When pitching your design idea to investors, how can you demonstrate its feasibility and scalability?

2 Validate your assumptions and hypotheses

Investors want to see evidence that your design idea is not based on mere assumptions or guesses, but on actual user feedback and market research. You need to validate your assumptions and hypotheses about your problem, solution, and value proposition by testing them with your potential users or customers. You can use various methods, such as interviews, surveys, prototypes, or experiments, to collect and analyze data that supports or challenges your assumptions and hypotheses. You should also be open to learning from your failures and pivoting your design idea if necessary.

3 Show your prototype and MVP

A prototype is a low-fidelity or high-fidelity representation of your design idea that allows you to test its functionality, usability, and desirability with your users or customers. A minimum viable product (MVP) is a version of your product or service that has the minimum features or functions that deliver value to your users or customers. You should show your prototype and MVP to investors to demonstrate how your design idea works in practice and how it creates value for your users or customers. You should also highlight the feedback and results you have received from your prototype and MVP testing and how they have informed your design decisions.

4 Explain your business model and strategy

Investors want to know how your design idea will generate revenue and profit and how you will compete and grow in the market. You need to explain your business model and strategy, including your value proposition, customer segments, revenue streams, cost structure, channels, partnerships, and resources. You should also show how your design idea is aligned with your business model and strategy and how it creates a competitive advantage or a unique selling proposition for your product or service.

5 Estimate your costs and benefits

Investors want to see that your design idea is worth investing in and that it has a positive return on investment (ROI). You need to estimate your costs and benefits, both in terms of financial and non-financial metrics, such as revenue, profit, market share, customer satisfaction, social impact, or environmental impact. You should also provide realistic and credible projections and scenarios for your costs and benefits, based on your assumptions, data, and analysis. You should also identify and mitigate the risks and uncertainties that may affect your costs and benefits.

6 Communicate your vision and passion

Investors want to see that you are passionate and committed to your design idea and that you have a clear vision for its future. You need to communicate your vision and passion, both verbally and visually, in your pitch. You should use storytelling, emotion, and humor to engage and persuade your investors. You should also use visuals, such as slides, images, videos, or demos, to illustrate and enhance your pitch. You should also be prepared to answer questions and objections from your investors and to show your confidence and enthusiasm for your design idea.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?