The most important 30 seconds of your life as an entrepreneur

You get one shot. One chance to make someone care about your startup.

And yet, most founders waste it.

They get asked “What do you do?” and five minutes later, they’re still explaining. Features, specs, backstory, tech stack… Meanwhile, their audience is nodding politely while plotting their escape.

Why does this happen? Because our attention span is 8.25 seconds, shorter than a goldfish’s. If you don’t hook someone fast, their brain checks out before you even get to the good part.

Good news: You don’t need more time. You need a better pitch.

How to Fix Your Pitch:

1. Keep it short—one sentence.

Your pitch should be so clear that a 12-year-old could understand it.

🚫 Bad Example:
"We are a next-generation AI-driven customer engagement platform that leverages automation to drive user retention through personalized workflows."

✅ Better Example:
"We help e-commerce brands turn one-time buyers into repeat customers with AI-driven retention strategies."

Why this works:

• Instantly tells who it’s for (e-commerce brands).

• States the problem (customers don’t return).

• Shows the solution (AI-driven retention).

2. Keep it under 30 seconds.

If you can’t explain your business before someone finishes their sip of coffee, you’re doing it wrong.

🚫 Bad Example:
"So, we started three years ago after realizing there was a huge gap in the market. Most companies struggle with inefficient workflows, and our platform integrates with existing tools to streamline processes across departments..."

✅ Better Example:
"We automate boring, repetitive tasks for sales teams so they can focus on closing deals instead of admin work."

Why this works:

• No fluff. Straight to the value.

• Focuses on outcomes.

• Easy to visualize.

3. Make it about the problem, not you.

Nobody cares about how long you’ve been in business or how passionate you are, they care about what’s in it for them.

🚫 Bad Example:
"I built this because I’ve always been passionate about helping businesses improve their operations through technology."

✅ Better Example:
"Hiring takes forever, so we built a platform that helps companies fill open roles 3x faster by automating candidate screening."

Why this works:

• Focuses on the pain point (slow hiring).

• Explains the direct impact (3x faster).

• Easy to imagine the benefit.

4. State who you help, what you solve, and why they should care.

A simple structure:

“We help [target audience] solve [problem] so they can [benefit].”

🚫 Bad Example:
"We provide software solutions that optimize the supply chain process."

✅ Better Example:
"We help food distributors cut waste and save money by predicting inventory needs before they run out of stock."

Why this works:

• Clearly defines who (food distributors).

• Explains what it does (predicts inventory needs).

• Shows why it matters (saves money, reduces waste).

5. Then pause. (Yes, seriously. Stop talking!)

Most founders talk too much out of nervousness. But when you pause, you give the other person a chance to respond.

If they ask, “That’s interesting, how do you do that?”, you’ve won.
If they don’t? Your pitch needs work.

Your New Game Plan

Next time someone asks, “What do you do?” - ditch the monologue.

• Keep it short.

• Make it crystal clear. If a 12-year-old or your grandma wouldn’t get it, simplify.

• Hook them. Say something that makes them want to ask more.

• Pause. Let them react. If they’re interested, they’ll ask. If not, time to refine your pitch.

If they lean in and ask, “Tell me more,” congratulations! You are in business!