Opening

Opening

Your pitch will begin with an opening--your first opportunity to hook an audience. Investors will decide within the first 30 seconds whether or not you are credible and whether or not they will keep listening. It is critical that you communicate a well-reasoned, clearly articulated business proposition--tell your audience how you're going to make money.

Pitch Opening Tips Focus on what would interest an investor (i.e., returns) rather than what would interest a customer Be bold and grab their attention State your value proposition right up front Use everyday, ordinary language--NOT JARGON

MEconomy, Inc. - Silicon Valley 2001 (1:20)

Springboard Alumna Valerie Buckingham hooks her audience by showing her audience of potential investors why privacy--MEconomy's business--matters to them.

Kovair Software -Silicon Valley 2000 (0:18)

Alumna Krishna Subramanian uses humor to tell her audience what her business is about—B to B. (This presentation was given right at the time that VCs were turning away from B to C.)

SatisFusion, Inc. - Mid-West 2001 (0:30)

Springboard Alumna Fay Wood starts with her best selling point: she has more than an idea--she has a company with profits.