Pitch Guidelines

Pitch Guidelines

Pitch Guidelines

When creating the pitch, you will have two separate components:   

  1. 3-sentence Elevator Pitch
  2. Video

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3-Sentence Elevator Pitch

An elevator pitch is a short engaging presentation that describes how your idea can improve the lives of others. Your pitch should interest potential buyers, investors, or collaborators.  A pitch is meant to be completed in the time it takes to ride an elevator!

Action Steps:

  1. The first sentence should include your problem, users, and data quantifying the magnitude of the problem.
  1. The second sentence should describe your solution and the evidence (from your STEM research) that supports your solution.
  1. The third sentence should discuss the benefits it provides to the user over the competition and how your product or service solves a problem for the user.

Writing Suggestions:

  1. Use informal language that anyone without the background knowledge of your idea can understand. 
  1. Create a positive and lasting impression about your idea on your audience. 

  2. Write it in the 1st person, use “I, we, or me” or “my company, our business, etc.” to make it clear if you are working individually or as a team.   
  1. Contain a maximum of three sentences. 
    Example 3-Sentence Elevator Pitch:

Approximately 84% of school aged students have issues with maintaining ample lead in a traditional wooden pencil. By harnessing the law of action and reaction in motion, Autopencil automatically feeds lead through a self-rotating spring, activated by the user's pressure. With its user-friendly design, Autopencil facilitates a seamless writing experience, enabling increased time on task and enhanced focus, while minimizing interruptions caused by broken lead.


Video

The video is used to illustrate your idea visually, while the written component is used to document your idea. These two methods ensure you are engaging as many audiences as possible! 

Action Steps:

PROBLEM: 

  1. Hook your audience with an engaging question asking if they, or someone whom they know, has a problem with…. 
  1. Identify the users.
  1. Quantify the magnitude of the problem (with numerical data). 

SOLUTION:

  1. Introduce yourself and describe your solution.
  1. Explain how your solution functions.
  1. Describe the evidence (from your STEM research) that supports your solution.


VALUE PROPOSITION: 

  1. How are others (competition) solving this problem and how is your solution different?--you can discuss features of your solution such as design, functionality, performance, or customization.  
  1. What benefits does your solution provide over the competition (value proposition)?--more cost effective, faster, durable, reliable or convenient?
  1. Explain how your product or service solves a problem for the user.--you can discuss the specific issues your product or service addresses and how it improves the user’s life. 


*** Use the Pitch Builder Graphic Organizer to develop both your elevator pitch and your video. ***


Video Design Requirements:

           
All teammates MUST be visible on the video while presenting your pitch and must contribute to the pitch.

                
Do not include additional persons in your video unless they are clearly demonstrating your product or service, e.g., a short product skit.

                 
Presentation options:

             
     *Oral pitch with no props, as if you were pitching to a group.

                
      *Using props, illustrations, or anything else that helps describe your product/service.

                 
      *You may create a slideshow presentation to provide visual support.

                                                                     
                  Include a slide for each: (total of 5 slides)

                                                                                           
                             - Problem

                                                                                          
                             - Solution

                                                                                           
                             -  Picture or drawing/sketch of prototype (if applicable)

                                                                                           
                              - Value Proposition

                                                                                          
                              - Other

                 
Do NOT create a commercial with third party video or photos.

                 
Do NOT use voiceover; you must be visibly presenting the pitch.

 

Video Design Suggestions:

                 
Think of your setting.  If filming indoors, do not stand in front of a window. Make sure you film in a well-lit area and the lighting is coming toward you, rather than from behind.

                 
Wear appropriate clothing–you are acting as a professional promoting your product/service!

               
Hold the camera at eye level.

                 
Remain positive and relaxed; smile, emphasize important words, and speak slowly.            

PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE–you want to know your pitch well enough that you don’t have to read it from a script.

Methods to Record

                 
Record on your phone—hold your phone horizontally.

                 
Record using a platform like PowerPoint, Zoom, Canva, or your computer’s software.

 

Video Length

                 
Your pitch video should be no longer than 2 minutes.


DOWNLOAD THIS DOCUMENT BELOW FOR THE COMPLETE GUIDELINES AND FILMING SUGGESTIONS

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