This weekend I received exciting news!! 🗞️ I was accepted to pitch at the Columbia Engineering Fast Pitch for my company Para KIDS!. Participants get just 60 seconds to make an impression on the judges and compete for a $2,000 prize pool. 💳
I still remember my early days pitching on Zoom during COVID. And then came the transition to live pitches, which was a whole different challenge. I get so much inspiration attending pitch competitions, where every speaker’s story, every detail of a polished deck, and every unique approach can spark something new. It’s incredible how those small, thoughtful touches truly make your pitch shine and set you apart.
If you’re preparing to pitch your own company or just want some pointers to improve, here’s the tried-and-tested framework I use—along with the wisdom passed down from my founder mentors. 🤝
💡 The 60-Second Pitch Framework
(Remember, you can tailor this info. depending on how long your pitch is!)
The Problem (10 seconds)
What You Do (10 seconds)
Why It Matters (10 seconds)
Traction (10 seconds)
Why You / Why Now (10 seconds)
The Ask (5 seconds)
Strong Close (5 seconds)
Here are some of my favorite tips I’ve picked up from networking and coffee chats ☕️
Understand the depth of the problem and communicate it clearly. If your audience doesn’t recognize why the problem matters, the rest of your pitch becomes irrelevant 💡
Speak sentence by sentence. Inhale, and as you exhale, start speaking. This public-speaking trick came from a founder who’s pitched in top accelerators and it works 🎤
Use real testimonials whenever possible 👥💬 Humans connect with human stories
Record your pitch and listen to it repeatedly. Make it your personal soundtrack leading up to pitch day 🎧
If you’re using slides, keep them clean and complementary. No distracting colors, fonts, or graphics. Your slides should support your message, not compete with it 🖥️
Add a QR code at the end. It’s a simple way to capture contact info from judges and audience members (you never know who’s in the room) 📱🔗
Bonus: Bring props if they make sense. If allowed, props can bring your idea to life and make your pitch more memorable 🌟
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