It is critical to have a compelling pitch. Pitching means capturing your audience by telling a great story, knowing your material and having a simple ask at the end of your pitch. You might be asking for funding, a sale, or just simply, a follow up meeting. The DEC has created a 3-week pitch program that helps refine and practice your pitch - both your elevator pitch and a 10-minute pitch. The Pitch Practice Winter program is sponsored by Microsoft Bizspark.

1. THE 10-MINUTE
PITCH
W E E K
2 :
P I T C H
P R O G R A M
P R E S E N T E D
S P O N S O R E D
B Y
B Y

2. Pitch Deck
Stand on their own.
Pitch deck = business plan.
2 pitch decks (one for circulating, one for in-person)

3. The 10 Page Slide Deck
1
Elevator Pitch
6
Marketing
2
Problem
7
Competition
3
Solution
8
Team
4
Business Model
9
Money/Milestones
5
Underlying Magic
10
Summary

4. 1. Elevator Pitch
Introduce yourself.
KISS.

5. 2. Problem
What is the problem in the market you are addressing.
Take it down to the customer level.
Include stats or data.
Is it a Painkiller or a vitamin.

6. 3. Solution
Explain how your product or service solves the problem
you’ve already stated.
Discuss the status of your product and any customer
engagement to date.

7. 4. Business Model
Describe how you will monetize your solution
Include who buys, how much they pay, and how often they
pay (recurring, upsells, etc.)

8. 5. Underlying Magic
Describe what process or intellectual property make your
solution work.
Use charts or graphics to display the inner workings.
Be careful not to disclose anything proprietary that has
not been protected.

9. 6. Marketing
Discuss your core sales strategy and go to market plans.
Describe the ecosystem of your market/industry by
showing buyers, sellers, producers, distributors, decision
makers, etc. and carefully explain how you fit.
Describe sales cycle for your solution.

10. 7. Competition
Build a competitive matrix with 3-5 key competitors in the
market or close to entering.
Compare your solution to theirs with 3-5 key
differentiators/features.
Use numbers and value rather than subjective descriptors
(i.e. don’t use smiley faces, colors, etc.)

11. 8. Team
Show 3-5 key team members.
Include specific, relevant information to this company/
industry or the role.
Include experience with startups in the past.
Include relevant advisors/board members if team is small.

12. 9. Money/Milestones
Create a chart/timeline that showcases historical and
projected cash investment and milestones.
Show what you have achieved and what you are going to
achieve.
Be development and customer focused in your milestones.

13. 10. Summary
Summarize your elevator pitch.
Summarize your key value proposition points.
Reiterate milestones achieved and next in line.
Ask for the money you need next.

14. Backup Slides
1
Financial Projections
2
Technical summary
3
Video/Demo Screenshots
4
Market Analysis
5
Use of Funds
6
Investor ROI/IRR Calculations

15. 10 tips for
your 10
minute
pitch
1
It is necessary to prepare.
2
Present in a meaningful
way. Ad-lib.
3
Change voice volume.
4
Adapt to your audience.
5
Focus on visuals.

16. 10 tips for
your 10
minute
pitch
1
Make interesting slides.
2
Make the font bigger.
3
Anticipate questions.
4
Demo.
5
Listen to feedback.