Tips for Your Next Pitch
Most pitches at our events run three minutes. That goes quickly, so clarity, structure, and confidence matter more than anything else. These are the things that help.
Watch Past Pitches
The Short Version
- Hook. Open with a short story or the moment you noticed the problem.
- Structure. Problem, solution, why now, progress, vision.
- Plain words. Explain it so someone outside your industry could repeat it.
- Time it. Finish between 2:45 and 2:55 of your three minutes.
- Slow down. Mic close, steady pace, pause between sections.
- Show something. A prototype or product beats a description.
- Prepare two answers. Customer, market, revenue, what makes you different.
- End on one line. Say exactly what you're building and for whom.
In Detail
Start with a Hook
The first 10 to 15 seconds matter most. Open with a short personal story or the moment you noticed the problem. It tells the room why you care and makes the rest easier to remember.
- A problem you ran into yourself
- Someone you know who struggled with it
- A number that surprised you
Follow a Simple Structure
A clear order helps people keep up. One that works:
- Problem. What are you solving, and who has it?
- Solution. What are you building, and how does it solve that?
- Why now, why you. Why is this the right time, and why are you the person to build it?
- Progress. A prototype, customer conversations, sales. Any traction helps.
- Vision. What could this become if it works?
You don't have to follow it exactly. You do need some order.
Keep the Language Simple
Most of the room is hearing your idea for the first time. Skip the jargon and explain it so someone outside your industry could repeat it.
Clarity beats complexity.
Practice with a Timer
Three minutes is shorter than it sounds. Practice out loud, and aim to finish around 2:45 to 2:55 so the timer doesn't cut you off.
Delivery
- Keep the microphone close to your mouth
- Speak a little slower than feels natural
- Take a few breaths before you start
- Pause between sections so people can follow
Bring a Prop If You Have One
A prototype, a product, or a physical example. People remember what they can see.
Expect Two Questions
One from the judges and one from the audience. The common ones:
- Who is your customer?
- How large is the market?
- How will the business make money?
- What makes your solution different?
If you don't know an answer, say you're still working it out. Early-stage founders aren't expected to have every answer.
End with One Clear Line
Finish on a sentence that tells the room exactly what you're building.
We're building [product] so that [group of people] can finally solve [problem].
Common Mistakes
- Talking too fast. Nerves make people rush. Slow down more than feels right.
- Explaining everything. You have three minutes. Pick the core idea, not every feature.
- Too much technical detail. The room cares about the problem, the solution, and the impact, not the architecture.
- Skipping the problem. Some founders jump to the solution before the room understands why it matters.
- A weak ending. Don't let the pitch fade out. Finish with a clear, confident line.
What Judges Look for
- Business potential. Could this become a sustainable, growing business?
- Clarity. Was the idea easy to understand for someone hearing it for the first time?
- Impact. Does solving this meaningfully improve something for customers or society?
- Structure. Was the pitch organized and well paced?
- Engagement. Did it leave the audience curious to learn more?
Ready to Pitch?
If you're building something and want to present it at a future event, we'd like to hear from you.