Your Pitch is Too Long
Shorter is sweeter
In the world of drinks, where shelves groan under endless options, clarity is your currency, especially when pitching.
Y Combinator’s Garry Tan offers a brutal truth:
“If in 10 minutes you cannot understand what’s going on, it means the person on the other end doesn’t understand what’s going on.”
Your pitch isn’t a novel; it’s a headline.
Keep it succinct.
There’s no billion-dollar idea that sounds better or is more compelling with 20 minutes of pitching over 10.
The “ah-ha! moment”—the “why did no one else think of this” connection—is better delivered before minute 9 than at minute 19.
Make it simple. Make it stick.1
Tan’s insights on pitching and so much more can be found on Shane Parrish’s The Knowledge Project podcast, episode 226.
Coincidentally, Made to Stick by Chip and Dan Heath is a great read for anyone interested in how to make idea, products, stories, and brands more memorable.