diff --git a/pitch-deck/middleware.ts b/pitch-deck/middleware.ts
index 635afed..14fd7ed 100644
--- a/pitch-deck/middleware.ts
+++ b/pitch-deck/middleware.ts
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ const PUBLIC_PATHS = [
   '/manifest.json',
   '/sw.js',
   '/icons',
+  '/screenshots',             // SDK demo screenshots: public marketing assets. Must bypass auth because the next/image optimizer fetches them server-side without investor cookies.
   '/favicon.ico',
 ]