I've gone through ~75 pitches in the last few weeks as a new VC. You are only new once, so I'm sharing some immediate thoughts for founders who are pitching VCs today: Make your champion at the firm look good by having an FAQ doc ready: Most of the top funds receive a lot of pitches on a weekly basis, and only a few end up rising to the top. To get the attention of GPs, the associate/principal/partner you are chatting with is making a case for you on why you should have an opportunity to present to the firm. For every company that is brought up, that person is burning some social capital with the hope that this might be the next Stripe. If you can help them make their case by asking them what the risks or blockers are and having answers ready for them, it makes their job a touch easier. This will also help build a relationship to rely on said person to understand how you should prepare for the pitches to the broader investment committee.
"They tried to go straight to the top by getting famous people to vouch for them, all while ignoring me."
As the saying goes "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush"