10 Evergreen Pitching Ideas For Business Strategy Planning in 2024 [Updated]

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Essentially, a business case is really just a story. It’s a story about a goal, what’s in it for the stakeholders, and how to achieve it. It maps a recommended path for getting around that obstacle and forecasts how surefooted that path should be. 

This story is actually your Pitch for the Business Idea which will get someone to stop and listen and maybe invest in your idea. This can be in the form of a Video, Speech, Slide deck, or even a written essay.

Submitting a pitch video gives you the techno-savvy edge for the submission. Even live pitch could do the trick but make sure it gives a story of the change that could be brought about with the conceptual idea.

Check this video which talks about how these Dharavi girls brought about a change within their community.

1. Tell a real customer story

When possible, open your pitch by telling a real customer story that addresses the problem your product or service solves in the marketplace.

Avoid using buzzwords and tech talk when you tell your story. Instead, use real names and real customer challenges. Keep it simple and realistic. In the end, what people will remember after they walk away from you are the stories you tell, so it’s important to have a few compelling customer stories ready to share.

2. Pare it down to the essentials

I’ve heard many entrepreneurs deliver their pitch as if they’re auctioning off their grandmother’s antiques. It must be because they think they need to address every aspect of their business plan in one fell swoop, but doing so makes them seem anxious, tense, and nervous.

I always wish they’d relax and realize that when you’re giving a pitch, less is more. Prioritize the most important things you want to share and stick to those pieces—and take a nice big breath before you speak. Believe me, it will help you deliver a more compelling and thoughtful pitch.

3. Outline your business model

Your business model tells an investor how your idea will (or does) convert into being economically viable. The best way to show you how to communicate your business model is to show you an example of a good one.

Check out this video which helps you to write a business plan:

4. Make sure your presentation is crystal clear to anyone and everyone

If you can get someone who doesn’t understand your business model to grasp what you’re communicating, then you’re prepared to give a pretty good pitch. Some of the worst pitches I’ve seen have been filled with acronyms, tech speak, and gobbledygook.

Keep your pitch short, sweet, and to the point. Practice your pitch on someone outside of your company, and ask them to repeat what they think your business model is back to you and ask you questions. I’ve done this many times, and it’s always an eye-opening exercise to hear what people repeat back.

5. Talk about yourself

It’s important to know that investors invest in people first, and ideas second. As a matter of fact, I’ve had several investors tell me to keep them posted on my next startup because they’d like to invest in me and my next venture.

So, don’t be afraid to toot the horn on your and your team’s accomplishments—especially if those accomplishments relate to what it takes to start and scale a venture. Tell (and whenever possible, show) the investors why you are the right people to lead this venture.

6. Tell us: What have you done lately?

By this I mean that you should share the successes and traction your team has had since the inception of your company. It always surprises me how frequently this is left out of pitches.

Investors want to hear about your first customers, other investments put into the company (including your own sweat equity), key media placement, signed letters of intent (LOI) to purchase/partner, product and customer milestones, key hires, and so on. As the CEO of your own company, you will be expected to be the lead salesperson, so show the investors that you know how to sell them on your own company.

7. Address competition head-on

First of all, never say “I don’t have any competition.” This is a rookie mistake, but many entrepreneurs say this.

Everyone has competition, even if it’s in direct competition. Think about when Henry Ford built the Model T. Were there other cars on the market at that time? No, but he had to find a way to steal people away from other modes of transportation (horses, trains, and walking, for example).

One of the best ways to illustrate that you understand your competitive landscape and your differentiators is to present your competition in a matrix format like this one:

8. Give the numbers that are behind your numbers

Don’t say you’re going to be a $50 million business in three years, because most investors won’t even believe it—unless you’ve done this before in another company.

What’s more compelling than big talk is to show exactly how you will reach those millions—what information about your company do you have that’s made you forecast those kinds of sales? Share what your assumptions are about your business model.

9. Show your darn product!

I’ve seen so many pitches where the entrepreneur doesn’t even show their actual product. For some businesses, showing their product is not easy to do, but for most people pitching for funding to investors, it is.

Even if your product is not yet built, show mock-ups. It’s amazing what a visual representation of your product and your business can do for the overall effectiveness of your pitch.

10. Survey the Market

Ensure with a quick market Survey that what you are pitching for is unique and stands out from any of your competitors in the market. Even if the product that you are pitching for is already available in the market.

Give it a uniqueness, something out of the box, and yet functional which your competitor has not thought about. Put yourself in the user’s shoes and list out what comforts you would want as a user. Presto! just try to give a solution that is simple and quick to it.

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• Top 10 Business Analytics Course in the USA

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