How to pitch?

02.06.2025

Pitching your idea effectively can make all the difference in securing support, funding, or partnerships for your startup. Tomi Kaukinen, an experienced speaker, shares his insights on crafting a compelling pitch that grabs attention and wins over audiences.

Tomi Kaukinen advises choosing a charismatic pitcher – who says the pitcher has to be a CEO?

Mastering the art of pitching requires thorough preparation, clear communication, and engaging presentation skills. By following Kaukinen’s tips, entrepreneurs can increase their chances of making a memorable impression and achieving their pitching goals. Prepare well, rehearse thoroughly, and aim to win over your audience with a compelling pitch!

1. Structure Your Pitch

When preparing for a pitch, Kaukinen recommends starting with a structured approach:

  • Introduction: Begin with a concise introduction to hook your audience. 
  • Problem statement: Clearly define the problem your product or service solves. 
  • Solution: Describe how your solution addresses the problem. 
  • Use case: Provide a real-world example to illustrate the effectiveness of your solution. 
  • Team: Introduce your team and highlight their strengths, metrics, or awards. 

Call to action: Clearly state what you are seeking—whether it’s funding, partnerships, or support.

2. Practice Makes Perfect

To refine your pitch, Kaukinen suggests rigorous practice:

  • Script preparation: Write down what you plan to say and time yourself. Aim for a duration of around 2 minutes. 
  • Slide deck: Create slides that complement your script, using large visuals and minimal text. 
  • Rehearsal: Practice extensively until your pitch feels natural and confident. 

3. Focus on presentation

Kaukinen emphasizes the importance of visual aids and effective delivery:

  • Visuals: Use slides with big pictures and minimal text to support your verbal presentation. 
  • Font size: Adjust font size based on your audience’s average age to ensure readability and engagement. 
  • Speaker selection: Consider having a charismatic team member deliver the pitch if the CEO is not comfortable. 

4. Engage your audience

During the pitch, Kaukinen advises:

  • Audience engagement: Capture attention by engaging both visually and verbally. 
  • Clarity: Ensure that your spoken words align with what is shown on the slides. 

Confidence: Project confidence and enthusiasm for your idea or product.

 

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