THE PITCH GUIDE
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overall

The five elements (Es) of an effective pitch

Let’s take it to the basics. The objective of a pitch is to persuade the audience to support your business idea – either by providing funding, buying the product, entering a partnership, or earning points in PITCH! A strong pitch is clear, concise, and highlights the benefits of your solution. Here are five elements of an effective pitch:

Tap each 'E' to reveal

E

xplore

your target market

Do your research and understand your ideal customer's problems, challenges, and what they're looking for in a solution. By showing that you understand and care about their problems, you'll be able to build trust and credibility with your audience. Consider using examples, storytelling, or testimonials to show that you understand their pain points.
E

stablish

the problem you're solving

The first step is to clearly and succinctly establish the problem you are solving. This means identifying the pain points or challenges that your target audience is facing. By establishing the problem in a relatable and compelling way, you will be able to grab and hold your audience's attention for the rest of your pitch.
E

xplain

your solution and how it works

Once you’ve established the problem, it's time to explain your solution and how it works. This is where you can get into the details of your idea, and explain how it addresses the problem you’re solving. Be sure to include any unique features or benefits that set your solution apart from others. Don’t complicate the details – keep it to-the-point!
E

mphasize

using stats, humor, or taglines

Make your message stand out. Highlighting key statistics or data can help back up your claims and add credibility to your pitch. Using humor can help lighten the mood and make your audience more receptive to your message. And using a catchy tagline or slogan can help to reinforce your message and make it memorable.
E

xecute

with the right business model

Show your audience that your business idea is viable and sustainable. Describe how you plan to make money, scale the business, and achieve growth. Make sure that the business model is realistic and aligns with your target market and industry.
RELEVANCE

Create your three ifs

Change your point of view. "What if" questions are a great way to empathize with your target market and open up your mind to new possibilities. They help break down assumptions, challenge the status quo, and explore different perspectives. Plus, they can also help identify potential challenges and find creative solutions. Next time you're stuck, try asking yourself "what if" and see where it takes you.

For example

What if my product exists 100 years from now?
What if we had a billion dollar investment?
What if a teenager came up with it?

More examples...

What if it was a different industry?
What if it was created 100 years in the future?
What if I change my target audience?
What if I make it funny?
What if I make it practical?

Your turn 👇

Come up with three 'what ifs' to ask yourself the next time you're playing PITCH.
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CREATIVITY

1 minute concept mapping

Expand your perspective. Concept maps are visual diagrams that show the relationships between different topics. They can be incredibly helpful for sparking new ideas and uncovering connections between things that seem unrelated. Draw two random Concept Cards from PITCH and try creating your own concept map.

For example

You’re asked to come up with a business idea that incorporates ‘Sound’ and ‘Land’.
PITCH by Lemonayd Concept card – Land.PITCH by Lemonayd Concept card – Sound.
A 1 minute concept map might look something like this:
Concept map tying Sound and Land concepts together.
click to expand

Guiding questions for concept maps

What are alternate definitions of the word?
What are the parts that make up the thing?
Think of how the word relates to history or pop culture? Is it found in any idioms or common phrases?
Do you have any personal experiences related to the thing?
What would be the complete opposite of this thing?

Your turn 👇

Step 1
‍Pick any two concepts at random (e.g. Space and Sleep).
Step 2
‍Use the guiding questions above if you get stuck.
Step 3
‍Create your own concept map! Use pen-and-paper or try online tools like Miro and LucidChart.
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Style

Make your pitch S.H.I.N.E

Stand out from the competition. The key is to deliver a pitch that is not only informative, but also engaging and memorable. Try using the S.H.I.N.E mnemonic to leave a lasting impression and increase your chances of success.

Tap each letter to reveal

S

upport

with stats, data, or testimonials

By providing concrete evidence of the problem you are tackling, the size of your market, or the effectiveness of your idea, you will be able to build trust and credibility with your audience.
H

ook

use a strong opening or catchy tagline

This is your chance to make a striking first-impression and make sure that your audience is interested in what you have to say. A hook could be a bold statement, a tagline, a rhetorical question, a story, or a surprising fact that piques your audience's interest.
I

nteract

with your audience through questions or examples

Most pitches are one-sided, with one party talking and the other listening. Stand out by asking questions or by providing examples that your audience can relate to. It also gives your audience a chance to ask questions and provide feedback you can incorporate mid-pitch.
N

otice

the mood of the room

Pay attention to the mood of the room and adapt accordingly. This can involve adding humor (or keeping things serious), slowing down (or speeding up) your delivery, adjusting your tone of voice, or addressing any concerns or objections that come up during the pitch.
E

voke

an emotion or reaction from your audience

Feelings stick. Try using storytelling, jarring visuals, or bold claims to connect with your audience on an emotional level. Pitches that make an audience feel a certain way –whether that’s excited, agitated, or even hungry – are more likely to leave a lasting impression and increase the chances of your pitch being successful.
Feasibility

The 3 C's of feasibility

Dreaming is great, but making it happen is even better. Assessing the feasibility of your idea is crucial to determining the potential success of your business and taking it to the next level. Use the 3 Cs to evaluate whether your idea is worth pursuing.

Tap each 'C' to reveal

C

apability

can it actually be built?

Evaluate the technical feasibility of your idea or product. Assess whether your idea can actually be built, and if so, what resources and technology will be required to do so.
C

apacity

can you get started today?

Evaluate the availability of resources such as funding, skills required, and equipment to begin working on the project. Does the business idea rely on a specific partnership or technology? Are there any regulatory or legal requirements to get started?
C

ommerce

should it be built?

Understand the market potential of your product, analyze the competition, and determine whether your product is financially viable. This might entail forecasting the potential revenue and identifying the cost to get started. This step helps to ensure that your product or idea is not only technically feasible, but is also commercially viable.
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