The Art of the Pitch: Lessons from Shark Tank

The Art of the Pitch: Lessons from Shark Tank/Dragon's Den

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson, you will understand the key elements of a successful pitch and be able to apply them to your own project or business.

Introduce the lesson objective and set expectations for what students will learn.

What do you already know about Shark Tank/Dragon's Den?

What is Shark Tank?

Shark Tank is a TV programme where entrepreneurs pitch their business or product to a panel of investors.

Introduce the concept of Shark Tank and provide context for why it is relevant to the lesson.

Key Elements of a Pitch

A pitch should be concise, clear, and compelling. It should also include information about the problem your business solves, your target market, and your unique value proposition.

Outline the key elements of a successful pitch and provide examples from Shark Tank.

Problem and Solution

Your pitch should clearly define the problem your business solves and how your product or service provides a solution.

Provide examples of pitches that effectively communicated the problem their business solves and how they solve it.

Target Market

Your pitch should clearly identify your target market and explain why your product or service is valuable to them.

Provide examples of pitches that effectively communicated their target market and why their product or service is valuable to them.

Unique Value Proposition

Your pitch should clearly communicate your unique value proposition and what sets your business apart from competitors.

Provide examples of pitches that effectively communicated their unique value proposition and what sets them apart from competitors.

Pitch Deconstruction

In groups, analyze and deconstruct a successful pitch from Shark Tank to identify the key elements and strategies used.

Provide examples of successful pitches from Shark Tank and encourage students to identify the key elements and strategies used.

Visual Aids

Visual aids can be a helpful tool in a pitch, but should be used sparingly and strategically.

Discuss the use of visual aids in a pitch and provide examples of when they can be helpful and when they can be a distraction.

Body Language

Body language and nonverbal communication are important parts of a pitch and can influence how your message is received.

Discuss the importance of body language and nonverbal communication in a pitch and provide examples of how they can enhance or detract from a message.

Q&A

Be prepared to answer questions and objections from the investors or audience.

Discuss the importance of preparing for Q&A and provide examples of how to effectively address questions and objections.

Conclusion

In conclusion, a successful pitch requires a clear and compelling message, a focus on the problem your business solves and the value it provides, and effective communication through body language and visual aids.

Summarize the key takeaways from the lesson and provide time for students to ask questions or share their insights.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.