English for Start-up

By: Desi Indrawati, S.Pd., M.Hum.

The first few seconds of the pitch are the most significant for making a good impression. Catch your audience’s interest by telling them succinctly what you are going to tell them during the presentation. Here are some tips for the opening of the pitch.

Today, I am going to…

  • …take a look at the recent boom in online sales.
  • …tell you why our product is in high demand.
  • …show you financials to back this up.
  • …summarise the main reason why we have a competitive edge.
  • I’ll begin by…
  • … giving you an overview of current trends.
  • …outlining our policy on bad debt.
  • …commenting on our current sales figures.
  • And then I’ll move on to…
  • …highlight why customers buy our products.
  • …focus on the reasons we stand out in the marketplace.
  • …put all of this into perspective in relation to current market trends.

Presentation Delivery

Delivery refers to the way in which you deliver your presentation. Delivery is a vital aspect of all presentations. Delivery is at least as important as content, especially in a multi-cultural context.

Nerves

Most speakers are a little nervous at the beginning of a presentation. So it is normal if you are nervous. The answer is to pay special attention to the beginning of your presentation. First impressions count. This is the time when you establish a rapport with your audience. During this time, try to speak slowly and calmly. You should perhaps learn your introduction by heart. After a few moments, you will relax and gain confidence.

Body Language

Body language can make all the difference between a dull, static presentation and a dynamic, engaging one. Of course, body language has many different elements, and so we’ve broken it down into five categories:

  • Facial expressions
  • Eye contact
  • Posture
  • Gestures
  • Position and movement

This is a good step to practice your “elevator pitch.” If your business is a project management company, you can ask something like: “What’s your biggest project management pain point?” A hook will also lift your audience’s interest, signalling for others to listen to you. It should focus what establish you, your business, and so on.

Sources:

https://www.londonschool.com/blog/essential-english-start-ups-pitching-your-business-investors/

https://www.englishclub.com/speaking/presentations-delivery.htm