The document provides guidelines for pitching a startup idea or business. It lists 10 quick tips for an effective pitch, such as knowing your audience, clearly explaining the problem in a simple way, focusing on your solution rather than features, and showing passion. It then gives more detailed suggestions in sections about identifying the problem, explaining the solution, business model, marketing and sales strategy, competition, the strengths of the founding team, projections and milestones, and providing a summary and call to action. The overall aim is to engage the audience within 30 seconds and provide a concise but compelling overview of the business opportunity.

1. Pitchfest
Guidelines
for your pitch
Catalyze the startup renaissance.

2. Quick Tips
1. Know
your
audience
2. Understand
what
they
want
3. Clearly
explain
the
problem,
in
their
terms
4. KISS
5. Don’t
talk
about
price,
length,
or
details
6. Talk
about
your
soluGon,
not
features
7. SHOW
YOUR
PASSION
8. MenGon
tracGon,
milestones
9. Make
mulGple
pitches
10. Follow
Up
Catalyze the startup renaissance.

3. BE
PASSIONATE
Catalyze the startup renaissance.

4. Identify the problem
Ex. MassChallenge
- Early stage entrepreneurs
have limited access to key
resources that are essential to
creating jobs and economic
growth.
Catalyze the startup renaissance.

5. Your solution
Be clear, confident and
concise
<30 secs to engage
Careful when comparing
yourself to others
Catalyze the startup renaissance.

6. Business Model
• Typically the topic of
significant discussion
• Be open to new ideas
• Constantly update
• Make it easy to explain
Catalyze the startup renaissance.

7. Marketing/Sales
• Talk strategy as relates to
model
• Traction as relates to sales
& opening of new markets
• Opportunity: Value
Creation, value capture
Catalyze the startup renaissance.

8. Competition
Catalyze the startup renaissance.

9. What’s your magic trick?
Catalyze the startup renaissance.

10. Team
• Experience
• Ability
• Access
• Mentors
• BOA
Catalyze the startup renaissance.

11. Projections/Milestones
• 3 year estimates
• Focus on key metrics
• Identify financial business
drivers
• Addition info in backup
Catalyze the startup renaissance.

12. Summary & Call to Action
Highlight key opportunities
Create actionable next steps
Ask for intros
Ask for advice and guidance
Catalyze the startup renaissance.