5 Minute Startup Pitch Tips

You get 5 minutes to make your case.

That’s it.

Here’s how to not waste it.

1. One founder pitches.

Don’t tag-team it. Passing the mic kills momentum. Pick your strongest storyteller and let them run with it.

2. No demos, no videos.

They’re clunky, they break, and they eat time. Judges aren’t scoring your sizzle reel—they want your story.

3. 5 minutes flies by.

What feels like plenty of time is over before you know it. Tighten every line. Cut the fluff. Be ruthless.

4. Q&A is part of the pitch.

Your answers tell judges just as much as your slides. Be clear, be calm, and don’t ramble.

5. Practice until you’re sick of it.

Then practice more. The best pitches feel natural because they’ve been rehearsed 30 times every day for the past 30 days.

6. Tech will fail.

It just will. If the mic dies, the screen glitches, or your clicker won’t click. Keep going. Judges care more about how you handle it than what actually broke.

One founder. One story. Five minutes. Good luck.