Pitching (Venture Capital) 201

Contributed by Ashlee Ammons, co-Founder of Mixtroz

You’ve done this before.

We've all been there - struggling to write a clear and engaging pitch. Sitting at our desks for what seems like 12 hours to move elements on a slide exactly where we want them. Rehearsing over and over (and over) again. And sitting there, the day of, palms sweaty and heart racing.

I have been with my business, Mixtroz, since 2015 and have been a part of the pitching process plenty of times - picking up some hacks along the way.

Pitching is about bringing your business's story to life.

These are my tips and tricks and tools for pitching, so you can attract funding and customers to your business.

click to watch the video:

Key takeaways:

The art of the pitch: Write. Design. Prep. Pitch.

Write. Tell a strategic story about your business, why it's great, and how it's growing. Your first draft will likely not be very good. Just sit down and take 30 minutes to write everything you want to talk about in your pitch. Start with a draft, then move on to the revision phase. Once you create your story, edit your words, and get feedback - share your pitch over and over again.
Design. Create stunning decks that concisely and creatively tell your story. Research the structure of a standard pitch deck and find your aspirational pitch deck. Then, create. Use tools like Canva to design the deck yourself. Create multiple versions of copy for your final product (email, competition/pitch, and full investor deck).
Prep. Speaking is not easy for a lot of people; practice is the only way to succeed. Choose your presenter (NEVER two or more people pitching at one time). Run through your pitch at least 100 times and practice exactly how you will pitch. In the final stages of your prep, record yourself and listen back. Finally, don't forget to research your audience.
Pitch. Establish your game day routine - number of practice runs, what you'll wear and listen to, how you'll breathe and stand. Watch pitches online and listen to the Q&As so that you are 'in the know.' Lean into every opportunity, but don't make winning an expectation - this is a chance to make new connections.

Watch the video for specific examples and tips, see two strong pitch decks, and get great resources.

About Ashlee Ammons

Ashlee Ammons holds a BA in Mass Communications and Public Relations from Baldwin Wallace University. She is the 38th Black Female to raise over $1M in pre-seed funding. Prior to co-founding Mixtroz with her mother, Kerry Schrader, Ashlee established a career as an Events Producer working with an impressive list of A-listers including Oprah Winfrey, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Jay-Z, as well as legacy brands like Moet Hennessy and Coca-Cola.

Ashlee serves on the boards of the Nashville Entrepreneur Center and Tech Birmingham, is a 2019 Birmingham Business Journal 40 Under 40 recipient as well as Birmingham 40 Under 40 of the decade and Business Journals National Rising Star. In addition, Ashlee is a proud member of Delta Zeta Sorority where she was named to their first-ever 35 Under 35 in 2018.

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