Pitching is nerve-racking, right? If you google tips on delivering a good pitch, you will find results telling you to be clear, concise, confident and passionate when pitching a business idea. In real life, how exactly do you achieve that? Yesterday, Hack’n’Lead participants had the unique opportunity to learn three powerful tips and rules from the pros, AL Anany and Gabriela Mueller Mendoza, on how to master these skills and kill it when pitching ideas in the startup scene, at a networking event or any business meeting.
Who are the pros?
Al Anany is a founder and business leader who has helped clients raise over $120’000’000+ in funding and whose weekly digest is read by over 25’000 business enthusiasts. Yesterday, Al shared with participants the pitch deck structure he used with clients and presented the three rules to elevate your pitching skills. He then challenged the participants on-site and online to apply these rules to elevate their game by doing practical exercises with real-time feedback.
Gabriela Mueller Mendoza was celebrated as one of Europe’s Top 10 Most Inspiring Leaders last year. Her multifaceted journey includes roles as a computer engineer, business owner, angel investor, author, content creator, and the host of ‘The Smart Woman’ podcast. Yesterday, she shared her valuable top three tips that change the game in inspiring investors, sounding confident, and making it with your idea and team. Gabriela’s potent fusion of Swiss precision and Latin energy made her presentation unique, and participating in her practical exercises was a fun and insightful experience.
3 Pro Tips to Elevate Your Pitching Skills by Al
Opportunities to learn from pros who have helped entrepreneurs secure millions in funding are rare, and even rarer still is finding one generous enough to share their secrets. Hack’n’Lead participants were fortunate to have such Al Anany, who was open to sharing the pitch deck framework that has helped his clients secure millions in funding and three rules to elevate anyone’s pitching skills. Below, we share Al’s blueprint for a pitch deck that has a proven track record of success:
Slide 1 — Your product: start your pitch by giving investors an overview of where your product’s place in the market. Create a comparative matrix that maps out where you stand regarding pricing and expertise against your competitors. This will clearly let the investors know your market position and the value you offer. Another pro tip is, don’t go into specific technical details; remember, simplicity wins. Instead, focus on your value proposition. A clear, direct slide stating, “Instead of X, we offer Y,” can effectively highlight your advantages.
Slide 2 — Your traction: traction is king; it’s evidence that your idea is more than just an idea — it’s a viable, growing business. If you don’t have sales yet, highlight users and let the figures do the talking with a growth chart that demonstrates your progress. Investors are looking for that exponential ‘hockey stick’ growth curve, so if your numbers can draw that picture, you’re in a good spot. If you’re still in the early stages, pivot to your value proposition. What sets you apart? How does your product fill a gap in the market? These are the questions your pitch should answer.
Slide 3 — Your market: avoid generic market growth statements; instead, provide a snapshot of the current valuations of companies within your space. These are real numbers and money circulating, giving investors a more grounded perspective of the market you’re entering.
Slide 4 — Your Investment: Al recommends including in the pitch deck numbers that reflect an 18-month period. This slide should detail how much capital is needed and exactly how it will be used to grow the business. Investors want to see that you have a clear plan for their money.
Slide 5 — Your Team: Al was clear that if you don’t have a Marc Zuckerberg or a renowned industry figure in your team, don’t include a slide about it as it won’t make a difference in the investor’s perspective about your business idea. Direct the spotlight to your solution. Show how it addresses a problem, fills a need, or improves upon what’s currently available. Your product’s ability to stand out in the market is what will ultimately convince investors, not just the people behind it.
After creating a winning pitch deck presentation, it is time to stand up in front of the investors and pitch. During those 30–90 seconds of pitching, Als have three rules to secure investors’ attention, convince them and secure funding. They are
#1 — Don’t lose me: Keep it brief and impactful. Your pitch should be a laser-focused message that cuts through the noise, delivering your point swiftly and effectively.
#2 — Make me relate: when pitching, you aim to tap into shared experiences and emotions. Your pitch should resonate on a human level, making the problem you’re solving relatable to the investors.
#3 — Close me: don’t chit-chat for an hour; tell the investor exactly what you need and why they should be the one to provide it.
Additionally, here are the last pro tips from Al:
✔️ The word of pitching is practical; there isn’t much room for chit-chat.
✔️ In Al’s experience, every deck that successfully raised funds focused on one thing: numbers! Include revenue, market, and users; the rule is to show as many numbers as possible. Ultimately, the product is essential, but numbers speak louder than words.
3 Pro Tips to Elevate Your Presentation Skills by Gabriela
Gabriela concluded yesterday’s workshop by offering three practical tips on how to have a solid and confident presence during a pitch or when asking for a pay promotion, or during a business presentation. Radiating positive, assertive, and vibrant energy, Gabriela confidently approached the stage, embodying her advice, and held the audience’s attention to the very last moment. Here are Gabriela’s three tips to be confident and elevate your presentation skills:
#1 — Powerful people take time and space: first, to truly connect with your audience, it’s not just about speaking; it’s about being heard and understood, so slow down your speech to ensure clarity. Second, adopt a posture of power; stand with your feet and shoulders aligned, chin parallel to the floor, and shoulders pulled back. Don’t forget a genuine smile. That spark in your eyes will tell people you’re enthusiastic about your idea. In online meetings, you need to look straight into the camera; it builds confidence, competence, and trust.
#2 — Sound confident: introduce yourself with conviction. Your voice should be as commanding as the space you’re in — on a scale from 1 to 10, aim for an 8, but always be mindful of the room’s acoustics. The volume and energy of your voice should fill the space without overwhelming it.
#3 — It’s not only what you say; it’s HOW you say it: it’s not just the content of your message but the delivery that can make or break a pitch. Every successful person, when they want to sound confident, they embrace the power of the downward inflection — ending your statements with a lower pitch to convey certainty and confidence. Gabrielle calls this the “Bond, James Bond” statement. To close it off, use deliberate body language such as expansive gestures, elbows away and a single hand movement per thought.
And here are two more pro tips from Gabriela:
✔️ When answering questions, do not thank for a question. If the question isn’t clear, paraphrase it. Begin your reply with a strong opening statement, followed by a list of reasons to support your position — don’t give more than three to maintain focus and impact.
✔️When pitching or networking, always frame your approach from the investor’s perspective. Remember, you’re seeking the investor’s money, time, energy, and expertise. Ensure that your pitch shifts focus from yourself to the benefits and returns for the investor. Highlight what they stand to gain by aligning with your vision.
Wrapping up
The insights shared by Al Anany and Gabriela Mueller Mendoza provide a powerful toolkit for anyone looking to elevate their pitching and presentation skills. Al’s emphasis on a numbers-driven, concise pitch deck and Gabriela’s strategies for commanding presence and confident delivery create a recipe for success. Whether you’re seeking investment, negotiating a pay raise, or leading a business presentation, the key takeaways are clear: be succinct, make it relatable, and always maintain a confident stance. By focusing on what the investor stands to gain, ensuring your body language and tone to demonstrate confidence, and keeping your message clear and direct, you’re not just sharing an idea — you’re engaging your audience in a narrative that compels action. Remember, the art of pitching and presenting is not just about what you say, but how you say it and what your audience takes away.
We hope the insights from Al and Gabriela help you excel in your next pitch and we look forward to seeing Hack’n’Lead participants using these pro tips when pitching their solutions at the end of Hack’n’Lead.
About the author:
Elisangela Merlin is a volunteer Marketing Coordinator with a background in e-commerce and startup ecosystems. She believes that education is the most empowering force in the world; it builds up confidence, brings down barriers, and opens opportunities to forge a better future for society. When not immersed in the social media world, Eli loves to spend time with her kids, cooking (mainly Brazilian food), going for long runs, and getting it all out in a workout.
