How to Win Over Investors on Stage: Mastering Your Pitch

Supermoon is excited to welcome 5 special startups to our Startup Day at Devcon in Bangkok and 20 startups joining our Startup & VC Speed Dating. We know how challenging it can be to pitch on the stage and try to win investors in under 5 minutes. That’s why we spoke with our co-founder, Elena Obukhova, who has spent over seven years working with startups and investors. Here’s what we learned.

As we discussed in The Art of Streaming a Pitch, nailing a pitch isn’t just about having a great product—it’s about delivering your message in a way that resonates with investors. For our next Devcon event, some of you will be taking the stage for a five-minute pitch, and it’s a rare opportunity to make an impression. Five minutes might feel like a sprint, but with the right approach, you can deliver an impactful story that sticks. Here’s what investors are really looking for—and how you can make those five minutes count.

Start with a Story that Matters

Let’s face it: facts and figures are great, but what people remember is a good story. Start by sharing why you’re doing this. How did you discover the problem you’re solving, and why does it matter to you? In just a few sentences, paint a picture that hooks them. Your story should set the stage for everything else in your pitch, framing your team’s expertise, the market, and the impact of your solution. This isn’t about selling the tech just yet; it’s about making a connection.

Example: “When I worked in [industry], I saw firsthand how [problem] was holding back businesses. I knew there had to be a better way, so I set out to build [your solution].”

Showcase Your Team’s Expertise and Network

Investors want to know you’re the team to pull this off. Highlight any relevant experience, accomplishments, or networks you bring to the table. Mention key team members and how their skills directly support the project’s goals. This is where you start turning heads—show them that you have not only the vision but the team and relationships to execute it. Think of it as setting a foundation of trust and credibility.

Remember, investors always put the team first.  

Prove Product-Market Fit with Traction

Here’s the thing: ideas are everywhere, but traction is rare. Investors need proof that your idea has an audience. So, talk about real traction—early adopters, customer growth, revenue, partnerships, whatever shows that there’s demand for your solution. Don’t drown them in minor details; hit them with your best numbers to show the concept is real. Good traction not only validates the idea but builds confidence that you’re ready to scale.

Show the Market Potential

At the end of the day, investors are looking for growth potential. Give them a sense of the market size and why your solution has a strong chance of capturing it. Briefly introduce your total addressable market (TAM) and how you’re uniquely positioned to take a piece of it. Be specific about your vision for growth, and show them what their investment could lead to. This isn’t about hypotheticals—investors want to see a pathway to returns.

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Make Your Ask Clear

Don’t make them guess what you need. Be direct about how much funding you’re seeking and exactly how you’ll use it. Tie your funding request to the next set of milestones. Whether it’s for product development, hiring, or expansion, make sure your ask shows you’re serious about scaling. A confident ask gives investors a clear entry point and sets you apart as a founder who knows what they’re doing.

Common Mistake: Avoid Going Too Technical

For those of you in Web3, here’s one to watch out for. A lot of Web3 projects fall into the trap of going too deep into technical details. Slides packed with code, diagrams, and technical jargon may look impressive, but they often confuse more than they clarify. 

Remember, your audience may not be technical. Your goal is to communicate the value of your idea and its market potential—not to showcase every line of code. Keep diagrams simple, and save the technical deep-dive for later conversations. The best founders can explain complex ideas to non-technical people, and that’s what you should aim for here.

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We look forward to seeing more inspiring founders at Devcon in Bangkok! Hit us up if you want to meet. 

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