What am I doing here on stage. I don't normally give talks. I work behind the scenes like a spin doctor as helping others to find their storylines to get their presentation out there.And as you've just heard, I've been doing that for quite some time. For the last nine years, I've been giving pitch trainings for the spin lab the HHL accelerator program. So, as many of you might have the luxury, the privilege of a good education and maybe some of you might want to run an enterprise, found a startup. Maybe wha ...

Pitching Fundamentals - Knowing your audience (partners, customers, investors) is crucial for tailoring your message [3][4][5][6] - Simplicity is key; avoid technical jargon and focus on clear communication [6][7][8] - Show your personality and passion to build trust with the audience [10][11][12] - A clear call to action is essential to get the desired support [13][14][15] - Manage expectations regarding the outcome of the pitch session [18][19] Audience Segmentation - Partners need to understand the product's viability and integration potential [3][4][14] - Customers need to know the problem solved, price, and reliability of the product [4][15] - Investors want to assess market viability, market positioning, and competition [5][15] Delivery Techniques - Stand tall, use your voice effectively, and build a connection with the audience [9] - Breathe to manage nervousness and show your true self [10] - Dare to be yourself and avoid hiding behind technicalities [10][13] Financial Asks - When asking investors, be prepared to state the specific amount needed (e.g., €1.5 million) and its intended use (product improvement, marketing, market expansion) [15] - Overcome the fear of asking for large sums of money [16][17] Entrepreneurial Mindset - Be prepared for difficult times and demonstrate commitment to the venture [12][13] - Embrace imperfection and focus on contributing to the betterment of the world [20]

After teaching college English courses for almost 15 years, one of my favorite lessons to still teach and something that my students don't just absolutely hate learning about is rhetoric. Rhetoric is that thing that we hear about and we often immediately associate it with things like politicians and lawyers and presidents and stuff like that and that does count but rhetoric is a lot more than just that. Rhetoric is actually argument and communication. It's the moving pieces that exist within arguments and c ...