The document outlines key strategies for effective pitching, focusing on storytelling, audience engagement, and clear communication of the problem and solution. It provides a rubric for judging pitch presentations, emphasizing team chemistry, market potential, and presentation skills. Additionally, it includes practical tips for delivering pitches, such as using simple visuals and practicing thoroughly to manage nerves.

1. MIT Entrepreneurship and
Maker Skills Integrator
Great pitches
June 14, 2017

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3. For your pitch
• Who is the hero?
• What is the world they live in?
• What do they crave?
• What’s stopping them?
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4. In class exercise: Tell the story of your
pitch’s hero
• Once upon a time…
• Every day....
• But, one day....
• And so....
• Because of that....
• Until finally....
• And, ever since then.....
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5. Sharing!
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8. Pitching is theater
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9. Showcase judging rubric, again
• Team Chemistry
• Problem statement
• Proposed solution
• Business model & financial potential
• Presentation skills
• Potential for success of prototype
• UX/UI/Human factor of the prototype
• Technical Achievement of the Prototype
• Wildcard
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10. Sneak peek for ShowCase Day:
Content to cover in 10 minutes
• Tell a story – grab their interest
• Market / customer / problem, needs and wants / total
addressable market (TAM). Why this matters.
• Solution / how’s it better, what makes it special
• Product demo – what it does, what it could become
• Making money – how you reach the customers; pricing;
biz model; financials
• Team / what makes you special
• Summary and “ask” (e.g. seed money; recruiting advisors)
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11. Putting it all together
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+Content =

12. • Improving medication adherence

13. MEMSI | JANUARY 21, 2017

14. Example slide decks / great pitches
• Slide templates
• Guy Kawasaki has a great infographic that provides a 10-slide
budget for a good pitch deck.
• LearnLaunch provides a more flexible guideline for a good pitch
deck.
James Currier: "Hit it Hard".
• Videos outlining how to pitch
• Simon Sinek: "How great leaders inspire action".
• David Rose: "How to pitch to a VC "
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15. 15Check out the venue and get comfortable with owning the space

16. Know your audience and tailor your pitch for their needs

17. Meet Laura...
A recently married, career-focused college graduate

18. Don’t drown the audience in meaningless minutiae

19. 19Use simple, powerful visuals to help highlight your message

20. Quick tips on effective pitches
• Focus on the audience – what do they need?
• Tell stories – make an emotional connection
• Use powerful images – very few words
• Simplify – less is more
• Don’t cram a 60 minute talk into 15 minutes
• Don’t have 6 speakers in a 15 minute talk
• If more than 1 speaker: Make 1 the lead/MC
• Practice – especially the beginning
• Be prepared for Q&A – have backup data/slides
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21. Getting rid of butterflies
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22. GET SOME
SLEEP!!
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23. Questions?
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