How to make a sexy elevator pitch and hook an investor: 5 tips for a speed dating session

A startup competition, Bootstrap Alley, fireside chats, and after-hours networking over drinks – there will be a lot going on at our two-day Tech in Asia Singapore conference on May 6-7. But for many early stage startups and newbie entrepreneurs, the most alluring is the speed dating session.

Most startups find it hard to corner an investor during conferences. But here startups get a chance to make elevator pitches to investors of their choice. And we’ve lined up more than 35 investors.

But getting a chance to make a pitch to investors is only a first step. Many startups stumble over the pitch itself. You might be a cool dude sitting on a killer idea, but if you can’t get that across to the investor quickly, you’ve wasted the opportunity.

So here are five of the most important tips to help you get that pitch right. They are gleaned from our own observations on the Tech in Asia Tour, as well as expert advice from investors.

1. Get straight to the point

We see too many pitches fall flat because startups overload the pitch. The main point often gets clouded. What’s the idea and why is it disruptive? You have to figure out a way to get that across quickly, because you only have five minutes for the pitch.

Willson Cuaca, co-founder and managing partner at East Ventures and CEO at Apps Foundry, shared with Tech in Asia a 4-step sequence for an effective pitch:

• Show the problem
• Show the traction
• Show how you solve the problem
• Tell how much you want to raise and how much you have raised already, from whom.

2. Reserve time for questions

If you do manage to get the investor’s attention with your pitch, he or she will have questions. So don’t blow your entire five minutes on the presentation. Reserve a couple of minutes to clear doubts and maybe a personal touch as a tailpiece. Try and anticipate the questions too, so that you can respond quickly. Typically, these may relate to your credentials or competitors or the market.

3. Get connected

It’s the investor’s job to ask tough questions, so don’t be flustered and never lose your cool. Even if the pitch doesn’t go well right off the bat, there’s always a chance that the investor will sleep over it and have second thoughts. Or he may connect you to some other investor who might be more interested in your domain. So make sure to be polite, exchange contact information, and follow up with an email without being pushy.

4. A personal touch