The Raise is an AI-powered pitch coaching platform built specifically for startup founders preparing to raise capital. It provides personalized, real-time feedback on your fundraising pitch using artificial intelligence trained on thousands of investor conversations.
Designed to replicate the experience of pitching to real venture capitalists and angel investors, The Raise helps founders identify weak spots, improve delivery, and increase their chances of securing funding. The platform supports founders from early-stage startups to growth-stage companies, offering a safe and intelligent space to practice, refine, and perfect their pitch.
By analyzing verbal content, tone, clarity, and emotional delivery, The Raise delivers insights that were once only available through one-on-one coaching. The platform is accessible via web browser and requires no special equipment or downloads.
Features
The Raise uses AI to simulate investor meetings. Founders can deliver their pitch in real time and receive instant analysis and feedback on content, tone, delivery, and persuasion level.
The system provides a full transcript of each pitch session, along with actionable suggestions to improve specific segments, such as the problem statement, market opportunity, or team introduction.
Founders can choose between structured prompts and freestyle pitch modes, allowing flexibility in how they practice. The AI can simulate tough investor questions and challenge founders in realistic ways.
The Raise breaks down pitch performance into multiple categories like clarity, confidence, engagement, and emotional tone, giving a complete picture of how the pitch comes across.
The platform provides coaching modules that focus on key areas of fundraising communication, from storytelling to answering objections.
Founders can track their progress over time, compare pitch sessions, and see measurable improvement in critical areas.
How It Works
Getting started with The Raise begins by signing up through the official website. After creating an account, users are prompted to begin a pitch session.
Founders can choose a format such as a one-minute elevator pitch, a full investor pitch, or Q&A scenarios. Once selected, the AI activates and begins a real-time conversation. The user delivers their pitch by speaking aloud or uploading a video recording.
The AI listens, analyzes, and returns a breakdown of the pitch. Feedback includes delivery speed, filler word usage, persuasive strength, structure, and whether the narrative effectively communicates the value proposition.
Users also receive a transcript of their pitch and AI-generated comments and scores in areas like clarity, confidence, and content strength. Over time, founders can view their history, track patterns, and revisit sessions to implement improvements.
The experience is designed to mimic investor meetings as closely as possible without requiring live human interaction, allowing for unlimited practice at any time.
Use Cases
Startup founders preparing for seed, Series A, or later-stage funding rounds can use The Raise to rehearse their pitch and gain objective, actionable insights.
First-time entrepreneurs can reduce anxiety by becoming familiar with the structure and expectations of investor conversations.
Accelerator participants can supplement live coaching sessions with unlimited AI practice sessions, increasing their preparedness and confidence.
Non-native English speakers looking to pitch to U.S.-based or global investors can refine their speaking clarity and reduce language-based misunderstandings.
Pitch deck creators can test different variations of their messaging to see what resonates best before going live with real investors.
Pricing
As of the current public release, The Raise is available in a freemium model:
Free Plan: Includes limited access to pitch practice, basic AI feedback, and a small number of simulated investor Q&A sessions. Ideal for casual users or early-stage founders exploring the platform.
Pro Plan: The paid version unlocks unlimited practice sessions, in-depth feedback reports, AI coaching tools, pitch history tracking, and access to advanced scenarios. Pricing is available upon request or after signup, as it may vary depending on user volume or use case.
There may also be customized pricing for accelerators, VC firms, or startup cohorts looking to use The Raise in bulk or as part of founder education programs.
Strengths
The Raise provides highly specialized coaching tailored for fundraising. Unlike general-purpose public speaking tools, it understands what investors look for and adapts accordingly.
It is available 24/7, which means founders can rehearse and refine their pitch as often as they want, without waiting for mentor availability or booking sessions.
The AI’s feedback is direct and data-driven, highlighting specific areas for improvement while reinforcing strengths.
Its real-world simulation approach builds confidence and prepares users for the emotional and intellectual challenge of pitching.
It removes friction from the practice process by being browser-based and lightweight, with no need for software installation or additional hardware.
Drawbacks
The feedback, while detailed, may not fully replace the nuanced understanding of a seasoned human pitch coach or investor who can offer context-specific advice.
The platform currently focuses on verbal pitches and may not analyze visual elements of slide decks or presentation design.
Non-verbal cues like posture, facial expressions, and body language are not yet assessed, which may limit feedback for in-person presentation training.
The pricing structure for full access is not publicly listed, which may make it difficult for budget-conscious founders to evaluate options upfront.
As with any AI system, there is a learning curve in getting the most out of the simulations, especially for users unfamiliar with startup pitch frameworks.
Comparison with Other Tools
Compared to general AI communication tools like Orai or Yoodli, The Raise is hyper-focused on startup fundraising, which gives it a strong advantage for this use case.
Unlike platforms like Pitch.com that focus on creating visual pitch decks, The Raise centers on oral delivery and investor communication. It complements design platforms by helping refine how content is presented verbally.
Human coaching platforms such as Prezent or Founder Institute mentorship programs offer in-person guidance, but they may be limited in availability or scale. The Raise provides instant, scalable access without wait times.
In contrast to public speaking apps that focus on generic delivery skills, The Raise evaluates pitches through the lens of investor interest, covering critical startup-specific metrics like traction, team, and scalability.
Customer Reviews and Testimonials
The Raise has been well-received among early-stage founders and accelerator cohorts. Users on platforms like Product Hunt and LinkedIn have praised the tool for increasing their confidence and improving their pitch delivery.
Early testimonials highlight how the AI mimics tough investor questions, preparing founders for high-pressure situations. Many users mention feeling more prepared for real meetings after several sessions with The Raise.
Some users have requested additional features, such as the ability to upload pitch decks for integrated feedback or receive industry-specific investor Q&A.
Overall, founders report high satisfaction with the platform’s ability to deliver quick, actionable, and structured insights, often replacing hours of manual preparation.
Conclusion
The Raise is a purpose-built AI tool for founders who want to master the art of fundraising communication. By simulating investor conversations and offering instant feedback, it enables entrepreneurs to refine their pitch with precision and confidence.
Its focus on verbal delivery, emotional tone, and message clarity addresses one of the most critical skills in the startup journey: selling your vision. While it may not replace human mentorship entirely, The Raise serves as a powerful supplement that can accelerate founder readiness and polish.
For solo founders, accelerators, and startup communities looking to elevate their pitch practice, The Raise offers a scalable and effective solution.
