diff --git a/pitch-deck/middleware.ts b/pitch-deck/middleware.ts
index 6f5a7c7..2d01066 100644
--- a/pitch-deck/middleware.ts
+++ b/pitch-deck/middleware.ts
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ const PUBLIC_PATHS = [
   '/api/health',
   '/api/admin-auth',          // admin login API
   '/pitch-admin/login',       // admin login page
+  '/p',                       // short link redirects — must be public so uninvited users can follow magic links
   '/_next',
   '/manifest.json',
   '/sw.js',