This document provides guidance on pitching a startup idea in 8 minutes or less. It recommends including the following in the pitch: logo, one-line pitch, problem statement, market/customer validation, solution demonstration, business model and competition, go-to-market strategy, team, and a call to action. The judging criteria focus on customer validation, execution and design, and business model feasibility. Sample judge questions probe various aspects of the startup idea like customer needs, competitors, growth strategy, and business sustainability.

1. Basic Pitching 101

2. 5 Min
+
3 Min Q & A

3. Name
Colour
Font

4. Problem?

5. 1 person presents, maximum 2

6. This is not a slide
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8. Use Powerful Images

10. Slow it down

11. If you demo…..

12. 1. Logo, One Line Pitch [5s]
2. Problem [40s]
3. MKT/Customer Validation [50s]
4. Solution/Demo [60s]
5. Business Model/Competition [60s]
6. Go-To-Market [45s]
7. Team [20s]
8. Call to Action [20s]

13. Judging Criteria
Validation
Execution
& Design
Business
Model

14. Judging Criteria
•Did your team get out and talk to customers?
•Are you actually solving a problem?
•Have you identified a specific target market?
Validation
Execution
& Design
Business
Model

15. Judging Criteria
•Do you have an MVP or prototype?
•How functional is your technical demo?
•Design Matters! Is your product easy to use?
Validation
Execution
& Design
Business
Model

16. Judging Criteria
•Are you solving a problem? (value proposition)
•Is your idea unique?
•How do you plan on making this a successful business?
Validation
Execution
& Design
Business
Model

17. http://startupweekend.org/teamregistration
8PM
Tech Check

18. Sample Judges Questions
• What’s the worst thing that has happened this
weekend?
• What’s the most impressive thing you have
achieved this weekend?
• Who would you hire or how would you add to your
team?
• What problems/hurdles are you anticipating?
• What is the next step with the product evolution?
• What obstacles will you face and how will you
overcome them?
• How does your product work in more detail?
• What are you going to do next?
• What do you understand that others don’t?
• Where do new users come from?
• How big an opportunity is there?
• Who are your competitors?
• How many users do you have?
• Why isn’t someone already doing this?
• What are the top things users want?
• How do you know customers need what you’re
making?
• What domain expertise do you have?
• What is your distribution strategy?
• What has surprised you about user behaviour?
• What part of your project are you going to build
first?
• What resistance will they have to trying you and
how will you overcome it?
• How are you understanding customer needs?
• Who might become competitors?
• What do you understand about your users?
• What is your user growth rate?
• What are the key things about your field that
outsiders don’t understand?
• If your startup succeeds, what additional areas
might you be able to expand into?
• What do you know about this space/product
others don’t know?
• How much does customer acquisition cost?
• How many users are paying?
• How is your product different?
• What makes new users try you?

19. 1. Logo, One Line Pitch [5s]
2. Problem [40s]
3. MKT/Customer Validation [50s]
4. Solution/Demo [60s]
5. Business Model/Competition [60s]
6. Go-To-Market [45s]
7. Team [20s]
8. Call to Action [20s]