Being an early-stage startup founder is complicated. It's a mix of figuring out markets, assembling a team, launching an MVP, and of course... coming up with a persuasive pitch. 

Anxiety, anyone?

It's true; a successful pitch can represent a startup's lifeline. However, the vast majority of startup pitches fall flat, even if they outline incredible innovations. Call it inexperience or lack of marketing insight, but making a persuasive pitch doesn't come that easy.

Unfortunately, a weak pitch can pose a significant setback for developing a startup, dramatically increasing its risk of failure.

Let me make this clear: I'm not here to debate what to add to your pitch or in what order you should present your facts. Instead, I want to go over a few things that make others want to learn more. 

So, what's in a persuasive pitch? Let's dive right in!

It flexes storytelling

I've come across pitches that talk about 'the problem' in such a cold and removed manner that it feels like I'm reading side-effect symptoms out of a prescription bottle. Tell me, who cares for that!

A persuasive pitch leverages facts and narrative. Hence, it outlines the solution to a problem in a way that captivates the imagination. Also, by combining emotion and rationale, you can bring your audience –aka investors or whoever you'll pitch to– into your world. 

For instance, beyond just stating what's your user's problem, try also telling a story about what's at stake to infuse emotion. So, building anticipation is an effective way to poise your innovation for a win. 

It follows a user-centric journey

A persuasive pitch tracks your user's transformational quest from failing to winning. So, to achieve this, lean on a cause-and-effect narrative to make your story real in someone else's mind. Therefore, follow a logical sequence of events to showcase how your user discovers, interacts, and benefits from your product.

In the end, a compelling user-centric story will help others empathize with your user's struggles. Once they recognize your user's problem is real and needs urgent solving, they can begin to validate your solution.

It has a well-defined purpose

An early-stage startup has diverse operational needs to address. For instance, fundraising, recruiting, and sales pitches leverage different angles. Hence, following a one-size-fits-all pitch strategy can fail to produce the expected result. Instead, curate each pitch based on your ask.

To create a persuasive pitch, begin by defining the specific outcome you expect. Then choose information that will help your audience act upon your ask. Also, this way, you'll make your presentation concise and easy to follow.

It presents your founder's vision

An early-stage startup's inherent status quo is things aren't quite there–yet. As a founder, it's on you to get others to believe in your vision. Therefore, your passion and credibility are as critical as the business opportunity you present in a pitch.

Proving you're the right leader is essential if you're in the early stages. To set you apart from others, become one with your pitch. Don't be afraid to showcase your originality, ingenuity, and entrepreneurial vision. Similarly, work on developing a memorable personal brand. An excellent first impression can go a long way.