Making the perfect elevator pitch http://www.cfel.jbs.cam.ac.uk/news/podcasts/2011.html

The elevator pitch “an overview of an idea, product, service, project, person, or other solution and is designed to just get a conversation started” At its core the elevator pitch is a primary communication tool that can help you articulate a message to anyone in any setting As an entrepreneur, the elevator pitch is the most important sales tool at your disposal; it will help you raise the money and close the deals you need to develop your business Always remember that an elevator pitch is a teaching tool; if its recipient does not feel enlightened, energized with a clear sense of “why they should care” about you and your business concept then you have failed

Just get a conversation started The main reason why so many people deliver completely ineffective elevator pitches is they don’t understand the purpose. They act like the purpose of an elevator pitch is to close the deal while in reality the purpose of an elevator pitch is to just interest the audience in continuing to talk. The nine C’s of an effective elevator pitch Concise Clear Compelling Credible Conceptual Concrete Customized Consistent Conversatio nal

The perfect elevator pitch Lasts a maximum of 60-90 seconds Describes a clear business vision / mission Provides clear product, service concept Outlines a major market need (“the pull”) Places concept in value-driven customer context (“the push”) Outlines how concept will be monetized Outlines the investment opportunity (”the return”)

What is it Why is it important What is in it for me How we l make money out of it