This month I had the privilege of pitching at SETsquared’s Investment Showcase as part of the GradInvest programme. I’ve pitched at University competitions and Accelerators before but this definitely felt like a step up from the experiences I’ve had in the past. Having said this, I absolutely loved pitching and have realised that it is definitely one of my strengths!

Given that many people came up to me and asked how I managed to pitch so confidently, I thought I’d put together some pitching tips:

Be Yourself!: If someone else writes a script for you or you try and write it in the style of someone else it will be so much harder to learn it, and secondly harder to execute authentically. Pitching is all about the audience connecting with you, yes you have to put on a bit of a show and engage the audience, but the aim is to be an elevated version of you, not someone else.
Make the first 30 seconds count: Especially at a pitch showcase, investors are usually watching anywhere between 20 - 100 pitches. You’ve got to do something different to stand out. The first 30 seconds are where you can make an impression - start with a quote, a statistic, something to draw the audience in and why they should be listening. Then tell them about your product.
Be concise: Usually, pitches have to be 3-5 minutes in a showcase as there are so many to get through - the key thing here is being as concise yet impactful as possible. Make your words count. This will take some time but it’s worth it! Usually, I write out everything I’d like to say, then get to work on cutting, rearranging and refining until only the best words are left.
Practice practice practice: Confidence is key in presenting, and ultimately that comes with practice! To be honest, I’d try and practice your pitch in as many different ways as possible so that you can learn it inside out, front to back. Practice with and without your slides so you’re not reliant on them. Practice with your friends and family, as well as to the mirror / by yourself. Record yourself and play it back. The better you want your pitch to be, the more you have to practice.

Full disclosure, I do think my job working part-time as a presenter and 5 years at stage school when I was younger definitely helps with my pitching! But pitching is just another skill that can be learned. As with most things, the way to get better is to do more of it. So put yourself out of your comfort zone, try and do as many pitches as you can, and you’ll see yourself getting more confident along the way.

#3 - SETsquared@20 Investment Showcase: Tips for Pitching