- Zerodha founder and CEO Nithin Kamath raised a concern in a post on X, stating that the number of investment decks he receives that begin with “we use AI” has become ridiculous.
- Kamath said the repeated focus on AI in startup pitches has reached a point where it automatically makes him roll his eyes, adding that he has almost stopped looking at them.
- According to Kamath, founders need to understand that AI has effectively become table stakes rather than a unique selling point.
- He compared highlighting AI usage to bragging about taking a bath every day - something that is no longer impressive or differentiating.
- Kamath also warned that opening a pitch with AI is a surefire way to get ignored, not only by Zerodha’s investment team but potentially by most serious venture capitalists.
- Kamath pointed out that AI has made it easier for almost anyone to create nice-looking investment decks, and using the same AI tools as everyone else while presenting the same generic AI-focused messaging can make a startup blend into the crowd.
Zerodha CEO Nithin Kamath has expressed concern over the increasing prevalence of AI in startup pitches, stating that it has become a common expectation rather than a distinguishing feature. In a recent post on X, he noted, "The number of investment decks I get leading with 'we use AI' is ridiculous."1
Kamath elaborated that this trend has become so tiresome that it automatically makes my eyes roll, leading him to “almost stop looking at them.”
He emphasized that founders must recognize that AI is now merely “table stakes” in the competitive startup landscape, akin to “bragging about taking a bath every day.”456
This shift means that simply highlighting AI usage does not set a startup apart; instead, it risks blending into a sea of similar pitches. Kamath cautioned that starting a pitch with AI could be a “surefire way” to get ignored by investors, including his own team at Zerodha, as well as other serious venture capitalists.7
He pointed out that the accessibility of AI tools has enabled many to create “nice-looking” investment decks, but without unique messaging, startups may fail to capture attention.89
Kamath's insights reflect a growing sentiment in the investment community that innovation must go beyond just AI integration to truly stand out.
“Kamath said the number of decks leading with 'we use AI' has become ridiculous, making him roll his eyes and almost stop looking at them. He compared highlighting AI to bragging about taking a bath daily, noting it makes startups blend into the crowd.”
Business Today
