Economy
How Startups Can Conduct Business Pitching for Solid Closing
By Emmanuel Otori
What does pitching in business entail?
In business, pitching means presenting company concepts to another person. As an illustration, you might introduce your fledgling company to possible investors or your items to prospective clients.
To get buy-in, a business pitch must clearly explain your strategy or objectives to the audience. Your goods and business are the subjects of your pitch. Beginning to share your concept is never too early. You must always be prepared to make a pitch in order to impress or excite people about your company. Pitches are target-based to either investors or customers.
A pitch is a speech intended to persuade an audience or listener to take a certain action. The idea of your speech dictates the purpose of your pitch and the likely outcome to anticipate, so the following reasons for a pitch are provided: to attract early adopters who will use your service, to attract investors, and partners who can help you grow your company, request a reasonable sum based on maturity and the stage of your startup.
Kinds of Pitch
Today, it is not uncommon that investors lack the patience and time to listen to traditional pitches where you reel off all the benefits of your product and then make a “great deal” to close.
One-word Pitch: It is important that a word reflects your brand. It is a keyword that summarizes the concept of your product or business. The elements of your brand can stimulate that word that becomes a key of clarity to a first-time hearer. This keyword is often coined from the mission/vision, goals, unique point or even the solution offered.
Elevator Pitch: This is your go-to pitch for networking events, social media, and elevator rides with potential clients. Every salesperson is expected to carry around a pitch like this. Within 30 to 60 seconds, the fundamentals of your product and company are discussed. You risk boring your listener whenever you’re outside. In your speech, you should focus more on why you give a particular solution than what solution you propose. This presents the concept of your product and company in a more persuasive manner.
Investor Pitch: Here is a speech that describes the issues you hope to address as part of your investor pitch. You should not use industry jargon when presenting; it is exclusively for your pitch deck. In an investor pitch, you describe what you do, the level of business maturity, the size of the market, and your partners. If you can create a large company, investors will be interested.
Customer Pitch: The customer pitch is that, in contrast to investors, customers are looking for the problems that your product and business can help them with. Get them to talk more about the issue than you do, and only then can you determine what the appropriate remedy is. Presentations can contain industry terminologies because it is considered that the audience is aware of the market.
Follow-up Pitch: Here’s a reminder of a concept you’ve already pitched to a listener who hasn’t yet lived up to your expectations. This needs to be handled respectfully and with courtesy. A postal pitch or a cold phone pitch can be used to follow up with an investor or a client.
Presenting a Pitch
Firstly, when giving a pitch, begin with a short, friendly introduction and a memorable slogan to pique the audience’s interest. Note that you should keep your opening slide up longer as your investors’ attention is filtered by it.
Next, in an investor pitch, you would continue by discussing a problem your business or idea addresses; whereas, in a customer pitch, you would allow the customer to explain their issue. Make up a story to raise thoughts, and then use the pertinent data and facts to persuade or convince them of the issue. Taking a moment will help your pitch’s dramatic impact.
Furthermore, explain your approach to the audience, outlining how your concept functions and how you have tested it to support it. Use visuals to show how your product or service looks in an investor pitch. These could be videos, images, or screenshots. Keep in mind, that businesses are not without rivals, but your special selling point offers you an advantage in convincing your listener that your solution is the best one.
Moreover, when making a pitch to an investor, describe your business model to demonstrate that you have a sound strategy for generating income. Your traction is a crucial component of your pitch because it details your past successes. Telling your investor how you intend to expand goes a step further. This demonstrates your maturity and where you see your firm going in terms of attracting customers.
Conclusion
You definitely do not want to have a fantastic product or idea but waste your opportunity to close by being unprepared. Before presenting to a prospective investor or consumer, it is critical that you assess your level of readiness in a few actions.
➢ Examine your pitch pattern to make sure it lives up to your expectations.
➢ Be sure to sound assured.
➢ Pitch-matching with a note is improper.
➢ Your pitch should be memorized and practised.
➢ Be mindful of your time and focus just on keywords in your pitch.
➢ Have brief versions of your pitch.
➢ Pair your story with a visual document called a pitch deck which you deliver while pitching.
In your pitch session, you should sell your problem in ways that are evident or set by the consumer to avoid promoting a remedy in your pitch without first detailing the problem, or at least its significance.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The federal government has expressed readiness to leverage the €59 million West Africa Sustainable Ocean Programme (WASOP) as part of intensified efforts to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing while strengthening sustainable management of its marine resources.
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, made this known in Abuja during a meeting with the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Gautier Mignot, where both sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation on maritime security and sustainable ocean governance.
Welcoming the EU Ambassador, Mr Oyetola commended the group for its longstanding partnership with Nigeria, particularly its support for maritime stability in the Gulf of Guinea, a region critical to global shipping and regional economic development.
He noted that the West Africa Sustainable Ocean Programme (WASOP) presents a timely opportunity to strengthen coordinated action against illegal fishing, improve ocean governance, and promote sustainable exploitation of marine resources across West Africa.
He said Nigeria is keen to fully engage with the programme to attract technical and financial support that will enhance enforcement capacity and boost the country’s blue economy ambitions.
The Minister stressed that illegal fishing remains a major threat to the marine ecosystem and coastal livelihoods, warning that IUU fishing continues to deplete fish stocks, undermine food security, and erode the economic well-being of coastal communities.
He said: “Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing is a direct threat to national security, food sovereignty, and the survival of our coastal communities. We cannot afford to stand by and watch our marine ecosystems be depleted and economic livelihoods eroded.
“We are calling for an era of stronger international collaboration, backed by aggressive monitoring and uncompromised enforcement systems, to permanently dismantle these illicit operations and safeguard our waters.”
Mr Oyetola also highlighted ongoing reforms in Nigeria’s maritime sector under the National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy, which prioritises innovation, private sector investment, and sustainable development of ocean resources.
He referenced key milestones in the sector, including improvements in port operations and logistics, as well as enhanced maritime security.
He further noted that Nigeria is strengthening initiatives aimed at expanding its maritime infrastructure and improving competitiveness in global trade.
The Minister also reiterated the need for broader cooperation beyond piracy control, urging development partners to support Nigeria in addressing environmental crimes, human trafficking, and illegal fishing in a more integrated and coordinated manner.
He sought increased technical assistance from the European Union, particularly in surveillance systems, fisheries monitoring, and enforcement capacity to strengthen Nigeria’s ability to curb IUU fishing across the Gulf of Guinea.
On his part, Mr Mignot reaffirmed the European Union’s commitment to strengthening maritime cooperation with Nigeria and supporting regional efforts to ensure safer and more sustainable oceans.
He highlighted the West Africa Sustainable Ocean Programme (WASOP), a major EU-funded initiative designed to promote integrated ocean governance, sustainable fisheries management, and protection of coastal and marine ecosystems across West African countries.
According to him, the programme will support improved coordination among coastal states, strengthen enforcement mechanisms, and promote a more inclusive and sustainable blue economy in the region.
By Dipo Olowookere
The Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited recorded a 3.11 per cent week-on-week loss last week as a result of the decline suffered by 65 equities. In the preceding week, the bourse ended with 51 price decliners.
In the five-day trading week, 23 equities appreciated compared with 34 equities a week earlier, while 58 equities remained unchanged versus 61 equities in the preceding week.
Business Post reports there was no room for the bulls in the week, as all other indices closed in red, except for the sovereign bond, which finished flat.
ABC Transport lost 24.73 per cent to trade at N6.21, University Press shrank by 17.07 per cent to N5.10, Eterna crashed by 12.92 per cent to N30.00, John Holt slipped by 12.09 per cent to N14.90, and First Holdco decreased by 11.43 per cent to N62.00.
On the flip side, International Energy Insurance gained 60.62 per cent to sell for N7.26, Abbey Mortgage Bank expanded by 47.24 per cent to N9.35, Tripple Gee grew by 9.80 per cent to N4.37, Ikeja Hotel increased by 9.45 per cent to N44.00, and RT Briscoe soared by 8.86 per cent to N14.86.
At the close of business, market participants traded 3.966 billion shares worth N175.659 billion in 343,587 deals, in contrast to the 2.398 billion shares valued at N111.480 billion transacted in 241,313 deals a week earlier, which had only three trading sessions due to the Sallah holiday.
The financial services industry led the activity chart with 2.690 billion stocks sold for N69.975 billion in 134,882 deals, contributing 67.83 per cent and 39.84 per cent to the total trading volume and value, respectively.
The services sector exchanged 323.601 million shares worth N6.443 billion in 25,906 deals, and the ICT segment traded 176.039 million equities valued at N27.892 billion in 40,837 deals.
Access Holdings, Abbey Mortgage Bank, and Sterling Holdco accounted for 1.290 billion units worth N17.560 billion in 17,768 deals, contributing 32.53 per cent and 10.00 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value, respectively.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The duo of MRS Oil and FrieslandCampina Wamco Nigeria Plc weakened the NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange by 0.68 per cent on Friday, June 5.
MRS Plc lost N19.00 during the session to sell at N171.00 per share compared with Thursday’s value of N190.00 per share, and FrieslandCampina Wamco Nigeria Plc depreciated by N8.70 to finish at N181.68 per unit compared with the preceding session’s N190.38 per unit.
As a result, the market capitalisation further lost N22.59 billion to close at N2.607 trillion versus the N2.630 trillion it ended a day earlier, and the NASD Unlisted Security Index (NSI) dropped 37.76 points to settle at 4,358.32 points, in contrast to the previous day’s 4,396.08 points.
The alternative stock market closed the last trading day of this week with a price gainer, Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc, which gained 6 Kobo to quote at N78.40 per share compared with the preceding session’s N78.34 per share. However, it could not prevent the market from going down at the close of business.
Yesterday, the volume of securities bought and sold by investors went down by 50.0 per cent to 140,345 units from the preceding day’s 280,714 units, the value of stocks decreased by 16.5 per cent to N17.9 million from the previous session’s N21.5 million, and the number of deals carried out by market participants fell by 35.7 per cent to 27 deals from the 42 deals recorded on Thursday.
When trading activities closed for the day, Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) Plc remained the most active stock by value on a year-to-date basis, with 3.4 billion units exchanged for N8.4 billion, trailed by Infrastructure Credit Guarantee (Infracredit) Plc with 2.3 billion units sold for N6.5 billion, and CSCS Plc with 64.7 million units traded for N4.4 billion.
GNI Plc also ended the session as the most traded stock by volume on a year-to-date basis, with 3.4 billion units worth N8.4 billion, followed by Infracredit Plc with 2.3 billion units transacted for N6.5 billion, and Resourcery Plc with 1.1 billion units valued at N415.7 million.
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