Startup terminology: how to pitch nothing and still get funded

Here is our glossary btw, we’ve worked with dozens of SaaS startups who all started with the same thing: an idea scribbled on a napkin and a dream powered by caffeine and startup lingo. In this article, we’ll unpack the holy language of the funded elite: startup terminology. Because let’s face it-sometimes, knowing how to say “we haven’t built it yet” in ten syllables is the secret sauce.

Glossary

Here’s your survival kit for pitching... well, not much. Use these startup terminology terms, and you might just land a meeting with a venture capitalist wearing Allbirds and a Patagonia vest.

1. MVP (Minimum Viable Product)

Definition: A polite way of saying “it barely works.”

Use it early, use it often.

2. Pivot

Definition: When you completely change direction but call it “learning.”

Startup terminology gold.

3. Disrupt

Definition: To slightly improve something boring and call it “the Uber of X.”

4. Bootstrapped

Definition: You didn’t get funding-so you're calling it a choice.

5. TAM (Total Addressable Market)

Definition: A number you inflate to make your niche look like a global revolution.

6. Churn

Definition: What happens when users meet your UI.

7. Runway

Definition: How many weeks until your co-founder gets a real job.

8. Growth hacking

Definition: Marketing, but with fewer ethics and more spreadsheets.

9. Pre-revenue

Definition: No income, but hey-at least it’s “scalable.”

10. Lean Startup

Definition: “We haven’t hired anyone yet.”

11. Exit Strategy

Definition: Your imaginary plan to get acquired by Apple.

12. Beta Launch

Definition: When your product is still broken, but users are now allowed to see it.

13. User Acquisition

Definition: Usually just ads. But with funnels and conversion metrics.

14. Unicorn

Definition: A billion-dollar company with negative cash flow.

15. Evangelist

Definition: The intern who yells about your product on X (Twitter).

16. Scalable

Definition: Fancy way of saying “we hope this works for more than 5 users.”

17. Freemium

Definition: Give 90% away, charge for the worst 10%, and call it a model.

18. Vision Deck

Definition: Pretty slides, no product.

19. Moonshot

Definition: An idea with a 0.01% chance of success-and a $5M seed round.

20. Stealth Mode

Definition: We have no traction, so we’re pretending we’re secretive.

21. Burn Rate

Definition: How fast you run out of investor money before the “exit.”

22. Founder-Led

Definition: Unmanageable.

23. Iteration

Definition: Rebuilding the same thing, again.

24. SaaSification

Definition: Turning anything—yes, anything-into a subscription.

25. Low-code

Definition: Developers not required. Until something breaks.

26. Funding Round

Definition: A public performance of confidence, anxiety, and cappuccinos.

27. Hustle

Definition: A personality trait for people who work 90 hours and tweet about it.

28. Product-Market Fit

Definition: That magical moment when someone, somewhere, actually likes your thing.

29. Incubator

Definition: Expensive co-working space with occasional pizza.

30. Value Prop

Definition: The part of your pitch deck that tries to explain why anyone should care.

To investors: cut through the buzzwords before you cut the check

Dear investors — we get it. You’ve seen 300 decks this quarter, and every founder thinks they’re building “the next AI-powered ecosystem for decentralized human flourishing.” But before you write a check based on how confidently someone says synergy, pause and look under the hood.

Ignore the buzzword salad for a moment. Ask:

• Is there a real problem being solved here?
• Does this team actually know what they’re doing — or are they just ex-Googlers with no roadmap?
• Is there a business model beyond “get users, figure it out later”?

Startup terminology can be impressive, sure. But traction, product depth, and team resilience are what keep your investment alive after the hype dies. Your ROI won’t come from the prettiest deck — it’ll come from a founder who knows how to iterate without falling apart when AWS goes down.

To startups: words won’t save you if the product sucks

And to you, fellow startup founders — let’s be honest. The temptation to wrap your app in layers of impressive words is real. But if your onboarding crashes, your UI looks like 2008, and your value prop is “we’re kinda like Notion for pets” — it won’t work long-term.

Use the lingo if you must (hey, we all do). But back it up.

• Solve a real problem.
• Validate it with real humans.
• Build something that works.
• Show investors that beyond the “vision,” there’s execution.

Startup terminology should clarify, not distract. Buzzwords won’t keep your churn low or extend your runway. Real value will.

Our Final Pitch (Yes, We're Pitching Too)

We get it. You’re busy trying to raise money, fake traction, and tweet something clever by 9am. But if you’re ready to move from startup pitch theater to product execution—we can help.

At Integritas, we design and build websites, apps, and platforms for SaaS founders who’ve outgrown their jargon and want their product to finally match the pitch.

You bring the vision.

We bring the pixels, the logic, and a calendar that runs on delivery—not vibes.

Explore more startup terminology (with actual meanings) right here.