Congratulations!! Pat yourself on the back — you took a risk that paid off! We’re thrilled you’re a part of this year’s pitch competition!
Please read this page (follow the steps) to familiarize yourself with the Pioneer Pitch process and how to prepare:
STEP ONE: Read the top tips below.... TOP TIPS
During this year’s Pioneer Pitch Competition, mentors will help you refine your pitch/presentation. It is not required that you build a “pitch deck,” aka slide show in PowerPoint/Google Slides/or Keynote for the event, but it proves to be helpful for most.
Your pitch should be between 3-5 minutes long. After you finish your pitch, mentors and judges will have 3-5 minutes to ask questions and give feedback. They will not interrupt you while you're in the middle of your pitch.
We recognize you will likely be at different stages in the development of your business/brand; therefore, pitches will look a little different based on this. Please don’t stress if you don’t have everything that it typically recommended in a pitch deck. We will help prepare you to deliver the best pitch possible!
Please bring a laptop for pitch practice day (if you have one) and a flash drive. If you don’t have a laptop, no worries. We can help you with your presentation as long as you bring a flash drive. A flash drive is a must. You’ll want to incorporate your mentorship notes during Friday’s practice. (Ex. Add more text, move things around, delete slides, etc.)
We’ve included a list of slides/topics that are standard when pitching for investment. You’ll find that on the next page. It will make life a lot easier if you’re able to take a look at the outline before coming to the all day mentorship/pitch practice sessions on Friday.
Unlike Shark Tank, you will not be required to state how much you’re asking for in exchange for x percent equity. You will simply tell us at the end of your presentation what you’re hoping to get from participating in the pitch competition. Frequently, participants will ask for mentorship and connections to help scale the business. Or if you’re looking for something specific, please tell us that as well.
We want to see your personality during your pitch. Also, remember, investors want to know why you do what you do, not just what you do.
Don’t feel as if you have to create a slide deck that looks like a ad agency created it but do incorporate visuals and reduce the amount of text on slide for the most impact. See the example in this packet.
STEP TWO: Develop your slide show/pitch based on the outline/information below. Feel free to use Powerpoint/Keynote/ or Google Slides. Also, please know we will help mentor you regarding our deck as well. We want to help prepare you to give the best pitch possible.
STEP THREE: Practice your pitch at home but know we will help mentor you as well. STEP FOUR: Get ready to have fun and learn a ton! Our SHARKS, aka mentors, speakers, and judges aren't scary, we promise.
Building a Pitch "Deck", aka Slide Show
For the Pioneer Pitch event, you're welcome to build your pitch deck in Powerpoint, Keynote or Google Slides. See below for references on what investors want to see in pitch presentations as well as what works best from a design perspective. Also, if you choose not to build an electronic slide show, please see an example of a pitch (below) that does not include slides.
Your pitch should be between 3-5 minutes long. After you finish your pitch, mentors and judges will have 3-5 minutes to ask questions and give feedback. They will not interrupt you while you're in the middle of your pitch.
Simply click the accordion headings below.
What investors look for in a slide show Pitch Deck/Presentation
What Investors Look For in a Pitch Deck
1. High-level summary slide(s). These are one or two opening, preliminary slides that highlight your business. These slides capture the “essence” of your story. Include the points you would communicate if asked to distill everything into one or two slides.
2. The problem you’re solving. These can be a couple of perfunctory slides or three, four or more educational slides, depending on your audience’s sophistication. Convey the nature of the market opportunity you address with your business or product by highlighting what is “broken” or “not working.” If possible, scope out the size of the market opportunity. Ideally, these slides make it clear market participants are spending real dollars for imperfect products that do not adequately address their needs.
3. Your product or service/the solution to the problem. Having set up the problems faced by your customers, the next few slides are all about YOU. First and foremost, describe your solution, at a high level, for the unmet market demands described in the preceding slides. Drill in on how your products are differentiated. Convince your audience you have a better “mouse trap.” You want to make sure these slides leave no holes in your story or questions unanswered.
4. Marketing/strategy. Having wowed your audience with your product and business model, proactively articulate a go-to market strategy. Obviously, the scope of these slides is dependent on your stage of development but clearly demonstrate you have thought about how to roll out your product and how to capture market share.
5. Team. If you haven’t already heard this, here it goes. Team, team, team. That’s what investors are looking for. They are investing in your team, your passion and your dedication. Introduce your team in a few slides. Highlights your team’s strengths, make it clear they are committed to building something big and they will be great to work with.
6. Financials/projections. If you’ve been in business and have financials to share, share them. If you have projections regarding growth, show them as well. If you’re at the idea stage, it’s more about showing the size of the market and compare your product/service to a competitor you feel is most similar.
7. Tone. When pulling together your presentation, consider the tone you want to convey. Nothing is more important in determining the right tone for your audience. Be creative. Avoid a dry, mind-numbing presentation. Always gauge your audience and play to them. At the end of the day, content is king when it comes to a deck. Layer in creativity with great content, show some personality and you will have a winning combination.
** For this pitch contest, you do not need to tell us how much you're looking for in terms of investment in exchange for "x" percent equity, like on Shark Tank. You simply need to let us know what you're looking for from Moonshot at NACET (and in general.) Ex. I'm looking for mentorship and marketing help.
Make sure you include the 6 items above (and tone, of course) in your pitch deck.
An example of a 2-minute pitch (without a pitch deck) crafted for ABC's Shark Tank
As a PIONEER PITCH participant, you will be given 3-5 minutes to complete your pitch. Author: Kiersten Hathcock, SHARK TANK Season Two Winner
My name is Kiersten Hathcock and my company is Mod Mom Furniture. I’m seeking $90K in exchange for 25% of the company.
If someone had told me 10 years ago that I’d have an internationally known furniture company out of my garage, I would’ve told them they’re crazy. I didn’t even know what a jigsaw was then.
Just three and a half years ago, we were like most families I know. The toys were starting to overtake the house but we wanted a toy box that was gonna fit in with our modern furniture and frankly, there was virtually nothing on the market or what was, we couldn’t afford so I taught myself how to design and build a toy box. I knew I wanted it to be eco-friendly, have lids that lift on and off like puzzle pieces so it makes toy clean up a little more fun, and fit in nicely any room of the house. It occurred to me that we’re not the only family with this same need. At the time I had just left my corporate job to spend more time with my kids, so I was doing whatever I could to bring in money – I nannied and did freelance marketing work. I honestly figured maybe I’d sell a couple toy boxes a month to local stores. But I underestimated the power of social media and viral marketing.
Which brings me to where I am now. Seven days a week I’m in my garage covered in saw dust with a backlog of orders having to turn down retailers from 17 different countries because I can’t handle the volume on my own. My products have been featured in magazines like Elle Décor, Better Homes and Gardens, Dwell Magazine as well as TV shows and international design books. All without me approaching any of them. I’m even receiving orders from Hollywood celebrities and famous interior designers now. The other day, I read something online that said mod mom furniture was a “globally coveted brand” alongside a few of my competitors who are making 2 million per year and I have a sneaking suspicion they’re not in their garages at 11pm finishing toy boxes.
With your help, I’ll be able to increase manufacturing by getting it OUT of my garage – where I physically can only build 3 per week -- and into an Amish furniture manufacturer in my home state of Ohio who can build 100 per week. And that’s just the start. I’ll be able to grow the brand internationally as well as design products and case goods for existing customers and for larger companies like Crate and Barrel’s kids division, Land of Nod, who reached out to me about exclusive designs. This blows my mind because I don’t have a design degree but my work is being recognized by the design world. What started with a table saw and a mom has grown into a globally recognized brand which, with the right resources has unlimited potential. The brand is respected. The demand is there. Please join me in making Mod Mom the next million dollar furniture company.
The state-wide AZ Pioneer Pitch Tour is sponsored by APS.
