Slides from my lecture about the art of pitching hosted for students studying entrepreneurship in the University of Ekaterinburg, Russia.

1. STARTUP
ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND
VENTURE CAPITAL
Ville Simola
M.Sc (Econ.)

2. About me

3. THE ART OF PITCHING

4. What is a pitch?

5. Pitch #1
Elevator pitch = should be
possible to deliver a
summary of your
product or a service in a
time of an elevator ride

6. Pitch #2
Pitch is the way to tell
what your company is
doing

7. Pitch #3
Can be 30 seconds, 3-
minutes or 20-
minutes…or anything in
between

8. Pitch #4
50% content
50% delivery

9. Pitch #5
Why you?
Why now?
What and for whom?

10. Why do I need to
pitch?

11. Why Pitch? #1
I pitch – therefore I am!
(Guy Kawasaki)

12. Why Pitch? #2
It is the way to get investors
interested about you

13. Why Pitch? #3
In the end its all about
selling, selling, selling

14. Structure for a good
pitch

15. Pitch structure #1
Raise the interest:
start with a one-liner or a
question

16. Pitch structure #2
Define the problem you are
solving

17. Pitch structure #3
What is the solution you are
offering?

18. Pitch structure #4
What value you are adding
to the customer?

19. Pitch structure #5
Tell about your current
achievents/traction/referen
ces

20. Pitch structure #6
What is your revenue
model; how do you make
money?

21. Pitch structure #7
Introduce you team and
explain why you are the
ones to make it happen

22. …other things to take
into consiration

23. Other considerations #1
Articulate clearly and
be brief

24. Other considerations #2
10/20/30 rule
max. 10 slides
max. 20 minutes
min. 30 font size

25. Other considerations #3
Use body gestures and
show some passion

26. Other considerations #4
Remember to have a
call of action in the end

27. Other considerations #5
Before presenting make
sure that microphone,
slides and possible demo
works!

28. What about slides?

29. Slides #1
Have a set of slides
(10-15) ready and
modify according to
the need

30. Looking for #2
Don’t use much text
– instead use pictures
or easy sentences

31. Looking for #3
Make sure your font is
big enough and with
right color

32. Slide deck example

33. Slide deck example #1
Introduction (the big
idea, why you)
= 1-2 slides

34. Slide deck example #2
The problem
= 2-3 slides

35. Slide deck example #3
Your solution (the
value, why now)
= 2-3 slides

36. Slide deck example #4
Achievements, traction
= 2-3 slides

37. Slide deck example #5
How do you make
money
= 1-2 slides

38. Slide deck example #6
Our team &
conclutions
= 1-2 slides

39. Slide deck example #7
which adds up to…
= 10-15 slides

40. Practical tips to
practice

41. Practical tips #1
Videotape your
presentation

42. Practical tips #2
Use a timer and be
exact about the time

43. Practical tips #3
Practise with family
members or friends

44. Recommended readings

45. Recommended links
http://blog.guykawasaki.com/
http://badpitch.blogspot.fi/
http://speakingppt.com/2012/07/26/3-best-
elevator-pitches/
http://www.siliconafrica.com/techpeople/17-
videos-any-startup-founder-should-absolutely-
watch/

46. My contacts
Ville Simola
www.smolaholic.com
@smolaholic
ville.m.simola@gmail.com