The pitch tag has no wiki summary.
20
votes
13answers
999 views
I'm a terrible salesperson. What can I do about it?
I'm a designer / developer. My product is ready for beta, so my focus has to shift towards sales and marketing. My problem is that I just cannot sell. I have an irrational fear of annoying people ...
8
votes
3answers
1k views
Building Pitch Deck - Financial Projections and Metrics
I'm trying to understand how much info about projections I need to put on the pitch deck. I'm assuming investors don't want all the detail... just the high level numbers (revenue, profit, growth). Or ...
7
votes
4answers
430 views
Is it normal to have 0 signups after pitching a startup to dozens of journalists?
I've sent concise pitches about my startup (general, and for various features) to around 20 tech journalists from tech blogs/sites (Mashable, Techcrunch, TNW, RRW, Lifehacker, Venturebeat, etc.), both ...
7
votes
3answers
515 views
“One Man Startup” - Should a add people before going out looking for funding?
i've been working on a project for the last year or so and during that time 4 out of 5 partners have left, leaving only me. I've turned the project into a modest success and have now received some ...
7
votes
6answers
527 views
First-time meeting with a VC and Angel Investor
Just to give some background, I'm building a software as a service offering which is almost in private beta and I have a few customers lined up to start using it at launch. Its a solo gig so far, and ...
6
votes
2answers
342 views
What questions should a company expect from investors after a pitch competition?
The Northwest Entrepreneur Network's First Look Forum finale is a pitch competition followed by networking. During the competition, companies give a 5-minute presentation covering the basics: ...
6
votes
6answers
166 views
What are some good ways for me to practice my pitch?
I'm trying to put together a pitch, and am looking for ideas on where/how to best practice giving it, before it's polished enough to show to potential investors.
6
votes
3answers
379 views
What are the elements of a one line pitch?
I've been trying to put together a one line pitch for days. Either my startup sounds too complicated or too simple. People automatically compare my startup to other websites.
6
votes
5answers
3k views
Best start-up pitch videos
I was just watching a few of the TechCrunch50 videos, and I really liked the Yext pitch the most - http://www.techcrunch50.com/2009/yext/.
Any of you guys here have recommendations for some very ...
5
votes
3answers
132 views
What options does a non-native English speaker have when it comes to pitching ideas in Silicon Valley?
I've heard many anecdotes telling of pitches that convince investors at parties, in elevators, while having coffee, etc... It occurs to me that all of these pitches assume that both parties speak the ...
5
votes
3answers
3k views
Guide on writing a good business plan for a technology startup
I'm looking for advice on writing a business plan for a VC or Angel investor in the technology field. What are they looking for in a business plan/pitch?
There are some good basic guides on creating ...
5
votes
3answers
163 views
Pitching and Pitch Prep
My startup just was selected as a semifinalist in a local state-run business plan competition. I'm very excited about this, the first prize is pretty decent and would really provide some help with ...
5
votes
5answers
525 views
Software for making pitch/marketing videos
I am about the create a pitch/marketing video, so I would be keen to find out about any software that helps you create various animations, overlays, etc. Possibly bundled with some sound effects.
5
votes
1answer
113 views
What to put in to a company pitch?
We have a project we've been working on as a side project (Web based education and training application) for a few months as more of a hobby than anything. Recently we were approached by someone who ...
5
votes
2answers
787 views
Does Anyone Have Good Examples of “After the Fact” Pitch Decks?
I know that no one in there right mind would circulate a deck publicly while they were out pitching their company. However, it would seem that a deck from a successful round 5 or 10 years ago would be ...
5
votes
2answers
229 views
How do I pitch to a potential partner?
A group of us want to work with a rather large company on a specific project. I was able to contact the person in the department i wanted and on the initial email she forward me to 4 colleagues that ...
4
votes
5answers
396 views
Pitching a major potential client on Wednesday. Any ideas to knock their socks off?
I'm pitching a major potential client on Wednesday. I mean, HUGE.
Background (thanks, James!):
We are Textaurant, a SaaS web app tool that provides waiting list management for busy restaurants. We ...
4
votes
1answer
328 views
What are some resources to watch example pitches?
I like to learn by example so I am trying to find sites that are putting recorded pitches up online.
Examples would be:
Shark Tank on Jason Calacanis's This Week in Startups - ...
4
votes
2answers
214 views
Is it ok to present a different pitch deck than I emailed?
I just finished a pitch deck (11 slides, with 25 slide appendix), knowing that I'll often be emailing the deck to investors to read. So it's mostly text. I'm pretty sure that if I present at a live ...
4
votes
2answers
142 views
What would be the correct way of asking potential customers whether they need/like the product?
Being tired of doing stuff that turned out to be far from what users actually need, I think now it's time to ask potential users first (think lean startup mantra) before doing anything.
The idea I'm ...
4
votes
1answer
148 views
How can a first time entrepreneur pitch himself to an investor?
The founding/management team is one of the critical areas investors look at in a startup. Usually the team is more important than the idea/product.
Investors like to see a proven track record of ...
4
votes
3answers
714 views
How to find the right person to speak to at a company?
I am following up on How do I pitch to a potential partner? I found the project manager who in the department of the company i wish to work with but however she forward me to 5 managers in smaller ...
3
votes
4answers
312 views
Scenario: naive entrepreneur approached by angel investor
I am an aerospace engineer. On a whim I went to an entrepreneurial conference at the university that is in my town. And then, on a whim, at the evening pitch session, I pitched some hair-brained ...
3
votes
3answers
235 views
Mingling in angel investor gathering
I will be joining an event on angel financing where there will be quite some angel investors shown up.
Just wonder what I should talk about when meeting those angels, should I pitch them my ideas in ...
3
votes
3answers
172 views
How to build personal credibility
Me and one of my fellow liked an idea. He said if I need investment for that start up, I will be happy to make. But that was more like a coffee table discussion which lasted for an hour. I think I ...
3
votes
2answers
502 views
How do you start your cold call pitch? What has worked for you?
How do you start your cold call pitch? What has worked for you?
Do you go straight into the product asking if they're interested?
Or
Do you get personal and ask them how they're doing.
Let me know ...
3
votes
1answer
61 views
Do I bring the Business Angel to the VC-Pitch?
Would it be wise to bring our Angel to the VC-pitch?
The Angel would make a good impression. He is definetely better at pitching than everyone in the team.
But what impression would it make, if we ...
3
votes
4answers
192 views
High concept pitch review
I'm beginning fundraising for my brick & mortar textbook rental company. My best high concept pitch is "Blockbuster for textbooks". I need some feedback on how this rubs people, seeing that ...
3
votes
2answers
236 views
How to find statistics for a sales pitch?
We have developed a system that lets small businesses issue membership cards to their clients which can then be used as payment cards. The clients either preload the card with money or link it with a ...
3
votes
5answers
783 views
How to present and sell a business/product (one in the same) to potential buyer (bigger company) without risking them stealing my idea?
I have developed my product completely, and have built a business for the product to be able to take to market. The product is unlike anything else on the market as of now and in my opinion would work ...
3
votes
1answer
703 views
Financial model examples for downloadable content subscriptions
We're preparing a pitch deck for our startup which looks to partly make money from downloadable content. We'd like to add a subscription model for the content, and we are looking for examples of ...
2
votes
13answers
1k views
What are 3 essential components of a great elevator pitch?
Whether it is pitching to an investor, customer and your friends a well constructed and thought out elevator pitch can make all the difference. What are some of the key components that need to be ...
2
votes
4answers
278 views
What is a reasonable amount to ask to investors?
I asked a question about this before, but things have changed.
I developed software for basketball and football teams. I have sold 32 copies @ $20 each doing virtually nothing. I wrote a few articles ...
2
votes
5answers
264 views
Should I pitch on This Week in Startups when we aren't yet ready to launch?
After two years of development, our start-up is pre-beta and in an incubator. We have the chance to pitch on This Week in Startups, but I am concerned about too much publicity from potential ...
2
votes
2answers
290 views
Should a pitch have a professional presentation?
Related to "Things you need to have ready to pitch", is it necessary to have a whiz-bang all-singing all-dancing professionally produced PowerPoint deck for an investor pitch?
My feeling is that such ...
2
votes
3answers
132 views
What questions can I expect from investors when pitching them my idea, and where can I find the resources for those answers?
I've just applied to Y Combinator and was wondering what kind of questions I might be asked and where/how I should research to know the answers.
2
votes
2answers
136 views
What shall I do at a business lunch?
I've made a proposal to a prospect and he suggested we have a 'business lunch' and eventually continue afterwords in their office.
How should I prepare for it? Any DOes and DONTs?
P.S. This is ...
2
votes
1answer
111 views
I have an idea for a radically different business model for a VERY longstanding, almost universally used service
I am still paying on my college loans, have a child going to a private university on partial scholarship in the fall, not great credit, low disposable income, a happy marriage, very rewarding career, ...
2
votes
1answer
79 views
G/Score Opinions?
We've been admitted as semi-finalists at an Innovate!100 Pitch Slam. The main purpose of the even is getting some visibility and, allegedly, getting a G/Score for your pitch.
The G/Score is a ...
2
votes
2answers
212 views
How did Twitter/Quora persuade investors as they didnt/dont have a business model?
I wonder, how did Quora persuaded their investors as they don't make revenue and even they don't have any revenue model as far as I know.
The question is same again for twitter ( I know they sell ...
2
votes
2answers
73 views
What to focus on when pitching, product or underlying platform?
I'm working on launching a startup based on a new computing platform developed by my co-founders. The platform itself is very powerful and flexible, and we envision it being used as a foundation for ...
1
vote
3answers
332 views
How to sell idea to schools
I have an app idea that I'm working on to help school kids with bullying. I discussed this with a local vice principal and he liked the idea. I'm a developer and am learning to develop mobile apps, ...
1
vote
3answers
163 views
'Using' others' ideas - what's the legality?
So a bunch of friends are always pitching ideas to each other.
One day, one of my friends does one of these "this would be a great idea for a site". It's blown off as another of his 'ideas', but to ...
1
vote
2answers
200 views
Advice for pitching an idea for an app
Me and a friend of mine are presenting an app idea because we don't have the development assets to make it ourselves. Do you have any advice before I do this? I would love to see it developed but I ...
1
vote
3answers
82 views
Will a VC review a printed copy of my deck?
I am using PowerPoint to create our deck. I believe I can make use of a few advanced PowerPoint features (like animations) to provide a more robust presentation. However, if the VC reviews a printed ...
1
vote
2answers
136 views
How you look at all variables of a business case and decide if it's 'worth it'?
Given a business case with even a modest 20-30 variables/dimensions on which one would base the case, how does anyone going over it decide whether it is 'worth it'?
I mean if looking at a business ...
1
vote
3answers
95 views
Classical Business Plan vs Pitch Deck
I have recently read the book "Hit the Deck" by David Ronick, which suggests not to write a classical business plan and instead start with the pitch deck.
This is based on the argument that writing ...
1
vote
2answers
224 views
Going to be on national television to pitch my software - Need Advice
This Thursday I will be filming for a Canadian TV show where I will be pitching my software to 5 Canadian millionaires to invest in. The TV show won't air until September.
The software is ...
1
vote
2answers
134 views
how to pitch design as a competitive advantage
I'm building software for corporate customers and the space I'm in has several established competitors. Luckily, their design simply sucks. Think of the difference between using a smartphone circa ...
1
vote
2answers
79 views
Pitch Video for Accelerator
My partner and I are considering applying to an accelerator program in NYC. The application asks for two pitch videos, one about the business and one about the team.
Just wondering what these videos ...
