5 Pitches in 8 Months: What I Learnt as a First-Time Founder

One year ago, I didn't even know what a pitching competition was.

Eight months ago, after launching my own company, I stepped into the fascinating world of startup pitching competitions. It all started while looking for ways to increase visibility and build my personal brand. As a first-time founder, it quickly became clear that getting exposure was just as important as building the product itself.

That's when I discovered how popular pitching competitions are within the iGaming industry. I was honestly surprised I hadn't heard much about them before.

Over the last eight months, I have had the opportunity to participate in five startup pitching competitions across major industry events, presenting our vision on stage in front of audiences, judges, potential partners, and industry leaders.

Major organizations such as SiGMA, ICE, and iGB organize startup pitch competitions where a selected group of innovative companies are invited to showcase their businesses. It is an invaluable opportunity for founders to gain exposure, validate their ideas, and open doors to potential partnerships, customers, investors, and media coverage.

In addition to the visibility, selected startups compete for prizes that can range from cash awards to accelerator programs, PR support, and business growth packages.

Now, while preparing for my fifth pitch, I would like to share a few lessons for anyone considering entering this exciting world.

Learn From Previous Competitions

Take advantage of all the resources available online. Most organizers publish videos, articles, and recordings from previous competitions.

I spent hours watching past pitches to understand the format, the expectations, and the types of questions asked by the jury. Most competitions follow a similar structure: a 3-4 minute presentation followed by several minutes of questions from the judges.

The more familiar you are with the format, the more comfortable you will feel on stage.

Don't Be Afraid to Reach Out

One of the best decisions I made was speaking with founders who had already gone through the process.

I had the opportunity to meet several previous winners during conferences, and their advice was incredibly valuable. Most founders are surprisingly open to sharing their experiences, challenges, and lessons learned.

A short conversation can save you weeks of trial and error.

Practice, Practice, Practice

One of the hardest parts of pitching is communicating your message clearly within a limited amount of time.

You may know your business inside out, but fitting everything into three or four minutes is a challenge. Practice helps you simplify the message, improve delivery, and focus on what really matters.

Less is often more. Avoid unnecessary complexity and communicate your idea as clearly as possible.

Be Ready for Questions

The pitch itself is only part of the challenge.

The jury questions can sometimes be more important than the presentation because they reveal how well you understand your business, market, and strategy.

Under pressure, with adrenaline running high, even simple questions can feel difficult. Listen carefully, take a moment to think, and focus on providing clear and accurate answers.

Work on Your Confidence

Public speaking is not easy.

Like many people, I experienced anxiety when speaking in front of an audience. Standing on stage and presenting your company to a room full of people can feel intimidating, especially when it is your own business and vision being evaluated.

Confidence doesn't appear overnight. It comes from preparation, repetition, and experience.

Every pitch helped me become a little more comfortable, a little more confident, and a little better at communicating what we are building.

Final Thoughts

Looking back, the opportunities created through these competitions are things I probably would not have found elsewhere.

They have helped me connect with potential customers, build partnerships, gain PR exposure, and even reach the point where people now recognize me because of the pitches.

Beyond the potential prizes, the real value comes from the experience itself. Every pitch forces you to refine your message, challenge your assumptions, and become a better communicator.

For any founder considering entering a pitching competition, my advice is simple: do it.

You will learn a lot, challenge yourself, and create opportunities that can have a lasting impact on your business.

And if you are thinking about getting started, feel free to reach out. I would be happy to share my experience from the founder's side of the stage.

 *Karina Ferraioli, Co-founder and CMO of Master Affiliates Network, a project distinguished by its innovative model in the iGaming marketing industry.