Who Cares about Commas?!?
Every Detail in Your Pitch Deck Signals Something Bigger
I’ve reviewed thousands of pitch decks over the years. Some brilliant. Some forgettable. And some that could’ve been brilliant—if not for the stray comma, the misaligned bullet, or the font that mysteriously shifts halfway through the slide.
It’s always the same reaction when I point it out: "This is about my vision, not my formatting!"
Founders scoff. They roll their eyes. They think I’m being pedantic. But here’s the truth: investors don’t just read your deck—they read into it. Every detail is a clue. Every inconsistency is a signal. And yes, even the comma matters.
The Deck Is a Mirror
Your pitch deck is more than a storytelling tool. It’s a proxy for your judgment.
🔹 A clean deck says: “I sweat the details.”
🔸 A messy one says: “I might miss the details that matter.”
This isn’t about being a design snob. It’s about trust. When an investor sees sloppy formatting, they don’t just think, “This founder needs a better designer.” They wonder:
Will this founder miss a zero in the financial model?
Will they overlook a key hire?
Will they ship a product with bugs because they didn’t test the edge cases?
The deck is your storefront window. A smudge on the glass doesn’t ruin the product inside—but it might stop someone from walking in.
The Psychology of Precision
Humans are wired to make snap judgments. Investors are no different. They’re scanning dozens of decks a week, sometimes hundreds. They’re not just evaluating your idea—they’re evaluating you. And when time is short, they look for shortcuts.
Formatting is one of those shortcuts.
Consistent font weight? You’re meticulous.
Clean slide transitions? You’re thoughtful.
Clear hierarchy of information? You know how to prioritize.
These aren’t just aesthetic choices. They’re behavioral cues. They tell the investor how you think, how you operate, and how you’ll lead.
“But I’m Not a Designer…”
You don’t have to be. You just have to care. Founders often say, “I’m not a designer,” as if that excuses the mess. But you don’t need a design degree to align your bullets or proofread your copy. You need discipline. You need pride. You need to treat your deck like it matters—because it does.
If you’re not sweating the details in your deck, what else aren’t you sweating?
Your cap table?
Your burn rate?
Your customer onboarding flow?
Investors know that early-stage startups are chaotic. They’re not expecting perfection. But they are looking for signal. And a clean deck sends a strong one.
The Most Surprising Feedback I’ve Ever Seen
I once saw a founder with a killer idea, strong traction, and a compelling story. But their deck also had multiple competing fonts, inconsistent margins, and a slide title that read “Go-to-Market Stratgey.” (there’s a typo there if you missed it). I pointed it out. The founder laughed. “They're really going to ding me for a typo?”
No, you’re not getting dinged for a typo, but for the risk of what that typo represents—a lack of final pass, a missed opportunity to show care, a signal that maybe they rushed the deck the night before.
It’s not because of the typo, but because the typo is the tip of the iceberg.
What Investors Actually See
Let’s break it down. When an investor opens your deck, they’re scanning for:
Clarity of thought – Is the story coherent? Is the problem clear? Is the solution compelling?
Operational maturity – Are the numbers tight? Is the roadmap realistic? Are the assumptions defensible?
Founder signal – Does this person have the judgment, grit, and self-awareness to build something real?
Formatting touches all three.
A well-structured deck shows clarity of thought.
A clean financial slide shows operational maturity.
A typo-free, visually consistent deck shows founder signal.
It’s not about perfection. It’s about intention.
The “Comma Test” for Founders
Here’s a simple exercise: open your deck and look for a single comma. Ask yourself:
Is it in the right place?
Is it consistent with how you’ve used commas elsewhere?
Does it help or hinder clarity?
Now zoom out. Apply that same lens to your product, your team, your roadmap. Are you sweating the details? Are you catching the edge cases? Are you building with care?
Because if you’re not, someone else will. And they’ll get the meeting.
The Deck Is the First Hire
Think of your pitch deck as your first team member. It speaks on your behalf. It shows up before you do. It makes the first impression.
Would you send a junior hire into a meeting with a wrinkled shirt and half-baked talking points? No? Then don’t send your deck in that way either.
Your deck should reflect your standards. Your discipline. Your pride.
How to Sweat the Right Details
Here’s a checklist I give founders before they send a deck:
✅ Consistent fonts, colors, and spacing
✅ Aligned bullets and margins
✅ Clear slide titles with parallel structure
✅ No typos, grammar errors, or broken links
✅ Logical flow from problem → solution → traction → team → ask
✅ Visuals that support the story, not distract from it
And most importantly:
✅ A final pass with fresh eyes—ideally from someone who wasn’t involved in the build
This isn’t about making it pretty. It’s about making it trustworthy.
Final Thought: The Comma Is a Clue
So yes, the comma matters. Not because it’s a comma, but because it’s a clue.
A clue about how you think.
A clue about how you build.
A clue about how you lead.
Your pitch deck is your handshake, your storefront, your first impression. Make it count.