How to Make a Remarkable Pitch

To craft a pitch to raise money, you must recognize that the art of persuasion necessitates the integration of three key elements: engagement, clarity, and brevity.

A pitch is more than a mere exposition of information; it is an impassioned and intentional narrative. Keep in mind that the goal is not a check or wire transfer. The goal is to avoid rejection and to make it to the next stage of the investment process.

These are the stages in constructing a pitch that is distinctive and moves the audience emotionally.

Understand Your Audience

· Pick the right firm. Let’s start with the basics. Is the organization that you’re pitching the right kind for you? The parameters to check include stage of company (seed, early, late, mezzanine), geographic location (does it focus on investments it can drive to?), and market segment (life sciences, artificial intelligence, enterprise software, consumer devices).

· Do your homework. Prior to the meeting with the right type of investor, do background research on the individuals who will be in the room. Where did they go to school? Where did they work? What have they invested in before? What are their outside interests and passions? LinkedIn is your best friend here.

· Learn the ground rules. Ask your primary contact what kind of presentations work best for her firm. Slides or not? Demos or not? Questions during the pitch or at the end? Should only one person do the pitching or should the executive team all be involved?

Craft Your Narrative

· Embrace storytelling with a captivating narrative. Narratives captivate and remain in memory well beyond the expiration of factual information. You have sixty to ninety seconds to hook your audience with a narrative that includes demos, samples, and testimonials.

· Cut the bullshit. Steer clear of buzzwords and industry jargon that are trite. Clarity and simplicity will invariably triumph over business jargon and bullshit.

· Grab metaphors to generate vivid images that simplify and enhance the memorability of your product. By acting as conduits between the familiar and the unfamiliar, they facilitate the audience’s comprehension of your message.

Optimize Your Slides

· Observe the 10/20/30 rule. Use a minimum font size of thirty points, restrict your pitch to ten slides, and present them within twenty minutes. Adhering to this principle guarantees that your discourse is succinct while also showing consideration for the time of your audience.

· Opt for high contrast. Use dark backgrounds with light text to make your slides pop. This high contrast is not only visually appealing but also enhances readability, especially in large rooms.

· Take the “glance test.” That is, do your slides only require a quick glance to get the gist of your message? Or do they take minutes of intense reading and cogitation. You want the audience to glance at your slide and then refocus on watching and listening to you.

Deliver with Confidence

· Repeat your pitch twenty times in front of your colleagues, family, or friends. If you think you’re a “natural” who will rise to the occasion, you are wrong. Steve Jobs practiced his presentations for weeks, and you are not Steve Jobs.

· Get to the meeting early to set up in relaxed manner. Bring backup equipment in case your computer fails. You can assume Internet access these days but be prepared to pitch without it.

· Take off like a fighter jet. Consider two kinds of planes. One is a passenger plane that rumbles down two miles of tarmac before taking off. The other is a fighter jet that roars off a aircraft carrier deck in 150 meters (or falls into the ocean). You want to be the fighter jet. In the first thirty seconds, the audience should know exactly what your company does,.

Conclusion

In conclusion, a great pitch requires empathy, creativity, and precision. It requires you to put yourself in your audience’s shoes, tell a story that intrigues, and eliminates elimination and keeps you in the game.

Remember to impress with clarity and relevance, not complexity. Following these steps will help you grab your audience’s attention and leave a lasting impression that will boost your success.

— — — — — — — — — — -

People who are remarkable, know how to pitch. To learn more, read Think Remarkable: Nine Paths to Transform Your Life and Make a Difference.