diff --git a/pitch-deck/middleware.ts b/pitch-deck/middleware.ts
index 14fd7ed..6efe0a0 100644
--- a/pitch-deck/middleware.ts
+++ b/pitch-deck/middleware.ts
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ const PUBLIC_PATHS = [
   '/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.
+  '/team',                    // Team photos: must bypass auth for next/image optimizer
   '/favicon.ico',
 ]