Super Handy Checklists For Drafting Your Startup Pitch

We’ve all heard of the ‘elevator pitch’ before. It's essentially a 30-second window for you to completely change your life. No pressure. While pitching your startup may seem like a horribly daunting task, much of it comes down to clarity, knowledge, and confidence. Read on as we share how to grasp an opportunity that comes your way, or make most of your next networking event.

The One Liner

If you’re in a real elevator-like situation, a sentence could be all you have time for. This means you need to immediately communicate the essence of your pitch, or the value proposition of your startup. In most cases, this will be revealed through how you’ll solve the problem at hand. Checklist:

Name

Audience / Market

Problem

Solution

10 Minutes

Okay, so you have the person in an immobile, contained area. Now is the time to go a little more in-depth with your pitch, or begin to support your statements with the scope of your knowledge of the market, technology, traction, etc. A compelling story always helps, but steers clear of clichés and overused industry buzzwords. If there’s enough time*, let your product speak for itself by showcasing its features. Checklist:

Business model

Competition

Your story / How you got to where you are today

Traction

Successes so far / Milestones

Short Demo*

A Real Meeting

Okay, you’re almost there. You’ve setup a proper meeting, which means you actually have time to put together a proper deck, and really go for it. Now is the time to talk money, and get into the nitty-gritty of pragmatics, logistics, etc. With time on your side, you can begin to support your statements through a proven track record through figures. More importantly, allow the investor to see the bigger picture by detailing a growth plan, and exactly how funding will put you on track. A comprehensive and developed investment plan is a determinant factor for success, and is the thesis of your pitch. Checklist:

Customer acquisition / Marketing strategy

Revenue model / KPIs

Financial projections / Budget scenarios

Your team

Demo

Investment plan / Funding needs