blog do iphone: 10 Things A Business Pitch Absolutey Does (And Does Not) Need

10 Things A Business Pitch Absolutey Does (And Does Not) Need

Each year, I help fellow entrepreneurs and investors judge the MBA business plan competition at Harvard Business School. This year, I noted which pitch approaches seemed to work best and which tactics fell flat.

Ironically, some of the best business ideas in this year's competition rated poorly with the judges because they simply weren't pitched well. It's important to understand that pitch tactics can make a huge difference in how well your business plan is received. So be sure to take your good idea, and turn it into a great pitch.

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DO: Bookends

The best pitches started and ended with the same 30-second, crystal clear explanation of what was to come:

The customers, their needs, the solution, and the amount of capital sought. That helped the judges process and remember everything in between.

DO: Comparables

At some point in most pitches, judges think to themselves, "Will this really work?" The best way to convince them is to show that you're already getting results. If you are just starting out, another powerful approach is to cite real world comparables.

For example, if your exit strategy is to sell your company to P&G, tell us how they recently bought companies similar to the one you are planning, for how much, and why.

DO: Emotion

Every student used logic. But the winners built on that logic with an appeal to emotions.

Winners brought their arguments to life, using examples, stories, or short demonstrations. Judges could sense their passion, and imagine how their customers would feel.

See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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