Pitching a new idea to investors can be a stressful, daunting, and overwhelming task. There are lots at stake; you might only have one opportunity to tell your story, sell your business idea or venture, mitigate any concerns and convince investors that your idea is a sound opportunity.
With so much at stake, it’s crucial to iron out any details or potential pitfalls in advance so that you can focus on the crucial details and make the best impression.
Here are a few simple pointers that can make a difference on pitch day.
1. Outsource the Creation of Your Pitch Deck
A pitch deck will likely include a wealth of important information, including the key features of your product or service, your projected revenues and trajectory, limitations and risks, your financial request, and much more. With such a huge array of information and crucial details to be absorbed quickly, it’s imperative that potential investors understand and retain these key particulars easily.
One tool for consideration is connecting with a presentation design agency. While you may have a fantastic business idea, design agencies specialize in creating impactful business tools to sell it. This will mean an elevated pitch deck with stand-out slides, giving your visuals an aesthetic edge crafted with user experience in mind. Furthermore, by outsourcing the creation of your slides, you have more time to refine and rehearse the content of your presentation.
2. Practice, Practice, Practice
While this seems obvious, practicing is key. That said, there are some ways to rehearse your pitch in addition to practicing on co-workers or to yourself.
Depending on the situation, ask friends or family if you can practice your pitch on them. Colleagues may inherently know the ins and outs of your pitch and not notice subtle stumbling blocks, but people outside your immediate sphere can flag points that cause confusion and can spot sections that need to be fleshed out.
One important thing is to listen to your presentation. Either record a video of yourself working through the slides or use a dictation program on your computer. This way, you’ll find it easier to identify unclear statements or ambiguous sentences.
3. Consider Terminology
Be impactful with your pitch. Avoid terminology that does not sound confident; hedging or ambiguous words like ‘could,’ ‘maybe,’ and ‘possibly,’ for example, imply uncertainty in the proposal’s elements. Instead, use powerful and confident words like ‘proven,’ ‘results,’ and ‘revolutionary’ to show absolute belief in the business or service you’re trying to sell. Rehearsing as described above will also help you cut out pauses (filler words like ‘uh,’ ‘um,’ ‘ah,’ and ‘like’) that make you sound unpolished.
4. Look at the Pitch from Every Angle
Leave no room for error or haziness. Be precise not only with the service or business you’re offering but also with your investment needs — relaying accurate investment requirements will be crucial in ensuring a positive relationship with your investor following a (hopefully) successful pitch.
By locking down the details and looking at the ask from every angle, you’ll not only nail the pitch but also provide confident and accurate answers during a question-and-answer segment at the end, which can throw off even the most organized presenters.
Final Thoughts
By outsourcing when sensible, preparing in advance and considering your pitch from every angle, you’re setting yourself up for a successful pitch. Invest the time to give yourself the best chance of enticing investors so you can grow your idea into a prospering, bustling business.