Warm-up
Startups & Investor Pitches
Startups & Investor Pitches
After this lesson you'll be able to...
- Use key vocabulary for startups and investment
- Talk about plans and predictions with will, going to and the present continuous
- Present a business idea in a short pitch
- Answer an investor’s question
Get to know each other (3 minutes)
- Would you like to start your own company? What kind?
- What is the best business idea you have ever heard?
- Why do many startups fail?
- Would you invest your money in a startup? Why or why not?
Say it out loud
Pitch your idea. → We are going to launch an app that helps people learn English in ten minutes a day.
Fact worth knowing
Vocabulary
Key vocabulary
Useful phrases
| We are going to launch an app next spring. | Ми збираємося запустити застосунок наступної весни. |
| Our product will save people a lot of time. | Наш продукт заощадить людям багато часу. |
| We are meeting a big investor on Friday. | У п’ятницю ми зустрічаємося з великим інвестором. |
| We are looking for 200,000 euros in funding. | Ми шукаємо фінансування в розмірі 200 000 євро. |
| Our target market is young professionals. | Наш цільовий ринок — молоді фахівці. |
| We already have a working prototype. | У нас уже є робочий прототип. |
| We expect to be profitable in two years. | Ми очікуємо стати прибутковими через два роки. |
| Thank you for your attention. Any questions? | Дякую за увагу. Є запитання? |
Try out the new words
Say one sentence with a new word. → …
Say one phrase from the list about your work. → …
Which word is it?
Fill in the missing word
Choose the correct word
Translate the phrase
Write each phrase in English.
Grammar
Plans and predictions
| will — prediction, promise, decision now | Our app will change the way people learn. I think we will succeed. |
| going to — plan or intention | We are going to launch the app in spring. We are going to hire five people. |
| present continuous — fixed arrangement | We are meeting the investor on Friday. I am flying to London tomorrow. A time and a place are agreed. |
| Predictions with evidence | Look at the sales! We are going to have a great year. We use going to when we see signs now. |
| Persuasive language | use strong words: We are confident that … / The market is huge. / The opportunity is real. / This will save you time. |
Which sentence is correct?
Complete with the correct word
Rewrite it
Say each idea in English with the structure in brackets. Several answers are possible.
Correcting mistakes
Each sentence has one mistake. Write the correct sentence.
Put the words in order
Put the words in the right order and write the full sentence.
Say it about your own work
Say one plan for your own business idea. → We are going to …
Reading
Read: a short investor pitch
Pitch: LearnFast — English in ten minutes a day
Good morning. My name is Olga, and I am the founder of LearnFast.
Millions of adults want to learn English, but they do not have time. Our app is the answer. Every lesson takes only ten minutes, and the user speaks from the first day.
We already have a working prototype and 3,000 users. Our revenue is 8,000 euros a month. Our target market is young professionals in Europe.
We are looking for 200,000 euros in funding. We are going to hire five people, and we are launching the new version in September.
We are confident that LearnFast will be profitable in two years. Thank you. I am happy to answer your questions.
True or false?
Olga is the founder of LearnFast.
Each lesson takes thirty minutes.
The company has 3,000 users.
They do not need funding.
The new version is launching in September.
Answer the questions
What does the app do?
Who is the target market?
How much funding is Olga looking for?
What will they do with the money?
Find the key language
Write the word (or phrase) from the text.
Fill in from the text
Why is this a good text?
Your own opinion
- Would you invest in LearnFast? Why or why not?
- What question would you ask Olga?
- What is the strongest part of the pitch?
Practice
Picture the situation
Idea → Pitch → Funding → Growth. A good pitch is short, clear and honest, with real numbers.
Match the phrase to its function
Put the words in order
Put the words in the right order and write the full sentence.
Fill in the missing phrase
Say it in your own words
Write one sentence. Several answers are possible.
Translate into English
Write each sentence in English. Several answers are possible.
A useful tip
Speaking
How to use this section
Your tutor plays an investor. Present your idea and answer questions. Use going to / will / the present continuous and persuasive phrases like We are confident that ….
Opening a pitch
Task: introduce yourself and your company in two sentences.
Starter: "Good morning. My name is Olga, and I am the founder of LearnFast, an app that teaches English in ten minutes a day."
Describing the problem
Task: explain the problem your idea solves.
Starter: "Millions of adults want to learn English, but they do not have time for long lessons."
Presenting the solution
Task: explain your product and how it works.
Starter: "Our app is the answer. Each lesson takes ten minutes, and the user speaks from the first day."
Giving the numbers
Task: give your key numbers to the investor.
Starter: "We already have a working prototype and 3,000 users. Our revenue is 8,000 euros a month."
Asking for funding
Task: say how much you need and what you will do.
Starter: "We are looking for 200,000 euros. We are going to hire five people and launch the new version in September."
Answering a difficult question
Task: the investor asks about competitors. Answer confidently.
Starter: "That is a good question. We have several competitors, but our lessons are shorter, and our users speak from day one."
Closing the pitch
Task: finish with confidence and invite questions.
Starter: "We are confident that LearnFast will be profitable in two years. Thank you for your time. I am happy to answer your questions."
Full conversation — no stops
Give a one-minute pitch to your tutor: problem, solution, numbers, funding and plans — and then answer two questions in English.
Let's talk — reflection
- Are you comfortable selling an idea?
- What would be your startup idea?
- What does an investor want to see first?
Cool down
Now I can...
- Use key vocabulary for startups and investment
- Talk about plans and predictions with will, going to and the present continuous
- Present a business idea in a short pitch
- Answer an investor’s question
Quick self-check
When do we use going to?
When do we use the present continuous for the future?
What is a pitch?
One more thing before you go
Tell your tutor your business idea in one sentence. → We are going to …
Homework
Words to remember
| a startup | стартап |
| an investor | інвестор |
| funding | фінансування |
| a pitch | пітч (коротка презентація ідеї) |
| a founder | засновник |
| a prototype | прототип |
| a business plan | бізнес-план |
| revenue | дохід, виручка |
Fill in the missing word
Choose the correct form
Open the brackets
Correct the mistake
Each sentence has one mistake. Write the correct sentence.
Translate the phrase
Write each phrase in English. Several answers are possible.
Write it yourself
Write a short pitch (6–8 sentences) for your own business idea. Include the problem, the solution, your target market, how much funding you need and two plans with “going to”.
Practise out loud
Say your pitch aloud in one minute. Try not to read.
Read aloud
Read the text “a short investor pitch” aloud twice before the next lesson.
- 8.7 I did the writing task
- 8.8 I practised out loud
- 8.9 I read the text aloud twice