Command The Stage
Great presentations transform ideas into action
Happy Thursday, 👋
Most founders dedicate weeks or months perfecting their company's investor pitch deck, reflecting the importance of first impressions when presenting to investors. Founders and their teams scrutinize every slide, debate which graphics to use, and fine-tune their messaging. The final version is an impressive presentation the team believes is ready to raise millions for the new venture.
After all the meticulous work spent crafting the deck, the founder must transition to an entirely different challenge: standing in front of a room full of investors and using the presentation to convey an amazing new idea or concept. Unfortunately, this is where the process often starts to fall apart.
While a pitch deck might look impeccable, the delivery of the message often lacks the same polish and preparation. We have seen founders read directly from their slides, speak in a monotone voice, or fail to make eye contact with the audience, mistakes that can quickly erode credibility and undermine investor confidence. Developing a pitch deck is only half the process; the other half involves commanding a stage, projecting confidence, and conveying the company’s mission and potential with clarity and energy.
First Impressions Happen Fast
The first 30 to 60 seconds of any presentation are critical. This is when the audience is most attentive and deciding whether to continue listening or start checking email. Presenting to a room full of investors requires a much different skill set than discussing an idea one-on-one across a table. A founder who cannot capture attention immediately risks losing the room, no matter how revolutionary or impressive of a company they are building.
Common Mistakes We See
After watching hundreds of presentations at business plan competitions and pitch events, a few common challenges we often see include the following:
Going Over Time. Investors have limited attention spans, and events often have tightly packed schedules. Running over your allotted time creates discomfort for event organizers. Investors may also question your time management skills or whether you adequately prepared for the presentation.
Overloading Slides with Data and Words. Dense slides tempt the audience to read instead of listen. In 2007, when Steve Jobs introduced the iPhone, he used fewer than five words per slide. Often, the larger the audience, the more high-level your presentation should be. Hit the highlights and save the details for one-on-one investor meetings.
Weak Q&A Preparation. Many founders rehearse their core pitch but overlook the importance of the Q&A session. Anticipate common questions and keep a list of what investors have asked in the past. Practice answering these questions to maintain a strong stage presence.
Flat Finish. Ask yourself what one thing you want the audience to remember from the presentation. Use this as your finishing line or repeat it at key points. The Ebbinghaus Forgetting Curve, based on research from the late 1800s, shows that people forget the majority of what they hear. After one day, we retain about 25%; after a week, only around 10%. Use your closing to target that 10% and leave a lasting impression.
Presentation Skills Can Be Learned
Here’s the good news: public speaking and stage presence can be developed over time with practice and training. Consider the following suggestions:
Take Media Training or Theater Classes. These courses can build stage presence, enhance confidence, and help develop a professional presentation wardrobe.
Learn Mic Skills. Familiarize yourself with using handheld and lapel microphones. Learn how to hold and position them naturally. Practice in a large room with an audio setup, as even the best presenters can be tripped up by the slight delay of hearing their own voice from the speakers.
Record Yourself. Record your presentation and review it with several friends. Ask them to point out filler words ("um," "like," "you know"), nervous movements, body language, and overall energy. Professional athletes constantly use video to review and improve technique, the same approach works for developing presentation skills.
Practice and Be Strategic. Practice in rooms similar to where you will be presenting. Get comfortable walking the stage, using remotes, and engaging with different audience sizes. Ask if you can arrive early to the venue and run through an audio check. Consider having team members seated strategically in the audience to provide verbal cues or give you friendly faces to make eye contact with as you speak.
Why It Matters
Investors are not just evaluating your idea, they are evaluating you. They want to invest in founders who are passionate, persuasive, confident, and capable of leading teams and inspiring customers. Presentation skills are a core part of executive presence: the ability to project authority, credibility, and authenticity.
Beyond fundraising, a founder’s role often requires pitching to potential employees, strategic partners, customers, and media. The ability to communicate clearly and compellingly can influence not only funding outcomes but the overall trajectory of the business.
Final Thoughts: Create Momentum
Despite all our technological advances, one thing remains unchanged: great ideas must still be communicated clearly and persuasively to an audience. Public speaking is not just a skill, it’s a critical tool that can amplify a founder’s vision and open doors to transformative opportunities.
If you can master the stage, you will do more than deliver a pitch. You will tell a story that investors want to be part of, rally supporters to your cause, and signal to the world that your leadership can turn potential into reality.
Here’s the one thing to remember: the message sparks curiosity, but the messenger creates conviction. A great pitch deck may open the door, but only a confident, compelling presentation moves investors to act. Stage presence and delivery are not just accessories to a good pitch, they are what bring a founder’s vision to life and turn belief into momentum.
Wishing everyone a great weekend,
-Eric.
That's a great read. And I think being a university student participating in business competition or taking management courses can also help a lot with you stage and communication skills.