The moment you step up to present a pitch is a crucial milestone for any company looking to attract investors and strategic partners.

It usually lasts only a few minutes, but it can shape the company’s future for years to come.

So, what makes a pitch truly successful? To answer this question, we spoke with Michele Ascolese, Business Analyst at LIFTT, who shared some tips on how to nail it.

Step one: Is venture capital the right choice?

Before thinking about what to present in your pitch, you need to ask yourself two key questions: Who is the right audience to approach for funding? And is venture capital really the best fit for your project?

Depending on your business model and growth stage, funding can come from different sources: debt financing, equity, or a mix of both. Not every project is suitable for a venture capitalist.

VCs typically invest in businesses that show strong potential to scale. Their capital is meant to accelerate growth that’s already built into the product. Venture capital isn’t a magic wand, it’s more like fertilizer: it nurtures and speeds up growth, but the seed must be good already from the beginning.

The first step, then, is to assess if your company has the right product and is at the right stage to align with what venture capital funds expect.

Long-term vision and strategic roadmap
Investors aren’t just interested in where your company is today, they want to know your long-term growth plan and overall fundraising strategy.
When presenting it, you need to give them the answers to these questions:

  • What milestones will you reach with the capital you’re raising, and how long will it take?
  • How will those milestones increase the company’s value?
  • Are there measurable metrics that will track and prove this growth over time?

The amount of money raised doesn’t matter on its own. What matters is what it turns into.
If you raise too little, you’ll likely be back in the market soon for another round (and fundraising is a major distraction that can stall your growth). If you raise too much and fail to meet your milestones, investors might worry about how you’ll manage funds in the future.

A clear number, supported by solid reasoning, will make investors more confident in your project.

Storytelling and an engaging presentation
A winning pitch isn’t just a collection of data, trends, and numbers. It’s a story, a compelling one that captures attention and convinces the audience.

  • Structure a clear and coherent narrative to keep your audience engaged.
  • Use polished, visually appealing slides to support your message.

Every part of your presentation should flow smoothly, without hesitation or lengthy explanations that lose your audience.

Know your audience and tailor the pitch
Another key factor is knowing who you’re speaking to.

  • Who will be there?
  • What’s their background?

Tailoring your pitch to the audience helps you emphasize the points that matter most to them, increasing the chances of grabbing their attention.

Timing and team coordination
Sticking to the allotted time is crucial. Poor time management reflects badly on your company’s organization.
As for the presenting team, it’s best to keep it small, ideally, no more than three people. The usual key roles are:

  • CEO: to present the vision and overall strategy
  • CFO (or financial lead): to go deeper into financials and projections
  • CTO (or tech lead): to highlight the product’s innovative aspects

This setup ensures that all the critical areas are covered while keeping the presentation clear and dynamic.

Show your results
Along with presenting your project, it’s essential to showcase any significant results you’ve already achieved.
If your company has hit key milestones, registered patents, or formed strategic partnerships, make sure you highlight them. Don’t assume that the people in the room already know your project, most of them will have read it quickly beforehand and will expect you to bring it to life during the pitch.  Providing solid, tangible proof can make all the difference between a pitch that sticks and one that’s quickly forgotten.

The value of experience
The perfect pitch may not exist, but experience makes all the difference. The more pitches you do and the more feedback you get, the more you’ll grow, gain confidence, and learn how to read the investor landscape.
Stay true to yourself if you believe in your product, but see every pitch as a learning opportunity. Any feedback you receive can help you to refine your value proposition.

At LIFTT, we believe every idea has value. If your project isn’t selected, it doesn’t mean it isn’t valid, sometimes, it’s just not the right fit at that moment. What matters most is to keep improving, refining your pitch, and always being as prepared as possible.