A pitch is a 1–5-minute presentation where a team provides a case for people to be interested in investing or buying your product.

Answer these three questions:

  • So what?
    • What is your product/service?
    • What’s the problem?
    • Where does your product fit in the market?
  • Who cares?
    • Who is your customer?
    • What is your plan to create the product and sell it to the customer?
    • What is the financial outlook for your product, based on competition, demand, etc.?
  • Why you?
    • What makes your product/service unique?
    • What skills do you or your company have?
    • What value do you provide to your customer?

    • Tell a story of how or why you developed your product, rather than just stating what it is.
    • Connect with your audience. Help people relate to you and your company.
    • Speak clearly and concisely.
    • Use visuals, whether a prototype, PowerPoint presentation, posters, etc.
    • Do your research. Talk to people that would be potential customers and look at what products exist.
    • Make the pitch memorable! Use a jingle, dress according to your product/marketing style, be enthusiastic.
    • Practice!

    • Check out “Shark Tank” clips on YouTube.
    • Youth pitches example here.

  1. Form a team of 2-4 members.
  2. Brainstorm ideas.
  3. Research the current market.
    • What products are already available?
    • Who would be interested in your product?
    • What is the potential for it to do well in the market over the long-term?
  4. Define the product/service’s function and name.
  5. Understand what intellectual property entails and document relevant information. Identify what makes your product unique from what currently exists.
  6. Develop a design for the product or service.
    • Think about what materials, engineering, and cost are required.
    • Learn more about intellectual property by referring to our Resources list.
  7. Identify advertising/marketing considerations. Provide information on how the product will be presented to customer.
    • This includes the packaging, look and feel of the product, and messaging to customers.
  8. Put it all together to develop your pitch.
  9. Practice!

Many students have never done a pitch before, and we want to help! The Keenan Center for Entrepreneurship, Innovation, & Creativity is available to support teams with the entire CNY Innovation Challenge process. They have 3-D printers, prototyping resources, and a MakerSpace where students can develop their product. They can also help with developing a pitch. Please email [email protected], and we will connect you with the Keenan Center.