Top 10 tips for pitching your startup online

Whether you love it or hate it, pitching your startup is a big deal. Like most events nowadays, the majority of pitches are being hosted digitally. Here are our top ten tips for pitching your startup online.

Pitching is often a nerve-wracking experience and pitching your startup online can add an extra layer of complexity. If done right, however, it can be very impactful.

An investment-focused Startup Demo Day marks the end of each cohort that we host at the ProVeg Incubator. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have been hosting these events online.

The Demo Day is the culmination of three-months of hard work that founders put in on our accelerator programme and it’s their big chance to pitch for investor backing. There is a lot of pressure riding on it, but like many other things, pitching is a skill that can be learned and improved – with the right tips!

It’s worth the effort, too. If you nail your pitch, it could be just the catalyst to propel your startup to the next level. With that in mind, here are our top ten tips for pitching your startup online.

Practice, practice, practice

Let’s start with an obvious but important one. You must practice your pitch – relentlessly. Practice in front of a mirror, practice online, practice in front of real people. The founders who are the best at pitching are the ones that have put in the time behind the scenes. The result is a pitch that’s as smooth as (plant-based) butter.

Embrace the awkward pause

How you deliver your pitch is almost as crucial as what you say. Have the confidence to take your time. Speak slowly and clearly, be precise, and take a pause after key details. It might feel awkward to you, but it is effective. Pausing is the spoken word equivalent of an exclamation point – it emphasises that what you just said is important.

Remember body language

Even though you will (likely) be sitting at a computer, body language is still important. Look into your webcam when you speak so that the audience can connect with your eyes, just as they would in real life. Think about your facial expressions and gestures too. You can use these to reinforce your points and bring your speech to life.

Put your best foot forward

Does your team have 50+ years of experience? Have you developed a patented technology? If your startup has a unique strength then put it at the beginning of your pitch. This will engage your audience from the start and demonstrate the capability of your company.

Write a script

Pitching is an unnatural situation, so you might as well be prepared for it. By scripting your pitch, you can ensure that you cover all the points you want to make. You can also cut down on filler and time your speech more accurately. Knowing what you’re going to say will give you confidence and the more you practice, the more natural your pitch will become.

Wifi is Queen

Technical hitches can mess up a pitch. This is particularly true of an online presentation. Make sure you have a stable internet connection and use a LAN cable if possible. You could have the best pitch in the world, but it won’t matter if your screen freezes and no-one can hear it.

Think of your setup

You also need to think about where you will be delivering the pitch since the stage won’t be set for you. Pick a well-lit room with no distractions or background noise. Sit in front of a neutral background and get yourself a headset so that your audience can hear you loud and clear.

Avoid buzzwords

Investors will likely have heard the buzzwords from your sector countless times before and they won’t land like you want them to. Holding someone’s attention can be tricky online, so don’t turn them off with overused language. If you do use a buzzword, use it sparingly and back up what you are saying.

What about samples?

An important part of a pitch is being able to handle, smell, and taste a startup’s product. When you are pitching online, that experience will be missing so think about how you can replicate it. Can you send samples to the investor in advance? If not, you could consider making a demo video of your product or product tastings to play during the pitch.

Have fun

Finally, let your positive energy shine through. This is your company and if you are passionate about it, then show it. At the end of the day, people connect with and invest in people. If you are enthusiastic about your company, others will be too. Who knows? Maybe they’ll even be interested enough to support or invest in you.

Top 10 tips for pitching your startup online

Practice, practice, practice

Embrace the awkward pause

Remember body language

Put your best foot forward

Write a script

Wifi is Queen

Think of your setup

Avoid buzzwords

What about samples?

Have fun

You might also like:

Top 6 tips for getting the attention of startup investors

Startup pitch decks: do’s and don’ts

Top 10 tips for launching a food startup

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