Often, you only have 30 seconds to grab the attention of a prospective customer or investor. Having a strong elevator pitch – one aligned among all the members of your team – is critical toward helping investors, customers, prospects, and employees understand what you do.

This workshop will include a discussion of the elements necessary for a perfect elevator pitch, as well as pitch practice with your peers for real-time feedback.

To prepare your elevator pitch for the workshop, follow these steps:

Draft your pitch!

According to Y Combinator, your elevator pitch should be easily digestible, “… like baby food.” In other words, it should be clear, succinct, and get right to the heart of what you do and why it matters.

It may be helpful to use Techstars’ elevator pitch template:

• “For {customers} that have {problem x}, we {what you do!}”

While it’s not necessary to stick to this exact template, try to stay close to the key terms:

• What is the problem?
• Who are the customers?
• What do you do to solve that problem?

Watch this Techstars video for more detailed info on this template.

Test your pitch.

Use this Y Combinator “email test” to test your pitch:

• Email your elevator pitch to a smart friend.
• Ask them to explain it back to you, using different words.
• If they ask any clarifying questions, you need to revise your pitch.

Email is best for this exchange because your pitch will stand alone without you present to explain it!

Bring your pitch to the workshop!

Host: Phil Green