The Fine Points of Pitching Your Idea
While attending an industry trade show you just happened to bump into a CEO on an elevator. The CEO’s company would be the perfect fit for your new invention idea. Even better, he turns to you, gives you a quick glance, and says, “You look like an inventor, pitch me your idea”. You have 20 to 30 seconds tops to pitch your invention idea to him before the doors open. Quick! What would you say?
For most inventors, this is a pretty scary yet enviable place to be in. Below, we’ll talk about some of the important things to keep in mind as you perfect the fine points of how to pitch your idea to anyone, anywhere, and at anytime.
Keep your Message Short, Sweet, and to the Point
Remember the KISS principle: Keep it Short and Sweet (you thought we were gonna say “Keep it Simple Stupid”, right?). If your invention idea is so complex that only Steven Hawking or Michio Kaku can understand it, then chances are the other 99.9% of the people on this planet won’t either which is bad for you. What you should be focusing on are:
- Why your invention idea is not only unique but also interesting.
- Why people would want to buy it.
- Why would the person you are pitching your idea to really care about your invention idea?
Practice Makes Perfect
Like anything in life, you need to practice your elevator pitch to make it perfect. Practice in front of a mirror at first. When you feel comfortable that you have your pitch down, start practicing on family and friends because you’ll be more relaxed. In addition, getting critiqued by friends and family won’t hurt so bad either. Remember, if you are nervous just giving your elevator pitch to friends and family then chances are you will be a complete wreck when you are pitching your idea to a potential CEO. Therefore, practice to the point that you are confident with your pitch and it’s delivery.
Be Passionate
You’ll need to present your elevator pitch in a manner that shows true passion for your invention idea. If you don’t believe that your invention is something that is worth pursuing, funding, or simply just finding more information about then no one else will either.
Be Adaptable
When you start your elevator pitch, really observe the eyes, facial features, and body language of the person you are talking with. If it looks like you are quickly losing their attention, you’ll need to pull out some other high impact points about your invention.
I Was Asked a Question!
Oh no, right in the middle of your elevator pitch the person asks you a question. What should you do? First, don’t freak out, this is a good thing. If they ask you a question your elevator pitch has turned into something better, a dialogue. Clearly, you have piqued their interest. But what if the question they asked wasn’t related to your invention idea at all? That’s okay too because you are trying to build some sort of relationship with this individual. However, and this is a big however, you need to make sure that the other person you were talking with doesn’t take over the conversation by only talking about themselves. If this happens, try and slowly steer the conversation back to your invention idea as politely as possible.
I’m in an Elevator Surrounded by CEOs
Being in a group of individuals all of whom you would like to talk with could be a truly daunting position for some of us. On the other hand, it can be an excellent opportunity. You can still do your elevator pitch. Follow the same delivery principles as you would with a single individual. Only this time, make sure you look at everyone within the group to gauge their reactions to your invention idea. Remember, you’re trying to not only get interest in your invention but you also want to try and build a relationship with these people, if possible.
Get their Contact Information
By the end of your elevator pitch, your next goal is to exchange contact information or, better yet, set up a followup meeting. Hopefully, you’ll have made up some simple business cards ahead of time with all your contact details on them that you can hand over. If you can’t get a business card, ask for a phone number. If you can’t get a phone number, you should always ask if you can stop by their office to further discuss your invention.
You have the basic tools now on how to pitch an invention to anyone anywhere. Now, all you have to do is get out there and do it.
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