16 Mar How to Craft a Pitch That Gets You Noticed
Pitch Frameworks, Pro Tips & a Sample Script to Stand Out in Any Room
Whether you’re stepping onto the stage at The Fish Bowl Experience or sliding into a Zoom call with investors, there’s one thing that makes or breaks your moment:
Your pitch.
You’ve got 2–5 minutes to make people believe in your business. To get them excited. To make them lean in, ask questions, and want in.
So let’s break down how to build a winning pitch—one that’s clear, confident, and unforgettable.
🧱 The Foundation: What Every Winning Pitch Includes
Most great startup pitches (no matter the format) answer these 7 core questions:
- What’s the problem?
The pain, gap, or challenge that exists right now. - Who has this problem?
Your target audience—be specific. - What’s your solution?
The product, service, or system you’ve built. - What makes it different?
Your unique value—what sets you apart from everyone else. - How does it make money?
Your business model: who pays, how much, and how often. - What traction or proof do you have?
Sales, growth, customer testimonials, media buzz, etc. - What do you need?
Be clear: are you asking for funding, partners, mentorship, or something else?
✨ Pro Tips: What Investors Really Pay Attention To
🧠 Clarity wins over cleverness
If they’re confused, they won’t invest. Speak plain, clean, and confident.
❤️ Tell a human story
Connect emotionally—how did this idea find you? Investors love heart, not just hype.
📊 Know your numbers
Revenue, profit, growth, customer acquisition cost—if it matters, they’ll ask.
🚫 Avoid jargon + buzzwords
“Revolutionary AI-powered synergistic omnichannel ecosystem” = 💤
Make it make sense.
🎯 Practice like it’s a performance
The pitch should be tight. Every word earns its place. Rehearse, time yourself, refine.
📋 The 5-Part Pitch Framework (Use This!)
Here’s a simple pitch structure you can use for stage or video:
1. Hook (10–15 seconds)
Grab their attention fast. This could be a powerful stat, question, or relatable story.
“Every year, over 3 million high school girls drop out of STEM classes—not because they can’t do it, but because they don’t see themselves in it.”
2. The Problem (30 seconds)
Break down the real-world challenge. Make them feel the pain.
“Right now, there’s no engaging, culturally relevant learning platform built for Black and Brown girls in STEM—and that’s creating a growing gap in tech readiness.”
3. The Solution (30–45 seconds)
Introduce your business as the answer.
“STEMinistas is an ed-tech platform that turns coding and science into community. We create curriculum, content, and kits for high school girls to fall in love with STEM again.”
4. Traction + Business Model (30–60 seconds)
Show what’s working + how you make money.
“In our first 6 months, we sold 1,200 STEM kits to schools in 5 states and built a waitlist of 900 students. We sell directly to school districts and through a monthly subscription for homeschool parents.”
5. The Ask (15–30 seconds)
Say what you need—and why now is the time.
“We’re seeking $50K to scale our team, expand to 10 new districts, and launch our mobile app in time for back-to-school. With your investment, we’ll bring STEMinistas to 10,000 girls by next fall.”
🧠 Bonus: 3 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Pitching
- Would a 12-year-old understand this?
Simple > smart-sounding. - Is it a pitch or a paragraph?
Break it up, breathe, and deliver it like a conversation. - Am I telling them what I do or what I solve?
Problem-first = investor-first thinking.
🎤 Ready to Pitch in Houston?
The Fish Bowl Experience is the pitch competition that changes lives. We’re not just handing out over $50,000 in funding and resources—we’re building brands from the ground up. If you’ve got a dream, a deck, and the drive—we want to hear from you.
🗓 November 6–9
📍 Houston, TX
🔥 Veteran-founded. Community-powered. Built for real entrepreneurs.