Preparing to Pitch

Senior Division Curriculum Preparing to Pitch

This lesson is for teams who are attending a Regional Pitch Event, and who will be pitching.

  • Create a presentation for your pitch 

  • Prepare to present your pitch live

These are the activities for this lesson:

LIVE PITCHING

If you will participate in a regional pitch event or celebration event, your team will pitch live to a panel of judges.  

The goal of a live business pitch is to get investors (or judges, in this case) interested enough to want another meeting for more information (or invite you to the next round, in this case).

Your pitch is like a movie trailer that highlights the essential ingredients of your business and inspires you to go see the full movie. 

Your live pitch can be up to four minutes long and then will be followed by a question and answer section with judges. 

team at pitch event

You want to deliver a pitch that will make judges very interested in your business.

“First and foremost, you will need to work on standing out”

Nathan Gold, Pitch Expert

Open your pitch strategically to grab the judges’ attention. Hover over each method to learn more.

QUESTION

QUESTION

Ask the audience a question that will really get them to think.

STORY

STORY

People relate to stories, remember them, and retell them. Is there a story you can tell that illustrates the problem you are trying to solve with your app?

QUOTE

QUOTE

A good quote can evoke emotion and connect with your audience. You can get across a complex idea simply and concisely.

IMAGINE

IMAGINE

For example,
“Imagine for a moment that you are sitting on Mars and staring back at Earth…”

STATISTICS

STATISTICS

A statistic that the audience has not heard before and is related to the problem your app solves can grab audience attention.

VALUE PROPOSITION

VALUE PROPOSITION

Sharing the benefit your users will get from your app gets people engaged. For example,
“We help ___ do ___ by doing ___.”

THE PITCH DECK

A pitch deck is a brief and engaging visual presentation that gives an overview of your project. It’s often created with Google slides, PowerPoint, Prezi, or other presentation tools. 

The 10/20/30 Rule, originated by Venture Capitalist Guy Kawasaki suggests:  

  • no more than 10 slides
  • last no longer than 20 minutes (for you, 4 minutes!), 
  • no smaller than 30 pt. font so people can easily read the slides

Use your pitch deck as a guide for what you will say. Don’t put everything you will say into the slides. Focus on only the essential information.

Here are suggested topics for a 10 slide deck. 

Title Slide
Include:
Project logo or picture
Team Name
Team Members
Problem
Use your hook
Describe the problem
An image showing the problem could be helpful
Solution
Explain your solution to the problem.
Technology
Describe the technology used.
Show images or a demo of your app.
Users
Share who your users are and how you will get them to use your product.
Include your marketing plan.
Competitors
Provide an overview of competitors and how your product is different and a better solution.
Positive Impact
Explain how you ensured your project will do no harm and will have positive impact on all stakeholders.
Financials
Show your 5 year financial projections.
Explain how you will realistically make your business viable.
Future Plans
Explain how you intend to keep improving your app.
Wrapup
Restate how your solution successfully solves the problem.
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ACTIVITY 1: MAKE YOUR SLIDE DECK

Estimated time: 45 minutes

Make your slides using your chosen presentation tool

  1. Draft on paper first:
    • Write down the key points you want to make.
    • Outline points for each slide.
    • Ask your mentor for feedback.
  2. Make your slides:
    • Create a first draft of the slides based on your outline.
    • Try to use more than text.
      Images, charts, and quotes can all be powerful tools to help you tell your story.
    • Refine your opening hook. The beginning of your presentation is when people decide if they will like your story or presentation.
    • Ask for feedback from your mentor.
    • Revise slides based on feedback until you are satisfied.

REHEARSING

“For preparing for the live pitch, I think it’s most important to practice a lot to build confidence. It’s also important to describe the app and all of its functions clearly so that the judges can really understand why it is new/special/exciting.”

Jennifer John, 2016 Technovation Finalist

Below are some tips for answering questions during the pitch.

Remember, your team is in control!  

  • Decide beforehand who on the team will answer particular questions, for example questions about statistics or about how the project works.
  • Slow down, take a deep breath and pause before responding to show confidence.
  • Keep your responses to 30 seconds or less.
  • Listen closely to make sure you hear the question correctly.
  • If you are unsure about the question, you can always repeat it back to make sure you have it right.
  • Don’t interrupt the person asking the question, even if you have heard it many times before.  

 

  • Show judges respect when you listen to their questions.

  • Even if the judge asks you something you already covered in your pitch, respond politely without becoming defensive.  

If a judge asks a confusing question, don’t be afraid to ask for clarification. You can also ask them to repeat the question, or ask them for more detail.

First, look to your team mates to see if anyone else can answer the question.

If not, it’s okay to say you don’t know the answer to a question, but try to pivot to what you do know. For example:

  • I don’t know the answer to that; however, what I can tell you is…
  • I don’t know the answer to that. Here is the key point…

You can also simply say, I don’t know the answer to that right now, but I can find that out for you.

Prepare by making  a list of all the questions you think you might get asked.

Here is a list of 40 top questions investors ask during pitches.

ACTIVITY 2: REHEARSE YOUR PITCH

Estimated time: 30 minutes (repeat!)

Make your slides using your chosen presentation tool

  • Start by pitching to your mentor.
  • Then, find different people and larger groups to rehearse in front to.
  • Make sure to time yourself each rehearsal to stay within the 4 minute time limit!
  • When rehearsing, remember to:
    • Stand up straight, relax your shoulders and jaw, and take a deep breath.
    • Maintain eye contact with the audience. You may use notes, but avoid reading them word for word.
    • Hold your hands in front of you naturally. Use your hands for emphasis when needed, pointing to visual aids or raising and lowering them slightly in time with key points.
  • Have your audience ask you questions so you can practice for the Q&A.
  • Ask for feedback each time, and incorporate this before you practice your pitch to another audience.
  • Try recording your rehearsal, then watch it and discuss with your team to improve.

REFLECTION

You have created a presentation, rehearsed, and thought of questions that your team may get asked.

You’re ready!

Take a moment to reflect: 

girls relaxing at pitch event
What do you want to remember right before you walk onto the stage?
What have you learned along the way and who can you thank for that?
Who will you invite to the pitch event?
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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Pitch Presentations from past Technovation Semifinalists

Interested in extra resources? Here are some more helpful links.

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