This document provides tips for pitching a startup at a hackathon from David Beckett, a pitch coach. Some key tips include using post-it notes to brainstorm and build a storyline, opening powerfully in the first 20 seconds to gain attention, using the power of three to make the pitch focused and memorable, and finishing like a professional in the last 30 seconds with a call to action. The document emphasizes practicing and getting feedback to create a concise yet compelling pitch.

1. Pitch Coach
Creator of The Pitch Canvas©
Co-founder of Pitchy
David Beckett
@PitchProf

2. Coached 700+ Startups
RAISED OVER €170MILLION
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3. _
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4. How to win a
HACKATHON PITCH
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5. 3 MINUTES
PITCH
2 MINUTES
Q&A
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6. Photo by Norm4nNorm4l: https://flic.kr/p/aiUPVM
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/
How Many Words
PER MINUTE?
130-140 Words
Per Minute!
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7. Q&A TIPS
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Listen
to the last
word of the
question
Take a
moment
before you
answer
Never Argue!

8. Q&A TIPS
@PitchProf
Answer
weaknesses
as learning
possibilities
Write
down the
questions you
don’t want to
be asked!
Write
down the
questions you
DO want to
be asked!

9. 1
How do you create your
STORYLINE?
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10. Don’t Open
POWERPOINT
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11. Photo from Flickr.com by JogiBaer2 https://flic.kr/p/9jp2qo
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/
Use
POST-IT
NOTES
To Build Your
Storyline
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12. Photo from Flickr.com by JogiBaer2 https://flic.kr/p/9jp2qo
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/
BRAINSTORM
Get the ideas out of
your head
Take a step back:
what are the
BIG ISSUES?
Organise around
CHAPTER
HEADINGS
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13. BRAINSTORM
Get the ideas out of
your head
Take a step back:
what are the
BIG ISSUES?
Organise around
CHAPTER
HEADINGS
Photo from Flickr.com by JogiBaer2 https://flic.kr/p/9jp2qo
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/
@PitchProf
Example of a rough
brainstorm
Next task is to select
which ideas go in the
final pitch, based on the
length of the pitch.
Orange Post-its are
Chapter Headings.
Yellow Post-its are content.
Create slides based on this
storyline - saves you time!

14. Photo from Flickr.com by JogiBaer2 https://flic.kr/p/9jp2qo
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/
What content should be in your
WINNING PITCH?
2
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15. Just follow the
RULES
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16. _
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CENSORED!
For the eyes of the Jury only
BUT… maybe we can
share some stuff with
you… :-)

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24. Photo by M4D Group: https://flic.kr/p/a9kZgd
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/
ACTION STEP
Brainstorm – Problem,
Product, What’s Original/
Unique, What to Demo,
Tech used, WOW Effect
Quickly write down key
words and phrases – not
full sentences
Don’t think too much –
just write
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25. Photo by M4D Group: https://flic.kr/p/a9kZgd
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/
5 MINUTES
ACTION STEP
Brainstorm – Problem,
Product, What’s Original/
Unique, What to Demo,
Tech used, WOW Effect
Quickly write down key
words and phrases – not
full sentences
Don’t think too much –
just write
@PitchProf

26. Make the first word count:
OPEN POWERFULLY
3
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27. Photo from Flickr.com by Keith Ramsey: https://flic.kr/p/8roFUV
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/
The first 20
seconds buys
ATTENTION
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28. Is this person
PROFESSIONAL?
Do I want or need to
KNOW MORE?
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29. Quantify the
PROBLEM
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30. 20
Minutes
30
Percent
1
Year
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31. Show your
ENTHUSIASM
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32. Simply Be
PROFESSIONAL
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33. Is this person
PROFESSIONAL?
Do I want or need to
KNOW MORE?
@PitchProf

34. Photo by M4D Group: https://flic.kr/p/a9kZgd
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/
ACTION STEP
Write down your
opening 3 sentences
Test them out loud on
someone else
@PitchProf

35. Photo by M4D Group: https://flic.kr/p/a9kZgd
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/
2 MINUTES
To Write it Down
5 MINUTES
To Test It Out
ACTION STEP
Write down your
opening 3 sentences
Test them out loud on
someone else
@PitchProf

36. Photo by M4D Group: https://flic.kr/p/a9kZgd
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/
FEEDBACK
Is It Professional?
Do you want to know more?
One FRIENDLY piece of
advice for improvement
ACTION STEP
Write down your
opening 3 sentences
Test them out loud on
someone else
@PitchProf

37. THINK IT
THROUGH
WRITE IT
DOWN
SAY OUT
LOUD
GET FEEDBACK
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38. ONE MORE
THING…
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39. Make your story
FOCUSED & MEMORABLE
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40. The Power Of
THREE
Photo by Atilla Kefeli: https://flic.kr/p/34JB5E
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/
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41. How do you use
THE POWER OF THREE?
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42. GREAT UX
FIRST
EVER
EASY TO
IMPLEMENT
Break your product down into
THREE BIG QUALITIES
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43. PROBLEM
EASY
TO USE
SOLUTION
WHY
CUSTOMERS
WILL LOVE
IT!
Break the whole pitch into
THREE BIG CHAPTERS
@PitchProf

44. Photo by M4D Group: https://flic.kr/p/a9kZgd
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/
ACTION STEP
If you could only tell them
three things, what would
you tell?
STEP ONE: Choose
THREE big things you
want them to remember.
STEP TWO: Write down 1-2
sentences for each item
@PitchProf

45. How to
FINISH POWERFULLY
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46. Photo from Flickr.com by Keith Ramsey: https://flic.kr/p/8roFUV
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/
Finish like a true
PROFESSIONAL
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47. Make a plan for the last
30 SECONDS
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48. This is what you’ve seen
This what we want you to do
“I believe this is
really important because…”
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49. THANK YOU!
=
I’ve finished, you can clap now!
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50. Pitch
RESOURCES
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51. Photo by Atilla Kefeli: https://flic.kr/p/34JB5E
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/
The App: iOS and Google Play
PitchProfessional
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52. _
NEW BOOK
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53. David Beckett
@PitchProf
Best3minutes.com
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