4 secrets to successfully pitching your startup

You've got a great idea for a startup and you've reached the point where you're ready to pitch it to investors, maybe at a pitch competition or a similar event. However, when it comes to pitching, you have to make it count the first time. Sometimes you only get one shot, so it better be good.

David Munir Nabti and his team at AltCity, an organization that facilitates, encourages and supports high impact entrepreneurship in Lebanon and the greater MENA region, shared 4 important tips for entrepreneurs who are pitching their big idea. Nabti and his team will be moderating the Pitch Competition at Step Conference 2016 taking place at Dubai International Marine Club from April 4 to 5. So, if you're planning to pitch your startup soon, and especially if you're planning to pitch your idea during Step Conference, take note!

The only way to grab investor attention is to state a real problem and explain why it is important. Even for startups that do this, many still miss a crucial part. They do not clarify what happens if this problem is not solved. Raise the ante; tell me the consequences of users/businesses not solving this problem and how it is affecting them negatively.

"Many startups believe that their idea is the most vital part of their pitch. As a result, founders waste a considerable amount of time on it. The truth is that the idea is nothing more than a solution to a problem. If the problem you are solving is not one that a lot of people face, suffer from and want to solve, then your idea has no real value. No matter how innovative the idea is, it will fall flat on investor ears."

This will force you to visualize your whole presentation instead of thinking about it in the form of slides. Once you finish, read it from beginning to end. If at any point you feel the flow stops and starts again, fix it! Keep doing this until you end up with the perfect story.

"Presentations are not interesting, stories are. Although your presentation is segmented into slides, your story should not be. There should be an easy and continuous flow from slide to slide as you go through the different topics of your pitch. Each slide of your presentation should be connected to the one before it without giving off the feeling that a new topic is being presented."

Make sure you have a conception of the image you are trying to portray about your company. Colors, fonts, visuals are a graphical representation that could deliver multiple meanings. Take the opinion of friends and family about the visuals and design of your presentation; Don't focus exclusively on the content.

"Your slides are NOT where the information is stored and shown. Keep your slides simple! Use minimal text, if any, and focus on embedding images and icons that represent the subject matter you are addressing in the slide. The visuals and colors you choose are your branding, and will portray a lot of information about you and your company. This is a visual representation of the type of work you can do, don’t take the impact this could have on investors slightly."

Write down the all the information that you believe investors should remember while listening to your pitch. Focus on all the elements that will make your startup memorable and interesting to investors. Proceed to prioritizing them from most to least important and highlight the top three in your list. These are the moments during which you should pause.

"This is the biggest mistake entrepreneurs make, and the easiest one to fix. You are not pitching to prove that you have memorized your pitch; you are there to deliver your pitch in the best possible way. Pausing at important moments will make the listener focus on the information you provided last. Use this technique on the vital points you want the investors to remember. These points will vary from startup to startup depending on what your core strength as a startup are. It could be the market size if you are targeting a big customer base or the cost savings you are able to provide compared to your competition."