🚀 How to Craft an Elevator Pitch That Actually Works

In the fast-paced world of startups, you never know when you’ll bump into a potential investor, advisor or future partner. Whether it’s a chance encounter at a pitch event, networking breakfast, or even in a lift (yes, the cliché is real)—you need a clear, concise elevator pitch that sticks.

But what makes a great elevator pitch? Here’s how to craft one that actually opens doors.

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🎯 What Is an Elevator Pitch?

An elevator pitch is a 30–60 second summary of who you are, what your startup does, and why it matters.

It’s not your entire business plan—it’s the hook. Its goal? To spark curiosity, start a conversation, and get you a meeting.

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🔑 The 5 Key Elements of a Winning Elevator Pitch

1️⃣ Start With the Problem

Every great startup begins with a problem. Start strong by framing the issue your product solves. Keep it relatable and clear.

“Many small businesses in the UK lose money because they don’t have real-time insights into their cash flow.”

2️⃣ Present Your Solution

Briefly explain what your startup does, in plain English. Skip the jargon.

“Our platform gives small business owners a live dashboard of their financial health, helping them make better, faster decisions.”

3️⃣ Highlight What Makes You Different

Your USP (Unique Selling Proposition) is crucial. Investors hear dozens of pitches—what makes yours stand out?

“Unlike traditional accounting tools, we integrate with banks and HMRC in real time, saving hours each week.”

4️⃣ Show the Market Potential

Indicate the size of the opportunity. This shows ambition.

“Over 5 million SMEs in the UK alone struggle with cash flow visibility.”

5️⃣ End With a Call to Action

Make it easy to continue the conversation. Depending on the setting, ask for a meeting, feedback, or contact details.

“We’re raising our pre-seed round—would love to share more if you’re open to it.”

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💬 Example of a 45-Second Pitch

“Most UK small businesses lose money simply because they don’t have real-time visibility on their cash flow. We’ve built a simple financial dashboard that connects with their bank and accounting software to give them live insights and alerts. Unlike clunky legacy tools, we’re built specifically for SMEs and require zero financial training to use. With over 5 million small businesses in the UK alone, the opportunity is huge. We’re now raising £500k to scale our early traction. Would you be open to a 15-minute call next week?”

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✅ Pro Tips for a Great Elevator Pitch

• Keep it simple: If a teenager wouldn’t understand it, you’re probably overcomplicating it.
• Tailor it: Adapt depending on who you’re speaking to (investor, customer, mentor).
• Practise—but don’t sound robotic: Rehearse enough to sound natural, not scripted.
• Speak with confidence: Your delivery matters as much as your words.

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🧠 Final Thought

An elevator pitch won’t close your funding round or land a huge deal—but it can start the journey. And in the world of startups, that’s often all you need.

When you’ve got 60 seconds to make a first impression, make them count.

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📌 Need Help Getting Investor-Ready?

At ModelsForStartUps, we help founders polish every part of their fundraising journey with: 

✅ Pitch Deck Templates – Designed to impress investors.
✅ Business Plan Templates – Structured plans for fundraising success.
✅ Financial Model Templates – Projections that VCs expect.
✅ Cap Table Templates – Track ownership and equity with ease.

🎯 Explore tools designed for UK startups at ModelsForStartUps.com

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