

This approach isn’t for everyone — but it’s unlocking capital for people who might never make it past a traditional pitch room.

“This is the first time I felt like fundraising didn’t require acting,” said Okeke.

For indie founders especially, vibe-first fundraising is more than a workaround. It’s a new language — and the investors who speak it are rewriting the early-stage game.