1, 3 and 5 minute pitch templates that got us into two accelerators

Problem: How do I create a pitch that actually converts people?

Let’s face it. Pitching doesn’t come naturally to everyone.

It’s awkward and a little scary, but absolutely necessary if you want to land great opportunities. Whether you're speaking to your dream investors, wooing customers, or trying to convince a world-class developer to join your team, knowing how to pitch your vision is a skill every founder needs in their toolkit.

Now, I'll let you in on a little secret: my first pitch was awful.

It took me the better part of a year to refine it and each revision helped me to get closer and closer to a better outcome. There were several stumbles and many facepalm-worthy moments along the way (see the recap of my 5-minute fail here).

But, on the upside, my pitch is now strong enough to help me secure places on not one, but two start-up accelerators. And in both instances, I pitched without my deck. Just me talking for 1-5 minutes straight.

So in this post, I’ll cover everything I’ve learned so it doesn’t take you a year of trial and error to get to where I am now.

These are simple 1, 3, and 5-minute versions that'll have you covered whether you've unexpectedly been introduced to an investor or have a full 5 minutes to shine on stage (and trust me, 5 minutes feels like a long time when it’s just you talking).

The 1 minute pitch template

Your 1 minute elevator pitch is essentially how you make someone’s ears perk up, making them interested enough to ask you for more information. And, given people have attention spans shorter than a TikTok video these days, you need to get their interest fast.

The purpose of this is to make people intrigued, not close a deal. Think of it as a trailer to a film, you’re aiming for ‘tell me more’, not ‘where do I sign’.

With that in mind, here’s a breakdown of what to include, plus an example.

The Hook

[Company] is positioned to help [number] of [audience] to [achieve a goal]

One thing you must remember: language is everything. Stating that your business is positioned to solve a problem, implies that you are already serving your community. Phrases such as ‘trying’ or ‘working on’, can actually weaken your pitch. So, be sure to start strong with words like ‘positioned’ or ‘poised’.