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How to Give a Great Elevator Pitch (With Examples)

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How to Give a Great Elevator Pitch (With Examples) was originally published on Forage .

Though people are complex and so much more than just their jobs, in a new social situation you’re often asked, “So, what do you do?” or “What are you majoring in?” While you probably have a stock answer ready to go (I’m in sales; I’m majoring in English), the person asking may be able to help you achieve your career goals — but they won’t know unless you’ve got an elevator pitch ready to go.

An elevator pitch is an enticing and interesting three or four-sentence summary of you. But you do more than talk about yourself. Your elevator pitch gets the listener interested in what you’re capable of.

In this guide, you’ll learn:

What Is an Elevator Pitch?

How to write an elevator pitch, elevator pitch examples, elevator pitch bonus tips.

Mike Gardon of CareerCloud sums up elevator pitches like this: “When meeting someone for the first time, we all get asked what we do, right? Well, an elevator pitch is how you answer that question.”

At its core, an elevator pitch is a brief synopsis of who you are and what you do (or are trying to do). It’s named so because of the idea that you’re in an elevator with the one person who can make your career dreams come true. You’ve got the length of that elevator ride (approximately 30 seconds) to convince that person to keep listening to you.

Why You Need an Elevator Pitch (and When You’ll Use It)

In many respects, an elevator pitch is all about you. And though it may seem strange — uncomfortable even — to talk about yourself, a well-designed elevator pitch starts with you and ends with the listener.

Gardon explains, “The elevator pitch is designed to engage the person with whom you are communicating, and get them to take some next action. Think about it like this: if you were writing an email, the elevator pitch would be the subject line plus the next couple of lines that are shown in an inbox. The purpose is to get the recipient to open the email.”

In the case of your elevator pitch, you’re attempting to spark a longer conversation (or later meeting) with someone who could potentially help you professionally.

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Your elevator pitch comes in handy when you’re looking for a job. But you’ll also use various versions of your elevator pitch in situations like:

• Networking events
• Prospecting for new sales and clients
• When you’re interviewing and asked, “Tell me about yourself.”
• As the “about me” on LinkedIn, Twitter, or other social media page
• In the summary of qualifications on your resume

How Long Should an Elevator Pitch Be?

While elevator ride times vary, the general rule of thumb is that an elevator pitch is no longer than 30 seconds, which means your pitch needs to be concise.

So, you can’t include every accomplishment from your last three jobs, just the top most recent ones. As you’re honing your pitch, write it down and limit yourself to four sentences. This will help you focus on your top highlights.

In general, an elevator pitch includes four essential elements: who you are, what you do, what’s unique about you, and what your “ask” is. Though the “meat” of your pitch likely doesn’t change often, you should prepare multiple elevator pitches that you can tailor to your situation.

For example, if you’re a student, the pitch you use at a career fair may not be the same one you use at a networking event. Likewise, if you’re changing careers, you may need to switch up what your “ask” is depending on who you talk to.

Gardon offers an example. “I wear so many different hats and am involved in different businesses. So, if I want someone to be a guest on my podcast, I might tell them how we’ve done over 400 episodes, instead of telling them that I’m a former derivatives trader.”

Also, while the below elements are crucial, they can go in almost any order. While a good elevator pitch usually begins with your name, you may find that listing your skills before your accomplishments is better for your pitch.

Part 1: Who Are You?

Your elevator pitch starts with your name, of course, but also consider throwing in a “hook” that gives the person you’re speaking with an opening to ask you questions. Here are some examples:

“I’m [your name], a recent graduate of [university] with a degree in [your degree].”

“My name is [your name] and I’m a junior at [university] majoring in [your major].”

“I’m [your name] and while I’m currently in product development, I’ve decided I want to change gears and go into graphic design.”

Part 2: What Do You Do?

The second part of your elevator pitch explains what you do. However, you shouldn’t limit yourself to a job title. This is the place to mention one outstanding accomplishment from your job, internship, or even a class that will wow your listener.

Like all parts of your elevator speech, this needs to be brief, but it should also be detailed and help the listener get an idea of what you’re capable of:

“During my marketing internship at [name of company], I grew social media engagement by 43%, which resulted in an uptick in newsletter sign-ups year over year.”

“Our business is small, but that lets us have more personal interaction, which has helped us keep a small but loyal and profitable client base for 15 years.”

“After learning about the stock market, I wanted to test what I learned as well as my skills, so I created a mock portfolio that’s realized a 24% gain over the last year.”

Part 3: What’s Unique About You?

The next section of your elevator pitch includes something unique about you. While this can include specific skills, you can also trace your career path or accomplishments to illustrate how you use your skills.

Because you only have 30 seconds, you might be tempted to list your skills or accomplishments like a grocery list. But try to link them to an outcome or something you can do.

“I enjoy analyzing data and using the results to plan my content calendar, including social media posts.”

“I worked on my college newspaper, starting on the sports beat, eventually moving my way up to chief editor.”

The first example mentions one skill (data analysis ) and two outcomes (planning the content calendar and social media posts). The second example doesn’t mention any skills but illustrates the speaker’s career path (sports beat to chief editor), demonstrating an increase in skills and responsibilities.

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Part 4: Call to Action (or What’s Your Ask?)

The final part of your elevator pitch includes a call to action. Or, more specifically, what are you asking for?

Much like networking, you may not want to blurt out “a job!” even if that’s your desired outcome. This section is what you hope will happen, which could be a job, internship, or just a new networking connection.

“I would love to speak to you about being a potential mentor, if you have time.”

“I’d like to follow up with you about how I can get involved in and conduct summer research.”

“Can you tell me how you decided on [this] career?”

Each of these invites the listener to continue engaging with you either right now or in the future. 

Optional Part 5: Something Memorable

Finally, depending on the situation, you might want to include something memorable in your pitch. This is situation-dependent and only something you should do if you’re comfortable.

For example, the pitch on Gardon’s LinkedIn profile says, “Earned the Title ‘World Champion Funniest Person In The World (to my kids)’ 10 years running.”

Of course, not everyone can be the “Funniest Person in the World,” but your memorable moment could be your love of science fiction, who your favorite author is, or the fact that you just adopted a cat.

Here’s what all the elements look like when you put them together:

“I’m David, a rising senior at XYZ University and an education major. I spent last year student teaching at my old high school, and it was quite the experience being on the other side. I’m graduating in the spring and am looking to teach high school biology.”

“I’m Ella, and I’m currently an individual contributor at XYZ company running the social media accounts. I use Google Analytics to analyze and improve content performance, and my personal TikTok has XXX followers. I’m looking to move to a leadership role at a mid to large-size company where I can mentor others.”

“I’m Mike and I’m a sophomore at XYZ university. When I was a kid, I really wanted to communicate with animals, which is partly why I’m majoring in zoology. I’m not sure what career is best suited for me. Can you tell me how you ended up in yours?”

Once you’ve written (and rewritten) your elevator pitch, you’re almost ready to try it out. Before you do, though, ensure your delivery is memorable — for the right reasons!

• Practice. Practice makes perfect, of course. And while you don’t want to sound too rehearsed, you also don’t want to trip over your pitch or start rambling. Practice in front of a mirror, with friends or family, or record yourself to make sure you’re getting it right.
• Time yourself. Thirty seconds can feel like forever or fly right by. Time yourself to make sure your pitch isn’t too long or too short, and adjust as necessary.
• Use your “excited” voice. While you’ll want to use your “inside voice,” vary your tone. When you give a rehearsed speech, it should be polished but not robotic. Try to bring some excitement to your voice as you speak.
• Speak slowly. You may want to cram as much as possible into your 30 seconds, but that could result in you speaking too quickly to try to get it all in, making it tough for the listener to understand you. As hard as it might be, stick to one or two main points.
• Maintain eye contact. While you don’t want to stare at the listener the whole time, you don’t want to stare at the floor either. Maintain the level of eye contact that feels normal and natural to you, and break eye contact when appropriate.

Make Your Pitch

An elevator pitch is useful in all sorts of professional (and even personal!) situations. By taking stock of what you do and what you want to do, you’ll find the perfect elements to include in yours and impress the next person you pitch it to.

Want more insights into creating the perfect pitch? Check out Ashurst’s Building Your Personal Brand Virtual Experience Program .

Image credit: Canva

The post How to Give a Great Elevator Pitch (With Examples) appeared first on Forage .

Business growth

Business tips

11 actually great elevator pitch examples and how to make yours

There's a trope in late '90s movies where a motivated, ambitious main character does everything they can to get on the same elevator ride as the CEO of some powerful company.

It usually ends the same way. Our protagonist makes a nervous, fast-paced speech that the CEO ignores while repeatedly pressing the elevator button, and we get a five-second scene with sad music of our main character watching them walk away.

That nervous, fast-paced speech is an elevator pitch example—a bad one, because otherwise, those movies would be nine minutes long and uninspiring. In the real world, an elevator pitch can make a powerful impression and pave the way for business ventures, employment opportunities, and networking. It won't get you a corner office and a fancy title one week into your new job, but it can be an important step in the right direction. 

To highlight that difference—and to really dismantle "The Pursuit of Happyness" as a plot—I've put together some elevator pitch examples and a guide on how to write one that actually works.

Table of contents:

Components of an elevator pitch

11 elevator pitch examples

How to write an elevator pitch

What is an elevator pitch.

An elevator pitch is a concise speech in which you introduce yourself and a few key points about what you're pitching, whether it's to acquire investors, promote a product, advertise a business, or even sell yourself as a potential employee. If it takes longer than a minute to get the point across, it's getting too long.

Elevator pitches were originally exclusively spoken—used in business conversations and investor pitches—but have since grown into a written format used for things like websites, social media, video ads, marketing outreach, and media pitches . 

You're not trying to convey your entire business strategy or all your selling points. Your goal here is to raise interest, make a connection, and facilitate an opportunity for business in the future.

Let's say you're in the fintech industry and are attending a networking event full of bank representatives and decision-makers. Instead of spending an hour going through your company's history and how it's aiming to be carbon-neutral by 2157, you'd find more success introducing it concisely, pointing out one or two key features and how they could serve your audience's interests. 

The pitch begins with a hook to draw your audience in, veers into the value you offer, provides some proof to support your statement, and wraps it all up with a display of what makes you different.

It's relatively easy to incorporate these elements into a short pitch. The difficulty lies in choosing a good hook and phrasing your proposition in a way that appeals to the other side of the conversation.

The hook: This element doesn't need to be fancy or complicated. Make it simple and get straight to the point. For example, if you're pitching a time management tool, your hook can be a personal story like: "When I first started my business, it felt like there was too much to do and not enough time to do it." It can also be a statistic. If you're pitching an online collaboration tool, your hook can be something like: "73% of all teams will have remote workers by 2028."

The value proposition : This is where you provide an overview of the value you're bringing to the table. Discuss what you're pitching and what it does, research your listener's unique needs beforehand, and prepare a compelling argument for how you can meet them. 

The evidence: The person you're talking to may be nodding, but that doesn't necessarily mean your point is getting across. Some proof of past success or stats that speak to your success could make that nodding a lot more genuine.

The differentiator: Let them know that you're different—that your product or service isn't just another iteration of what came before. You get brownie points for originality and not quoting any movies.

The call to action: Make sure you're inviting your audience to take action. They have all the details, and they might be interested. It's time to bring it home with a clear call to action . Ask them to connect with you on LinkedIn, invite them for a coffee chat, share contact information, and make sure there's an opportunity to follow up on the conversation.

11 elevator pitch examples done right

I rewatched "The Pursuit of Happyness" to see if there was anything I could salvage, but all I walked away with was frustration at the misleading lesson that passion can overcome anything. Passion cannot, in fact, overcome a busy decision-maker who can't wait for you to stop talking.

If you're at all like me, you'll find the following examples a much better use of your time.

1. Startup pitch example

Everyone's got ideas for [shared goal] . But ideas aren't enough.

We took [shared goal] and turned it into a reality.

We developed [solution] at [company name] that's [list of qualities] . We made it possible for [target audience] to [shared goal] .

What sets us apart is our [differentiator, followed by brief overview] .

If you're passionate about [high-level goal] and interested in [benefit of collaborating with you] , let's connect.

This elevator pitch example demonstrates how to approach potential business partners and investors with a clean energy project. The hook is simple. It leans on the issue and the harsh reality of how little the world does to achieve utopian sustainability. Then it introduces the solution as the company's proactive effort to change the status quo. It pitches efficiency, reduced costs, and access to a larger customer base. Finally, it addresses how ease of use sets the solution apart from the competition and invites further collaboration. 

This example is ideal for startups in that it focuses more on the product, what makes it unique, and the features that set it apart, rather than the company's past achievements, success stories, or revenue metrics. It can easily be used to pitch investors and potential clients alike.  

You can follow this example by making the problem the centerpiece of the hook. Open with the issue, and position your company's service or product as the solution.

2. Job seeker pitch example

It took me [period of time] to [achieve goal] .

It's always been my priority to deliver [high-level result] , but I want to put my [expertise] to use making [high-level goal/impact] .

At [company name] , I [past experience] that [measureable results] .

I love what I do. But I [differentiator, high-level goal] .

If you're looking for a [position/title] who's [differentiator] , let's chat. I'm eager to explore how I can help your organization achieve its [field] objectives.

Since tropes are only a good idea when I propose them, I've decided that our job seeker would be making a pitch to GreenCorp, the company from our previous example. Will Smith will not be playing this role.

In this example, the author of the pitch isn't trying to sell a company or a product; they're trying to sell themselves. The hook addresses their background, expertise, and goals. It then veers into past performance results and highlights the key skill set. The uniqueness factor here speaks to GreenCorp's mission, showcasing that the author shares the company's grand goals, empathetic mindset, and desire to help build something positive. 

If you're ever job hunting, open your pitch with a concise and direct overview of your background, share your most impressive achievements, and do your research into the company you're pitching.

3. Sales pitch example

Most people [relevant statistic, followed by explanation] . 

At [company name] , we've taken the [pain point] out of the equation. 

Our [products] are designed for [value proposition] .

They're more than just [product] . They're [differentiator, followed by supporting evidence] . 

We're not just salespeople; we're [differentiator] .

So, are you ready to find [product selling point] ? Let's [CTA] .

In this example, a guitar shop is pitching its unique guitar design to potential customers. It recognizes a very common problem and ties it to a feeling that most guitar enthusiasts know all too well: giving up too soon. It later positions the author as an expert and fellow musician and utilizes customer reviews as supporting evidence.

A sales pitch will always depend on your industry, product, and customer base. Approach your audience by speaking to their greatest pain points .

4. Networking pitch example

I'm a [position/title] at [company name] , and I've worked on [past experience] . 

Over the past [period of time] , I've had the privilege of working with diverse industries, from [industry] to [industry] , and what truly excites me is [shared interest] . 

I'm here to connect with other professionals who share my enthusiasm for creative and innovative [field] ideas. I really want to explore new [differentiators and shared interests] .

Let's connect on [communication channel] . I have quite a few compelling [field] resources to share and talk through.

This networking pitch resembles the job seeker pitch with one major difference: the audience shifts from an employer to a colleague. The objective changes, and that affects the entire approach. 

In this example, the author isn't trying to convey their efficiency or results in percentages or measurable performance points. They're sharing aspects of their industry that they're passionate about and are interested in discussing. The point here is to make a memorable introduction at a networking event and gather connections .

Ahead of your next networking event, tailor your pitch so that it speaks to your expertise and knowledge without going into too much detail.

5. Investor pitch example

At [company name] , we [business concept offer] , plain and simple.

We [value proposition] .

Our portfolio contains [supporting evidence] .

Why us? Well, we [differentiator] .

We roll up our sleeves and get involved. 

We're currently prospecting [target audience] to join us on our journey. If you're ready to be part of the next [field] disruption, let's talk about how [company name] can help.

Investors have heard it all a million times over. It's why their faces are so hard to read—set in unimpressed silence. So it's best to make your hook short and to the point. "We do X to achieve Y" can be a breath of fresh air when your job is listening to entrepreneurs pitch their ideas five days a week.

In this example, YZTech Ventures aims to secure investors for promising companies. The hook is straightforward and simple, slowly veering into an overview of the company and why it works.

6. Nonprofit pitch example

Every day, [pain point] .

[Company name] is working to change that.

We're a nonprofit dedicated to [high-level goal] . We've already provided [supporting evidence/achievements] .

We don't want to treat the symptoms; we want to face the root cause of [pain point] . But this will be a losing battle if we're fighting it on our own.

We're always looking for individuals who share our vision and drive to build a better world where [high-level goal] .

If you're ready to make a difference, let's discuss how you can be part of the solution.

Empathy is the name of the game here, and charities and nonprofits can use it as a unique selling point. The good news is there's very little risk of doing this wrong. The example outlines the cause, its aim, and the efforts being made to find a solution. 

If you're pitching a nonprofit or a charity to potential donors, lean heavily on the charity's message and accomplishments.

7. Personal branding pitch example

I'm [name] , and I'm a dedicated [title] . I've helped [past expertise and achievments] .

I do what I do by [value proposition, followed by differentiator] .

I'm here to [offered value] .

There's " [position] " in the title, but I'll be [differentiator] .

Let's schedule a meeting and discuss what you can do.

Personal branding comes into play when you're pitching yourself, the individual. Just as companies share their unique idea, proposition, and values, the life coach does the same at a personal level. 

If you're ever writing a personal branding pitch, approach it as you would a business. The key difference is to showcase your values and what makes you unique as a person rather than as a corporate entity.

8. Product launch pitch example 

I'm very excited to share with you [product selling point] .

At [company name] , [products] aren't just a [basic nature of product] . We see them as a game-changer in [selling point] .

This is why we developed our [product] , a cutting-edge [product overview] .

Imagine all of your [value proposition, followed by key features] .

Our product has already received rave reviews during beta testing, with users reporting [survey results] .

[Product] is now available for preorders! [CTA].

This example focuses less on the company and more on the newly revealed product. The new release speaks for itself and the business at the same time.

The hook immediately positions the product as the future or "the next best thing." The pitch dives into what makes the new product unique, utilizing a hypothetical to paint a picture of what it can achieve.

If you're writing a product launch elevator pitch, focus on the product and let it speak for the company.

9. Rebranding pitch example

We've done great things as [company name] . We've helped businesses [services and past achievements] .

We've since been on a journey of transformation, and it's time for a fresh start.

Our company has grown, adapted, and innovated in response to changing market dynamics. We've [outlined change] . Now, [company name] is about to become [new company name] .

Why the change? We've rebranded to [rebranding reasons] .

With [new company name] , you can expect the same quality, expertise, and dedication you've come to trust. But now, we're adding a fresh perspective and a dynamic spirit to our brand.

We invite you to join us in this exciting phase of our journey. [New company name] is ready to [service/value proposition] .

Let's schedule a meeting and explore how our renewed brand can better serve your evolving needs.

In this example, the hook immediately delivers the reasoning behind the change. 

Instead of a value proposition, the pitch offers an assurance that the rebranding won't have detrimental effects. It's designed to address stakeholders and clients as well as provide context.

10. Consulting services pitch example

At [company name] , we specialize in [value proposition] .

With a team of seasoned experts in [field of expertise] , we've successfully guided organizations to [high-level goal] .

Our approach is all about partnership. We take the time to deeply understand your unique market and audience. From there, we [differentiator] .

[Company name] can be the catalyst for your business's transformation. Whether you're looking to [goal] or [goal] , we're here to help.

Let's schedule a virtual meeting to discuss where your company stands and where we can take it.

This pitch is designed to attract clients for a consulting service. It takes a collaborative tone in its approach and focuses on areas of growth that pretty much every decision-maker worries about. It makes the solution the centerpiece of its hook instead of the problem, and goes on to briefly outline how the firm's process is structured. 

11. Technology solution pitch example

[Relevant statistic].  

That's how it goes for your [pain point] .

Imagine you didn't have to worry about [pain point] .

Our [product] is designed to enhance [process] . We help businesses [value proposition] .

One of our recent success stories includes helping a [supporting evidence] .

The thing is, [differentiator] ; we make sure our [product] is specifically customized for your organization's needs. 

Are you available to meet next week for a personalized demo?

In this example, the hook is a statistic that lays the foundation for the problem and the value proposition. It's a powerful hook that captures the audience's attention and helps you transition into what you really want to say.

You can be an optimist and decide to improvise an elevator pitch. But you'll likely end up taking too many pauses under the guise of sipping your water, and stumbling over your words mid-pitch might waste a precious conversation.

It pays to be prepared, and writing an elevator pitch beforehand can make a big difference.

1. Outline a clear objective

Before you start writing the elevator pitch, focus on your objective . Are you introducing yourself to grow your personal network, pitching a service or product, prospecting investors, or trying to acquire a new client?

Your objective will help you pinpoint the information you want to mention in your pitch. 

Tip: Establish success metrics relevant to your objective. Investors will want to know how much revenue your business can generate, while potential clients will want to know the benefits of your product or service. Make sure your success metrics speak to your audience's concerns.

2. Define your audience

One speech won't work across the board. Hollywood says the up-and-coming manager likes to be impressed with a Rubik's cube, while the CEO likes to hear your heartfelt speech about how much this job means to you and how you're expertly overcoming odds. 

Both those things are wrong, but the point remains that identifying who your listener is and what matters to them is a nice way to tailor your pitch so that it speaks to their concerns, needs, and bigger pain points. The more you resonate with your audience, the more impactful your pitch will be, and the closer you'll get to a tearful Will Smith movie ending.

Defining your audience goes beyond knowing the name and nature of what might make a potential client. 

Tip: Conduct in-depth audience research by diving into your chosen market, competitors, user data, and digital marketing analytics. Then comb through that information to define your audience's pain points and how you're uniquely positioned to address them.  

3. Craft a hook

You know what you want to say and why. Now you need an opening statement—a hook that grabs their attention and gets them invested in the rest of your pitch. You want to set the stage for the elements that come next. Make it clear and engaging, but keep it concise. The goal here is to get an attentive listener, not a bored one.

The hook needs to spark the audience's interest. You need to speak their industry's language, show knowledge and expertise, and put your audience research data to good use by pointing out the difficulties and issues they face.

Tip: Use a personal story, a statistic, a fact, or an interesting hypothetical to draw your audience in.

4. Explain your value proposition

Once your audience is paying attention, it's time to dive into the proposition and the value within. What do you and your idea bring to the table? What problems do you solve, and how does that make your listener's life better? How does your solution differ from those they've heard pitched a thousand times before?

Point out the differentiating factors that make you and your business unique, whether it's the groundbreaking tech you've patented or the better pricing options your competitors can't keep up with. 

Tip: Write down all the aspects that make your business different, and choose the most compelling ones for the pitch.

5. Support your pitch with evidence

Who doesn't like real-life measurable data? Well, Hollywood doesn't, but that's just because no amount of Hans Zimmer music can make your 325% ROI cinematically engaging. You can be confident that your audience will want to hear success stories that support your proposition.

Have a few successful case studies from former and current clients ready to drive the point home and turn a semi-interested listener into an engaged party.

Tip: Draw on your own expertise, and use performance statistics and relevant metrics from previous projects. 

6. Keep it concise

It's called an elevator pitch for a reason. You have under a minute to get your entire pitch across to a busy decision-maker who doesn't have all day. Cut the fluff, and only say what you feel certain will convince your recipient to take your side.

Tip: Practice reading your pitch out loud in the mirror. Use a timer to measure how long it takes to deliver it comfortably.

7. End with a clear call to action

Since the point of an elevator pitch is to generate interest, you'll want to end it with a clear call to action—one that evokes a response and maybe a more in-depth conversation.

If you're pitching a service, you can offer to schedule a meeting to further outline your services and how they can help the listener. If you're pitching a product, you could offer to schedule a demo to prove it can improve their business. Get creative here, and aim to turn that interest into a meeting.

Tip: Lead your audience to connect with you beyond the pitch. Schedule a meeting or a coffee chat, exchange contact information, and make sure there's room for a longer discussion.

8. Prepare to answer questions

You can't just deliver your pitch and then hit the open bar at the networking event. Be ready to answer questions.

Questions at this stage mean your listener is intrigued, curious, and interested. At this point, feel free to provide as much context in your answers as you'd like. The elevator pitch has already ended, and it served its purpose. Go in-depth and provide context.

Tip: Write down a few questions based on your own market research. Ask yourself what your customers, investors, and audience might be curious about. Prepare your answers so you're never surprised.

Make a unique first impression

Elevator pitches exist because humans have shorter attention spans than goldfish, and we really need a leg up on our aquatic competition.

Opportunities are fleeting, especially when businesses are launching every day. In an oversaturated environment, an elevator pitch can help you make an impression that lasts. And who knows, you might just have what it takes to inspire a 50-million dollar movie that Will Smith can "misty-eye" his way through.

Related reading:

How to pitch your small business to the press

How to use personalized sales pitches to convert clients and sell more 

ChatGPT prompts that will generate great sales emails

Email etiquette: How to ask people for things and actually get a response

How to create a project plan (with project plan templates)

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Hachem Ramki

Hachem is a writer and digital marketer from Montreal. After graduating with a degree in English, Hachem spent seven years traveling around the world before moving to Canada. When he's not writing, he enjoys Basketball, Dungeons and Dragons, and playing music for friends and family.

• Small business

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The ultimate guide to creating an ideal elevator pitch presentation in 2023

What is an elevator pitch? What is an elevator pitch designed to do? And even more importantly – what makes a good elevator pitch? It is probably one of the most common presentation types – and it’s easy to see why. It is brief, effective, and utterly universal since you can use this format in pretty much any sphere – from business to making friends. So, let’s find out exactly what it is and how to make an ideal elevator pitch!

Elevator pitch meaning

An elevator pitch, sometimes referred to as an elevator speech, is a brief, memorable summary of your professional background, product/service, expertise, and credentials. This type of presentation should be quick enough to present during a short elevator ride, which is why it’s called an elevator pitch.

This speech is entirely about who you are, what you sell or currently do, and what you plan to do in the future.

Think of it as a Twitter version of your business proposal/plan. You can use over 140 characters to share your ideas during a 60-second elevator ride but only share up to 3 tweets’ during the first contact. The reason is simple: the average English word has 5.5 characters with spaces, and a 140-character tweet is equal to 25 words.

Pro tip: In your elevator pitch, speak at a comprehensible 75 words per minute (a little slower than the usual pace of 120-200 words/minute).

Done right, this speech will help you make a solid first impression on potential investors, employers, or business partners. It can also aid in network development, employment, or establishing connections with new coworkers on your first day at a company. You might even learn something new about your business that you never knew before!

Is this something you are interested in trying?

Good! Because we’ll soon show you how to do it!

Key takeaways:

• Aim to convey your message in no more than 60 seconds and keep your elevator speech short and to the point.
• Maintain a maximum of 75 words per minute.
• With the limited time you have, be enthusiastic and persuasive. Concentrate on the most critical details.
• Use visual aids to grab attention.
• To ensure that your speech is effective, record it or deliver it to a friend. Remember, practice makes perfect.

What is an elevator pitch deck designed to do?

To put it shortly, an elevator pitch is designed to introduce either you or your product or service. Keep in mind that your audience would likely be strangers. Your goal here is to catch their attention and spark interest.

Depending on what you want to achieve, there may be different types of elevator pitch presentations:

• Introductory elevator pitch – fits anywhere from job interviews to sales campaigns and fundraising events – wherever you need to introduce yourself or your product/service.
• Job interview elevator pitch – fits for making a fast overview of your skills and competencies for your potential employer.
• “Selling” elevator pitch for business – fits for either selling your product or getting funding to make one.

Remember, your elevator pitch is as helpful during online networking events, job interviews, and trade fairs as in person.

In this article, we’ll show you how to craft a powerful elevator pitch ppt to attract investors.

What constitutes a good elevator pitch?

The purpose of elevator pitch slides is to give clear and crisp information about yourself or your product/service. That’s why your deck should contain only a few slides. The perfect elevator pitch deck is anywhere between 5 to 12 slides, with smart art and charts.

How to do an elevator pitch for business?

There are a ton of elevator pitch examples available online. And every one of those samples follows a slightly different format template.

This raises an important question: which one is the best?

We at SlidePeak will try to provide a clear answer to that question in this elevator pitch guide. Having explored many alternative options, we found our winning template, which we will now share with you.

Our elevator pitch presentation is divided into 8 sections:

• Introduction
• Problem vs. solution
• Market size and competition
• Business model
• Unique selling point (USP)
• Founding team
• Money milestones
• Call to action (CTA)

Here’s a quick overview of what each elevator pitch slide deck section includes and why:

Section 1: Introduction

You might be tempted to begin an elevator pitch with something startling. After all, you want to draw the investor’s attention, don’t you?

The issue with shocking starters is that they may draw the investor’s attention away from your business, which is the main focus of your pitch. That’s why we recommend starting out naturally rather than shockingly and putting information on 1-3 slides to make the information easy to understand.

You should include these elevator pitch essentials in your introduction:

• The name of the business
• A concise summary of your business (no more than two sentences)
• A breakdown of the top three products/services you offer (optional)
• Your target audience

Make sure to relate all details in no more than 18 seconds or 36 words max. By briefly outlining the details, you give the potential investor a basic grasp of what you do.

Good examples:

Pro tip: You can skip the target audience if it is obvious, like in the example above (anyone can benefit from social media). For other products/services, this is a crucial component that should be clearly defined.

Starting your elevator pitch PowerPoint with a question or hook is also an excellent way to attract the investor’s attention. In such a case, add one more slide before the introductory one.

Example 1: Starting with a question

Example 2: Starting with a hook or interesting fact

The pitch’s beginning or conclusion might both contain a hook. If you’re cold-pitching and use your hook at the beginning, your audience might be intrigued. A lengthier conversation will begin if you place it near the end of your speech during a networking event or job interview.

Section 2: Problem vs. solution

The next section has to throw light on the problem you’re attempting to solve. It can consist of one main problem statement, several smaller ones that are related to it, or one main problem divided into two to three smaller ones.

The objective is to demonstrate that you fully understand the challenge and quickly tell them about the solution you offer. The simpler to understand, the better.

Section 3: Market size and competition

Potential investors are always more likely to invest where they can expect substantial returns. That’s why demonstrating the scale of the opportunity and insights into the competition gives an immediate sense of whether they should invest their time with you.

Good example:

Section 4: Business model

An investor can get a sense of how you plan to make money with a fast elevator pitch slide on the business model. An investor is more likely to convert when a business strategy is clear and compelling.

Section 5: Why choose us or our USP

Your objective in this section is to show potential investors how your company stands out from the competition. At this point, they decide whether or not to spend more time with you.

If they want to hold a second listening to you, you are more likely to get funding.

Pro tip: You should be mindful that you have a maximum of 20 seconds to highlight your USP. Therefore, keep information to a minimum and provide details that are absolutely necessary for your investors to know.

You can also add a slide describing your technology if you offer high-end, technologically oriented products or solutions. If it’s a patented technology, make sure to put it forward during your elevator pitch.

Section 6: Founding team

People invest in people.

Investors are interested in the credentials of the people they spend their money and effort on. To inspire trust in potential investors, always include your credentials, experience, and accomplishments.

Section 7: Money milestones

Investors absolutely love numbers and will remember them long after your elevator pitch is over. Therefore, make sure to demonstrate a well-thought-out investment process right from the start.

A good example from Airbnb:

How to speak at an elevator pitch?

Now that we’re finished with the content part, let’s talk about how you should speak at an elevator pitch.

Actually, time may be quite an enemy here. You start talking faster because you are worried, and there’s so little time for you to speak. And if you are a fast talker, this may result in your pitch feeling rushed and hard to follow.

Try keeping a relaxed approach to how you speak. Your steady and clear rhythm will create a feeling of confidence in what you are talking about. This will result in credibility and give you the highest possible impact.

How to end an elevator pitch?

The ending is as important as the beginning, if not more! In fact, the more creative you can be, the more successful your elevator pitch will be.

You need to consider a concluding statement that will stick in the investor’s mind. The better the line, the more likely your potential investor will remember your message afterward.

This memory trigger could be anything from a catchy phrase to a promise of value. It can be a summary of the pitch. If you can make it rhyme, bonus points for you!

You can also ask whether further explanations are needed, initiate a discussion, or offer your business card – whatever attracts attention and makes your pitch memorable.

What to avoid in an elevator pitch?

The key thing in an elevator pitch, apart from its size, is clarity.

Here are 6 things you should avoid when you write your elevator pitch.

• Avoid truisms, buzzwords, hyperbole, and jargon. Some people can be impressed, but many others will be confused.
• Don’t speak too fast or ask too much of people.
• Weed out fillers and annoyances.
• Don’t give your elevator speech to people who don’t want to hear it or are in a hurry.
• Don’t take a one-size-fits-all approach. Make sure to refresh your pitch if the situation changes.
• Don’t speak in a monotone way or frown. Instead, aim for high energy.

Finally, think about how you move and what you do during your elevator pitch. Too many gestures and overall movement may appear annoying, while not moving at all will make you sound odd. So, try to strike a balance and always be ready for objections!

Some good examples to follow:

The presentation part

The design, appearance, and feel of the deck have an equal impact on your elevator pitch’s success, as does accurately communicated information.

Do not shy away from receiving professional assistance to get the elevator pitch design done. After all, it is your idea that should succeed – an effective elevator pitch deck simply opens the door.

Quick tips for elevator pitch that stands out

• Keep it concise, short, simple, and visually appealing.
• Select bold fonts.
• Give preference to contrasting backgrounds.
• Use words, fonts, and images that are easy to understand.
• Avoid putting all the information in a single slide –the less information, the better.
• Avoid using free stock images – instead, use few but relevant ones.

The bottom line

Stick with the elevator pitch guidelines we’ve offered in this article, and you will present your business with class and style. And if you have any questions or need assistance creating an elevator pitch, feel free to contact our team at any time convenient for you.

We’re always happy to assist business owners and startups in expanding their marketing efforts!

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Home Blog Business Elevator Pitch Guide: The Essentials to Elevator Pitch Presentations

Elevator Pitch Guide: The Essentials to Elevator Pitch Presentations

In her book Resonate , communication and Persuasion Expert Nancy Duarte, a highly praised master of turning story patterns into effective business communications, recommends “Showing your humanness when you present” as a “great way to stand out.” Yet, how do we manage to do that over a conversation that can only last as long as an elevator ride, at best? We’re focusing on elevator pitches over this note, aiming at strengthening your skills in delivering a successful elevator pitch for business in a way that brings your company, efforts, and ideas the best success moving forward. 

Table of Content

What is an elevator pitch?

How long should an elevator pitch be, elevator pitch real-life applications, the basic structure for an elevator pitch, recommendations on delivering your elevator pitch.

• Four Effective Elevator Pitch Examples (with Real-Life Experiences)

According to elevator company Kencor, Inc. , vertical lifts “have variable ride times”. An elevator ride in a small town in Kentucky is certainly not the same as one in New York City. The reason “there may be considerable differences in terms of speed”, as CMA Lifts states , is “because one thing is having to serve maybe a four-story building and much more is having to do with a building that in turn goes to touch a dozen.” Times will vary depending on the type of elevator, too, amount of a building’s stories, and stops made on the way.

In Taipei 101, which CMA presents as “the third highest skyscraper in the world,” a lift can travel 60.6 km to reach the 89th floor “at an altitude of 382 meters, in a time frame of about 40 seconds.” Why does this matter? We can use these times as a starting reference. 

The concept of an “elevator pitch” is most clear when we think of the length of an elevator ride as that timeframe in which you can make a perfect introduction to a potential investor or stakeholder. 

The content of a perfect elevator pitch should be succinct, direct, and plentiful . It’s also certainly one you polish every time you deliver it.

A highly esteemed 30 seconds is the common industry rule for a winning first impression. A half-minute capsule is the average notion of an elevator pitch length. This is one common reference point for elevator pitches. 

The second common standard for elevator pitches is based on a higher ride average stemming from New York City. Harvard Business Review (HBR) actually goes for this higher elevator ride average of 118 seconds. Of course, the higher amount of skyscrapers in that multicultural place makes up for the considerable difference. 

Whether you’re settling for the standard 30 seconds or allowing yourself an extension of up to 118 seconds, the truth is that elevator pitch rides are quick, efficient, and to the point. The goal is to sell your idea or product as fast as the attention you’re likely to get during a single elevator ride.  

The above is very much tied to the standard sitcom, TV, and movie scene of someone selling an episode, a project, or any idea while catching up to the jam-packed, unattainable executive everyone wants a hold of as they walk into the office. 

If we stick to this produced idea of an elevator ride that we see on screen, the most common real-life application is a key potential investor or customer, a person we wish to attract to whom we, in our minds, say: “If only I could pitch my idea to this person for a single minute, I’d sell it!” 

A conference, a demo-day presentation, product launches , and many other networking events are the real-life equivalent of what we see on TV (as in a Shark Tank episode). 

In general, elevator pitches are used to pitch a startup, engage in sales, introduce oneself, present a new venture to a venture capitalist, and even seek a job, even. 

As we said when we presented our Creative Elevator Pitch Deck PowerPoint Template , “The Elevator Pitch for Interview enables users to demonstrate their career portfolio in an engaging manner.” Someone who walks into an office or casually discusses their career over a taxi ride in a way that succinctly showcases their expertise and abilities is much more likely to catch attention for an open position than someone without clarity or ability to express their thoughts, goals, and desires. 

A well-thought-out elevator pitch for a role or as a presentation to a startup, even as a project description in a nutshell, is similar to a very powerful wild card that you pull up your sleeve when that person you know meets you by chance as much as gives you a quick 15-minute introduction to prove your point. Whether an investor can call you back during a 10-minute break or you run into a key business partner in a hallway, on the way somewhere, or at a quick reception at any event, an elevator pitch is destined to convey your ideas across very succinctly so you can pick up longer conversations (or pitches) at a more convenient or later stage. 

As we also said in the article to the template above, “business owners and managers use elevator pitch PowerPoints to discuss ideas briefly.” Templates and business presentations in this category of elevator pitch decks serve the useful purpose of putting ideas up on screen in a nutshell for focused discussion. And that’s usually highly appreciated. 

Further below, we’ll get to a real-life example of a pitch that worked great for Carmine Gallo in working with an esteemed language interpretation company in Monterrey, California. 

For now, if you’re looking to know more about “interview presentations”, including an Elevator Pitch Example for Job Seekers, our article How to Give A Compelling Interview Presentation: Tips, Examples, and Topic Ideas is here to help. We’ll get to more elevator speech examples for entrepreneurs in the section below, as well. 

For now, how do we ideally present our elevator pitches? 

Create visually appealing presentations as much as possible. The goal is for your visuals to give power and create engagement that adds to your message or speech. This can be done either by carefully pairing your presentation templates so the aesthetic remains cohesive, or opt for a software solution like the SlideModel’s AI presentation maker to speed up slide design process. Then, also work very conscientiously on your messaging.

As Nancy Duarte says, “Truly great communicators make it look easy as they lure audiences to adopt their ideas and take action.” To learn how to deliver a presentation pitch, and if we can expand on what the author says, this “isn’t something that just happens automatically; it comes at the price of long and thoughtful hours spent constructing messages that resonate deeply and elicit empathy.” Make sure you put in your focused, attentive hours constructing that ideal message that will resonate with your audience to make them take action. Results will be noticeable if you do, and your confidence in delivering these speeches will naturally and greatly improve as you move forward. This long-term exercise is about being in control of what you’re gearing and how you’re doing so. 

As the already-referenced HBR article states, “The first 8 seconds are the ‘hook’—the time you have to get the ‘lean in’ factor, to snag your prospect, to catch their interest.” For them, “Those first 8 seconds are the key”, as HBR puts it. And that’s essentially so because this first span is where we most commonly capture an audience’s full attention before we naturally lose it.  

Thereafter, you’re looking to answer a few key questions for your audience. In Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs – How to be Insanely Great in Front of Any Audience , for example, Carmine Gallo breaks down the ultimate elevator pitch by recommending a presenter: “Simply create a one-sentence answer for the following four questions: (1) What do you do?  (2) What problem do you solve?  (3) How are you different?  (4) Why should I care?”

As promised, here’s what a winning elevator pitch looked like for Gallo in working with an interpretation company (which we labeled here as XYZ) in Monterrey, California: 

XYZ company…

“is the world’s largest provider of phone interpretation services for companies who want to connect with their non-English-speaking customers [what it does] . 

Every twenty-three seconds, someone who doesn’t speak English enters this country [the problem] .

When he or she calls a hospital, a bank, an insurance company, or 911, it’s likely that an […] interpreter is on the other end [how it’s different] . 

We help you talk to your customers, patients, or sales prospects in 150 languages [why you should care] .”

Quite succinctly and like we also said in our Creative Elevator Pitch Deck PowerPoint Template , whenever you’re figuring out how to write an elevator pitch, think of ways “to deliver the concept to an audience in a short description that listeners can easily understand.” The pieces of advice we give above should all assist in knowing how to present an elevator pitch successfully. But we’ve for further recommendations to this end. 

The first of our recommendations has to do with pacing. Just because an elevator pitch is expected to be of short duration, that doesn’t mean you need to race through it. Keep it intelligible. Take your time to breathe. Go slowly at it so your ideas can come through to your audience. Don’t rush through an elevator speech just so you can make up for the short time allowed. Practice, instead. Make sure you choose the right words and learn them by heart. Then, move slowly through them. 

The above leads us to our second piece of advice. If you’re building a perfect elevator pitch, revise, edit, and check again! Go through each word many times until you find the right-suiting one for the precise idea or concept you wish to convey. Get them right! 

Also, if you’re looking for an elevator pitch presentation template specially designed for presenting to VCs, angel investors, or stakeholders, for example, seek out specialized material. Our Formal Elevator Pitch Template for PowerPoint might work better in that case. The material is a framework of various slides designed for users to customize and perfect their sales pitches. You’re starting off with a base. 

On the other hand, seek to put yourself out there to family and friends. Especially seek business partners, colleagues, and people in and out of your field who can tell you how you’re doing with your elevator pitch for business. Rather than fight, be offended, take observations or corrections personally, and let alone justify your pitch’s content as you present to people outside the industry, seek to truly listen to feedback, take note, and make sure you incorporate it later. 

The reason behind this observation is that a perfect business pitch contemplates the human aspect of everyone listening. As Duarte puts it in her book, “Even with mountains of facts, you can still fail to resonate. That’s because resonance doesn’t come from the information itself, but rather from the emotional impact of that information.” So, seek to connect emotionally. 

Acknowledging emotion is frequently left out of everything business-related; yet, note how specialist Duarte recommends presenters “Use plenty of facts, but accompany them with emotional appeal.” Listen to your audience and polish your content and delivery until you can sync both the importance of data with the emotional calling that gets audiences to forget what and how you said it, but they walk away changed, with a new vision, and, more importantly, ready to support you and your endeavors. 

Let’s check how people have achieved this before you. 

Four Effective Elevator Pitch Examples (with Real-Life Experiences )

Our first examples of elevator pitches come from a German impact food startup. Though a bit on the longer side with a final 3-minute length, the video introduces the problem and solution flowingly with a captivating start. It includes benefits, creates an overall experience in itself for viewers as it appeals to the senses, and also incorporates a concise call to action that describes exactly where their efforts will be focused. This is a good example to get started in perfecting your upcoming elevator pitch. 

From the college side, Utah State University’s Cooperative Extension Services has an elevator pitch winner who made a compelling business case in less than 2 minutes. This is a perfect example of a 118 elevator pitch that needs a bit of pacing down to be perfect. Instead of rushing, this coffee cup business idea can easily be conceived to go much further on a slower scale. The pitch merits it. Yet, the data and sentiment, the surprise, and all the background work are there, making this a great academic example that can easily guide any executive into winning business presentations.

On the last note, The National Science Foundation came up with a video series on elevator pitches titled “Real People. Real elevators.” Check out episode 2 here for tips with a real-life dramatization and setting if you’d like to picture the situation of a real-life example a bit further. 

Now that we’re moving to the more cinematic side, one of Vince Vaughn’s characters has also made a point on product elevator pitches that we can rescue in a light spirit. The reason is that Vince’s character’s pitch works thanks to how he conveys a clear business idea with a captivating (though risky!) introduction to selling a powerful concept to a group of executives. The scene appears fueled by a writing team that apparently knows the back works of pitching an idea fairly well. Here’s what’s been labeled as “The best elevator pitch of the world” in a YouTube clip of 2011’s movie Dilemma . 

Here, we provide a range of elevator pitch examples to cater to different scenarios:

Business Elevator Pitch Examples:

Imagine you are the founder of a sustainable fashion startup, and you’re pitching your idea to a potential investor:

“I’m the founder of GreenStyle Apparel. We’re disrupting the fashion industry by producing high-quality, eco-friendly clothing made from recycled materials. With a growing consumer demand for sustainable fashion and our innovative supply chain, we’re well-positioned to capture a significant market share. Our recent partnership with [Notable Retailer] has already proven the appeal of our products. I invite you to join us in creating a more sustainable future while enjoying impressive returns on your investment.”

Imagine you’re the founder of a health tech startup and you’re pitching to a potential investor:

“I’m the founder of HealthTech Innovations, a startup dedicated to transforming healthcare through innovative technology. Our flagship product, HealthLink, is a telemedicine platform that connects patients with healthcare providers in real time, improving access to care, and reducing healthcare costs. With the recent surge in telehealth demand, we’ve already secured partnerships with major hospital networks and insurance providers.

Elevator Pitch Examples for Students:

As a college student majoring in communications, you’re networking at a career fair:

“I’m currently pursuing a degree in communications with a focus on digital marketing. During my internship at [Prominent Agency], I had the opportunity to work on campaigns for major clients like [Well-known Brand]. I excel at creating engaging social media content and analyzing performance metrics to drive results. I’m eager to bring my creative skills and data-driven approach to a dynamic marketing team like yours.”

Imagine you’re a marketing major and you’re introducing yourself at a networking event:

“I’m a marketing enthusiast with a passion for creating meaningful brand experiences. Throughout my coursework, I’ve honed my skills in market research, digital marketing, and campaign management. During my internship at [Marketing Agency], I had the opportunity to work on a social media campaign that resulted in a 25% increase in brand engagement.

I’m particularly intrigued by the intersection of technology and marketing, and I’m excited to leverage emerging trends to drive brand success. As a student, I’ve been an active member of the American Marketing Association, where I’ve collaborated with peers on real-world marketing projects. I’m eager to connect with professionals in the field and explore opportunities to apply my knowledge and creativity to your marketing initiatives.”

Elevator Pitch for Interview Example:

You’re interviewing for a project management role at a tech company:

“I’m excited about the opportunity to join your organization as a project manager. With a solid background in project management and a PMP certification, I’ve successfully led cross-functional teams to deliver complex projects on time and within budget. In my previous role at [Former Company], I was recognized for improving project efficiency by 20% through streamlined processes. I’m confident that my skills and experience align with your company’s goals and can contribute to its continued success.”

Elevator Pitch Examples for Interview (Technical Role):

You’re interviewing for a software engineering position at a software startup:

“I’m a software engineer with a passion for creating innovative solutions. In my previous position with [Tech Company], I was the lead developer on a project that resulted in a 40% increase in app user engagement. I specialize in backend development and have experience with a wide range of programming languages, including Python, Java, and Ruby. I’m excited about the opportunity to bring my technical expertise to your team and help drive your mission of revolutionizing the industry.”

You’re interviewing for a data scientist position at a software startup:

“As a data scientist with a strong background in statistical analysis and machine learning, I’ve been at the forefront of turning data into actionable insights. During my tenure at [Analytics Firm], I developed a predictive model that reduced customer churn by 15% for a major telecommunications client. I have experience working with large datasets and utilizing tools such as Python, R, and TensorFlow. My passion for data-driven decision-making and my commitment to staying at the cutting edge of data science techniques make me the ideal candidate to contribute to your data-driven culture and help your organization make informed strategic decisions.”

These real-life elevator pitch examples demonstrate how individuals can effectively present their qualifications, accomplishments, and enthusiasm in various professional contexts, such as entrepreneurship, networking, and job interviews. The key is to tailor your pitch to the specific situation and audience to make a memorable and impactful impression.

A few key aspects of perfecting a product elevator speech (or an elevator pitch, for that matter) is to keep it short. Be brief. From 30 to 118, we’re speaking of a few seconds put together for you to be persuasive, share your goals, problem, solution, and skills, and make a difference in attracting your intended audience. 

Practice, practice, and then practice some more. Mastering a pitch of this kind truly takes a lot of practice to go over the right words at the right pace, and powerfully impact a person or group. 

Also, keep a business card handy. If your pitch works, a quick and efficient way of giving your contact details to your stakeholders will do wonders to move your business forward. 

What’s next? Our recommendations

Before you go, here are a few real-life examples of how to end a presentation , in case they help in general. And, if you’re looking to Create a Great Investor Pitch Deck and Close the Deal , this other article might be useful. We’re giving you The 11 Key Slides For Creating A Winning Investor Pitch Deck there, too. 

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Carmine Gallo, Elevator Pitch, Garr Reynolds, Nancy Duarte, Pitch Deck, Sales Filed under Business

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• 15 creative elevator pitch examples for ...

15 creative elevator pitch examples for every scenario

A good elevator pitch can be the difference between landing your next big opportunity or falling short of the competition. But the reality is, people want to have meaningful conversations without the forced sales pitch. So how do you pitch yourself during a job interview or client meeting with authenticity? 

First things first: What is an elevator pitch?

An elevator pitch, also known as an elevator speech, is an opportunity to share a quick summary of yourself and your product offerings. But a pitch can also be your chance at making a real connection that you can use later down the road. It’s not always an immediate benefit, but you should be prepared for any scenario in which you could be giving an elevator pitch. 

In reality, most people have given an elevator pitch whether they realize it or not. That’s because there are many different types of pitches—from interviews to new business opportunities. That makes preparing for your next pitch an important step in marketing both yourself and your company. 

When it comes to figuring out who to deliver your pitch to, you should aim for the best point of contact, not just the highest point of contact. Choosing connections that are related to or interested in what you’re offering will give you a better chance at making your sale. 

How long should an elevator pitch be?

One of the biggest unknowns about creating sample elevator pitches is how long they should be. In most cases, it will depend on what it’s about and who you’re pitching. A good rule of business etiquette is to make it as short as possible by carefully selecting the most important points. 

A study conducted by Microsoft found that the average person has an attention span of around eight seconds, meaning you’ll have to fight for that undivided attention. That’s no small task. So when it comes to a great elevator pitch, aim to keep it around 30 seconds—though the exact length can vary depending on your industry and what you’re pitching. 

When looking at pitch length based on industry, each one differs to some degree. Let’s take marketing for example. Your pitch opportunities will likely be to customers that come across your brand. And in that case, you have very little time to get your message across—whether it’s text, video, or imagery. But when it comes to sales, you may get the opportunity to expand your elevator pitch past 30 seconds. You will likely have plenty of networking opportunities where people are more than willing to listen to what you have to say. It really just depends on your medium and the audience’s eagerness to listen. 

But what if you can’t cut your elevator pitch down to 30 seconds? It may seem like your brand is too complicated to distill down to such a short timeframe, but if you’re pitching to the right audience you shouldn’t have that problem. Make sure you pitch to people related to your industry or a tangential audience that will be able to interpret your offerings. 

How to write an elevator pitch 

When it comes to writing an elevator pitch, it can be hard to decipher important facts from unimportant ones—this is why knowing how to effectively communicate in the workplace is important in the first place. For example, while it’s good to personalize your communication tactics wherever possible, it’s not necessary to give prospects an entire history lesson on your business. Only the most recent and relevant details should be included. To get started creating your own pitch, you first need to understand the basic components that make up any good elevator pitch.

Introduce yourself

All good pitches start with a short introduction. It could be as simple as stating your name and who you work for if those details apply. But the more personal you can make it, the more natural your elevator pitch will seem. Body language is also an important part of a solid introduction, as is eye contact. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when introducing yourself to a new prospect. 

Greet your audience in a way that’s appropriate for the occasion. Go formal for a business pitch or more casual for a fun event. With business meetings and networking events being held virtually, you’ll need to get creative with your introductions over video chat. You could even start with a lighthearted joke to break the ice. But whatever you do, make sure it’s relevant to your audience. 

Present the problem

All solutions start with a problem. Whatever you or your business is trying to solve, it’s important to get the point across early on in your elevator pitch to set the theme for the rest of your speech. An example problem: coordinating work between teams is chaotic.  

If possible, relate the problem back to your audience by using real-world examples. This will help make the problem more relevant and, hopefully, grab your audience’s attention. If your problem isn’t easy to explain, try using more than one example or a visual to really paint a picture for your audience. 

Offer the solution

If the problem is what draws the audience in, then the solution is what hooks them. This is your time to show them why they need your help. Here’s an example solution: Asana gives teams a system to organize and manage work so they know what to do, why it matters, and how to get it done.

The solution is arguably the most important part of an elevator pitch, so spend time perfecting it. If you’re pitching for a business, it’s likely the quick solution pitch has already been created. But again, it’s always better to personalize your pitch. So don’t be afraid to tweak it to fit your audience. If pitching for yourself, talk about the unique skills you’ve developed and why they would be beneficial to your prospect. 

Explain your value proposition

Now that you’ve piqued your audience’s attention, it’s time to seal the deal by explaining why your solution is better than anyone else's. An example value proposition is: Asana is the only platform that connects goals with the work needed to achieve them. 

The value proposition differs from the solution by focusing on why your audience should use your solution over a competitor’s. If you don’t have that answer just yet, perform a competitive analysis to compare your offerings or look to your executive summary. 

If your market is extremely niche and you don’t have a clear differentiator or significant competition, look to communication and interface capabilities. Consider why your idea or solution is original enough that someone would want to use it.   

Engage the audience

While most of the hard work is done, it’s important to engage your audience with a compliment or question before you part ways. Always err on the side of being genuine rather than delivering a scripted goodbye. 

There is no right or wrong way to engage your audience. While ending with a question can create a dialogue between you and your audience, a genuine compliment can go a long way. Think about what made you want to pitch them in the first place and use that to end the conversation. Lastly, don’t forget to swap contact information, such as a business card, if you don’t already have it. 

A foolproof elevator pitch template

Now that you know the basic components of a pitch, the next step is creating your very own elevator pitch. This template can work for just about any situation, from a job interview to pitching a small business or startup. That’s because we analyzed some of the most famous templates from industry experts—from Harvard research to Guy Kawasaki’s art of pitching—to create a foolproof template that will work in any situation. 

Plug your information into our elevator pitch template to draft a quick speech. While you won’t necessarily recite it word for word, it’s a great model to keep in mind in case you find yourself in a position where you’re not prepared with a personalized pitch.

Whether you’re looking for a pitch template for a job interview or for pitching your business, this template is a foolproof example for any situation you might find yourself in. 

General elevator pitch template

Use our elevator pitch template to start constructing your speech by adding statistics and personalized greetings where needed. This template incorporates the four parts explained above to hit all of the important details of a good elevator pitch. 

Introduction : “Hi I’m [name], a [position title] at [company name]. It’s great to meet you!”

Problem : “Since you work with [company name or industry] I figured you’d be interested to know that [problem + interesting statistic].”

Solution : “The great part about working at [your company’s name] is that we’ve been able to fix just that problem by [solution].”

Value proposition : “In fact, we’re the only company that offers [value proposition].”

CTA : “I think our solution could really help you. Are you available this week to speak further on this?”

Don’t be afraid to change up your pitch template based on your personality and professional expertise. We’ve also included personalized 30-second elevator pitch examples below to inspire personal facts you can add to create a more engaging speech .

30-second elevator pitch examples

Let’s dive into the best 30-second elevator pitch examples to help you create a pitch that’s both engaging and informative. Our examples take inspiration from the four elements included in the template above, to demonstrate how you'd pitch project management software to  increase productivity . Try a few or try them all to find one that best fits your personality and value proposition. 

Example 1: Short and sweet

This example is one of the most common you’ll come across. That doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s the best, but it’s a great example of a quick and easy pitch that fits almost any situation. When working on this type of elevator pitch, be sure to keep it as short and to the point as possible. Try to stick closely to the 30 seconds or less rule since the point is to be brief and transparent.

The problem is that work is chaotic no matter what industry you’re in or how good you are at your job. But a good project management software can help improve productivity and communication. I haven’t missed a deadline in years. If you’re interested in how it can help your team, give me a call and I can take you through some numbers. 

Example 2: Relatable over reliable

Sometimes the best way to grab your audience’s attention is to reel them in with a personal anecdote they’ll relate to. While it’s still important to drive home your solution, this approach puts more weight on making a personal connection rather than an immediate sale. 

It’s so great to finally meet you. How is business going? I heard you’ve been struggling with communication issues. My team and I struggled with that too. It wasn’t until we added project management software into our routine that we really saw an improvement in teamwork and overall communication. I hope you find a solution that works for your team. 

Example 3: Savvy with stats

Start your pitch off with a hook by dropping an attention-grabbing statistic. It’s important to have hard data to back up your statistics to ensure their accuracy before pitching. When it comes to a statistics pitch, it’s a good idea to come full circle at the end and connect how your solution can help solve that statistic.  

Did you know that despite having more ways to connect remotely, 60% of workers’ time is spent on work coordination with just 26% spent on skilled work and 14% on strategy? No wonder teams need help with project management. Implementing project management tools can decrease time spent on work coordination and help increase skilled work.

Example 4: Question everything

This example uses questions to make your pitch easily comprehensible. It also forces the audience to join in on the conversation rather than just presenting them with a speech. Try starting and ending with a question that makes the audience think about your pitch long after you leave the room.

Do you ever feel like you spend too much time on work about work? I’ve talked to so many people who share the same frustrations. I used to work long hours every day just trying to catch up. But do you know what? Ever since we started using project management software, I've been able to get so much more work done. Have you tried anything similar in the past?

Example 5: Comedic twist

If your pitch isn’t about a serious topic, you can add comedic twists to engage the audience. This is especially useful if giving a presentation. Add a GIF or quick funny clip in between slides to lighten the mood. If using this example, be sure it fits the occasion and tone of your company. 

Did you know that the average person can only pay attention for eight seconds? That’s not even long enough to place my coffee order in the morning. Maybe that’s why my barista always gets it wrong. But seriously, I think that’s why so many companies struggle to hit deadlines. 

Example 6: Tell a story

Use customer testimonials or your own personal story to paint a picture for the audience. This can be especially helpful if your topic is hard to explain in 30 seconds or less. Telling a story is a great way to add a relatable twist. 

We have a customer that transitioned to a fully remote workforce this year and needed help making sure deadlines were met. With our help, they were able to get up to 10% of their time back in their day and focus on more important things like strategic planning.  

Example 7: Emotionally driven

While this type of pitch may be more difficult to create, you have a better chance of winning over your audience if you can make your pitch emotionally driven. It’s also more likely they’ll be willing to share the experience with someone else down the road. It’s important to keep the emotions on the lighter side to prevent the conversation from steering too dark. Here is an example to inspire your own speech. 

It may seem like any other tool, but when you look closely it really is helping teams connect. And not just that, but it’s helping cultivate teams that actually enjoy working together on new projects. That’s something that’s hard to come by, but something everyone is looking for.  

Example 8: Write it first

While most speeches start by writing a general outline, you can opt to write the entire pitch from start to finish. This tends to create a thought-provoking and poetic flow once you do present your pitch. You’ll have to memorize this pitch, so practicing is a key element to this strategy. 

Hi, my name is Kelly! It’s great to meet you. You work for Apollo Enterprises, right? I’ve heard a lot about them. I actually heard that you’re looking for project management help. In my experience, any organization—whether sales or suppliers—needs help coordinating work and team communication. Work can be rather chaotic, especially now, without it. That’s why we’ve created a software tool that helps both individuals and teams organize their projects and communications all in one place. Have you ever thought about using something similar?

Example 9: End with a one-liner

Making a grand exit doesn’t come easily, but if you can pull it off your audience is sure to be impressed. Stay away from cliche one-liners and make your closing authentic to you. The point here is to leave them with a thought that they’ll remember after the meeting is over. Consider sharing a surprising statistic or question relevant to their business.

Over one-quarter (26%) of all deadlines are missed each week because of a lack of clarity. But with the right project management tools, that number could be much lower. So the question is, can your business afford not to use project management software? 

Elevator pitch examples by scenario

Now that we’ve covered the types of pitch examples, let’s dive into example elevator pitches for different scenarios. Whether you’re pitching for your business or yourself, you can use an elevator pitch to organize your thoughts and prepare for the real deal. Let’s look at key tips for any situation you may find yourself in. 

Example 10: Networking event

A networking event is probably the most common scenario you’ll run into. And with the new virtual-first culture, it may be even more challenging to make meaningful connections over video chat. That’s why it’s so important to prepare an elevator pitch that’s compelling no matter where you’re pitching it from. While most salespeople pitch casually in this environment, you may get the opportunity to meet an important executive. In which case, you’ll want to be prepared with a versatile pitch template. 

Great to meet you, I’m Kelly with Apollo Enterprises. We’ve been able to improve productivity and collaboration for teams all over the world. If you ever need help with project management, just reach out. I think we could make a huge impact on your company. I’ll make sure to keep your contact information handy as well. 

Example 11: Job interview

Looking for a new job or have career fairs coming up? Most interviews—whether with human resources, a recruiter, or a hiring manager—start with some form of the phrase, “Tell me about yourself.” This is an opportunity for job seekers to briefly explain themselves and their professional experience using industry buzzwords and key skills. Having an elevator pitch ready can ensure that you’re prepared when the opportunity presents itself. 

I’m Kelly, a specialist at Apollo Enterprises. I chose a career in project management because I had a passion for it, and now I can proudly say that I’ve been able to make a real difference in people’s lives. That’s why I’m looking to continue my career with an employer who shares those same values. I know my unique skills can make a big impact at your company because I’ve proven my results with a few key projects. 

Example 12: Formal meeting

You’ve landed the meeting, congratulations! Now is the time to create a formal elevator pitch to really get them interested. When presenting a formal pitch, a presentation can be a great addition to traditional elevator speech examples. But whether or not you choose to create a presentation, this meeting is about selling your product in the most professional way possible. So dress the part and don’t forget your unique selling proposition. 

I took a look at your current productivity figures and noticed an opportunity for improvement. With our project management software, you could get back up to 10% more of your workday. Not only would that mean more work getting done, but it would also have a positive impact on the overall success of your business. Not to mention, our tool is the only one in the industry that has goal capabilities to ensure teams stay on track. 

Example 13: Sales pitch 

Professionals often pitch traditional sales jargon, but the real key is creating a human connection while lightly sprinkling in what you’re selling. Start with a personal story or light-hearted introduction instead of the typical sales presentation. You can also prepare by creating sales team goal templates to ensure your team is on the same page. 

Our team really struggled to transition to a remote workforce. Communication wasn’t organized and people struggled to find the correct information to complete projects. But, thankfully, we found a solution to our problem. Implementing project management tools not only improved productivity but also improved overall teamwork. Every company prefers different tools, but I can say without a doubt that our software was the best at connecting goals with the work needed to achieve them. 

Example 14: Social introduction

Now, more than ever, professionals are choosing to meet virtually rather than face-to-face. Whether you’re chatting over LinkedIn or have a virtual meeting set up, it’s important to make your pitch personal and use clear visuals to help sell your point. Here’s a great example of a social media pitch. 

Thanks for connecting! I noticed that your competitors are outperforming you when it comes to year-over-year growth. I took the liberty of doing a competitive analysis and didn’t find any outlying problems. I’m wondering if it could be an issue with productivity. How has the transition to remote work been? If you’re interested, I could run you through some productivity figures if you were to add project management tools to your current processes. 

Example 15: Entrepreneurs and business owners

Pitching to a business owner is much different than pitching to an executive. They can be harder to sell because they are often hesitant about new investments. The most important tip is to use examples as they pertain to the business when explaining a problem and solution.  

I love your products at Apollo Enterprises. I’m a huge proponent of your mission. I did realize that there may be some opportunities to improve productivity and collaboration internally. Have you ever considered project management software? I think it could have a big impact on business growth now or even down the road. 

4 tips to perfect your elevator pitch

In addition to creating the perfect elevator pitch, you should also work on sprucing up your delivery. There’s nothing worse than sitting through a boring speech, so make sure yours is anything but. From posture to tone, there’s a lot you can practice to make sure you look professional and knowledgeable. Consider these four tips when trying to nail a successful elevator pitch. 

1. Stick to your outline

To prevent getting off-topic, it’s important to stick to your outline at least to some extent. While you don’t need to recite it word for word, it’s best to memorize the majority of your pitch. That way you won’t need to worry about checking your notes. 

2. Speak slowly and clearly

Many professionals tend to talk quickly when they’re nervous—hey, we’re only human. But it’s important to enunciate and speak slowly so the audience can understand you. This is especially important when presenting over video chat. But try not to slow yourself down too much or you’ll go over your allotted time. 

3. Record your pitch

Record yourself reciting the pitch to work on any areas that need improvement. Practice your pitch a handful of times by playing the recording back and working out any pain points. A couple of key areas to focus on are speed and tone. It’s better to sound overly energized rather than monotone. 

4. Practice, practice, practice!

There’s nothing more effective than practicing your pitch until you’re able to recite it in your sleep. If possible, practice in front of friends and family to get constructive feedback on how you can make your pitch even better. Even if you have years of experience, you can never go wrong with being overly prepared. 

Elevate your first impression with an elevator pitch

An elevator pitch is a chance to show off your strengths and pitch your solutions. While it may sound nerve-wracking, using the 15 elevator pitch examples above will help you develop your own method using personal tidbits that tie into your innovative solutions.

While your pitch is an important part of leveling up your business, there are many avenues you can take to achieve growth. One of those ways is by determining whether project management vs. work management tools are right for your team. Not only will they help connect your team members, but the right tools and software can also help your organization set strategic goals. That means more time spent on bigger projects to help your business reach next-level growth. 

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Guide to Giving an Elevator Pitch, with Examples and Templates

February 15, 2021 - Dom Barnard

What’s an elevator pitch, when should you give one, how do you practice? This article will cover these questions and all the other essentials for an elevator pitch

If you’re in business, chances are you’ve been asked to give an elevator pitch at a networking event or business meeting. Sometimes you get time to prepare for it, other times you’ll need to do it impromptu.

The perfect elevator pitch can take a lot of effort to get right. Read this article on how to do this, as well as deliver it concisely whenever you need to.

What is an elevator pitch?

Advantages of using an elevator pitch, when to use an elevator pitch, example of an elevator pitch, how to create an elevator pitch, your elevator pitch template, practice – where, how and when.

When you go to an event and someone asks you the question “What do you do?”, your elevator pitch is what you use to answer this question.

It’s a short (less than 60 seconds) statement answering that question, as well as answering the question they haven’t asked and is likely in the back of their mind – “What’s in this conversation for me?”

The idea of an elevator pitch is to intrigue your listener and create interest, whether you’re simply chatting at a  networking event  or looking to gain investment for your business.

The name comes from the idea that your pitch should be no longer than the time it takes to ride an elevator.

If you’ve been nervous at a networking event and wondered what to say, or how to start a conversation, here’s your answer.

A practised elevator pitch builds your confidence and reduces your nerves, because you already know what to say, and you don’t have that awkward pause while you figure out how to introduce yourself.

You sound professional, you’re less likely to stumble with your words and create a  good first impression  with new contacts.

Elevator Pitch Practice

Practice delivering an elevator pitch in an online practice exercise that looks and feels like you are in an elevator. Receive feedback on your performance. Learn More

An elevator pitch can be used in a wide range of situations:

• To investors : build their interest in you and your product or service
• Website sales page : create a short description of your service which catches the reader’s attention
• Social media pages : Facebook page headline, your Twitter bio, and even your email signature
• Short bio about your book : Book authors are often told to write a short bio and a long bio, so readers can be drawn in and read the long bio
• Pitching a new idea to management : an elevator pitch can help you pitch a new product or idea to management
• Job interview : It could settle your nerves to have something ready to say to answer that standard question: “Tell me about yourself.”

You never know who you might meet, or who they might know. You might be chatting with your hairdresser, playing golf, shopping, or taking part in any number of activities that aren’t standard business events, and when someone asks you what you do, you’re ready to go with your polished and professional pitch.

You might find you want to create different pitches for different situations, as what you would say to a potential investor is very different from what you would say to someone visiting your stand at an exhibition.

No matter what you use it for, the whole idea is to engage the attention of your audience, and get them to want to know more.

Example of an elevator pitch:

When watching this 20 second elevator pitch, think about how she:

• Gives an easy to understand pitch
• Explains in a simple way what she does
• Provides a call to action
• Uses a confident posture
• Has a loud and clear voice

Watch the full video here:  Raising Private Finance Tips & Elevator Pitch

While an elevator pitch sounds great, you can’t just say “I do X” and leave it at that.

Bad examples of an elevator pitch:

• I’m a freelance writer, or an accountant or… the list goes on. There’s no intrigue in that, and no need to ask questions. People will quite happily assume what you do, decide they don’t need it and move on.
• I’m looking for people who want what I’m selling. Who? What people? Who is your target market? Be specific.
• The ‘It’s all about Me, and What I Want to Sell You’ pitch that goes on for a good half an hour. Don’t do that. Yes, you want to sell your business, but you need to sell yourself first by building genuine relationships, and listening at least as much as you talk. Read more about  active listening skills .

So, how do you get your pitch right?

• Before you write a word, identify your goal for the pitch, and your ideal audience. Now you know what you want to achieve and who you are looking for. Marketing to everyone is never a good idea. No business out there has a target market of ‘everyone’.
• Clearly explain what you do, but more importantly, answer ‘what’s in it for me?’ and give your audience a reason to care and to be intrigued.
• Work out your Unique Selling Point (USP) if you haven’t already, and incorporate it into your pitch.
• Finally, ask a question at the end, to engage your listener and start the conversation going.

Note : Don’t be so focused on delivering your perfect pitch that you forget to listen to the other person.

That’s the general format, but to really add to your pitch, think about the problems your target market has that you can solve. Draw attention to one of those problems and present how you can solve that, and you’ll have people intrigued.

If you have eye-opening and interesting statistics that really demonstrate the advantages of working with you, why not include one or two?

People  love social proof , so if you’ve worked for a large, well-known company or a celebrity, and you can talk about it, then mention it.

If you’re talking to your ideal customer and you’ve worked for their direct competitor, you can bet they want to hear about it.

Have a clear call to action, stating what you want, and what you want your audience to do next.

What you’re looking for with your pitch is what sets you apart, what’s fascinating about you and your company, and what will really hook people in to want to know more.

Here’s an example of an elevator pitch when asking for business. First introduce yourself, then provide a summary of what you do and explain what you want. Finally, finish with a call to action.

If you’re struggling with your pitch, then try working through our template below:

Elevator pitch template

I solve __________ problem for __________ target market, by __________, which brings them __________ benefit. Unlike our competitors, we __________ (insert your USP), because _________ (add what advantage that gives your customer). So, how does your company handle __________ (what you do or sell)?

Obviously, once you’ve got the answers down, you’ll want to reword that so it sounds natural to you, and is written in your voice, so you can deliver it well, without tripping over what you have to say.

Here’s an example to follow:

I create compelling content for engineering companies, by understanding their work and translating it to plain English, so their customers know exactly what they are getting, and they make more sales.

Unlike my competitors, I spend time with the company and meet the engineers, because that enables me to write more focused content, which attracts their ideal customers to their website.

So, how does your company handle customer outreach and conversion?

When you look at your pitch written down, it can seem like such a long statement, and a mouthful to actually say. Not to mention the possibility that if you haven’t said it before, you could easily forget parts of it, and lose the flow of what you are saying.

• Elevator Pitch: Online Course with Practice

The cure for all of these worries is practice.

• Spend time reading and re-reading your pitch  until you are happy with it, you’re sure it says what it needs to say, and doesn’t have anything that doesn’t need to be there. Make sure it’s written the way you naturally speak.
• Use  virtual reality (VR)  to practice  in a realistic environment and receive instant feedback on your speech.
• Then read it until you’re sure you can remember all of it.
• Stand in front of the mirror , and practice saying your elevator pitch over and over again. You might feel silly at first, but you will start to feel more confident about saying the words.
• Think about  how you deliver your pitch . How can you put it across so that you sound passionate and engaged yourself? You shouldn’t sound like you’re delivering it by rote, or that you’re reading it off the back of your hand. If you don’t sound interested in what you’re saying, you can’t expect your audience to be intrigued either.
• When you’re sure you have your pitch down,  look at your  body language . If you’re all hunched over, or stiff and tense, you won’t come across well to an audience, and you’ll appear under-confident.
• Relax your knees and your shoulders, stand with your feet at shoulder width apart, and relax.
• Think about your voice . Does it come across as confident and powerful, or shaky and nervous? Record yourself and see how you sound. Then try breathing deeper and speaking from your diaphragm, to sound more confident.
• Once you’re happy with the basics, get a few colleagues or friends together and  practice your speech in front of them . You’ll get used to saying it to other people, and your friends will give you feedback about what works and what doesn’t.
• The next step is to work on  answering any questions that your audience might have  once you’ve finished your pitch. Write down what you might get asked, and ask your colleagues to think up questions, too, then practice answering those questions with your colleagues or friends until you are completely confident.

Whatever you use your elevator pitch for, as long as it’s interesting, clearly states the benefits for your audience, and is well-practiced and delivered smoothly, you should now be able to more easily start conversations with people and get better results from your networking.

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• Entrepreneurship

How to Create an Elevator Pitch in 5 Easy Steps (With Tips & Advice)

An elevator pitch is the traditional spiel to someone to propose an idea or solution. here's how to write an elevator pitch in five simple steps..

The classic scenario is this: You and another person step onto an elevator. As the elevator begins to ascend, you peek over at your fellow passenger. Wait, what? That’s [insert influential name here], the person who could unlock everything for you and your business idea. 

With your exit floor quickly approaching, you decide to go for it—you’re going to use these 30 seconds the universe has granted you with this person to pitch your proposal. 

You’re going to deliver your elevator pitch.

Don’t worry! In this short post, we’re going to walk you through how to write an elevator pitch effectively, including the steps to follow and tips for elevator pitch success.

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What is an Elevator Pitch?

An elevator pitch is essentially a short speech meant to persuade someone to take an action or consider an idea you propose. The goal of an elevator speech could be just about anything, from getting a CEO to consider you for job interviews to pitching your million-dollar idea to a Silicon Valley investor.

The traditional elevator pitch is considered to take 30 seconds or less, about the time it takes for an average elevator ride. In half a minute, the pitch needs to take a stranger and turn them into a believer—meaning it has to be practical, powerful, and personalized.

Goodwall’s “Virtual Elevator Pitch”

Here’s the thing, though: the concept of the elevator pitch has remained relatively unchanged for decades. On top of that, the standard elevator spiel is only great for pitching to a single person (or a few people); if you have an idea for The Next Big Thing, you don’t want others to overhear you and get there first. 

But what if you have an idea that’s meant to be shared, like a new way for people to cut plastic from their lives or a novel approach to reducing our carbon footprint?

Enter Goodwall’s “virtual elevator pitch.”

As Goodwall’s Omar Bawa put it, “We’ve got big problems and small problems, from climate change to finding a dog sitter. We’ve also got many solutions. But most of those solutions are trapped as ideas. For an idea to become a solution, that idea needs to be shared, it needs feedback and it needs support. You don’t need to be an entrepreneur, all you need is an idea to improve something and the courage to pitch it.”

Goodwall has launched this latest innovation—formatted as a 30-second vertical video—to inspire students and young professionals to share their ideas with the world, rather than hiding them away. When a Goodwall member creates and uploads a video onto the platform, their network connections have the opportunity to challenge the idea, offer feedback, and provide support, taking that idea from a simple thought to an actionable solution.

You can use it for almost anything you can think of, including a simple sales pitch with a call to action, a video to send out important information, or you could use virtual elevator pitches to call attention to a global problem. To see some great elevator pitch examples, sign up to Goodwall !

How to Create an Elevator Pitch

Whether you’re crafting the classic elevator speech or pitching your idea with Goodwall’s innovative vertical video, similar rules apply. To practice, try our simple elevator pitch exercise.

Here are 5 steps to creating the best elevator pitch possible:

1. Make an Introduction

In the traditional elevator speech, making an introduction is key when pitching someone who doesn’t know you. Jumping straight into a spiel as soon as the elevator’s doors shut could cause your audience to skip out floors early in annoyance. 

With Goodwall’s modern take on the elevator pitch, however, less time is needed on introducing yourself, if you choose to at all. After all, your audience will see exactly who you are and can easily click over to your Goodwall profile if they’d like to learn more about you. 

One important thing to remember with elevator pitches, throughout all these steps, is to tailor your pitch to your intended audience. A good elevator pitch is relevant to the particular party you’re addressing. Elevator pitch examples which target one VC with an innovative solution to a problem will need to be rethought for a different person, at least, if you want it to lead somewhere.

2. Identify a Problem

Before you propose a solution, use an elevator pitch to submit a problem for their consideration. And, no matter what type of elevator pitch you’re making, there’s always a problem. Here are a few example elevator pitches:

• “Your company’s growth is beginning to plateau.”
• “People want medications delivered by drone right to their homes. Until now, the government hasn’t allowed it.”
• “Forest fires in California have grown more and more powerful each year.”

When possible, give them concrete numbers, as these prove you’ve done your research and makes the problem to solve that much more intriguing and urgent.

3. Propose Your Solution

Now comes the “pitch” part. After you’ve identified a problem which they’ve hopefully sympathized with, it’s time to segue into your idea for eliminating that problem. Let’s look at those same pain points and see some elevator pitch examples of problem-solving answers: 

• “Your company’s growth is beginning to plateau, but if you hire me … ”
• “People want medications delivered by drone right to their homes. Until now, the government hasn’t allowed it, but I’ve figured out a way to … ”
• “Forest fires in California have grown more and more powerful each year. But, what if we … ”

4. Explain Your Idea’s Advantage Over Others

You’ve now pitched your idea, but you’re not done yet. To make a good elevator pitch truly effective, you’ll have to go into detail—briefly, as it’s still a 30-second pitch—as to why the solution you put forth is in their best interest. Otherwise, your listening audience will quickly assume that any benefits to be had are all yours, effectively ending your chances.

5. Answer Any Questions & Accept Feedback

With elevator pitches, you’re making a request, and, unless you managed to inspire 100% conviction in your proposal, they’re bound to have questions. Answer any questions your audience might ask honestly and in detail. 

It may be that they don’t have questions for you but offer feedback or criticism on your idea instead. Always accept these comments graciously, thank them for their time, and use that feedback to improve your elevator speech for the next time.

Related Read : What is the Difference Between an Accelerator and an Incubator?

To Sum Up … 

Here’s a quick recap on how to create an effective elevator pitch:

• Introduce yourself to your audience;
• Identify a problem that exists;
• Pitch your idea on how to solve that problem;
• Go further into describing the merits of your solution;
• Answer their follow-up questions and graciously accept any feedback.

Even a simple elevator pitch can be quite daunting, certainly. You’re making yourself vulnerable by putting your ideas out there to complete strangers, hoping they’ll have a positive reaction .

However, if you follow our simple strategy on how to write an elevator pitch, you’ll have a powerful vehicle for delivering your ideas—the rest is up to you. 

To learn more about sharing ideas on Goodwall, read our guides on why you should share your idea with the Goodwall community and how to create a virtual elevator pitch .

Got any questions to ask on writing an elevator speech? Need help crafting an elevator pitch that gets results, whether it’s a job interview, career, networking event, or finance proposal? Let’s bring the conversation down into the comments below, and thanks for reading!

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March 11, 2024

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Crafting Your Perfect Elevator Pitch: Examples and Templates to Pitch Yourself Effectively

Explore lasting examples of elevator pitches to perfect your pitch, whether for yourself or your business. Elevate your pitch game with proven examples and templates."

What's Inside?

What is a Elevator Pitch?

Similar to a spoken business card, an elevator pitch is a succinct and compelling synopsis meant to capture listeners' attention and make an impact quickly. Imagine yourself entering an elevator with a prospective customer, financier, or boss who has the power to drastically alter the course of your professional life or company.

You have the brief opportunity to enthrall and pique the interest of your listener by showcasing your value proposition, area of expertise, and unique selling factors.

The term comes from the fact that this succinct but effective communication tool usually lasts between thirty and two minutes, or the length of an elevator ride. Its goal is obvious: to pique the curiosity of your audience while briefly describing who you are, what you do, and why it matters.

Whether you're networking at a conference, looking for startup funding, or going on a job interview, having a strong elevator pitch will help you get noticed and establish valuable connections.

The Essence of an Elevator Pitch

The ability to clearly and concisely convey your value offer is more important than ever in the fast-paced, cutthroat business world of today. This is where the elevator pitch excels, acting as a potent instrument with several advantages:

• Initial Impression Matters:

You never get a second chance to create a first impression, as the saying goes. With the help of an elevator pitch, you may quickly and effectively make a good first impression on prospective customers, investors, employers, or partners. It sets the tone for subsequent conversations and has a big impact on how people see you.

• Maximizing Opportunities:

Opportunities frequently arise out of the blue and over brief periods of time. Examples include an elevator ride, a chance meeting at a networking event, and a quick chat in a busy hallway. Being prepared with a polished elevator pitch increases the likelihood that you will be able to take advantage of these opportunities by allowing you to communicate your message clearly and quickly.

• Simple and Direct Communication:

Brevity is important in a world when information overload is rampant. When preparing an elevator pitch, you must focus on the most intriguing parts of your offer and reduce your message to its most basic form. Your pitch will be more memorable and comprehensible if it is clear and succinct, which also increases the probability that your audience will comprehend it.

• Distinctiveness and Recall:

By emphasizing your special value proposition, area of expertise, and passion, an effective elevator pitch helps you stand out from the competition. It offers you the chance to highlight the unique qualities that set you or your company apart, making an impact on the audience that will linger long after the pitch.

• Building Relationships and Networking:

An elevator pitch is a useful strategy for establishing and fostering professional contacts. Networking is crucial for career advancement and business growth. Through proficient communication of your identity and your capabilities, you can establish significant relationships with possible customers, associates, advisors, and partners.

It's a smart move for networking and job growth to include a polished elevator pitch to your summary part of your LinkedIn profile. This will boost your exposure and draw in the correct contacts.

In conclusion, it is impossible to exaggerate the significance of an elevator pitch. It is an adaptable and essential tool for creating a good first impression, grasping chances, communicating clearly, standing out from the crowd, and establishing meaningful business connections.

Learning the elevator pitch can help you succeed in any professional endeavor by providing a powerful introduction to yourself, your company, or your ideas.

When do you use Elevator Pitch?

An elevator pitch is a flexible instrument that can be used to accomplish a range of goals in a variety of professional settings. The following are some typical situations in which an elevator pitch can be quite successful:

• Events for Networking:

Having prepared an elevator pitch enables you to effectively introduce yourself and establish important relationships with other professionals, possible clients, partners, or mentors, whether you're attending a conference, industry gathering, or networking mixer.

• Interviews for jobs:

In job interviews, an elevator pitch can provide a brief overview of your credentials, experience, and career objectives, showcasing your fit for the role and making a good first impression on the interviewer. This is especially useful during the "Tell me about yourself" section.

• Startups & Entrepreneurship:

It's common for business owners and startup founders to have to present their concepts to possible partners, investors, or clients. An good elevator pitch can pique stakeholders' interest and create excitement about your venture by communicating its value proposition.

• Marketing and Sales:

An elevator pitch is a useful tool in sales and marketing because it may be used to introduce new goods or services to prospective clients, emphasize their salient features and advantages, and encourage them to take a specific action, such arranging a demo or making a purchase.

• Expert Demonstrations:

An elevator pitch can be used as a succinct opening to a presentation or speech at a conference, seminar, or meeting to draw the audience in and set the tone for the remainder of the session.

• Career Expos & Fairs:

An elevator speech may help you stand out from the crowd and leave a lasting impression at career fairs and expos, when you might only have a short amount of time to speak with recruiters or companies. This will increase your chances of getting interviews or job offers.

• Unformal Environments:

Elevator pitches are helpful not just in formal business contexts but also in informal or social circumstances when you want to briefly and captivatingly introduce yourself and your interests or professional experience to others.

How long should Elevator Pitch be?

Although there is debate over the optimal duration for an elevator pitch, most people agree that it should be between 30 and 2 minutes. This amount of time is just right—brief enough to hold someone's interest, yet extensive enough to cover the major points of your message. The idea is to make your pitch succinct but thorough by finding the right balance between substance and brevity.

30 Seconds to Two Minutes: Understanding the Duration

• 30 seconds:

The traditional elevator journey lasts 30 seconds, which is ideal since it gives you just enough time to introduce yourself, explain what you do, and make a suggestion about your special selling point. You must be incredibly succinct and direct in a 30-second pitch, concentrating on the strongest points of your offer.

• One minute:

You can include a little example, a noteworthy accomplishment, or a more in-depth description of your services, goods, or background in a 60-second pitch. This is the perfect duration when you need to be brief but have a little bit more audience attention.

• Two minutes:

A two-minute elevator pitch window, which is the maximum length, gives you the chance to tell a quick story or add a little anecdote that helps you make your ideas more clearly.

• Providing too much information is a typical elevator pitch mistake to avoid; concentration and conciseness are essential for leaving a lasting impression.
• Every elevator pitch, no matter how long, needs to be customized for the target audience and goal, concentrating on the points that will most likely pique the listener's interest and resonate with them. It's crucial to rehearse your pitch delivery so that it sounds captivating and natural rather than forced or hurried. Recall that the objective is to create a genuine connection that inspires more discussion rather than merely passing the time.

In the end, the secret to a successful elevator pitch is not only how long it is, but also how clear, relevant, and engaging it is for the person listening to you. You place yourself in a position to take advantage of chances, make connections, and succeed by creating a clear and memorable message.

The Creation of a Elevator Pitch Step By Step

Making a compelling elevator pitch doesn't have to be difficult. This is how to reduce it to six doable steps:

The secret to success in any elevator pitch scenario is to avoid giving a monologue and instead make your presentation conversational by fostering dialogue. This strategy turns the pitch into a lively discussion of ideas, laying the groundwork for a stronger, more lasting relationship.

1. Establish Your Goal

Determine precisely what you want your pitch to do before anything else. Are you trying to get a job, build a network, or draw in investors? Your pitch's focus and direction will be determined by your objective.

2. Recognize Your Audience

Make sure your message speaks to the people in your target audience. Take into account their requirements, interests, and obstacles. By getting to know your audience, you can make your proposal stand out by emphasizing its most interesting and essential features.

3. Emphasize the Special Value You Offer

Determine what makes you unique. This is the main body of your pitch, including your advantages, problem-solving techniques, and reasons for being the best option. Keep it succinct, compelling, and unambiguous.

4. Organize Your Proposal

Write a little story that includes:

• A succinct overview of your company or yourself.
• How your special value offer meets the needs of the target audience.
• A request for action, outlining the next action you would like to take (such as a meeting or interview).

5. Work on and polish

To make sure your pitch fits inside the time limitations and flows naturally, practice it (preferably 30 seconds to 2 minutes). Ask mentors or dependable coworkers for input, then make adjustments to your pitch in light of their observations.

6. Adjust as Required

Be ready to modify your pitch if your objectives and situation alter or for various situations. Having a pitch that is adaptable lets you be prepared for many scenarios without having to start from zero.

• Recall that your elevator speech is a dynamic instrument that will change as your company grows or as you advance professionally. Maintaining the effectiveness of your pitch and making sure it aligns with your current goals and accomplishments requires regular review and revision.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid in Your Elevator Pitch

Knowing what to exclude from an elevator pitch is just as important as knowing what to include for maximum impact. Two frequent mistakes that can seriously reduce the impact of your presentation are the tendency to digress and the overuse of technical terms and jargon. Here's how to overcome these obstacles:

Overcoming the Urge to Ramble

A superb elevator pitch is concise and clear, and that's its essence. Veering off topic can quickly dilute your message and make it difficult for your audience to understand what you're trying to say. To resist this impulse:

• Get ready and work on it:

Prior to each networking event, prepare a succinct, unambiguous pitch. Focus on the most important points and practice it to make sure you can finish it in the allotted time.

• Concentrate on Your Main Point:

Decide what you want your proposal or yourself to stick in the minds of your audience. To stay focused, center your pitch on this key point.

• Employ a Framework:

Keeping your delivery on track can be facilitated by creating a clear framework for your pitch, such as starting with a hook, moving into your value proposition, and concluding with a call to action.

Steering Clear of Excessive Jargon and Technicalities

Industry-specific terminology might highlight your experience, but using too much jargon in your elevator pitch can turn off those who aren't as technical as you. To steer clear of this:

• Recognize Your Audience:

Adjust the language you use to the level of familiarity your audience has with your sector. Simplify whenever in doubt.

• Substitute with Simplicity:

Whenever feasible, use plain language to effectively communicate your point without making it seem simplistic.

• Explain Benefits, Not Features:

Pay more attention to the advantages your idea or job offers than to the intricate details. This strategy keeps your pitch interesting and approachable.

Your elevator pitch will be more entertaining, clearer, and ultimately more successful in reaching your objectives if you intentionally steer clear of these traps. The secret is to convey your worth clearly and concisely, without getting bogged down in extraneous details or industry jargon, whether you're selling to clients, employers, or investors.

Structural Components of an Effective Elevator Pitch

The structure of your elevator pitch is equally as important as the content when making one. The excellent pitch is similar to a succinct but captivating tale that leads the audience from curiosity to comprehension to action. The following are the essential structural elements that comprise this journey:

The Hook: Grabbing Attention Immediately

The hook is the first sentence you say to pique the interest of the listener and entice them to continue listening. It creates suspense and sparks interest in the same way as a headline in an article or the first scene of a movie. To create an engaging hook:

• Start with an unexpected fact, a thought-provoking query, or a daring assertion about your subject or concept.
• Make it pertinent to your audience by bringing up an issue they are interested in or offering a chance they wouldn't want to pass up.

The Pitch: Conveying Your Message Clearly

Now that you have their interest, it's time to present your case. Your elevator pitch should begin with an explanation of what you do, why it matters, and what makes you unique. To make your point really clear:

• Refrain from straying from your main point and be succinct. Remain focused on the strongest points of your argument.
• Employ language that is easy to grasp and accessible to anyone, regardless of background in your subject.
• Emphasize your special value proposition , or what you have to offer that no one else has.

The Close: Encouraging Further Engagement

In the close, you summarize your argument and point the audience toward the following action. This is your opportunity to move interest into action, be it setting up a meeting, going online, or just carrying on the conversation. To promote additional participation:

• Give your audience a precise idea of what you want them to do next in your call to action at the end.
• Whether it's passing them a business card, sending them to a landing page, or scheduling a time to talk more, make it simple for them to take that next step.
• Thank them for their time and attention, and make a good impression that they will remember.

Strategies for Personalizing Your Elevator Pitch

When an elevator pitch feels personal to both you and your audience, it will resonate. It's about emphasizing your unique selling points and tailoring your message to resonate with the audience you're speaking to. Let's investigate how to add this unique touch:

Identifying Your Unique Selling Points

You stand out from the competition in your field thanks to your unique selling points (USPs). These are the attributes, experiences, or aptitudes that set you apart from the competition. How to determine your USPs:

• Think back on your accomplishments, encounters, and abilities. Think about the things that have brought you constant attention or appreciation. Is it your capacity for original problem-solving? Your background in a certain field?
• Consider the difficulties you've surmounted or the unusual routes you've chosen. Your pitch may become more memorable and sympathetic by using these anecdotes.
• Find out what makes you stand apart from coworkers, friends, or mentors. Others are frequently able to provide insightful opinions about our special talents.

Tailoring Your Message to the Audience

When it comes to elevator pitches, a one-size-fits-all strategy rarely works. You must adjust your pitch to the needs, interests, and concerns of your audience if you want it to resonate with them. How to do it is as follows:

• If at all possible, do some audience research in advance. Recognize their function, industry, and difficulties. With this information, you can tailor your pitch to their concerns and areas of interest.
• Before making your proposal, attentively listen in on conversations. Recognize cues or keywords that will enable you to modify your message at any time.
• When delivering your message, be adaptable. Even while your main point might not change, be ready to highlight different parts of your pitch according on the person you're speaking with. For instance, when addressing a prospective employer, emphasize how you can address the particular issues facing their business.

Your elevator pitch will be more engaging and effective if you personalize it by figuring out your unique selling proposition and adjusting the message to the audience. It demonstrates that you are sincerely interested in adding value to the audience and are not merely reciting a prepared speech. Making a good initial impression and paving the way for new prospects can be achieved with this strategy.

Elevator Pitch Examples

Although creating an engaging elevator pitch is essential, putting it together visually can make it more powerful. You can make polished presentations using Decktopus that grab the attention of your audience right away. With the help of Decktopus's editable templates , interactive components, and time-saving tools, you can make a pitch that is memorable and effective. Whether you're pitching to investors, employers, or clients, use Decktopus to elevate your pitch.

Here is a template page from Decktopus :

• So how can one craft a compelling elevator pitch? Everything begins with a well-defined elevator pitch template. Using this framework will help you organize your pitch and make sure you cover all you need to, from self-introduction to highlighting your special value proposition.
• Always adapt your message to your audience to ensure clarity and engagement by emphasizing how your distinctive value proposition fits with their needs or interests. This is one of the most important elevator pitch tips.

In order to fully comprehend the technique of creating a compelling elevator pitch, let's examine a few real-world examples that highlight various strategies and formats:

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Job Seeker's Pitch:

"Hello, I'm [Name]. I'm a seasoned marketing expert that is passionate about data analytics and digital strategy. In my previous position at [Company], I oversaw a team that used focused social media efforts to boost online engagement by 30%. I'm now looking for new chances where I can work with a forward-thinking company like yours and use my experience to produce quantifiable results."

Business Proposal:

"Hey, My name is [Name] and I founded [Startup]. Our company focuses in creating AI-powered solutions that help retail organizations manage their inventories more efficiently. We've assisted clients in reducing stockouts by 40% and increasing revenue by 20% thanks to our cutting-edge technologies. I'm eager to investigate how your operations could profit from our state-of-the-art solutions."

Pitch for Networking:

"I'm [Name], nice to meet you. I'm very interested in sustainable IT solutions, and I have a background in software engineering. I'm currently working on a project that optimizes energy usage in commercial buildings by combining machine learning with IoT sensors. I'm constantly excited to meet like-minded individuals and look into possible partnerships."

Entrepreneurial Pitch:

Hello there, I am [Name], the [Company's] founder. Our specialty is creating handcrafted chocolates with ingredients that come from ethical sources. We've gained a devoted following of customers and numerous accolades in the industry because to our distinctive blends and dedication to sustainability. I'd be happy to talk about how we may collaborate to make uniquely branded presents for your next business gatherings."

Pitch for Freelancers:

"Hello, my name is [Name]. I'm a self-employed graphic designer with a talent for developing striking brand identities. I love realizing my clients' ideas, whether it be for print materials, websites, or branding. I'm here to assist you differentiate your business and stand out from the competition with my portfolio of accomplished projects and more than five years of experience

• Example Elevator Pitch: Sales Expert

"Hello, my name is [Name]. I'm an experienced sales representative with a track record of surpassing goals. In my previous position at [Company], I routinely saw a 30% rise in revenue annually."

• Startup Founder's Elevator Pitch Example:

"Hello, I'm [Name], founder of [Startup." Our company specializes in creating AI-driven software that helps small businesses increase productivity while saving time and resources by streamlining workflow procedures."

• Example of an Elevator Pitch: Marketing Expert

"Greetings, [Name]. I'm a marketing expert that is passionate about data analytics and digital strategy. Using focused social media initiatives, I oversaw a team at [Company] that raised online engagement by 30% in my prior position.

A strong hook that is effortlessly integrated into your goals to guarantee that your message is understood thoroughly is essential to creating an interesting elevator pitch. Whether you're pitching at a business pitch, job interview, or networking event, the most important thing is to have a clear message that focuses on your unique selling point.

You can examine the deck prepared by artificial intelligence created by Decktopus.

Adding a powerful statistic to your pitch helps bolster it by offering hard data supporting your accomplishments or the potential influence of your concept. Recall that the objective is to pique the interest of your audience and encourage a deeper discussion about your objectives and how the two of you may collaborate to achieve them.

1) What is an elevator pitch, exactly?

• An elevator pitch is a succinct, two- to three-minute persuasive speech that aims to pique people's interest in what you do or your concept.

2)What elements are essential to a great elevator pitch?

• It ought to start with an introduction, a synopsis of your work or idea, its advantages or capacity to solve problems, and a call to action.

3) How should my elevator pitch be modified for various audiences?

• Recognize the needs or interests of the audience and emphasize pertinent elements of your pitch to meet those demands.

4) How often should my elevator pitch be updated?

• Review and revise your elevator pitch on a regular basis to take into account any new experiences, accomplishments, or objectives. Maintaining it up to date guarantees that you're constantly prepared with a pertinent and powerful message.

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How to Craft an Elevator Pitch - 5+ Pitch Examples Included

If we were to tell you that a 40-second encounter has the potential to change your career path or jumpstart your business idea, you probably wouldn’t believe us, right?

Well, we’re telling you just that!

Sometimes, for a short window of time, we end up in the right place, at the right time, with the right person (and no, we’re not talking about your romantic life). 

Those seconds are enough to explain your business idea to an investor or describe your company to a potential client.

Knowing how to take advantage of that time - aka, knowing how to give an elevator pitch - can make or break a deal. 

In this article, you’ll find all you need to know in order to deliver a top-notch elevator pitch and not let any opportunities slip. 

What’s an Elevator Pitch?

Most common uses for an elevator pitch.

• How to Craft an Elevator Pitch (with steps)
• Dos and Don’ts

5 Elevator Pitch Examples

So, let’s not waste any time and get right to it!

An elevator pitch is a concentrated summary of yourself, your job, your company, or your business idea. A trailer, if you will.

The point is to inform your audience and potentially land a job position, investor, or simply expand your network.

You should be able to deliver a pitch in the time of a short elevator ride (between 30 and 60 seconds), hence its name. 

Elevator pitches are crafted for short (sometimes unexpected) encounters: a one-station metro ride with an old client, coffee break at the office with a coworker from another department, a chat with a superior right before a meeting. 

Situations in which you don’t have time to think and they don’t have time to listen.

However, it can come in handy in plenty of other situations as well, like:

• Selling a product or service. A well-crafted and concise pitch grabs the buyer’s attention and can lead to a successful sale. 
• Looking for a job. Whether it’s your LinkedIn summary or a conversation with a recruiter at a job fair, a good pitch will introduce you and your skills in a brief and impactful way.
• At a job interview. When answering an interview question like “ Tell me about yourself ”, you’re basically doing an elevator pitch.
• In a work event. Networking and having connections have become crucial in the job market. During events, having some pitches in your pocket will allow you to have brief but memorable conversations with plenty of people and expand your network. 
• Giving a presentation. Your audience will probably stay for all of the presentations, even if it’s way longer than 30 seconds. However, there’s no guarantee they will listen. Delivering a summarizing pitch before the presentation will grab the audience’s attention and spark curiosity as to what you will be presenting.

How to Craft an Elevator Pitch

When you think about it, an elevator speech might not seem all that difficult at first.

After all, It’s just 30-60 seconds - that’s 75-150 words max, right. 

Well, the short length of the speech is exactly the problem. 

The difficulty and success of a pitch lies in being able to compress a lot of information in only a few structured sentences. 

That’s far from easy, but it’s nothing you can’t master. 

Here’s what steps you should follow when preparing any elevator pitch.

Step #1 - Have a clear goal

Say, you’re representing a newly-started business. 

If you’re giving a pitch to a potential investor your goal is to convince them that your business is a good investment. Talk about what problem your product solves, what your customer base is, how big your potential market is, and your expected profits.

If you’re giving a pitch to a prospective client, your goal is to convince them to buy your product. How would they benefit from buying it? Why is it better than its competitors?

Knowing the exact purpose of your pitch will make it easier for you to select what information to include in your elevator pitch.

It’ll also help you avoid steering off track and getting into unnecessary details.

Step #2 - Explain who you are/What you do

This is what’s going to grab (or lose) the attention of your listener. 

Your answer should follow a past-present-future structure. It’s easier for you to put together, and at the same time, easier for your audience to follow.

If you’re presenting your company, briefly go over why it was created, what it does, and what are its prospects for the future.

If you’re talking about yourself, give some background information on education or previous work experiences, what you do now, and what your career goals are.

This information should make up about 50% of your answer, which means you should compress it into 35 - 75 words. That’s like 2-4 sentences only!

Step #3 - What’s special about it?

Now, this is where you lay down your case after you have the listener’s attention. 

This is where you talk about your USP (Unique Selling Proposition).

What does your company do that sets it apart from its competitors? What makes you the best candidate for the job? 

Go for the most interesting and memorable pieces of information and don’t be afraid to talk numbers as well. 

This is what the listener will probably remember most out of the conversation, so put a lot of thought into what you will be presenting. 

“Hi, I’m Jane. I’m a fine arts graduate, currently working as a designer. 

I’ve previously worked as creative director for M's clothing brand for 3 years. During that time, I oversaw the release of two collections and directed the photoshoot sessions for both of them. I also worked as creative director for B magazine for 2 years and E-magazine for 3 years. I directed multiple photoshoots and marketing projects, releasing 25 magazine covers in total and 3 video campaigns.

I’m currently looking to expand my portfolio and get into the branding industry, which is why I decided to apply for this position.”

I have experience working as a creative director for a clothing brand and some magazines. I’m currently looking to expand my portfolio and get into the branding industry, which is why I decided to apply for this position.”

Step #4 - Engage the audience

Imagine wrapping up your pitch and then… silence. That makes for one awkward interaction, quite the opposite of what you’re aiming for. 

To avoid that, end your pitch with a question or statement that will engage the other side with a reply. 

You can ask for a meeting, show curiosity about the company, or simply express your desire to work there. You can even ask for mentorship .

This leaves room for the conversation to go on (as much as the elevator ride will allow) and for contact to be established between you and the listener. 

“Hello there! I’m John, I work for YY. We provide accounting software primarily for small and medium-sized businesses like yours. 

The software completely changes your experience with invoices and billing. What’s special about it is that it will also provide you with an insightful financial report on your business. You’ll know exactly how your business is performing.

What software does your company currently use, if I may ask?”

“Hi, my name is John and I work for XY, a software company aiming to help businesses like yours. 

Our software assists you with invoices and billing, provides tools for accurate accounting, and gives you timely detailed reports on your business’s performance. It really is great!”

Step #5 - Practice and practice again

First round of practice is about getting the answer right. 

You’re going to need to do a lot of revision to your pitch, each time cutting some information until you get to the right answer-length.

Second round is about memorizing what you initially laid out. 

All this effort would be for nothing if you don’t remember your points and steer off track when it’s time to use your pitch.

Record your pitch and listen to it after a while. Pay attention to your tone and see if you have succeeded in making a convincing statement.

DOs and DON’Ts of an Elevator Pitch

You can use an elevator pitch for a lot of different reasons, usually making some changes to fit your purpose.

However, here are some tips to keep in mind when giving any kind of pitch.

Tailor your pitch to your audience.

Even if you’re interviewing for the same position, your answers to interview questions should differ depending on if you’re talking to your CEO or a recruiter. 

Keep a positive attitude.

Chances of you being convincing if you’re sporting a frown and monotonous voice are very very low.  

Make it easy to understand.

This is not the time to use big SAT words or get technical with your explanation. Remember - your pitch is supposed to have a conversational tone, so stay away from complicated sentences. 

Speak fast.

You might be tempted to speak faster in order to include as much information as possible in your pitch. Don’t! It’s just going to confuse your audience. 

Sound rehearsed.

The idea is to rehearse a lot, but not to sound like it. A robotic answer that lacks passion won’t get you the job or the client.

Having a business card to give at the end of the interaction is a great move. The other person will have a piece of reference to contact you!

...And that’s a wrap for all the theory!

Now, let’s cover some real-life elevator pitch examples, starting with:

#1. Sales Elevator Pitch Example 

“Hello! Thank you for showing interest in our company’s services. 

XYZ is a tech recruitment company, helping organizations such as yours source the best developer talent. Vice versa, we also help professionals find the right job opportunities for them. 

As of last year’s data, we successfully helped fill more than 2000 job positions - and that’s only for Massachusetts and Connecticut! We will be expanding in New York and Pennsylvania this year, providing a larger pool of opportunities for both employers and professionals. 

How does your company currently recruit employees?”

#2. Job Interview Elevator Pitch Example

“Hi! My name is Jane. I’m glad to be here. 

I graduated in business administration 7 years ago. Since then, I have held positions as an administrative assistant, sales agent, and for the last 3 years, sales manager.

So far I’ve only managed small-sized teams of agents. Quite successfully, if I can say so - we always met or exceeded sales targets. 

I’d love to have the opportunity to advance in this area and manage a larger sales team, and this position seems like the perfect opportunity to do so.”

#3. Work Event Elevator Pitch Example

“Hello! I’m John Doe. I think we corresponded on the phone together to schedule a meeting between our bosses. Jane, am I right?

I was an intern at the time and I recently earned a full position as an administrative assistant. We’ll probably be communicating again in the future so I thought I’d come to say hi. 

How’s work been going for you?”

#4. Presentation Elevator Pitch Example

“Hello everybody. You probably know what we’ll be talking about today, but I’ll give you a brief summary before we begin as well.

As many things, the retail industry was also greatly affected by the pandemic. Production was interrupted, fashion shows canceled, and many brands, unfortunately, had to file for bankruptcy. This has left the industry with a lot of uncertainties as to what the future will bring. We will be discussing some possibilities today, as well as analyzing some of the online strategies that were followed by some brands and how they could end up bringing permanent changes. 

Let me know if you are ready to begin!”

#5. Seeking Mentorship Elevator Pitch Example 

“Hi, my name is Jane Doe, I’m a journalism graduate. For the past year, I’ve been covering political news for Y local newspaper. I’ve also had two opinion essay pieces published at the prestigious Z. I am a great admirer of your work, especially your coverage of elections. 

Yours is a path which I aim to follow and I would love to discuss with you the possibility of a mentorship. I have been working on a book on the side and your guidance and opinion would mean a lot to me.”

Key Takeaways

You made it to the end! No elevator encounter can scare you off now. 

Let’s do a short recap with the most important tips to remember.

• Know your audience. Your goal will differ with each audience. Know exactly what you’re trying to convince them of and focus only on the relevant information.
• Be brief - between 30-60 seconds. Less than that, it won’t make sense. More than that, you’ll lose the audience’s attention.
• Follow the past-present-future structure. That will help you put your answer together more easily.
• Mention something unique. That’s your selling point, the memorable part of the conversation.

All that’s left to say is: practice your answers and make the most out of every second. Literally.

Suggested reading:

• The Complete Guide to Remote Work [W/ Tips & Tricks]
• The Ultimate Guide to Job Hunt - Land Your Next Job in 2024
• How to Get an Internship in 2024 [4 Easy Steps]

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How to Write a Killer Elevator Pitch [Templates Included]

Anuj Malhotra

Let’s face it - In this age of information overload, people do not have the time to listen to our long introductions. Whether our attention spans are decreasing or not (that’s a debate for some other time), one thing is for sure - the audience is becoming very selective in what they pay attention to. They instantly tune out our technical gibberish or anything that goes above their heads. Nobody has the time to untangle complicated knots of information. Simple and interesting stuff works with them.

That brings us to writing the elevator pitch - a short, simple description of your company or yourself that can be understood in seconds. The name, as most of you already know, came after the practice of quickly introducing yourself to a fellow person sharing the elevator ride with you. This ride takes less than a minute and that’s the time you have to quickly introduce yourself and make the other person interested in knowing more about you. This brings us to the question-

What is an Elevator Pitch and What It is Not-

An elevator pitch is not a sales pitch. It is not just jumping at the first opportunity to start describing what you sell. It is an attempt to make people familiar with what you do and make the person interested in knowing more about you. A good elevator pitch will initiate a further conversation where you can sell yourself. Not in the first elevator pitch.

Who needs an elevator pitch? Practically everyone in this business of selling a product, service or idea. And where do we need it? When you are on an elevator of course, but also sharing a public ride, at a networking event, at your investor pitch proposal, at your interview, or a chance encounter with a stranger. You need to perfect your pitch so that you lose no time in picking the ‘right words’ and say the ‘right’ words with confidence.

How to Write an Elevator Pitch-

What are the “right’ words? The words that connect with the receiver. Here are some tips to get started:

Writing an Elevator Pitch for Yourself:

Step 1- Give an Insight into Yourself- 

Think of what do you say when someone asks “What do you do?” Do you just vomit out quickly your designation? 99 out of 100 people do that. There is no soul behind those words. It is just a fact that you are sharing. 

Average Introduction - 

I am a graphic designer. Better Elevator Pitch - I am a freelance graphic designer passionate about making beautiful things and experiences for my clients.

Download this Creative Editable PowerPoint Template

Step 2- Describe Your Services

Now, that you have set the stage for who you actually are, describe quickly what you offer as your product or service. Remember that you are not selling anything just sharing what you do as a matter of fact.

Download this Creative Digital PowerPoint Template

#3- Show What You Do

Well, if you are riding in an elevator, then you cannot simply take out your phone and start showcasing your work unless the person said, “I would love to see your work.” But if you are presenting before an audience, say you have made a visual resume for a company, it makes sense to not just tell what you do but also show it. The first two slides have just taken 10-20 seconds, you still have a few seconds left to convince the audience of your credentials and create a memorable impression.

Showcase your work by showing a visual of the same:

Download the Portfolio Briefcase

If you can show a before-after, that is even better because nothing convinces more than seeing the transformation thanks to your service…

Download this Before After PowerPoint Template

Step 4- Any big achievement to your credit?

If you have been awarded for your work or you helped the client achieve big success, it would be an opportunity lost not to share it. There’s no bragging about it but a matter of fact statement.

I don’t know if you have viewed my presentation on “7 Sure-Shot Ways to Multiply Your Earnings” on SlideShare. It was awarded “Presentation of the Year” by SlideShare last year. 

Such a statement is bound to impress any tom dick and harry. Even if it’s not a ground-breaking achievement but a value that you offer to your clients, it will work.

I am Tom Phelps and I am a career counselor. Basically, I help my clients find their talent and put it to best use. Two of my clients recently got featured in New-Age Entrepreneurs Magazine for their disruptive startups.

Download this Key Achievements PPT Template

Step 5- Share Your Contact Details

Last but not least, don’t forget to share your business card with the listener. All your effort of leaving a good impression goes down the drain if they can’t connect with you in the future when your services are needed. If it is a visual resume or a presentation at an event, share your contact details and also share your presentation copy so that you can be contacted in the future.

Download this Contact Us Presentation Slide

Creating an Elevator Pitch Presentation for Your Company:

In most cases, you need to pitch your company services before clients. The steps are the same - go for an easy-to-understand, interesting approach that connects with the audience. 

Step 1- Start with a Hook

Pique the audience’s interest with a catchy opening. Here are three common ways to capture audience's attention right from the start-

#1- Ask a Question

Involve the audience in a conversation by asking them a question.

Download the Thumbs Up Icon Template

#2- State a Fact

Facts add credibility to a presentation. Logical people are more convinced when data and statistics are presented before them.

Download Social Media Marketing Slide

#3- Share a Story

Stories always connect with the audience at an emotional level. They give a face to the facts and data you share. Story could be of a client in distress and how the fortunes turned for them once they started utilizing your services. It is not a brag story but a genuine description of a problem that many in the audience would be facing and how you rose to the challenge. 

Step 2- Who are You & What Do You Do

Once you have captured the audience's interest, it is time to do the most important thing - Introduce your company. There are two ways to go about it - First, Introduce your brand name and a short line description of what you do.

The second way is - Introducing your brand name and tagline that describes the value you offer to others.

Download Digital Marketing PPT Diagram

Step 3- Who’s Your Target Audience  

If the audience is obvious like in the example above (every business can benefit from social media presence), you can skip this step. For many other products and services, this is a very important part of the elevator pitch.

Step 4- What’s Your USP

What makes you different from your competitors? Highlight your Unique Selling Proposition that will convince the audience to choose you over others.

Download this Business Approach PowerPoint Template

Step 5- Client Testimonial/Case Study

Showcase the good work you have done for your clients. Case studies and client testimonials add credibility to your claims.

Download Case Study PPT Template

Step 6- Contact Us Details

You can’t forget to share your business card if you are conversing face to face. While presenting an online slideshow, don’t forget to add the contact details towards the end.

Download the Contact Us Slide

Case Study: Best Elevator Pitch

You realize the power of an elevator pitch when you read the case study of DollarShaveClub. Their pitch video went viral on YouTube helping them build a billion dollar business. 

Here’s what we learned from it:

Top 10 Tips to Create a Killer Elevator Pitch:

• Show Your Human Side

Brands are faceless organizations. That is why, it is difficult to connect with them right from the start. We just hear their names and if it is an unfamiliar one, it gets lost amongst the dozens of brand names we come across every day. So, for a new brand wishing to make an impressive elevator pitch, we can take a cue from DollarShaveClub. 

The CEO himself introduces the brand - Hi, I'm Mike, founder of DollarShaveClub.com. What is DollarShaveClub.com? Well, for dollar a month, we send high-quality razors right to your door. Yeah a dollar. 

P.S. Also notice how he asks the straightforward question to engage viewers. 

• Highlight Your USP

A startup can take over business giants if it has something valuable to offer that others do not. The USP has already been highlighted in the opening line - it is just a dollar a month! But is that it? Is money the only selling factor. No. The pitch quickly establishes the quality of service-

Are the blades any good? No, our blades are f**king great! Each razor has stainless steel blades and aloe vera lubricating strip and a pivot head. It's so gentle a toddler could use it.

• Throw Light on Problem

The reason why your business exists is to solve a pain point. What is that pain point? Articulate it well so that even if the people were not aware of it, thanks to you they are. DollarShaveClub launches a scathing attack on a big brand by articulating the pain point perfectly...

And do you like spending $20 a month on brand name razors? 19 go to Roger Federer... And do you think your razor needs a vibrating handle, a flashlight, a back scratcher and ten blades. Ask your grandfather - had one blade and polio. 

• Offer Your Solution

Now that you have presented the problem, the next logical step is to present your solution. Although the same is indirectly covered when you described in the beginning the service you offer, you can elaborate upon that briefly over here. 

Stop paying for shave tech you don't need and stop forgetting to buy your blades every month. Alejandro and I are gonna ship them right to you.

• Social Promise is a Bonus

Millennials are motivated by cause marketing and less by monetary reward. In a study on millennials and buying behavior, it was found that 42% of millennials bought from a company with a social mission as compared to 14% of older Americans. The shaving company includes social appeal in its pitch smartly.

We're not selling razors. We're also making new jobs.

• Make it Humorous

Nothing engages like humor. The brand knew how to add fun to their pitch and lighten up the viewers. The pitch has many funny moments like the grandfather reference, love for tennis, and boss-worker bonhomie.

Alejandro, what were you doing last month? Not working. What are you doing now? Working. I'm no Vanderbilt but this train makes hay.

• End with a Memorable Call to Action

The listeners might be engaged with your story but is that all you want? You want them to take the next step - look up at your service and make the next buying move.

So stop forgetting about your blades every month and start deciding where you're gonna stack all those dollar bills I'm saving you. We are dollarclubshave.com and the party is on!

Isn't it about time?

• Have a Catchy Slogan/Tagline

A slogan that sticks works great for your business. But it should highlight your customer value, your value proposition. DollarShaveClub addresses both their benefits in their catchy tagline - It helps you save money (just a dollar a month) and time (product is shipped right to your door).

Shave Time Shave Money

• Keep It Short Elevator pitches should be no more than 30-60 seconds. Attention spans are decreasing. You have to grab their attention quickly. Where video format is concerned, DollarShaveClub packs a lot of punch in just 90 seconds.
• Keep It Simple

This is where many elevator pitches go wrong. They use their industry jargon thinking everyone understands the same. Test your elevator pitch on those outside your industry to get a fair idea.  Work on the pitch to make it as simple as possible.

Professionally Designed Elevator Pitch PPT Templates

If you need single-slide Elevator Pitch templates to pitch the main points in one slide, here are some professionally designed templates to help you keep your message succinct and visually impactful...

Download this Editable Elevator Pitch Template

Grab this Elevator Pitch PPT Diagram

Download this Elevator Pitch Slide

Access this Elevator Pitch Presentation Template

Grab this Elevator Pitch Layout

Download this Elevator Pitch PPT

Access this Elevator Pitch Case Study

Grab this Elevator Pitch Example PPT

Download this Elevator Pitch Slide Design

Template 10

Download this Elevator Pitch Editable PPT Template  

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How to Craft the Perfect Elevator Speech in 2024 (With Examples)

• The Speaker Lab
• May 6, 2024

Table of Contents

Have you ever gotten onto an elevator with someone important and wished you had more time to talk to them? Or maybe you’re at a networking event and only have a few short minutes to introduce yourself to someone you’ve always wanted to connect with. In life, there are many situations where you only have a few seconds to make an impression that lasts. That’s where your elevator speech comes in. Today, we’ll explore the art of crafting the perfect elevator pitch—one that’s clear, concise, and compelling. Here’s how to make every second matter so that you’re unforgettable to anyone lucky enough to cross paths with you.

What Is an Elevator Speech?

You’ve probably heard the term “elevator speech” thrown around, but what exactly does it mean? An elevator speech (or elevator pitch) is a brief, persuasive speech that you use to introduce yourself, your product, or your company. In addition, you should also try to provide a short overview of your own background and experience.

As the name suggests, your elevator speech should be short enough to present during a quick elevator ride. Practically, that means you only have about 30-60 seconds to communicate your unique skills and what you can offer to a company or organization. The goal? To share your knowledge and credentials quickly and effectively with people who don’t know you.

Importance of Having a Strong Elevator Speech

Think of an elevator speech as a personal sales pitch. Having a strong, well-crafted elevator pitch can help you stand out from the crowd, whether you’re at a networking event, job interview, or just meeting someone new. It’s a great way to make a positive first impression and leave people wanting to know more about you.

You can use your elevator pitch in a variety of situations, such as:

• Job interviews
• Career fairs
• Networking events
• Professional conferences
• Social gatherings

Basically, anytime you need to introduce yourself professionally, an elevator pitch comes in handy. It’s a valuable tool to have in your career toolkit.

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Key Elements of a Memorable Elevator Speech

So, what makes a good elevator speech? All told, there are several key elements, such as clarity, an explanation of your unique skills, a call to action, and confidence. Let’s break down these key components and look at them more closely.

Clarity and Conciseness

Firstly, your elevator pitch should be clear and concise. Avoid using industry jargon or complex language that might confuse your listener. Keep it simple and to the point.

Unique Value Proposition

What sets you apart from others in your field? Your answer to this question forms your unique value proposition (UVP). In your elevator speech, highlight your UVP—in other words, anything that makes you stand out. For instance, maybe you have a special skill, experience, or perspective. Focus on what makes you memorable and valuable.

Call to Action

End your pitch with a specific call to action. What do you want the person to do after hearing your pitch? Do you want them to visit your website, schedule a meeting, or connect on LinkedIn? Make it clear what the next steps are.

Confidence and Enthusiasm

How you say it is just as important as what you say. Accordingly, deliver your pitch with confidence and enthusiasm. Smile, make eye contact, and speak clearly. Let your passion for what you do shine through.

Crafting Your Elevator Speech

Now that you know the key elements of an elevator speech, let’s talk about how to actually craft one.

Identifying Your Target Audience

Before you start writing your pitch, think about who you’ll be delivering it to. Are you targeting potential employers, clients, or investors? Understanding your audience will help you tailor your message to their needs and interests.

Highlighting Your Skills and Experiences

Your elevator pitch should showcase your most relevant skills and experiences. Think about what makes you unique and valuable to your target audience, then use specific examples and achievements to back up your claims.

For example, instead of saying “I’m a great communicator,” you could say “I have five years of experience in public relations, and I’ve secured media placements in top publications like Forbes and The New York Times .”

Tailoring Your Pitch to the Situation

You may need to slightly adjust your pitch depending on the situation. For example, your pitch for a job interview might focus more on your work experience and career goals. In contrast, your pitch for a networking event might focus more on your personal brand and interests.

Practicing and Refining Your Pitch

Once you have a draft of your elevator pitch, practice delivering it out loud. Time yourself to make sure it’s no longer than 60 seconds. Along the way, pay attention to your pacing, tone, and body language.

Ask a friend or colleague for feedback and keep refining your pitch until it feels natural and compelling. The more you practice, the more confident you’ll feel delivering it in real-life situations.

Delivering Your Elevator Speech Effectively

Once you’ve crafted a killer elevator speech, it’s time to deliver it with impact. But how do you do that? Below we have some tips for perfecting your delivery.

Body Language and Nonverbal Communication

When giving your elevator speech, your body language can speak louder than your words. Stand up straight, make eye contact, and smile. Use hand gestures sparingly in order to add emphasis to your points. Finally, avoid crossing your arms or fidgeting, as these can make you appear nervous or closed off.

Speaking Clearly and Confidently

Speak at a moderate pace and enunciate your words clearly. Vary your tone and inflection in order to keep your listener engaged. Most importantly, project confidence even if you’re feeling nervous. Remember, you know your stuff!

Engaging Your Listener

Tailor your pitch to the person you’re speaking with. For instance, use their name, ask them questions, and try to make a personal connection. Show genuine interest in their thoughts and feedback. The more engaged they are, the more likely they’ll remember you and your message.

Being Prepared for Follow-up Questions

Your elevator speech is just the beginning of the conversation. Once you’ve shared about yourself and your work, be ready to expand on your points and answer any questions the person may have. Anticipate common questions and have thoughtful responses prepared.

If you don’t know the answer to something, don’t give in to nervousness! Instead, be honest and offer to follow up with more information later. The goal is to keep the conversation going and build a relationship beyond the initial pitch.

Examples of Effective Elevator Speeches

Crafting an elevator speech can be tricky if you’ve never done it before. To help you out, we’ve come up with a few example pitches. While they might not match your situation perfectly, they’ll definitely give you a good place to start.

For Job Seekers

“Hi, my name is Sarah and I’m a recent graduate from XYZ University with a degree in marketing. During my internship at ABC Company, I led a social media campaign that increased brand engagement by 25%. I’m passionate about digital marketing and I’m excited to apply my skills to help companies grow their online presence. I saw that your company is looking for a social media coordinator and I think I’d be a great fit. I’d love to schedule a time to discuss further how I can contribute to your team.”

For Entrepreneurs

“Hi, I’m Tom and I’m the founder of 123 App, a mobile app that helps busy professionals manage their time more effectively. Our app uses AI technology to create personalized schedules and to-do lists based on the user’s goals and habits. We launched only six months ago but have already gained over 10,000 active users. Our user engagement and retention rates are three times higher than the industry average. We’re currently seeking investment to scale our marketing efforts and expand our team. I’d be happy to share more details about our growth plans and revenue projections.”

For Professionals Seeking Career Advancement

“Hi, I’m Maria and I’m a sales manager at XYZ Corporation. I’ve been with the company for five years and have consistently exceeded my sales targets by an average of 20%. Last quarter, I led my team to close the biggest deal in the company’s history, bringing in $2 million in new revenue. I’m looking for opportunities to take on more leadership responsibilities and eventually move into a director role. I’m particularly interested in your company’s plans for international expansion and I think my experience could be an asset. I’d love to grab coffee and discuss potential opportunities.”

For Students and Recent Graduates

“Hi, I’m Alex and I’m a senior at XYZ University majoring in computer science. Last summer, I interned at ABC Tech where I worked on developing a new software feature that reduced processing time by 30%. I also served as the president of our university’s coding club, where I organized hackathons and coding workshops for over 500 students. I’m passionate about using technology to solve real-world problems so I’m excited to start a career in software development. I admire your company’s mission and the innovative products you’re creating. I would love the opportunity to learn more about your team and any entry-level positions you may have available.”

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Common Mistakes to Avoid in Your Elevator Speech

In addition to including key elements to your elevator speech, it’s just as important to avoid common mistakes. For instance, being vague, talking too fast, and failing to practice your pitch are all things you want to avoid.

Being Too Generic or Vague

Avoid using buzzwords or generic statements that could apply to anyone. Instead, focus on what makes you unique and provide specific examples to back up your claims.

Talking Too Fast or Rambling

You only have about 60 seconds to make an impression in your elevator speech. However, that doesn’t means you should try to talk fast so you can say more. Instead, speak clearly and concisely, and don’t try to cram too much information into your pitch. In addition, practice beforehand and time yourself to ensure you’re staying within the appropriate time frame.

Failing to Tailor Your Pitch to Your Audience

One size does not fit all when it comes to elevator pitches. As such, make sure you’re tailoring your message to the specific person or audience you’re speaking to. Do your research ahead of time in order to find common ground or shared interests.

Neglecting to Practice and Refine Your Pitch

Whatever you do, don’t wing it. The more you practice your elevator pitch, the more natural and confident you’ll sound. Seek feedback from friends, colleagues, or mentors and keep refining your pitch until it feels authentic and compelling.

Adapting Your Elevator Speech for Different Situations

Your elevator pitch is not a one-and-done deal. You’ll likely need to adapt it for different situations and audiences. Below, we’ve laid out some common scenarios where you might use a slightly different version of your pitch.

Networking Events and Career Fairs

At networking events and career fairs, you’ll have the opportunity to meet a lot of people in a short amount of time. Your pitch should be brief and memorable, focusing on your key skills and career goals. Be ready to follow up with a request to connect on LinkedIn or grab coffee to discuss further.

Job Interviews and Career Conversations

In a job interview or career conversation, you’ll have more time to expand on your elevator pitch. Be prepared to go into more detail about your experiences and accomplishments, and how they relate to the specific role or company you’re interested in. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) in order to structure your examples.

Social Settings and Casual Encounters

Not every elevator pitch will be formal or business-related. For instance, you might find yourself chatting with someone at a social event or in line at the coffee shop. In these casual settings, focus on building rapport and finding common interests. Your pitch might be as simple as “I’m a graphic designer who loves working with startups. What about you?”

Online Platforms and Virtual Interactions

In today’s digital age, your elevator pitch might take place over email, LinkedIn, or even Twitter. When crafting an online pitch, focus on brevity and clarity. Use strong subject lines, bullet points, and clear calls-to-action. Include links to your website, portfolio, or LinkedIn profile for more information.

No matter the situation, remember that your elevator pitch is a starting point for a larger conversation. So be authentic, be memorable, and be ready to adapt on the fly. With practice and refinement, you’ll be able to craft an elevator pitch that opens doors and helps you achieve your career goals.

FAQs on Elevator Speeches

What is an example of an elevator speech.

“I’m a digital marketing expert with 5 years boosting website traffic by 70%. Let’s chat about skyrocketing your online presence.”

What are the 3 parts of an elevator speech?

The three parts: Hook them in, showcase your value, and close with a call to action.

What is a good 30 second elevator speech?

“I blend tech skills and sales insight to increase B2B software sales. I’ve helped my current team exceed targets by 40% for two years. Want to know how I can do this for you?”

What is the elevator speech approach?

This approach means selling yourself or your idea quickly and effectively during brief encounters—think making big impacts in short chats.

A strong elevator speech is a powerful tool that you can use to build strong connections and grow your career or business, but creating one is harder than it looks. If you follow these simple tips, you’ll end up with an elevator speech that will open doors, spark conversations, and leave a lasting impact. It’s time to go be great!

• Last Updated: May 6, 2024

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How to Create a Captivating Elevator Pitch

6 min. read

Updated April 30, 2024

For startups and entrepreneurs, a great elevator pitch is a must.

It’s the key to sparking interest in your company, raising money from investors, and networking with business partners. It’s also a handy tool to answer the question, “so what does your company do?”

To help you build the perfect elevator pitch, we’ve brought together all of the resources you need. From a guide on what to include and a free pitch deck template to advice on how to use body language to make your speech more impactful.

Read on to discover what your elevator pitch should include and how to take a pitch from “good” to “great.”

• What is an elevator pitch?

An elevator pitch is usually a short, impactful speech, but it can also be delivered as a presentation or “pitch deck.” Your pitch tells your audience what your business does, who your customers are, and summarizes your key accomplishments. The goal of an elevator pitch is to intrigue the listener, inviting further conversation or inspiring them to take action. 

There are situations where a more extended version of your pitch is appropriate. This longer presentation, sometimes called a “pitch presentation,” typically lasts between 5 and 20 minutes. This extra time allows you to delve deeper into your ideas, products, or services, providing more detailed information while maintaining a clear, concise, and persuasive tone. 

This format is often used in formal business situations like investor pitches, business plan presentations, or when addressing larger audiences at conferences or public speaking events. 

• How to create an elevator pitch

Here are the steps you’ll need to take to create a convincing elevator pitch.

Cover these key components in your elevator pitch

Aside from catching your audience’s interest, there are seven specific things you must address to be sure your audience understands your business.

Get feedback on your business pitch

Are you speaking too fast? Is there vital information missing? You probably wouldn’t know unless someone takes the time to review your pitch. Here’s how to approach getting feedback on your presentation.

Know what you’ll say in your one, five, ten, and 20-minute pitch

You need to have a short and meaningful pitch. You also should be able to tailor your pitch to fit the expectations of different audiences. So, start by defining what should be in your pitch with more or less time.

Create a pitch deck that works without your elevator pitch

If you’re presenting to investors or lenders, you’ll want a visual presentation to compliment your elevator pitch. Ideally, this deck should describe your business so well that it works without a verbal explanation.

Back up your pitch with a business plan

Before you start pitching, you need to have a business plan. If investors or lenders like what you’re saying, they’ll expect you to share a plan that goes into greater detail and backs up what you’re saying.

Tips to nail your pitch and impress investors

There are many factors that go into creating a good elevator pitch. Whether you’re improving your poise, ability to tell a story, or ability to answer investor questions, we have several guides to help strengthen these specific skills.

Things that will take your pitch from good to great

Aside from a well-developed elevator pitch here are nine other things to elevate your presentation and set yourself apart.

How to successfully pitch your business idea to investors

We’ve covered the basic sections you need to include in your pitch. But there are other things to consider covering to convince investors that your idea is worth their time and money.

Avoid these common mistakes when pitching

Don’t want to bomb your pitch? Be sure to avoid these costly mistakes.

How to hook investors with your company culture

Not every investor will be won over by an impressive bottom line and high growth potential. Some care more about the mission or culture of the companies they’re investing in.

What to do if you can’t answer an investor question

Even with the most thorough preparation you’re bound to have questions you simply don’t have a good answer for. Here’s what to do when you can’t quickly present a good answer.

How to improve your body language when pitching

You may have a killer pitch, a captivating pitch deck, and a well-written business plan to back it all up—but if your posture, hand motions, and eye contact aren’t hitting the mark you may fall short.

Learn to harness the power of Pixar storytelling

No one knows how to craft a compelling story better than the creatives at Pixar. While their focus is on animated features that pull the heartstrings—their methods can actually help you develop a more enticing pitch.

How to raise money and pitch as a female entrepreneur

There are numerous roadblocks to small business funding—even more-so for women who must combat a legacy of underfunding due to the predispositions of many investors. Here’s what to prepare for.

Lessons from Shark Tank pitches

When pitching to investors you’re going to hear ‘no’ more than ‘yes’. It’s a necessary process for you to learn from. But, you can also take away some insights from the public pitches shown on Shark Tank.

• Alternative ways to pitch your business

You’re not always going to pitch in a formal or traditional setting. It’s important to understand the different types of pitches you may have to give, including virtual, written, and spontaneous pitches in social settings.

Learn to pitch in social situations

If you’re starting to network or rub shoulders with industry veterans there will likely be an opportunity to pitch your business. It’s not a formal setting and you need to fine-tune your pitch to fit the spontaneity.

How to pitch your business virtually

Meetings over video calls are becoming the norm and that also applies to pitch meetings. While your overall pitch shouldn’t change that much, there are some nuances to doing things virtually that you should consider.

How to pitch your business through email

If you’re struggling to secure time to pitch to investors then you may be better off skipping the meeting and trying to convince them directly in their inbox.

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• Elevator pitch and pitch deck resources

Resources and templates to help you successfully pitch your business idea.

Free investor pitch deck template

Visualize your business pitch and wow investors with this free pitch deck template.

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Business plan template

Back up your pitch with a detailed and investor-ready business plan. Get started with our fill-in-the-blank business plan template.

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Kody Wirth is a content writer and SEO specialist for Palo Alto Software—the creator's of Bplans and LivePlan. He has 3+ years experience covering small business topics and runs a part-time content writing service in his spare time.

Table of Contents

• Tips to nail your pitch

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Top 7 Killer Elevator Pitch Examples

Make short, sharp, and on-the-spot presentations by modeling your presentations after these elevator pitch examples.

I’ve scoured the business management internet space to bring you the best, most-impressive elevator pitches. In the following paragraphs, I’ll show you how to model your communications on these winning archetypes. (Spoiler alert: some of these examples show what not to do, so read closely.)

What is an elevator pitch?

Think of your elevator pitch (or elevator speech) as a Twitter version of your business plan/proposal. You may use more than 140 characters to communicate your ideas during a 30-second elevator ride; however, don’t share more than three tweets’ worth of information in “ first contact ” situations.

Because the average English word has 4.5 characters (5.5 with spaces), a 140 character tweet equals roughly 25 words.

Most people speak 120-200 words per minute ; use a comprehensible 75 words (slightly slower than the average speaking speed) in your 30-second elevator pitch.

Speaking slowly (while still showing your passion for the subject) demonstrates confidence and competence.

Don’t just wing it and stumble your way through a rambling, improvised elevator speech the next time you get a chance to speak with an industry influencer.

Create and practice your elevator pitches right away–you never know when you’ll run into that next big opportunity.

Business networking means always having a business card in your hand and a smile on your face.

Give the same care and attention to the way you describe yourself (and your company) as you do to your professional attire, branding, and product design.

However, don’t spend too much time on this effort; track your time to ensure you spend an appropriate amount on this project without obsessing.

You can use an elevator pitch for everything from getting a job/promotion to landing a new client or investor. You’ll find these short, refined introduction speeches in all areas of business communication.

Staying ahead of the competition and managing industry rivalry means always presenting yourself in the best possible light. Later in this article, I’ll provide elevator speech examples for each of the popular variants. However, let’s use a basic elevator pitch template to get started.

Use a simple elevator speech template

You can find many outline variants and elevator pitch examples online; I’ll describe my favorites in this article. However, to keep things simple, I’ll start with a simple method used by the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology:

• State the Problem
• Present Your Solution
• Explain Why People Should Trust You
• Describe Your Value Proposition
• Offer a CTA (Call to Action)

In the following fill-in-the-blank template, I use one sentence per point to clarify the structure of this system. Feel free to break this rule and create a natural-sounding elevator pitch. As you practice your speech out loud, keep tweaking your phrasing to sound personable and precise. Just remember to maintain a maximum of 75 words!

A simple Harvard-MIT elevator pitch template

• Problem: “[Customer Type] are often frustrated by the effort it takes to [Action].”
• Solution: “[Your New Solution] eliminates the need to [Customer’s Old Solution].”
• Why You: “For [Duration], [Customer Type] have trusted [Your Company] to provide the best solutions in [Customer’s Industry].”
• Value: “With [Your New Solution], you can [spend less/make more] [time/money] [Action].”
• CTA: “I’ll give you a call to learn more about your situation (Get Contact Info). Thanks for your time.”

Elevator pitch example #1: Nice and simple

“Ranchers are often frustrated by the effort it takes to hand-shear their angora alpacas. DroneClip eliminates the need to chase, restrain, and trim these beautiful beasts. For over 5 years, alpaca farmers have trusted DroneClip to provide the best solutions in alpaca ranching. With our safe and reliable drone aircraft, you can spend less time shearing and manage a larger herd. I’ll give you a call to learn more about your situation. Thanks for your time.”

Use a comprehensive speech outline template

When making an elevator pitch (or any other presentation, for that matter) you may want to follow a programmatic speech format like this one from UC Davis :

• Smile and make a “hooking” statement to capture your audience’s attention.
• Introduce yourself (and your company).
• Explain what you do and why you love it.
• Describe the contributions you’ve made, including the problems you’ve solved.
• Give a short, striking example of your value.
• Explain your interest in your listener(s).
• Describe your product/service/solution.
• List the ways people benefit from working with you (instead of your competitors).
• Provide a brief story about a satisfied customer.
• Ask for an appropriate response to this interaction (contact info, a referral, an appointment, etc.)

Even when working with this model, remember to keep it brief. A 75-word elevator pitch only includes 5-6 sentences. In fact, this detailed outline contains over 100 words.

Take a look at this example and learn how to sharpen your sentences into quick, powerful points. Some people like to use a lot of words to get your ideas out of their heads and onto paper.

If you’re one of these types, write a verbose first draft of your elevator speech just to get your thoughts in order.

Then, review the document a few times and find ways to make each sentence do its job with slightly fewer words than before.

To make this outline work, you’ll need to include many points per sentence, as I have below:

Elevator pitch example #2: Follow a comprehensive outline template

“Do you hate shearing stubborn alpacas by hand? I’m Joe Neely from DroneClip. I enjoy connecting animal lovers to technologies like our DroneScoop waste solution. I’m here at the Alpaca Festival to learn from you, the experts. Our hands-free DroneClip shearing system outperforms hand-shears so you can limit your employee hours. We saved one rancher, Bob Mikabob, over 40 weekly work-hours. When can I visit your farm, demonstrate our product, and meet your neighbors?”

Construct an elevator pitch for any purpose: example of custom writing

A simple format like Monroe’s Motivate Sequence may help you create the best elevator pitch for your purposes. This flexible structure can be adapted for everything from job interviews to investor meetings–and beyond:

• Get Attention
• Establish a Need
• Satisfy This Need
• Visualize Consequences
• Present a CTA

Say you want a promotion from Assistant Alpaca Wrangler to Chief Wool-Gatherer. Tailor Monroe’s Motivate Sequence to your needs and make a quick, 30-second presentation (to anyone who will listen). Let your colleagues, supervisors, and managers know why you deserve this lofty position.

Elevator pitch example #3: Adapt this format to your needs

“Yuck–I can’t believe how much loose alpaca hair floats around in our barn. I just got some in my mouth! Wouldn’t it be great if someone kept this place hair-free? I’d be glad to go around and scoop it all up. If we added a Chief Wool-Gatherer position, it would surely pay for itself by reducing waste and increasing profits. Tell the boss you want me to start, right away!”

No matter your desired outcome, it always pays to present your plans in a coherent, logical fashion. Make your speeches short and to the point, only mentioning the most relevant facts and opportunities.

The elevator pitch writing process

Sometimes it helps to see the process itself. You can adjust your speechwriting efforts according to the following brief, step-by-step elevator pitch example. To keep this section readable, I’ll create a short 30-word blurb, not an entire 75-word elevator pitch.

Elevator pitch example #4: Working with words

1) Write down all your ideas, regardless of word count.

“I’m Joe Neely and I want alpaca lovers to buy my T-shirts. I want people to feel proud of their animals and spread the word about our brand. Our brand is called DroneClip. We offer hands-free alpaca shearing solutions like FAA-approved UAV/UAS quad-copters for ranchers who want to save time and money and have more resources to invest in other aspects of their operations.”

2) Get rid of unnecessary details. The 64-word paragraph I created in Step 1 is a good start, but I can do better. First, I can cut the redundancies in my extremely-long final sentence:

“I’m Joe Neely and I want alpaca lovers to buy my T-shirts. I want people to feel proud of their animals and spread the word about our brand. Our brand is called DroneClip. We offer hands-free alpaca shearing solutions like FAA-approved UAV/UAS quad-copters for ranchers who want to save time and money.”

3) Remove any confusing or unfamiliar industry jargon. Now I’m down to 53 words. I must remove the drone-specific language in the last sentence to avoid confusing listeners. (I can always provide educational materials defining these terms in later interactions with my customers.)

“I’m Joe Neely and I want alpaca lovers to buy my T-shirts. I want people to feel proud of their animals and spread the word about our brand. Our brand is called DroneClip. We offer hands-free alpaca shearing solutions for ranchers who want to save time and money.”

4) Shorten and connect your sentences. You can communicate your entire unique selling proposition quickly if you limit your use of “ stop words .” These little connectors help sentences flow, but you don’t need as many if you combine 2-3 statements.

“I’m Joe Neely–Alpaca lovers buy my T-shirts to share their love of Alpacas and DroneClip. We offer hands-free alpaca shearing solutions for ranchers who want to save time and money.”

5) Review and ask, “What’s in it for the listener?” I’ve pared down my key points to a reasonable length (31 words). Before I polish up my final product, I need to make sure I’ve addressed the benefits customers can expect from my product. Sure, I’ve told people what the product does, but I’m selling T-shirts, not drones, in this example.

“I’m Joe Neely from DroneClip. Get our T-shirts to share your love of Alpacas and impress people by promoting the latest technology. We offer hands-free alpaca shearing solutions for ranchers who want to save time and money.”

6) Polish your speech and hit your target word count. This little blurb says everything I need it to say. I present both my T-shirt enticement product (which would also work well as a freebie) and my big sell (DroneClip drone systems).

Now, I just need to combine my introduction with my final sentence and add a few tweaks (for example, “time and money” became “resources” and then simply “frugal”).

“I’m DroneClip’s Joe Neely. We offer hands-free shears for frugal ranchers. Buy a T-shirt, show you love Alpacas, and impress people with this fun new technology.”

I’ve narrowed down my word count, added an idea, and refined my language. With similar efforts on your longer, 75-word elevator speech, you can maximize your potency. Make the most of your limited time and say the most you can in fewer words!

Sample elevator pitches you do not want to emulate

Elevator pitch example #5: avoid truisms, buzzwords, and hyperbole.

“Hi, I’m Joe Neely–I’m here to tell you all about the best drones ever constructed. The U.S. military has nothing on our sUAS and UAV options. With DroneClip, the world’s greatest corporation, you’ll be flying over the sky in your own battle robot–which also clips alpaca hair! If you’re flying, you’re flying with DroneClip–and winning the battle against hand-shears!”

In this elevator pitch example , I didn’t hold back and spoke as I would to a drone enthusiast. Not only are many of the claims in this blurb highly-exaggerated (hyperbole), I’ve also used unfamiliar buzzwords/industry terms.

Instead of providing clear and concise content , I’ve fluffed-up this elevator pitch so much with useless and obvious statements (truisms) that I didn’t have room for a CTA.

Elevator pitch example #6: Weed out fillers and annoyances

“Do you hate alpaca hair? Do wish you’d bought yaks instead? No? Do you love alpacas and say, ‘leave the yaks to the hacks?’ Well, I’m Joe Neely–come one, come all to the DroneClip side of the street. You can’t go wrong with this system –it’s the best in the business. Do you want the finest alpaca hair machine money can buy? Well, step right up and buy one today!”

If you include too many fillers like leading questions and side tangents, you’ll only annoy your customers. Don’t come off like a carnival barker ; you want people to view you as a professional who knows when not to come on too strong.

Don’t insult your audience’s attention by filling their ears with unfounded claims. Be sure to describe a valid consumer need–and how your product/service meets it.

Elevator pitch example #7: Don’t change the subject and ask too much of people

“Hi–I’m Joe Neely and I want you to–I mean, if you want to, you can… Buy the DroneClip right now, my friend. You don’t need to see how it works – trust me when I say it solves all your problems, champ. I hope you like this product, sweetie, because I don’t know if… I meant to say DroneClip is the best alpaca hair solution and you’ll save a lot with it. Just ask your neighbors–in fact, my man, buy one for each of them!”

Let’s face it. No one will buy a major piece of farm equipment unseen and untested. They certainly won’t buy one for their neighbors/competitors. Ask your customers for too much too soon, and you’ll look silly. Also, changing the tone from indecisive to enthusiastic makes people uncomfortable. Calling people by inappropriate and unprofessional nicknames and trailing off mid-sentence makes you sound completely insincere–as if it were your first day on the job (or the planet).

The bottom line

Stick with the elevator pitch examples and outlines I’ve offered earlier in this article, and you’ll present yourself with class and style. Take the necessary time to sculpt, polish, and practice your speech.

An award-winning elevator pitch can’t sell by itself; you must devote time and effort to making it sound natural in your best speaking voice.

Once you have a good speech prepared, you need to try it out in real-life situations. Whether you sell big or flop the first time, you’ll gain the experience you need to keep improving.

You’ll keep improving your sales skills throughout your career; just get out there and start talking to people–today!

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Elevator Pitch: Definition, Types, Step-by-Step guide

If you found an investor in an elevator and had a minute or less to wake up your interest, would you be ready for this challenge? This situation helps to think of a quick and direct way to present the value and differential of your company. In the world of startups and investors, the term for this is Elevator Pitch. 

In this article, we’ve covered some examples of elevator conversation and tips to help you understand, create, and deliver your second-hand message. What is elevator speech, and how to pitch in seconds?

What is an Elevator Pitch? 

An elevator pitch is a short oral communication exercise aimed at arousing the interest of a group, a company, or a  nobody. This is to briefly describe your personality, skills, and experience and give specific or original information about your areas of interest in 30 seconds – 1 minute, i.e., the average time you would spend in an elevator with your interlocutor.

How to Take an Elevator Step: Step-by-Step Instructions 

Your elevator pitch will have a slightly different purpose depending on the situation. That’s why the first thing you need is to identify your purpose. 

• Do you want to get a job in a particular company?
• Do you want to land a new strategic client? • Maybe you have a great business idea and are looking for an investor?
• Heck, maybe you want to casually introduce yourself and explain what you do for a living… 

Whatever you want to achieve, we have what you need. Here’s how to create an elevator pitch for three different occasions. 

(If you want to see examples of elevator pitches for reference and inspiration, please scroll down to the next section.)

In which situations can I use the elevator pitch? 

Although the name of the pitch may make your think can only be done in elevators, it can be used in several situations, for example, to get in touch with a particular person, hold the attention of a crowd and convince them in a short time to create a link or obtain an appointment or for a business opportunity . It can also be used to stand out during a personal presentation or a job interview.

3 Types of Elevators Pitch 

1. elevator pitch for career fairs .

Job fairs are busy environments. Hundreds of candidates are vying for attention from a few big fish. 

Events such as trade fairs and congresses are ideal situations for meeting investors, getting in touch with other entrepreneurs, or even finding new customers. Using the elevator pitch allows you to create links and make contacts. 

Whether it is to approach business leaders or to present an idea to investors, it is essential to use a relevant argument. Your presentation needs to be crafted at every opportunity to leave a good impression.

2. Elevator Pitch for Job Interview 

During a job interview, using the elevator pitch technique helps you stand out from other candidates. In particular, it allows you to make a short presentation while highlighting your qualities, talents, skills, and professional qualifications. 

To persuade your future employer and achieve a perfect pitch, your presentation must reflect who you are. It is a method that allows you to show your motivation and interest in the position and the company.

3. Elevator Pitch in Social Networks 

Meetings on professional social networks can be excellent opportunities to connect with potential clients or investors. Indeed, the latter are generally not interested in too long messages. 

Using the elevator pitch allows you to make yourself known or present your project while ensuring that your message will be read. This practice makes it possible to sell ideas and attract new customers or investors.

5 Steps to Make an Elevator Intro Pitch 

I. Get their attention.  

Open your elevator speech with something compelling and relatable. For example, identify a common industry problem with which they will be familiar. 

II. Spark curiosity 

Tell them you found a solution for that very problem but for that, you need to know WHO you are talking with and what their needs are. 

III. Summarize what you do 

Then tell how you happen to have the magic solution for their problems or how helpful you might be by explaining what you do.

IV. Be ready for more questions 

A good elevator pitch is an invitation to a conversation, not an advertising slogan. So it would be best if you were ready to explain any doubt you crowd might have.

V. Have a business card in hand 

If the person you’ve been talking to wants to continue the conversation later, handing them a business card will be more professional than just giving out your phone number.

5 TIPS TO WRITE AN ELEVATOR PITCH

1. start from scratch .

Before you can sell your idea, you need to have an idea! And it needs to be good. Take a blank sheet of paper and brainstorm how you envision your business: who the customers will be, what market you will be operating in, what demands will be met, etc. 

2. Set your Goals 

Now that you have a design of your idea and your target audience, define your goals: what are your audience’s needs, and what will you do to meet them? Explain what exactly the service you are creating is and what it does.

3. Shape your idea 

Organize clearly and cohesively all the previously defined ideas and objectives. You can use, for example, a Lean Canva to help you with this structuring. 

To give shape and face to your idea, do not forget to choose a name for your service or business, even if it is temporary; this helps summarize the concept in a few words. Finally, clarify what makes your idea different and why it deserves to be heard.

4. Create an irresistible hook 

You can develop a metaphor, a joke, an anecdote, or ask an intriguing question, but the important thing is that you create something that holds the attention and engages the listener. Remember, you need to present your idea in a few minutes, so you need to make sure you get your message across without being boring. With a square presentation, you lose your chance of success within seconds.

5. Write your speech script 

All your ideas are in order. Do you know your differential and still have a fantastic hook to engage your audience? So now it’s time to script your “elevator speech .”.”Please write what you want to communicate, showing the potential of your business, and read it aloud (preferably timing) until you reach a speech of up to 3 minutes. Finally, practice, practice, practice, and practice more! 

Leave your speech impeccable and have everything on the tip of your tongue. Perhaps, the first few times you present your idea, you will still choke a little, but each time you will gain more confidence, and this is the essential tip for success: have confidence in your business! Now, wait for that elevator ride that could change your life.

Examples of a Good Elevator Pitch

Let’s look at some examples of elevator conversations for a variety of roles and situations that you might refer to when creating yours: 

I. In a Job interview 

“Hi, my name is Michelle Catra.  Thank you so much for sitting with me today. 

After graduating with a degree in Business Administration, I have spent the last three years building professional experience as an Executive Assistant. I successfully managed end-to-end event coordination and generated a solid professional network for my colleagues. 

I was excited to learn about this opportunity in the sports management space – I have always been passionate about the way sports unite cultures and would love the opportunity to bring my project management and leadership skills to this position.”

II. Looking for a Mentor

“Hi, I’m Jonathan Barbosa; nice to meet you! I’m a graphic designer at XYZ Ltd., where I’m passionate about creating beautiful and intuitive designs for various marketing materials for our premier clients.

Before that, I did my specialization in Graphic Design. I am looking for experiences to learn more about career paths and ways to take on an art director role in the coming years.

Your work with the WWW brand has inspired me, particularly the way I think about design – I’d love to talk more about potential mentorship with you if it’s something you have the time and are interested in.”

III. Networking

“Hi! It is a pleasure to meet you.

My name is Mark Brown. I have just over ten years of experience creating data-driven solutions for various business problems. Specifically, I love and have had great success in strategically evaluating data analytics with my current work executive team. 

It sounds like you do similar work – I’d like to stay in touch to learn more about what you and your company do.”

IV. Looking for a job opportunity 

“Hi, I’m Maria Prates. I spent the last eight years learning and growing in my role as a Media Planner, where I developed and optimized strategic media plans for our leading client and managed a subset of planners as a Team Leader.

One of my proudest achievements was a project recognized as one of the top nonprofit campaigns last year. I’ve been interested in switching to nonprofits for a long time, and I love what your company does in education.

Would you mind telling me about any media planning needs you might have on the team?”

Conclusion 

There are no secrets to making a good elevator pitch. You need to be brief and create a speech that varies in length from 30 to 60 seconds. 

The elevator pitch is so named because it is short enough that it could be used even on a quick elevator ride. So it needs to be very objective, say who you are, what you do, and what you want to do (if you’re looking for a job). 

It is not necessary to present all of your professional and academic histories. However, this presentation should briefly recap who you are and what you do.

References and Further Reading 

How to Create an Elevator Pitch With Examples. Balanced Careers.

Crafting an Elevator Pitch. Mindtools.

Tips to Create the Perfect Elevator Pitch  

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Successful Inventing: Your elevator pitch and plan

Are you new to the invention process? If so, register today for the fifth event in the Successful Inventing series, presented by the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the Licensing Executives Society - Silicon Valley Chapter. 

During the fifth session, focused on your elevator pitch and plan, we will address the following topics:

• What is your message? Short and to the point.
• What do companies expect to see from inventors?
• What companies to approach and why?
• What are the licensing odds for success?

Register today

The Successful Inventing series covers various aspects of the invention process. Each biweekly session is held virtually. Participants will hear experts discuss topics that include intellectual property, product development, licensing, funding, and more.

A question-and-answer session will follow the presentation. Please send your questions in advance or during the event to  [email protected] .

For more information, please email [email protected] .

Accessibility accommodation

If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request a reasonable accommodation, please submit your request to the contact information listed above.

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