For most startups, a strong pitch can be the difference between raising capital and running out of runway. Yet professional communication coaching—once reserved for Fortune 500 executives—has traditionally been too expensive and inaccessible for early-stage companies.
The Los Altos–based startup, founded in 2021 by Rajat Mishra, is on a mission to democratize expert-level business communication. By combining AI, industry-specific software, and human coaching expertise, Prezent is challenging the traditional agency and consultancy model that many founders simply can’t afford.
Its latest move underscores that ambition: a partnership with Tom McCarthy, one of the most influential presentation coaches in the world.
Turning elite coaching into a scalable product
McCarthy’s résumé reads like a who’s who of global business. Through his company, FIRE-UP Training, he has coached executives at Microsoft, Salesforce, Cisco, Zoom, and Wells Fargo. His FIRE-UP Your Presentations System—developed during his time at Robbins Research International—helped double sales performance and later became the foundation of two bestselling books.
Now, that system is being embedded directly into Prezent’s platform via AI-powered coaching avatars.
Instead of one-off workshops or expensive retainers, startups and enterprise teams alike can access structured coaching, real-time feedback, and proven frameworks on demand. Over time, Prezent plans to introduce additional expert avatars and allow customers to create their own, extending best practices across entire organizations.
“Together with Prezent, we’re building a future where every professional can communicate with clarity and confidence,” McCarthy said.
A startup taking on a $20B market
The partnership follows Prezent’s recent $30 million funding round, which the company plans to use primarily for acquisitions. Its long-term target is the $20 billion global agency and consultancy market—a space still dominated by manual processes and high-cost human labor.
According to Mishra, the opportunity lies in scale. “Business communication coaching is expensive and limited to senior leadership,” he said. “With AI, we can bring one-on-one expert coaching to everyone—from sales reps to customer success managers.”
Prezent’s platform already helps teams generate brand-aligned sales decks, QBRs, and technical presentations in minutes. But its broader promise is cultural: helping startups and fast-growing companies build a repeatable communication advantage as they scale.
For founders navigating investor meetings, customer pitches, and global expansion, that may prove to be one of the most valuable applications of AI yet.
