The first five minutes of a pitch

- You walk into the room where your investor is sitting and chances are, they've seen many pitches in their careers. The idea of that alone may cripple you with nerves because the pressure is high. But I want to start on a positive note by saying, most investors are actually rooting for you the minute you start your presentation. You see, investors are looking for the next big thing. They're hoping you and your idea are the next big thing. They're hoping they'll be impressed because for them, that means they have found the opportunity to take a chance and grow their business and portfolio. Knowing that this is generally the sentiment of the room you're walking in to, capturing their attention and more importantly, keeping it engaging is so important. It's why the first five minutes are critical because the ball is in your court. In fact, Amir Banifatemi, Managing Partner of K5 Ventures, says, "First impressions can be even quicker than that." He says, "Impressions are made "within the first 90 seconds of interacting." So, what are some things you can do within the first few minutes to make a stellar impression? Well first, it's the way you dress. There's no real hard rule these days that says you have to wear business attire. In fact, you can even get away with a t-shirt and jeans. The rules, they're long gone. But what has remained is to make sure whatever it is that you are wearing is clean, neat, and does not distract. That means no big, bold graphics on your clothing or strange text that doesn't complement your business. You don't want investors looking at your clothing and not listening to your ideas. The next is how you approach the person. Whether they're sitting in a conference room or it's a casual one-on-one meeting, approaching the investor with a smile and excitement is an important way to bring the right energy into the room. Remember, investors are already hopeful about your idea, and even though you haven't formally started your pitch, this countdown of the first five minutes has already begun. Next is how you open your pitch. I always encourage starting out by thanking the investors for giving you the opportunity to pitch your idea. Starting off this way is a subtle way of showing you're aware of them and you're not just treating this opportunity as a transaction, but rather, a relationship. Many times, these meetings may feel like a conversation because they want to get to know you. Again, your first five minutes are so important when you meet an investor, and the time starts even before you begin speaking. So, take the time to plan how you want to carry yourself, introduce yourself, and the energy you want to give off so you have their attention as you get into the meat of your meeting.