How to write a project pitch: 8 useful tips

Mastering a business pitch can take an entrepreneur a considerable long time. Experience gives many lessons along the way, yet sometimes it does so in the hardest of ways. We hope these 8 thoughts on how to write a project pitch can ease a bit of that learning curve and help you prepare for your upcoming business presentation. 

What is Project Pitching?

Project pitching is essentially making a persuasive case for your project idea in a professional setting. It's like trying to convince your colleagues, managers, or potential investors that your project is a smart move. You present the key details of your project, such as what it aims to achieve, why it's a good idea, how long it will take, and how much it'll cost. The goal is to get the green light or support from decision-makers. Whether you're in a meeting, writing a proposal, or having a chat with your boss, it's about showing why your project is worth backing and fits the company's goals.

How to pitch a project

1. First impressions make a difference

The first aspect we need to consider on how to write a project pitch is how audiences put you in a sort of a box once you start delivering your pitch. So think well how you’d like to open up your presentations. Let your first slide and opening lines convey the right idea with which you’d like to set the tone for the rest of your pitch. 

Be creative! There’s the perfect room for that in opening up your startup pitches. We wrote down a few Ideas for Pitch Deck Hooks That Will Get Your Audience’s Attention you might want to scout next. Through us or apart, take some time to come up with creative ways to start. 

Your time is limited, and so are the few starting minutes you get to make a great first impression. Those minutes are crucial! Whether this is a VC over Zoom nowadays or a room full of a broad audience as soon as this is all over, ask yourself what you can do for your pitch deck to start on a genuinely engaging note. Keeping your target audience focused throughout your entire presentation starts with that step. 

2. Social cues can guide you

In regards to the above, also look for social cues that make people snap judgments quickly and play with those in your favor. It might be strange to think about that when you just want to talk about your startup or value. But it’s precisely these small items that set you apart from the rest of your plentiful competition. 

Also, you deserve to be more than ready on all fronts. There’s never such a thing as being overprepared with pitches. In the end, if you succeed, you’ll have fed investors the image you wanted to portray, which is a great sign for them that you can achieve what’s best for your brand and business. 

3. Excel in characterization 

Create a character for yourself if it helps. Consider what your ideal look would be regarding your goals. Think about how your ideal character for this pitch talks, the language plays following the role, how they dress and act. Then craft your entire performance to suit the story you’re telling. 

4. Reel people in with creativity

Roll your audience into your creative process, also. Make people feel a part of your pitch. Arise in them feelings that give them the sense they’re collaborating with your project, if at all possible. The more you can get them to interact with what you’re saying and truly connect with what you display, the more involved they’ll be with your brand and company by the time you finish. 

The above is always an excellent result for any pitch. For that, set your tone right off the bat. As we said before, this ties in with maximizing your initial few seconds and driving your pitch’s storyline through every section. Getting your listeners and viewers to imagine, even if it’s something very bold, can always be a plus if you know how to handle that correctly. 

5. Focus on the need you’re solving

If you’re confident that your solution is the best one out there, make that entirely clear. You can feel confident in stressing to the people who are listening to you that they, too, need you. If your idea can solve a problem for the people in your audience, make the best of it. 

To achieve that, think about ways to say it, and throw it in there in diverse ways and at different times. That’s what brings you to your startup efforts and pitching, isn’t it? Stand with conviction by that. Again, weave your pitch deck story around it, as well. 

As you highlight what makes your idea unique, incorporate what makes it different from your competitors. Contemplate what you offer that no one else does in your industry, and highlight that differentiator.

6. Cut it down as much as possible

A sixth of our 8 thoughts on how to write a project pitch is to keep it as simple as possible. You’re probably the most passionate about the story you’re telling. Be careful not to get carried away. For that, pinpoint the information that’s most important to you. And then consider what tons of pitch deck templates and theorists deem vital for a superb pitch deck presentation. 

In other words, get rid of what isn’t necessary for your project pitch. Read and re-read your slides. Ask yourself if all the data you provide through it or as part of your essential script is that vital. If you think you can go without something in it, that probably means you can take it out. 

7. Get feedback

Anticipating questions is a great way to write a pitch. Yet, to make sure you’re creating a pitch that’s just right, go out and get as much feedback as possible. The more questions and doubts you can gather ahead of time, the lower the likelihood your live audience will have the same troubles as those helping you through your prepping rounds. 

Try your deck out in front of business partners, team members, and even friends and family. We’re all primarily consumers, so no audience is too unaware of business as you need to present it. Filter the thoughts you get. As we’re all buyers and people with diverse market needs, getting your point should be easy. If it isn’t, take that as a sign that you can still work on it. If something you’re presenting doesn’t sound right or isn’t entirely clear to your practice audiences, it’s a valuable hint to look at that section again. 

While getting feedback from a lot of different people is perfect, also try to get people similar to your target market to engage in conversation with you. The closer they can be to your intended audience, the better. To raise funds in front of VCs, for example, you can ask an entrepreneur in your friends’ list to set aside time to listen to you and give you their impressions. Think of business people and business owners. That can mean someone in retails as much as a dentist, lawyer, or doctor.

Foster questions after you practice your pitch. That can give you a better idea as to what to expect after your actual business presentation. 

8. Sum it up at the end

We already clarified 3 main reasons why you shouldn’t add a thank you slide. We’re moreover saying you should take a bit of your time to summarize your presentation towards the end of it. This recap should be a way to ensure the audience got what you came to say. But don’t be too extensive on that. On the contrary, go back to your startup vitals. 

While it’s great to go over covered data for a bit, just don’t go overboard with the amount of time it takes for you to achieve this. On a similar note, when it comes to how to write a project pitch, try not to focus too much on details and information people will easily forget. It’s superb if you’re precise and passionate throughout your pitch, yet it’s also a great mix if you manage to do so in a way that makes your pitch deck a simple and memorable act. 

Project Pitch Template by Slidebean

The Slidebean Project Pitch Template is a user-friendly tool that simplifies the creation of compelling project proposals. It helps you design visually appealing proposals while ensuring all essential project details are clear. Whether you need funding or approval, this template offers a structured format for presenting project goals, timelines, budgets, and outcomes. It's a powerful resource to make a strong case for your projects and increase your chances of success.

‍