What truly matters when building a convincing pitch
Bringing together innovators from the University of Zurich, this Innovator Morning Spring Edition focused on what truly matters when building a convincing pitch for startups that just completed their initial proof-of-concepts (POCs). With a jury combining expertise from entrepreneurship, investment, and business, the strong sciencepreneurs were put to the test and elevated through sharp feedback and exchange.
During the winner interview, Eva Maria Håkanson exchanged with Jelena Skorucak, the winner of the pitch competition as well as the jury members Steffen Ehrhart, VP at SICTIC and Meriam Kabbaj, Founder of MyKareBioTech Consulting. In a vivid panel discussion, the panelist highlighted what it truly takes for startups today to stand out and succeed.
What became clear early on: having a successful pitch means more than just having a great idea. It’s about moving fast and aligning with what the market – and investors –actually demand.
Meriam Kabbaj, emphasisedhow crucial it is to cover all aspects in the first proof-of-concept. A clear vision, structured next steps and a well-thought-through narrative go a long way: «That’s exactly what VCs want to see – clarity and direction.»
Steffen Ehrhardt added a strong reminder from a general investor perspective: «Make your pitch simple. Clear, accessible communication gets your idea across: it expands your investor pool and increases your chances of success.»
Jelena Skorucak, reflected on the evolution of her pitching: «From before the Entrepreneur Fellowship to now, our pitch has completely transformed. With each pitch situation came new learnings; from adapting formats and timing to tailoring the message to different audiences.»
From a BioTech perspective, Meriam Kabbaj highlighted the strength of being able to share a well worked-out POC: a clear target, proven mechanism, and translatable models, all ideally distilled into a single, compelling slide. But she also encouraged founders to go further: «This is the moment to dream. Show what your product can become.»
And Steffen Erhardt’s great closing advice? «Find your unfair advantage. Be the expert. Think big – and make sure people see it.»
The following UZH Entrepreneur Fellow Alumni presented at the event:
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