60 Seconds of Advice For The One Minute Pitch

“I am not ready.”

“Please give me a few to prepare.”

“Give me two minutes to find my deck.”

These are the common responses when I ask for a new founder to share their business proposition. I can understand, having been in their shoes only a few years earlier as a nervous founder in, what I thought, was sea of experienced entrepreneurs.

But, when I ask them in a causal setting just to share their venture — I feel like I am pitch slapping them.

Words stumbling, google slides booting up behind the scenes.

But, enough deer in the headlights because I have politely lost sympathy. If someone can share a well choregraphed skit on Tik Tok in less than a minute, you as a founder can communicate your idea.

The One Minute Pitch is a Realistic Scenario

This weekend it will be the Fourth of July in America, and how many of your family members will ask what you are working on? To avoid the awkward conversations about pay and benefits from your uncle and to move on to the sparklers and lemonade, you will succulently share your business in the shortest time possible.

Now, that is just a lighthearted example.

But in the business arena, both digitally and physically, there will be instances where being prepared with a concise business pitch can be the difference between an investor being on board or just being bored.

One Minute Pitches are a Trailer for Your Business

When you see that new action movie advert, what about it leaves you wanting more? What motivates you to google the release date or text your friends?

This same underlying current of intrigue should be the purpose of your one minute business pitch. It is a highlight reel of some the best points and gives your audience wanting to learn more.

Decks Cannot Be Your Crutch

It is often said, if you pitch with a deck or note cards, you will become evermore reliant on them to get through your pitch. You loose confidence in yourself, and in a moment of pressure, will fall back into this crutch.

But, people meet — and invest — in people before they ever meet your product. The deck is only a supplement to what you as the founder has to say.

In the End, You Know Your Product Best

You founded this business for a reason, and you are the expert of your startup. It just takes confidence and practice to sometimes sound like you have this expertise under your belt.

If a slice of leftover pizza can taste gourmet in the microwave from 60 seconds, you can share the passion and foundations of your business in a one minute pressure scenario.