Experts shared 10 secrets to perfect pitching

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At Luxembourg Venture Days 2024, Quentin Dupraz, from Ilavska Vuillermoz Capital, a venture capital fund, shared key tips on how to create the perfect presentation for investors. His masterclass, The Perfect Pitch, was a guide for startups seeking long-term investment.

Investors receive thousands of applications, but only a few of them meet their expectations. Dupraz noted that 70% of startups do not return the money invested, and venture funds only need exceptional projects to achieve the right returns. This makes the right approach to presenting a startup extremely important.

Essential tips for creating the perfect pitch

Think of pitching as the beginning of a long-term relationship

A pitch is like a first date. Investors won't open their wallet after one presentation, but it's a chance to show that you're a reliable partner for years to come.

Create a compelling story

Capture investors' attention in the first 30 seconds by highlighting the most important aspects of your project in your slide headings.

Use simplicity that your grandmother will understand

Clearly describe the problem and solution in terms that even people without specialised training can understand. Visualise your product with images.

Start with a niche market

Show how you plan to take a small vertical and become an indispensable player in it to then scale to other markets.

Prove you can reach the mass market

Investors want to see long-term growth potential, even if your product only appeals to a narrow audience right now.

Show me how you'll make money

Explain your business model: who pays for what and how often. Even if the model is not yet fully formed, outline its key elements.

Present your strategy for achieving your goals

Tell us how you plan to organise the company, what your sales channels will be, who will be your partners, and which markets you plan to cover first.

Highlight your efforts and achievements

Give a sense of what you've already done: product testing, collected testimonials, first revenue, or serious research.

Formulate a funding request

Clearly state how much money you need, what it will be used for and what results you expect to achieve.

Target the right investors

Do your homework to see if your project is in the interest of a particular fund. If you are rejected, analyse whether it is related to your project or whether you simply chose the wrong investor.

With these 10 steps from Luxinnovation, you can make your pitch as compelling as possible. Remember, it's only the beginning of the journey, and it's up to you to prove your worth in practice.

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