How to make a good presentation - Tips for interview in Brussels (SME Instrument programme)

1. How to make a good
presentation?
Tips & tools
for an interview in Brussels
SMEI H2020 *
*Based on the materials provided by EC and our expertise

2. How to make a good presentation?
Interview in Brussels - Basic info
Applicants whose proposal has been evaluated positively will receive an invitation letter for a face-to-face
interview in Brussels. Meeting dates:
Max. 3 company
representatives (preferably
the CEO) are allowed to
participate in the interview
Interviews will take place
one week after receiving
the invitations
Format of the interview:
10 min presentation (pitch
document – pdf)
+ 20 min of jury questions (any
question related to the proposal!)
Each of the 6 interview juries
consists of at least 5
international high-level expert-
evaluators (business angels,
entrepreneurs, venture capitals,
innovation hubs and other)*
3 rd cut-off
June 25-29
2nd cut-off
April 16-20
1st cut-of
February 12-16
4th cut-off
November 12-16

3. Only 50% of the participants will get a grant.
Jury will evaluate over hundred presentations.
Make sure yours will be remembered.
How?

4. #1 Keep it simple.

5. How to make a good presentation?
#1 Keep it simple
Less is more!
Limit words on
Your slides
Keep symetry
and align
Avoid
animation
Do not use too
many colors

6. The focus should be on you
and your message, not your slides

7. #2 Write clear & to the point

8. How to make a good presentation?
#2 Write clear and to the point
Use clear, straight to the
point sentences (which
are answer to provided
questions)
Each text should have
its purpose – Avoid
empty sentences
Use more business than
technical words
Make it simple and
understandable for
everyone
Focus on the strong
points and highlight
them

9. Perfection is achieved, not when there is
nothing more to add, but when there is
nothing left to take away.
“

10. #3 Make it visual

11. How to make a good presentation?
#3 Make it visual
Contrast is your
friend! Use it!
Show photos of
your prototype – it
gives you credibility
Use photos, ikons
& graphics
Highlight the main
points (with colors,
bullets)

12. A simple, visually appealing slide will
engage your audience and keep them on
track with your main points.

13. #4 Let your slides breathe

14. How to make a good presentation?
#4 Let your slides breathe
Leave some empty
space in your slide
Write short
sentences
Include only necessery
information
Do not clutter
your slides

15. #5 Focus on your audience

16. How to make a good presentation?
#5 Focus on your audience
Adapt the langauge to
your audience:
make it simple, avoid
technical difficult words,
show business approach
Make the purpose of the
project and its strength
the clearest possible
Focus on what EIC
wants to hear:
Why is your product
breakthough, radically
different ?
Before you start making the presentation, think about (and think like!) your public
- The European Innovation Council (EIC)*
*List of expert evaluators: https://ec.europa.eu/easme/en/evaluations-eic-pilot

17. #6 Use fonts wisely

18. How to make a good presentation?
#6 Use fonts wisely
Use max 2 sizes
of fonts
Avoid using „not
serious” fonts
(like Comic Sans)
Choose max 2
types of fonts
aa bb No Comic types

19. #7 Choose proper colors

20. How to make a good presentation?
#7 Choose proper colors
Use colors to
unify the overall
communication
(Use your brand
colors, add logo)
Use colors to
highlight the main
points
While using neon
colored bullets of
numerals, leave the
text itself normal
Choose max 4
colors and do not
overuse them

21. While using colors, think about the readers.
Colors should help them understand better
your message, not distract them from your
main points.

22. #8 Images say more than thousand words

23. How to make a good presentation?
#8 Images say more than thousand words
Use high quality
photos& graphics
Use bullets and
icons to empower
your text message
Make infographics &
graphs easily readable
– avoid putting too
much data
Use infographics to
show numbers

24. Your readers see the visual design
before
They read and understand your message

25. Good luck!
Need help or more information?
Contact us!

26. Michał Gzyl
+48 880 434 947I +48 12 296 75 76
Michal@getzafiro.com
getzafiro.com
Managing director

27. hello@getzafiro.com@getZafiroLinkedin.com/company
/Zafiro-Solutions