How do you show off your startup to different audiences?

It is ok to have one masterdeck, but it is not good to use it regardless of audience, timing, context, and purpose. Pitching in a start-up contest might be very different from pitching to a foundation to a VC or to a key opinion leader. Study your audience deeply, identify what are incentives and goals of a certain type of audience so to be able to tailor your message - but in any case always be honest. Credibility is all. Finally, tailor your message to the different audience types - preferring e.g. competitive advantage, market potential, and financial indicators for investors vs. potential to solve an unmet need if you are pitching e.g. to foundations or donor organizations. Be always prepared, punctual, and polite - it will pay back.

Startup founders need to target the right people – clients and investors (essentially the only ones who they'd care about). But how do you tailor your pitch without knowing who'll be there? Create a 'master' deck, then add slides (annexes) designed to offer a 360 view of what you're trying to solve. This way, you get: ▶︎ Flexibility: Adapt your pitch in a flash. ▶︎ Focus: Your message is always on point. ▶︎ Professionalism: You look ready for any opportunity. Think of it this way: your core message is the foundation, then you have extra 'building blocks' you can add on depending on whether it's investors or clients you're talking to (or sometimes even other audiences!)

“If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart.” —Nelson Mandela Understanding your audience’s background is key for an effective pitch. Tailor your message to their specific interests—highlight market potential for investors and pain points for customers. Research their industry knowledge and adjust your language to keep the pitch relevant and engaging. When addressing diverse audiences, simplify complex ideas and avoid jargon. Communicate your startup’s value clearly, ensuring that both experts and newcomers can easily grasp the key benefits of your offering.

Identify the different audiences you want to reach, such as investors, customers, or partners. Use AI tools to analyze demographic data, preferences, and behaviors of each group. Tailor your messaging to address their specific interests and needs. Engaging with LinkedIn groups can provide deeper insights into audience expectations. Knowing your audience ensures your pitch is relevant and compelling, making it easier to capture their attention and interest.

As a startup founder, showcasing your startup to different audiences requires a tailored approach: Know Your Audience: Understand what each group values. For investors, focus on market potential and financials. For customers, highlight features and benefits. 📈 Customize Your Pitch: Adjust your presentation and messaging based on the audience. Use relevant case studies, testimonials, and data that resonate with them. Show Results: Demonstrate traction with metrics like user growth, engagement, or revenue. Concrete results build credibility. 🚀 Engage with Stories: Share compelling stories about your journey, challenges, and successes. Personal narratives make your startup relatable and memorable.

It's important to consistently refine and validate your value proposition by incorporating feedback and market insights. This iterative approach ensures the ongoing relevance and effectiveness of your message, enhancing engagement and conversion rates with your target audience.

Clearly articulate the unique value your startup offers. Use AI to analyze market data and refine your value proposition based on competitor offerings and customer needs. Highlight how your product or service solves a specific problem or improves a situation. Sharing your value proposition on LinkedIn can help you gather feedback and fine-tune it. A strong value proposition differentiates your startup and communicates its benefits effectively to various audiences.

"The customer doesn’t care about your solution. They care about their problem." —Dave McClure Clearly define what sets your startup apart from competitors. Your value proposition should articulate how your product or service uniquely solves a problem or meets a need. Highlight the specific benefits and advantages that make your startup compelling to each audience. For different stakeholders, tailor the emphasis of your value proposition. Investors might be interested in growth potential and revenue models, while customers will focus on practical benefits and user experience. By aligning your value proposition with the audience’s interests, you can make a stronger impact and increase engagement.

Always remember to let your passion shine through. As Simon Sinek says: ‘people Don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it’.

The value proposition - also known as the value proposition - describes the added value or benefit that customers receive from a product or service. It answers the following question: What problem or need of the user is solved by this product or service? Once you have defined and validated your value proposition, you can clearly communicate the benefits and differentiating features of your product or service on all communication channels. A clear, convincing value proposition is the key to success.

Try playing around with unexpected formats! The human brain so easily gets bored and move on, so keep surprising your audience and improve your chances of success drastically.

Where is your intended audience located and how do them receive information? These are two questions that you should ask yourself. It's pointless advertising sun hats in the North Pole and heaters in the desert. Find your audience and communicate your startup to them in the way that they could best receive it. You can have you intended audience to be a person who is visual compared and then decide to reach them with a video that doesn't even have any audio or a pitchdeck. Find the format that best works for your audience and use it.

Consider your audience's preferences and typical information consumption habits when selecting how to present your startup. Choose a format that effectively conveys your message, whether it's a pitch deck, video, or interactive demo. Ensure the chosen format aligns with your startup's style and messaging. Maintain consistency across all materials to reinforce your brand and make a stronger impression. Tailoring the format to your audience's expectations and your startup's unique characteristics enhances engagement and impact.

-Elige el formato adecuado: Dependiendo de tu audiencia y objetivo, selecciona el formato que mejor transmita tu mensaje. ¿Presentación de pitch, demo, video, sitio web o redes sociales? -Aprovecha las ventajas: Cada formato tiene sus puntos fuertes. Usa presentaciones para inversores, demos para clientes, videos para marketing, y optimiza tu elección según lo que mejor funcione para tu audiencia. -Optimiza para el acceso: Considera el canal, la plataforma y el dispositivo que usará tu audiencia. Asegúrate de que tu mensaje se vea y funcione bien en cualquier formato.

Using complicated words can be a bad choice because it can alienate or confuse your audience. People may not understand the message you're trying to convey, leading to miscommunication or disengagement.

Almost every start-up has a story that sets it apart from all the others. However, the founders are often not even aware of this because they are far too involved in their business. It helps to talk about it with others and discover what appeals to both the brain and the heart. That's why it's not just the hard facts in a pitch deck that are decisive, but storytelling. What is the personal story behind the startup and the founder? How did the idea come about, what characterises the company in particular?

Communicate your startup’s value in simple, clear, and engaging language. Use AI-powered tools to refine your messaging and eliminate jargon. Focus on storytelling to make your presentation memorable and relatable. Engaging with the LinkedIn community can provide tips on effective communication strategies. Simple and engaging language helps your audience easily understand and remember your message, making them more likely to support your startup.

Use the language your target audience uses! - Simple - Low reading-level - Hard - Graduate-level Let them make the choice! Find their Jargon File!

Keeping things simple does not just make it easier for a reader to consume, it demonstrates that you understand your business and its key aspects. If you do not understand how to communicate your business, how can you expect an audience to engage with it in the desired ways. Look to form a narrative that an audience can resonate with and attach to - this will help them to digest it and will make it stick.

This also includes enhancing visual elements, adjusting delivery techniques, and continually seeking opportunities to enhance the overall effectiveness of your presentation.

No creas que tu pitch es un monólogo perfecto desde el día uno. Práctica, ensayo y error son tus mejores aliados. Ensaya tu presentación frente a amigos, colegas, ¡incluso desconocidos si es posible! Pide feedback brutalmente honesto y ajusta cada detalle. No te obsesiones con un solo formato: prueba tu pitch en una llamada de Zoom, en un evento en vivo o en un video corto. Mide resultados y, si no engancha, cámbialo sin miedo. Tu presentación debe evolucionar con cada feedback y cada audiencia.

Focus on getting objective feedback, not subject anecdotes! You'll need to measure: - Hard, objective KPIs - Hard, objective surveys Subjective information isn't gonna give you what you want!

Regularly practice your presentation to build confidence and polish your delivery. Use AI to simulate audience reactions and identify areas for improvement. Seek feedback from mentors, colleagues, and the LinkedIn community. Constructive feedback helps refine your pitch and address potential concerns. Practicing and getting feedback ensures you are well-prepared to impress different audiences and adapt your presentation based on their responses.

Practise your pitch with friends, mentors, or colleagues and seek their honest feedback. Focus on refining your delivery and addressing any points of confusion. The goal is to present confidently and convincingly every time, making adjustments based on the feedback you receive.

People buy into other people. When presenting the business, let your vision, passion and personality show. This will humanise the presentation and help people to engage and relate to you as a founder!

Be prepared to adapt your pitch based on real-time feedback and audience reactions. Flexibility demonstrates that you can engage with stakeholders in a dynamic way, addressing their specific interests and concerns as they arise. Additionally, ensure that your pitch includes a clear call to action, outlining what you want from your audience. Whether it’s investment, partnership, or another form of support, making your request specific and actionable helps drive the next steps.

Showcase social proof - Incorporate testimonials, case studies, or success stories from happy customers or industry experts to demonstrate the real-world impact and credibility of your startup. Social proof enhances your credibility and builds confidence in your startup among your audience, that's for sure.