5 Tricks for a Winning Pitch

As part of some world-changing businesses and startups, we’re here to offer a hand.

We’ve got you covered, and using our 5 tips for pitching to investors, you will learn both how to pitch, and more importantly, how not to pitch! Following our guide to pitching, you will be able to secure investment for business, and ensure the future of your company.

Make it a story

It sounds far-fetched, after all, business isn’t a book.

We’re not talking about rewriting Game of Thrones, but your pitch needs to tell a future of what can be. There’s a reason humans have been watching plays for thousands of years - we feel that magic of theatre. It makes us come alive, it sparks emotion within us. Most importantly, it will make your investors feel those emotions too.

While you want someone to invest in your business, you also want them to be invested in your business.

Keep it simple

No one likes a rambler. Everyone avoids the drunk uncle at a wedding because of his long, monotonous, unnecessarily-detailed stories, and investors will do the same to you.

Investors are looking for start-ups with a clear vision, so keep your pitch as clear as possible. Too much unnecessary jargon and hypotheticals can, and will, undermine your pitch. Write down your major points of address, and work from one to the other in a straightforward manner. You want to create a clear atmosphere and direction, without sending them to sleep.

Organised and meticulous

To be a successful start-up requires these qualities in business. Organised and meticulous you surely are, but you have to show that you are.

Plans and deadlines. Not too much to become a bore, but enough to make it clear that you are calculating and projecting the future. You need to show that your business is in safe, reliable hands and that you can foresee what’s on the horizon before it has arrived.

Clea and structured thoughts, words, and relevant charts are a huge part of pitching to investors. Even if your start-up is a groundbreaking, record-winning idea, investors are only going to be interested if you’ve done your homework. Proof of how far you’ve come, and how far you’re projecting to go. This includes intelligent financial planning from experts at the beginning, read the story of the rapid growth of tech start-up Avvoka here.

Know your audience

You want to know how to win an investment? Then you need to know your investors. Your presentation needs personal touches. An impressive presentation will go far, but subtly altering it to better suit your potential pitches is going to push you to the front of the queue.

What have they invested in before? Do they have a history relating to a particular subject? What are their interests?

If you can answer these questions, you will have a much clearer picture of how to pitch to them. In the same way that your company must direct its business to your chosen demographic, you need to direct your pitch to investors who will have a greater interest in your business.

Be brave

Performing a monologue on stage takes gumption. Pitching to investors is no less scary. You may not be reciting Shakespeare’s Macbeth, but talking about your vision is no less daunting. Even if you’re terrified of public speaking, and need an online tutorial from Julian Treasure’s free-speaking lessons, you must let your enthusiasm overcome that fear.

You must be passionate about your business, and show that to investors. Showing your dedication, your commitment, and your sheer focus to succeed is what can inspire investors to take a chance on you. After all, it’s not just your business that an investor is investing in, they’re investing in YOU as well.

Show them that they’re in capable hands.

There you have it. A guide to pitching from us here at Accountancy Cloud! Five simple tips and tricks to bear in mind when you’re pitching your business ideas. Just five small pointers that can make a huge difference to your start-up. If you can implement these points into your pitches, be prepared to hear some positive news!

But if you don’t, there is a sixth point to remember - DON’T GIVE UP!

So grab your presentation, load up on plans, and start practicing!