Building your pitch

<aside> <img src="https://prod-files-secure.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/a75b9758-9d88-4a04-b2a2-1996334fa57f/11e1a83f-8d78-4d1d-9d40-bf3e465d29d6/canva_logo.png" alt="https://prod-files-secure.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/a75b9758-9d88-4a04-b2a2-1996334fa57f/11e1a83f-8d78-4d1d-9d40-bf3e465d29d6/canva_logo.png" width="40px" /> We recommend using Canva for your pitches. It is super intuitive to use and helps you to build fun and engaging pitches with their built-in template library.

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<aside> 🏗️ Your pitch will likely need to be different every time depending on the audience and context. Below are some templates for structuring pitches of common different length. Bear in mind that there is no correct way to structure your pitch, this is just a starting point.

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3-min pitch deck template

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5 and 10 minute pitch template

3 minute pitch template

1 minute pitch template

Videos

https://youtu.be/17XZGUX_9iM?si=SwUPCx59gvFNDvyA

Example pitches

Here are some examples of early pitches from big companies you have probably heard of:

AirBnB Pitch Deck | Pitch Deck Hunt

YouTube Pitch Deck | Pitch Deck Hunt

Pitching tips

• Understand Your Audience
  • Know who you're pitching to: Tailor your pitch to the interests and concerns of your audience, whether they are investors, potential partners, or customers.
  • Research their background: Understand what they value, their previous investments, or projects they’ve been involved in.
• Start with a Strong Opening
  • Grab attention quickly: Start with a compelling story, an impressive statistic, or a bold statement to engage your audience from the beginning.
  • Clearly state your mission: Explain what your company does in a concise and compelling way.
• Clearly Explain the Problem and Solution
  • Identify the problem: Clearly articulate the problem your company is addressing. Make sure the problem is relatable and significant.
  • Present your solution: Explain how your product or service solves this problem. Highlight what makes your solution unique or innovative.
  • Take a look at the The Lean Canvas for guidance.
• Know Your Market and Competition
  • Market size and opportunity: Provide data on the market size, growth potential, and why this is a good opportunity. See Market research .
  • Competitive landscape: Identify key competitors and explain how your offering is different and better.
• Demonstrate Traction and Validation
  • Show proof of concept: If possible, provide evidence that your solution works, such as pilot results, customer testimonials, or early sales. Check out Customer validation.
  • Highlight key milestones: Mention any major achievements, such as funding, partnerships, or user growth.
• Explain the Business Model
  • Revenue streams: Clearly explain how your company makes or plans to make money. Take a look at Business model & plan.
  • Scalability: Discuss how the business can grow and scale over time.
• Team Introduction
  • Introduce key team members: Highlight the skills and experience of your team, emphasizing why they are capable of executing the business plan.
  • Complementary skills: Show how the team’s skills complement each other and cover all essential areas for success.
• Financial Projections and Ask
  • Present financial projections: Offer a realistic view of expected revenues, expenses, and profitability over the next few years.
  • Specify your ask: Clearly state what you are asking for (investment, partnership, etc.), and what the funds or support will be used for.
• Practice and Refine Your Pitch
  • Rehearse extensively: Practice your pitch multiple times, ideally in front of a live audience or mentors who can provide feedback.
  • Refine based on feedback: Continuously improve your pitch based on the feedback you receive.
• Be Prepared for Questions
  • Anticipate questions: Think about potential questions or concerns that might arise and prepare thoughtful responses.
  • Stay calm and composed: Answer questions confidently, and if you don’t know an answer, it’s okay to say you’ll follow up.
• End with a Strong Closing
  • Reiterate your key points: Summarize your mission, solution, and the potential impact of your company.
  • Call to action: Clearly state the next steps or what you hope to achieve from the pitch.
• Visual Aids
  • Use slides or visuals: Well-designed slides can help convey your message more effectively. Ensure they are clean, professional, and not overly text-heavy.
• Additional Tips
  • Keep it concise: Most pitches should be no longer than 10 minutes, followed by a Q&A.
  • Show passion and confidence: Your enthusiasm for your project can be contagious and convincing.
  • Be authentic: Authenticity helps build trust with your audience.
  • Be honest: Don’t lie, the judges will know!