The elevator pitch is a short, compelling introduction to your startup that you can deliver in 30-seconds or less. Mastering the elevator pitch is an essential skill in communicating the value of your startup.
Think of your elevator pitch as the summary of your business story. The goal is to make an impression on your audience and inspire them to take action. This could be to connect you with other business partners, become a customer or invest in your startup.
The quickest and easiest way to communicate your value in an elevator pitch is to incorporate five key points, which are related to the topics in your pitch deck.
Use the following approach and simply substitute the information about your business in the highlighted areas.
Using the example of offering remote patient monitoring software, from the pitch deck anatomy article, your pitch could be:
“ABC Healthcare helps elderly patients who have difficulty managing their health status by providing a remote diagnostics platform that enables them to easily track disease progression and to quickly report the results to their health provider.”
Alternatively, you could adjust the pitch by rearranging the key points. The order is not critical as long as you communicate your pitch effectively. Try a few options to see what works best for you.
Additionally, you could include a few more points to expand on your pitch. This can help you provide more insight into the value your startup offers.
There is no absolute rule for presenting your elevator pitch. Use whatever combination of the above key points that helps you become more effective in communicating value to your audience and establishing interest.
Keep in mind you may need to tailor your elevator pitch to the audience. Customize your pitch based on who the audience members are and what outcomes you expect. This can help you make stronger connections and increase the likelihood of success.
Practice your elevator pitch until it sounds like you’re having a conversation versus trying to make a hard sell. It’s important to help your audience feel comfortable with you and become interested in learning more.
You can master the art of the elevator pitch by preparing and practicing how you can quickly communicate value to your audience, make a strong impression and compel them to ask for more.