Mastering the 90-Second Pitch: Insights from the Titan Fast Pitch Boot Camp with Dr. Atul Teckchandani

The countdown is on! The deadline for submitting your 90-second video pitch for the Titan Fast Pitch is rapidly approaching on October 15. If you want to stand out and make an impression, now is the time to perfect your pitch. The Titan Fast Pitch Boot Camp, led by Dr. Atul Teckchandani, was designed to help students do just that—giving them all the tools they need to create a compelling, concise, and impactful pitch.

Whether you are a middle school, high school, or university student, this competition is a fantastic opportunity to showcase your ideas, practice your communication skills, and even win scholarships and prizes. So, how can you put together an amazing 90-second pitch that gets you noticed? Here are some of the key takeaways from the Boot Camp that will help you create a winning pitch.

Why a 90-Second Pitch?

Before diving into the details of how to craft your pitch, it’s important to understand why a 90-second pitch is so powerful. In today’s fast-paced world, attention spans are short. The ability to communicate a complex idea clearly and quickly is a valuable skill. A 90-second pitch forces you to focus on the most important elements of your idea, without any extra fluff. This helps you grab your audience’s attention, keep them engaged, and make them understand the value of your idea.

Think of it like the elevator pitch—you only have a short ride to convey your idea to someone important. In just 90 seconds, you need to be clear, concise, and engaging. Here are the key elements of a great pitch, as emphasized by Dr. Teckchandani during the Boot Camp.

1. Start with a Strong Hook

The first few seconds of your pitch are crucial. You need to grab your audience’s attention immediately, or they might lose interest. Dr. Teckchandani stressed the importance of starting with a strong hook. This could be a surprising fact, a powerful question, or an emotional story that connects to the problem you’re trying to solve.

For example, if your pitch is about reducing food waste, you might start with a startling statistic like, “Did you know that one-third of all food produced in the world goes to waste?” This kind of opening grabs attention and sets the stage for the problem you want to solve.

2. Clearly Define the Problem

Once you have your audience’s attention, it’s time to define the problem. This is a critical part of your pitch because it shows that you understand the issue you’re addressing. Dr. Teckchandani encouraged students to spend around 20-30 seconds on the problem. Make sure to explain the problem in a way that is easy to understand, and use examples that your audience can relate to.

Imagine you’re developing an app to help students manage their mental health. You could define the problem by saying, “Many students today struggle with anxiety and stress, but they don’t have easy access to tools that help them manage their mental health.” By clearly stating the problem, you’re letting your audience know why your solution is needed.

3. Introduce Your Solution

After defining the problem, it’s time to present your solution. This is the heart of your pitch. Your solution should address the problem directly, and you should explain why it’s better than other existing solutions. Dr. Teckchandani reminded students that the solution should be presented clearly, without getting too caught up in technical details.

When talking about your solution, it’s important to focus on what makes it unique and how it helps solve the problem. If your idea is an app for students to track their mental health, you could say, “Our app provides daily mood tracking, guided relaxation exercises, and connects students with support resources, making it easy for them to take care of their mental health.” Be sure to explain how your solution makes a real difference.

4. Highlight the Impact

A great pitch isn’t just about presenting a solution; it’s also about showing the impact of that solution. Why does your idea matter? Who benefits from it, and how? Dr. Teckchandani emphasized that students should help their audience visualize the positive impact their idea will have.

For example, if your app is successful, it could help thousands of students manage their mental health better, leading to happier, healthier lives. You could say, “With our app, students can reduce their stress and anxiety, which leads to improved academic performance and overall well-being.” The goal is to make your audience see the bigger picture and understand why your idea is worth supporting.

5. Make It Personal

One of the best ways to make your pitch stand out is to make it personal. Dr. Teckchandani encouraged students to share their personal connection to the problem. Why do you care about this issue? If you have a personal story that led you to create your solution, share it briefly. This makes your pitch more relatable and helps build an emotional connection with your audience.

For example, you could say, “As a student, I’ve struggled with managing stress, and I know how hard it can be to find the right resources. That’s why I created this app—to help other students like me.” When you share your motivation, your audience is more likely to believe in your solution and support you.

6. Keep It Simple and Concise

One of the biggest challenges of a 90-second pitch is keeping it simple. You only have a short amount of time, so it’s important to avoid jargon and unnecessary details. Dr. Teckchandani encouraged students to focus on the core elements of their idea: the problem, the solution, and the impact. Cut out anything that doesn’t add value to your pitch.

Practice your pitch multiple times and try to refine it with each iteration. The goal is to make sure that anyone, even someone who knows nothing about your topic, can understand your idea. If your audience can’t understand what you’re saying, they won’t be able to appreciate the value of your solution.

7. End with a Call to Action

Finally, Dr. Teckchandani stressed the importance of ending your pitch with a call to action. What do you want your audience to do after hearing your pitch? Do you want them to invest in your idea, partner with you, or provide support in some way?

For the Titan Fast Pitch, your call to action might be as simple as asking for their support or expressing your excitement to move your idea forward. You could say, “I’m excited to bring this idea to life and help students everywhere. I’d love your support in making this app a reality.” This leaves your audience with a clear idea of what you need and encourages them to get involved.

Putting It All Together

Now that you know the key elements of a great pitch, it’s time to put it all together. Here’s an example of a 90-second pitch that incorporates everything we’ve discussed:

“Did you know that one-third of all food produced in the world goes to waste? Meanwhile, millions of people struggle with food insecurity every day. This is a huge problem, and it’s one that we can solve. Our solution is an app that connects local grocery stores with food banks to ensure that surplus food goes to those who need it most. Unlike other solutions, our app uses real-time data to make the process efficient and minimize waste. With our app, we can reduce food waste and help feed thousands of people in need. I came up with this idea after volunteering at a food bank and seeing how much good food was being thrown away. I’m passionate about making a difference, and I’d love your support in helping us end food waste.”

Practice Makes Perfect

Creating a great pitch takes time and practice. Dr. Teckchandani encouraged students at the Boot Camp to practice their pitches over and over again until they felt comfortable and confident. You might want to practice in front of friends, family, or even a mirror. The more you practice, the more natural your pitch will become, and the more confident you will be when it’s time to present it.

Remember, the deadline for submitting your 90-second video pitch for the Titan Fast Pitch is October 15. That’s only a few days away, so don’t wait—start practicing now! Use the tips from Dr. Teckchandani and the Titan Fast Pitch Boot Camp to refine your pitch and make it as strong as possible.

Final Tips for Success

  • Be Passionate: Your enthusiasm can make a big difference. If you’re excited about your idea, your audience will be too.
  • Body Language Matters: Even though your pitch is only 90 seconds, how you present yourself is important. Stand up straight, use gestures, and make eye contact with the camera.
  • Stay Within the Time Limit: Practice with a timer to make sure your pitch is exactly 90 seconds. Going over the time limit could hurt your chances of making a good impression.
  • Have Fun: This is your opportunity to share your idea with the world. Enjoy the process and be proud of the work you’ve done!

The Titan Fast Pitch competition is an incredible opportunity for students to share their ideas, learn from others, and grow as entrepreneurs. With the deadline approaching fast, now is the time to put these lessons into practice and create a pitch that stands out. Good luck, and we can’t wait to see your submissions!


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