Dr Sam Donegan, April 2024
A lot of people are afraid when it comes to delivering a pitch. “Don't I need to be a thick-skinned, type A, business shark in order to do that?”
The answer is no. A pitch is just a way to communicate a complex idea very effectively in a short timeframe to somebody that doesn’t know anything about your problem space.
Having a great idea is just the starting point. The real game-changers are those who can not only conceive innovative solutions but also persuasively communicate and implement them.
<aside> ✳️ TLDR (Too Long, Didn't Read)
This guide goes into a lot of detail about how to create an effective pitch. You don't NEED to have a pitch deck (slides), in fact a lot of very captivating pitches don't use a deck, but it can be a useful tool as a visual aid (for your audience). For those that don't have a lot of time to read this guide, I've assembled a draft pitch deck for you. It has instructions on what to put where, with a few examples on the side. Good luck!
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In essence, a pitch is a concise yet compelling presentation that aims to answer critical questions:
An effective pitch is akin to a verbal snapshot of your proposal, encapsulating its essence in an engaging manner. The best pitches are persuasive without seeming forceful or desperate. They leverage the presenter's passion and conviction to make a compelling case for their innovation.