3 Words That Kill Your Startup Pitch (and What to Say Instead)
- Jörn Menninger
- May 29, 2025
- 4 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
Avoid these 3 pitch-killing words and win more investors fast. Speak outcomes, not effort.
Avoid these 3 pitch-killing words and win more investors fast. Startuprad.io brings you independent coverage of the key developments shaping the startup and venture capital landscape across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
This founder interview is part of our ongoing coverage of Scaleup Founder Interviews from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
💼 Introduction
Every founder has 30 seconds to hook a potential investor, partner, or client. But what if your opening pitch includes words that instantly kill interest?
According to FBI-trained sales psychology expert Matthias Bullmahn, three common words ruin pitches before they even begin: help, work, and learn. In this blog post, we unpack why these words fail — and what to say instead if you want to convert listeners into believers.
Based on our interview with Matthias on Startuprad.io, this post is a must-read for any founder preparing their investor deck or go-to-market messaging.
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❌ Word 1: "Help"
Why It Fails:“Help” suggests weakness or charity. As Matthias puts it, “Your customer is not 85 years old and in need of social assistance. They want impact, not help.”
What to Say Instead:🎯 “Enable,” “Empower,” “Deliver results”
“We enable procurement teams to cut vendor onboarding time by 65%.”
❌ Word 2: "Work"
Why It Fails:No one wants to do more work. Your audience wants less effort, not more steps.
What to Say Instead:⚡ “Automate,” “Simplify,” “Streamline”
“We automate 90% of recurring admin tasks — no extra work required.”
❌ Word 3: "Learn"
Why It Fails:Learning sounds like school. People want easy wins, not new burdens.
What to Say Instead:🚀 “Get started instantly,” “Use out of the box,” “Built for speed”
“Our onboarding takes 15 minutes. No training required.”
🎯 Featured Snippet Answer
The three worst words to use in a startup pitch are “help,” “work,” and “learn.” These words create friction, reduce urgency, and shift focus away from outcomes. Replace them with action-oriented, benefit-driven language like “empower,” “automate,” and “get started fast.”
🎧 Learn from the Source
This post is based on our conversation with Matthias Bullmahn in the episode:🔗 Mastering Startup Negotiation Tactics: Sales Psychology Meets FBI Playbooks
You’ll also enjoy:
BATNA for Founders: Your Ultimate Safety Net in Investor Talks
How One Startup Used the Motive Compass to Close a Million-Euro Deal
✍️ Conclusion
Don’t let the wrong words sabotage your story. In the fast-paced world of startup sales, words matter. Ditch “help, work, and learn” — and pitch like a pro.
📢 Want more tactics like these? Listen to our full podcast episode with Matthias Bullmahn and transform how you pitch and negotiate.
📣 Connect With Us
👤 About the Author
Jörn “Joe” Menninger is the founder and host of Startuprad.io — one of Europe’s top startup podcasts and a global Top 20 show in Entrepreneurship. With 15+ years of experience in startup scouting, strategy, and consulting, he helps innovators turn bold ideas into powerful results.Follow him on LinkedIn.
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Key Takeaways
With Tide’s free business account, you get everything you need in one place: send invoices, track expenses, and handle taxes with smart tools built to save you time and stress.
This article covers a significant development in the DACH startup and venture capital ecosystem.
The DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) continues to be one of Europe's most dynamic startup markets.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the key facts about Words That Kill Your Startup?
Avoid these 3 pitch-killing words and win more investors fast. Speak outcomes, not effort.
How does this affect the German startup ecosystem?
Based on our interview with Matthias on Startuprad.io, this post is a must-read for any founder preparing their investor deck or go-to-market messaging.
What are the latest startup funding trends in the DACH region?
Startuprad.io tracks venture capital and startup funding across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Explore our pillar coverage pages for the latest data.
About the Host
Joern Menninger is the host of the Startuprad.io podcast and covers founders, investors, and policy developments across the DACH startup ecosystem. Through more than 1,300 interviews and nearly a decade of reporting, he documents the evolution of the European startup landscape. Follow Joern on LinkedIn.
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