Preparing for your pitch

How do pitches work in the Innovation Challenge?

  • We do three rounds of pitches throughout our competition.

  • The first pitch is a 5-minute business/idea pitch to qualify for our competition.

  • You will then pitch again in late February after completing 2 Mentor Saturdays.

  • There will be 5 teams chosen from the Second Round of Pitches.

  • Those 5 teams will attend the final Mentor Saturday and pitch in the Finals to compete for cash investments and office space.

Resources

10 Steps to Perfect Your Startup Pitch - Startup guru Guy Kawasaki explains why asking investors for money is like online dating. Click Here To Read

12 Easy Steps to a Perfect Pitch - Whether you're presenting to potential investors, clients or customers, ace your next pitch with these 12 tips. Click Here To Read

How to Deliver the Perfect Business Pitch: 8 Tips Inspired by 'Shark Tank' Click Here To Read

How to Pitch: 18 Steps to Create and Deliver a Winning Pitch for Investors and Early Customers Click Here To Read

How to give the perfect pitch - with TedX speech coach David Beckett - Young Creators Summit 2016 Click Here To Watch

13 Tips on How to Deliver a Pitch Investors Simply Can't Turn Down - Hint: Practice your pitch. And then practice it again. And again. Click Here To Read

Mastering the Pitch with Nicole Glaros Click Here To Watch

How To Create A Great Investor Pitch Deck For Startups Seeking Financing Click Here To Read

Questions You Should Ask Yourself

  • What is the problem that the business/idea addresses?

  • How does your business/idea solve that problem/make it better?

  • Identify the market for your business/idea

  • Who are your customers?

  • Where are they (are they geographically bound?)

  • What is the market for your business/idea –

  •  Market size (how much money is out there to be spread around to this idea?)

  • How much will each customer spend on your business?

  •  How many customers will your business get?

  • How your business/idea/product will actually work when the customer uses it (how does your business work?)

  • Where do you make money/generate revenue?  Might consider how much does it cost to run your business/idea

  • Who are you competitors in this space

  • Who are you?  Who is on your team?  What skills do you bring?

  • How could you use the prize money from the innovation challenge?