Top Three Pitch Presentation Tips for Tech Startups

You’re standing in the hallway with a group of fellow entrepreneurs; everyone is nervous, yet pretending not to be.

In the room next door, 400 people sit awaiting your appearance on the main stage. You are sixth in the line to give a two-minute pitch to the 800 eyeballs looking in your direction. 

Do you have a clicker for the PowerPoint? Are you ready for the Q&A section afterwards? Should you rely on your note cards or try to do it from memory? 

Just to add to your nerves, your phone is buzzing in your pocket. Will you check it now, or might it throw you off? Wait..where is the closest bathroom???

If you’ve ever taken part in pitch competition, you know it is one of the most difficult, yet most exhilarating experiences you can have.

Having attended more than my fair share of these pitching events, I can say I’ve seen every kind of good and bad pitch possible. If you find yourself in this situation, here are a few tips I have learned that might just help you avoid some rookie mistakes, and thus, gain the attention you need.

Tip # 1 “The Pre-Stage Sway” - When you get on stage, even though you may think you’re standing still, your nervous energy might be traveling down your legs to your feet, or even to your fingers.

Are you balancing on one heel? Are you swaying? What are your fingers doing? All these movements communicate your nervousness and there is an awesome trick to stop it from happening on stage. Before you go on stage, try to let the nervous energy flow through you. Who cares what you look like backstage. If you are concerned with what others will think, go to the bathroom or janitor’s closet, and get rid of that nervous energy.

Imagine your energy as a wave of emotion moving inside of you. Move your arms and legs freely and roll all of your energy through your limbs and neck. Wiggle all around and get that energy out! The main thing is to not fight it or try to hide it. If you start sweating, let the sweat come out. Be aware and accept the fear you feel, and let it flow through you.

Try this, and by the time you are ready to go on, you will find yourself more relaxed on stage, and ready to give the pitch of your life!

#PreStageSway

Tip # 2 “The Tide” - An audience’s low energy can often bring down the “tide” of your performance.

Think of it like swimming at the beach: you have to fight the tide and bring your own energy to the stage.

A good rule is to exert 30% more energy than normal to help rise the tide of the audience. If you are less than 30%, it might not translate well enough to get the crowd excited. If you’re more than 30%, you run the risk of being over-excited on stage, which might overwhelm your audience.

Take note of the audience before you go on stage, and then when you go on, create the level of energy that you want the audience to be at, and adjust yourself 30% accordingly. If you hold your inflated ground, they will rise to the level that you set.

Remember, people want to be engaged and energized; but they are sitting in a chair, shoulder to shoulder with some random person, and probably had a long and tiring day before they arrived at the event. Get their attention, keep it, and be the conductor of the crowd! Own it, raise the tide, and have fun!

#hightide

Tip #3. “Smile before and after you speak.”

Whether you realize it or not, you say a lot before you actually say anything, and you also say a lot after you are done pitching.

Body language is what the audience hears first and sees last, so make sure that you know what your body is saying when you approach the stage. The best thing you can say is that you are excited, and this is easily translated by a big smile!

Yes, a big and honest smile. Smile when you walk out with confidence and make a solid first impression.

When you are on stage it is your moment. Own it, but also enjoy it. Nothing says I am enjoying this more than a good old fashioned ear to ear grin.

After your smile, give the pitch of your life!

Bottom line, you need to have fun when you are pitching, so don’t take yourself too seriously. The audience will feed off of your energy, so make sure that your energy is positive and passionate.

#smiile