Lesson 4: Preparing for a Live Q&A or Pitch Event

Lesson 4: Preparing for a Live Q&A or Pitch Event

Unit 9: Creating Submission Materials

Lesson Competencies

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

  • Craft a compelling “elevator pitch” for your project.
  • Anticipate and prepare for questions from judges or the audience.
  • Communicate the value of your project clearly and confidently.

Stage 1: The Elevator Pitch

An elevator pitch is a brief, persuasive summary of your project. It should be short enough to be delivered in the time span of an elevator ride. This stage helps you focus on its core components.

Activity 1: The Pitch Builder

Which of these statements is the most effective opening for an elevator pitch?

What is the most effective opening?

“My project uses JavaScript and a custom algorithm…”
“Hello, my name is Alex, and I’d like to talk about my project.”
“Have you ever struggled to find local volunteer opportunities?”
Score: 0/1

Stage 2: Anticipating Questions

A great pitch is followed by a confident Q&A. This stage helps you prepare for common types of questions you might receive.

Activity 2: The Question-Answer Matcher

Drag and drop the “Question” cards into the correct “Answer Strategy” cards.

Questions:

  • “What’s a challenge you faced?”
  • “How is your project different from others?”
  • “What are your future plans for this project?”

Answer Strategies:

  • Focus on problem-solving and technical learning.
  • Highlight your unique features and value proposition.
  • Talk about next steps and potential new features.
Score: 0/3

Stage 3: Practice Makes Perfect

The best way to get good at pitching is to practice. Take a moment to write a practice response to a core question.

Activity 3: The Practice Session

Write a brief answer to this question: “What problem does your project solve?”

Score: 0/1