Pitch Panel Worksheet
Student Venture Analyst Edition
PITCH SCORECARD
Critical Evaluation of 5 Entrepreneurial Pitches
Analyst Name
Date
Class Period
Watch each of the 5 pitches in the video. Put yourself in the shoes of an investor. Listen carefully to their hook, solution, and business structure, then record your objective evaluations below.
1 PITCH #1: Business Analysis
INVESTOR VERDICT: [ ] INVEST [ ] PASS
Business Name & Concept
What is the core problem being solved?
The Hook: How did they grab the audience's attention?
Target Market & Audience
2 PITCH #2: Business Analysis
INVESTOR VERDICT: [ ] INVEST [ ] PASS
Business Name & Concept
What is the core problem being solved?
The Hook: How did they grab the audience's attention?
Target Market & Audience
3 PITCH #3: Business Analysis
INVESTOR VERDICT: [ ] INVEST [ ] PASS
Business Name & Concept
What is the core problem being solved?
The Hook: How did they grab the audience's attention?
Target Market & Audience
Unit: Entrepreneurship & Elevator Pitches Page 1 of 2
Student Venture Analyst Edition
PITCH SCORECARD
Part II
4 PITCH #4: Business Analysis
INVESTOR VERDICT: [ ] INVEST [ ] PASS
Business Name & Concept
What is the core problem being solved?
The Hook: How did they grab the audience's attention?
Target Market & Audience
5 PITCH #5: Business Analysis
INVESTOR VERDICT: [ ] INVEST [ ] PASS
Business Name & Concept
What is the core problem being solved?
The Hook: How did they grab the audience's attention?
Target Market & Audience
Section 3: The Venture Capitalist Debrief
1. Out of all 5 pitches, which one was the absolute most effective and why? Identify their strongest point (e.g. delivery, data, problem clarity).
2. What are the top three "must-have" ingredients for building a powerful elevator pitch that hooks an investor in under 60 seconds?
Unit: Entrepreneurship & Elevator Pitches Page 2 of 2
Pitch Panel Answer Key
Educator Assessment Resource
PITCH SCORECARD
TEACHER ANSWER KEY & EVALUATION CRITERIA
Teacher Guidance: While exact student responses will vary depending on the video compilation, this key shows exemplary answers for 5 world-class startup pitches. Look for clear linkages between the Problem and the proposed Solution.
1 PITCH #1: Scrub Daddy (The FlexTexture Sponge)
VERDICT: [x] INVEST [ ] PASS
Business Name & Concept
Scrub Daddy: High-tech, scratch-free texture-changing kitchen sponge.
What is the core problem being solved?
Traditional sponges scratch delicate cookware, smell terrible, accumulate bacteria, and don't adjust their stiffness for tough debris.
The Hook: How did they grab the audience's attention?
By live-demonstrating how the sponge instantly changes textures in warm vs. cold water, physically cleaning a greasy pan on stage.
Target Market & Audience
Homeowners, cooks, cleaning professionals, and retail supermarkets.
2 PITCH #2: Airbnb (The Collaborative Economy)
VERDICT: [x] INVEST [ ] PASS
Business Name & Concept
Airbnb: Peer-to-peer marketplace for booking unique local accommodations.
What is the core problem being solved?
Hotels are expensive and feel isolated. Local hosts have empty rooms but no trusted platform to list and monetize them safely.
The Hook: How did they grab the audience's attention?
"Book rooms with locals rather than hotels." They focused on the immense market volume of business travelers looking to save money.
Target Market & Audience
Budget-conscious travelers, adventure seekers, and property hosts.
3 PITCH #3: Dollar Shave Club (Direct to Consumer)
VERDICT: [x] INVEST [ ] PASS
Business Name & Concept
Dollar Shave Club: Subscription model delivering premium razors directly.
What is the core problem being solved?
Razor blades in supermarkets are locked up, incredibly overpriced, and buying them is a frustrating chore.
The Hook: How did they grab the audience's attention?
Extreme humor, clear value ("Our blades are f**king great"), and direct contrast with big corporate razor monopolies.
Target Market & Audience
Everyday men (and women) looking for convenient, budget-friendly grooming.
Unit: Entrepreneurship & Elevator Pitches Page 1 of 2
Educator Assessment Resource
PITCH SCORECARD
Part II Key
4 PITCH #4: Squatty Potty (Ergonomic Health)
VERDICT: [x] INVEST [ ] PASS
Business Name & Concept
Squatty Potty: Ergonomic footstool designed to improve colon posture.
What is the core problem being solved?
Modern toilets misalign our bodies, leading to chronic digestive problems and slow bathroom visits.
The Hook: How did they grab the audience's attention?
Highly creative animations (like the famous pooping unicorn), using clean, whimsical humor to address a taboo topic.
Target Market & Audience
Health-conscious individuals, families, and people with digestive issues.
5 PITCH #5: Tesla Model S (Electric Innovation)
VERDICT: [x] INVEST [ ] PASS
Business Name & Concept
Tesla Motors: Premium high-performance electric sedans without compromises.
What is the core problem being solved?
Electric cars were traditionally slow, ugly, and lacked sufficient range, forcing eco-friendly drivers to settle for inferior vehicles.
The Hook: How did they grab the audience's attention?
Unveiling a car that beats sports cars in acceleration while consuming zero gasoline and fitting 7 passengers.
Target Market & Audience
Luxury car buyers, technology enthusiasts, and affluent eco-advocates.
Section 3: The Venture Capitalist Debrief
1. Out of all 5 pitches, which one was the absolute most effective and why?
Exemplary Answer: Scrub Daddy was highly effective because it removed all buyer skepticism through a live, flawless physical comparison on stage. Seeing the product work is worth more than theoretical statistics.
2. What are the top three "must-have" ingredients for building a powerful elevator pitch?
Exemplary Answer:
- An Immediate Hook: Spark curiosity or use storytelling to target an emotional pain point instantly.
- Clear Problem-Solution Fit: Explain exactly what problem exists and how your product elegantly solves it.
- Credibility/Social Proof: Share key data, traction, or mockups to prove demand.
Unit: Entrepreneurship & Elevator Pitches Page 2 of 2
