Pitching Your Business Plan

Where to start

Answer these questions:

• What does your business do?
• Who is your business for?
• Why should anyone choose your business?
• Why is your business the best at what it does?

Secondary, but important points-

• Where does your business operate;
• Who are your closest competitors;
• Are there any risks;
• How will you manage the business?

Be clear about the purpose of the business

Being able to demonstrate why you started your business, who it’s for and where you want to take it is vital. Be prepared to answer these questions:

• What gave you the idea?
• What problem are you solving – and crucially, how are you solving the problem?
• What is the purpose of the business?

Focus on the business opportunity

Articulate the commercial opportunity behind your idea and the value it will bring to customers and, ultimately, investors.

To get engagement from investors they’ll want you to drill down beyond the original idea and delve into the substance. Make sure you can explain:

• What the commercial opportunity is;
• Why changing consumer or market trends are creating an opportunity;
• What’s happening in the market and how it’s changing each year;
• Target audience/market;
• The competition and how the business stands up against this.

Basic financial details:

• Cost to set up/start up;
• value of service;
• team/employees;
• main overheads;
• funding options;
• estimated profit in year 1, 2 and 3.

Remember:

• Get to the point;
• Prove you have a market for the service;

The Pitch

• Create an engaging presentation/slide deck;
• Use the key words that are commonly used in the sector;
• Practice;
• Check spelling and grammar;
• Research your audience

The Presentation Materials

• Well designed slides;
• Photos and/or videos;
• Company Logo;
• Simple data illustrations;
• Examples of service;
• Build the presentation from the business plan.

Methods

Use a story/narrative structure that presents the solution and problem it is solving. Base it in the real world with examples, perhaps personal experience.

Do you already have a business you are building or enhancing?

Essential acronyms and vocabulary for start-ups

Here are the most common acronyms and vocabulary that are common to all industries and that are sure to be mentioned by a potential investor.

USP = Unique Selling Point of a company, product, or service. What makes it different? Investors want to know why customers should chose you and what makes your product or service different to what is already available.

NDA = Non-Disclosure Agreement. This is a legal document which protects your company from having sensitive information used or shared in ways you are not happy with.

ROI = Return On Investment. This is the amount of money you get back on an initial amount that you invested.

Buy-in (noun). This is agreeing with or accepting something that someone suggests.

Leverage (noun). This is the power to influence people and get results.

Scalable (adjective). This describes a business or system that is able to grow or to be made larger.

Angel investor (noun). This is a person who invests money in new companies.

Edge (noun). This is used to describe when you have an advantage over other people or companies.

Presentation Structure

10-15 minutes.

• What's the business- name and service;
• Who you are;
• Detail the business and why it's unique;
• Type of business (PLC?)
• Financial plan/forecast;
• Marketing strategy;
• SWOT;
• Conclusion;
• Questions.

Make sure you refer to these key portfolio elements:

• Executive Summary
• Company Overview
• Description of Products and Services
• Viability Review
• Market Research/Marketing and Sales Approach
• Financial Projections

Further Reading:

Workshop Activity

1. Answer the questions at the start of this presentation;
2. Write your elevator pitch;
3. prepare to present for 2 minutes on your business idea. As few slides as possible and use examples and or supporting images; detail your audience and competitors.