Business Funding Guide

Vector of two conversation bubbles. Represents a business owner giving a pitch presentation.

Business Pitching Guide — Elevator Pitch, Pitch Deck, & More

Kody Wirth | May 25, 2023

Can you describe the value of your business in just a few sentences? Do you have a story for why you started in the first place? If not, then you need to work on your business pitch.

In many ways, the pitch is your passport to funding. It’s more than just a speech and a fancy PowerPoint—it’s a story that needs to resonate, convince, and compel. Crafting a quick but captivating elevator pitch, designing a pitch deck, facing investors; these aren’t just tasks, they’re opportunities on your path to business growth.

This comprehensive pitching guide will ease you through the process, offer tried-and-true strategies, and help you better understand what makes a good pitch. We’ll delve into alternative methods, show you how to shine in pitch competitions and share the secrets of winning over investors.

It’s time to pitch with confidence.

Guide to pitching your business

There are many ways to pitch your business and different aspects of the pitch you’ll need to nail. Check out the resources below for in-depth guides on developing an elevator pitch, creating a pitch deck, and participating in pitch competitions.

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How to craft the perfect business pitch

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You have very little time to convince potential investors that your idea is worth funding. That’s why you need to create, practice, and refine your presentation until you have a tight and captivating elevator pitch.

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How to create your pitch deck

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While it’s crucial that you nail what you say during an investor pitch, it’s just as important to have something to show. Learn how to transform your business plan into a visual deck that compliments your verbal pitc…

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Business plan and pitch competitions

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A great way to practice your pitch is by participating in business plan pitch competitions. Learn the basics and how to successfully win one of these events.

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Elevator pitch and pitch deck resources

Resources and templates to help you successfully pitch your business idea.

Slide Deck Template

Free investor pitch deck template

Visualize your business pitch and wow investors with this free pitch deck template.

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Pitch deck example gallery

Check out our library of industry-specific business pitch examples to help inspire your own presentation.

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Free business plan template

Back up your pitch with a detailed and investor-ready business plan. Get started with our fill-in-the-blank business plan template.

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Pitch and plan with a single powerful tool

Create and share your investor-ready plan, pitch, and financial forecasts with LivePlan.

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Business pitching FAQ

A business or investor pitch is a brief presentation that provides an overview of your business and typically pulls in information from your business plan. It's your opportunity to convince investors that your business is worth their time and investment.

A good elevator pitch is a concise and compelling summary of your business idea, designed to be delivered in the time it takes to ride an elevator. It should explain what your business does, why it's unique, and its market potential. Keep in mind, while an elevator pitch is typically very short, you will likely need multiple versions of your pitch that may extend to 5, 10, or 30+ minutes depending on the situation.

A pitch deck is a visual presentation used during meetings with potential investors. It should cover the key points of your business plan, the products and services you provide, high-level financial projections, and funding needs. Your pitch deck should work well on its own as a visual document, but it will primarily be used as a tool to tell the story of your business.

To write a business pitch, start by summarizing the sections of your business plan. Identify and highlight your unique selling point, explain your market potential, and outline your business model. Make it compelling, clear, and concise.

A pitch typically includes a problem statement, solution (your product or service), target market, business model, competitive analysis, marketing strategy, financial projections, your team, and demonstration of business traction.

Pitching is a communication skill that involves presenting your business idea in a persuasive and engaging manner. It combines storytelling, public speaking, and sales skills.

When pitching, avoid being overly technical or using complex jargon, providing too much information, lacking clarity or focus, and failing to articulate the problem your business solves or its unique selling proposition. Additionally, if you’re asking for funding, be sure that you know how much you need and are able to describe how you will use it.

Absolutely! Preparing a pitch isn't solely about securing funding. It's a valuable exercise in articulating your business vision, strategy, and goals. A well-crafted pitch can be used to attract partners, clients, and talent to your business. It's also a useful tool for refining your business plan and clarifying your value proposition. So yes, even if you don't need funding right now, a pitch is always worth preparing.