With short rounds, you have no time to waste on a long introduction. A well-structured 60-second pitch makes sure the other person quickly understands who you are and how you can help each other — leaving time for a real conversation.
The five-part structure
- Who you are: name and role. Straight to the point.
- Your company: what it does, in a sentence anyone outside your sector would understand.
- What sets you apart: what distinguishes you from the competition — not a list of generic qualities, but something specific.
- Your audience: who you sell to or provide services for.
- What you are looking for: the kind of contact, client or partnership that would make a difference to you right now.
Example
"My name is Ana, I'm a partner at Studio Contábil. We handle accounting for small technology companies, with one difference: we deliver financial reports that are easy to understand, without the jargon. We mainly serve startups in a growth phase. Right now I'm looking for partnerships with law firms and consultancies serving that same audience, so we can refer clients to each other."
Final tips
- Practise out loud before the event — 60 seconds go by fast.
- Avoid technical jargon from your sector that the other person may not know.
- Always finish with what you are looking for: it is the hook that keeps the conversation going.