When starting a new business, having an effective website design is crucial for making a good first impression and converting visitors into customers. Some key principles for startup website design include: focusing on simplicity, ensuring ease of navigation, highlighting value proposition, optimizing for mobile, having a clear call-to-action and incorporating visual elements. By referencing examples and best practices from leading startups and consulting available resources like PDF guideline documents, entrepreneurs can educate themselves on how to create an investment-worthy business website.

Emphasize Clarity and Simplicity in Website Design
An effective startup website should be simple and easy to navigate. Complex, cluttered designs overwhelm visitors. Prioritize clear communication of offerings, highlight core products/services and eliminate unnecessary content. Use plenty of white space, clean layouts and simple menus.
Ensure Website Design is Mobile-Friendly
With growing mobile usage, a startup’s website must be optimized for smartphones and tablets. Use responsive web design that auto-fits for different devices. Check site performance on mobile and confirm load speeds are fast. Target maximum site speed of 2-3 seconds.
Incorporate Strong Calls-to-Action
Include clickable buttons/links for desired user actions like ‘Sign up now’, ‘Start free trial’ or ‘Purchase’. CTAs should stand out visually and be prominently placed. Confirm forms/checkouts have minimal fields to complete requested actions fast with no unnecessary hurdles.
Leverage Visually Appealing Media
Images, videos, animations etc visually engage visitors better than plain text. But ensure they loads fast without slowing webpage. Use media to showcase offerings, build credibility through client testimonials and depict an appealing brand story aligned to target audience.
By focusing on simplicity, mobile optimization, effective calls to action and visual appeal, startups can design appealing, conversion oriented websites that support their investment pitch. Referencing real-world examples and best practices helps avoid common pitfalls.