10 extreme things entrepreneurs have done during a pitch competition
Entrepreneurs are, by nature, risk-takers. This quality can serve as an advantage during a startup pitch competition, but it can also go terribly wrong.
Curious about what kinds of risks pay off -- especially when funding is at stake -- I asked 10 entrepreneurs from the Young Entrepreneur Council about the craziest things they have done to get investors' attention.
Their best answers are below.
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2. I gave away free massages
We were trying to think of a creative way to make my insurance startup, Margo, get noticed at a startup expo.
I rejected funding outright
We were fortunate to hit profitability in our third month of operations. We didn't need money from investors, but we did need the valuable connections that powerful investors can provide to a young company.
I told an investor they were wrong
Everybody can have an opinion when they're critiquing your pitch, but it doesn't mean they are correct. Respectfully listen to their question and respond, but do not be afraid to tell them they are wrong when they are.
I performed celebrity impressions
To give the audience an idea of the kind of voice talent they could find on Voices.com, I have been known to perform celebrity impressions.
I did a couples pitch
My partner and I broke one of the BIG pitch rules: We did a couple's pitch.
I closed a round on my wedding day
We were closing our VC round and I had one last investor to present to finish everything.
I made them laugh
I led a Tech Summit for an important client and let's just say there was a lot of material to cover: 80 slides, at least.
I used profanity
There's actually a study that shows that swearing at the start or end of a presentation can influence the audience positively in your favor. In the study, people reported being more influenced by a speech that included mild obscenity than the same one without it.
I said something outrageous in front of 1,500 people
In 2013, I presented at Finovate, a premier financial technology conference.
