[✔] Vision & Value Proposition

A quick one-liner overview of your startup and the value that you provide to your customers.

[✔] The Problem

Tell a relatable story when you are defining the problem. The more you can make the problem as real as possible, the more judges will understand your business and your goals.  We recommend using the ‘5 Whys’ model as a foundation to help you find the root cause of a problem and identify potential countermeasures.

[✔] Your Solution

This is the star of the pitch. Describe how customers use your product and how it addresses the problems you outlined. Showing is nearly always better than telling, so explore using pictures and stories when describing your solution. If you have a prototype, show it!

[✔] Target Market & Opportunity

Explain who your ideal customer is and how many of them there are (the market size). How many people are facing the problem you outlined and would be willing to pay for your solution? Where are they located? Answering these questions will help define your target market and potential to scale.

Tell the story about the scope and scale of the problem you are solving. When possible, find the data, judges will want to understand how much people or businesses currently spend in the market to gauge the total addressable market size. Then explain how you plan to position your company within the market.

[✔] Revenue & Business Model

Briefly explain how your solution will generate income. Then outline the financial projections over the next few years—where revenue will come from, how much you expect to earn each year, and your main revenue streams and pricing model.

It also key to determine your market positioning: are you a premium, high-price offering, or a budget offering that undercuts existing solutions in the market?

[✔] Traction & Validation  (If applicable)

Judges want to see evidence that your business models works, because it builds trust and reduces perceived risk. Highlight any validated milestones or proof that your solution effectively addresses the problem you have identified.

What have you accomplished so far: goals, milestones, sales, or early adopters? Do you have a prototype, and have you tested it? Do you have some sales, pre-orders, or memorandum of understandings (MOUs)? Share whatever progress you have made to date.

To go the extra mile, share major next steps. A simple product or company roadmap with key milestones is especially helpful.

[✔] Competition

Who might your target customers choose as an alternative or substitute for your product or service? Identify those competitors and research their offerings.

It is important to know your competitors' products and capabilities, their competitive advantages in the market, their core target audience and go-to-market approach, and any major partnerships they may have.

Once you understand the landscape and decide what you will do differently, you clan clearly differentiate your offerings in the marketplace. That differentiation is what you should highlight in the pitch when you overview the competitor landscape.

[✔] Finance

Present any other relevant financial data your audience will appreciate. For the EF Hult Prize, we recommend including unit economics (the cost to make, distribute, and sell one unit), profit margin per product, how you plan to spend the $1,000,000 investment if you win, and your financial forecasts (expected annual units sold, projected revenue, break-even point, and profit).

[✔] Why You?

Who will be part of your team? What is unique about each team member and why are they the right person to build this startup? What sets you apart from your competition and what do you know that your competitors don’t? If you can answer these questions, judges will have confidence in you and be more likely to support your business concept.

[✔] Your Ask

Clearly state your call to action. What do you want your target audience to do after after hearing your pitch—advance you to the next phase of the competition getting one step closer to the $1M prize, help you develop your startup idea into a reality, invest to help you scale, or support your impact?

Paint a picture of what is possible for both the beneficiaries of your product or service and also judge, if you receive your ask, and state your ask confidently.

[✔] Contact & Follow-up

Include your contact information on the last slide of your pitch so potential investors, ecosystem allies, or anyone interested can easily follow up or help advance your mission.

[✔] References Slide

It is essential to cite where your data and research come from, as it provides transparency and shows the foundation your startup is built on. Keep it simple: if a data point in your pitch deck or pitch video comes from a third-party market research report, hyperlink the source and include the year it was published. All references slides should be hidden at the end of the presentation.