‘Not a differentiator’: Zerodha’s Nithin Kamath says using AI is no longer enough to stand out in startup pitches

Zerodha co-founder and CEO Nithin Kamath has questioned the growing practice among startup founders of putting artificial intelligence at the centre of investor pitches, arguing that merely using AI no longer gives a business an edge.

Kamath shared his views on X after noticing a recurring pattern in startup investment decks sent to him. He said many presentations now begin by highlighting AI adoption, making the claim increasingly difficult to distinguish from the rest.

The number of investment decks I get leading with “we use AI” is ridiculous. It’s reached a point where it automatically makes my eyes roll, and I’ve almost stopped looking at them.

— Nithin Kamath (@Nithin0dha) August 14, 2026

“The number of investment decks I get leading with ‘we use AI’ is ridiculous,” Kamath wrote. He said the repetition has become so common that he has nearly stopped paying attention to such claims.

According to Kamath, AI has moved from being a standout feature to an expected part of modern businesses. He described the technology as “table stakes”, arguing that founders should not present its use as a unique selling point unless it contributes something that genuinely differentiates the company.

“Bragging that your product uses AI is like bragging that you take a bath every day,” Kamath wrote. “It’s not a differentiator.”

The Zerodha chief also urged founders to reconsider how they structure their investor presentations. Instead of opening with generic claims about AI, he said pitches should offer something that separates the business from others competing for investor attention.

Kamath further noted that AI has made it easier for founders to create polished-looking investment decks. However, he cautioned that using the same tools and repeating similar AI-focused messaging could make startups appear less distinctive.

“Especially now that AI has democratized the ability to generate nice-looking decks, the last thing you want to do is say the exact same generic things as every other founder using the exact same tools,” he wrote.

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