These were engaging and informative slides for a pitching session training for students participating in Aviathon in Uganda. A hackathon for Innovation and Sustainability in Aviation delivered on 13th Oct 2025 at 7PM!
your idea is worth their time, money, or support. Think of it like preparing for takeoff: you need a clear flight plan, the right speed, and perfect timing to get your idea off the ground. In a hackathon, your pitch is your 3-minute window to show judges why your solution matters and why your team can deliver it.
be the difference between winning and being overlooked, even with a strong technical solution. Attract Funding Investors and sponsors need to believe in your vision. Your pitch is how you earn their trust and support. Build Partnerships Whether it's mentors, collaborators, or customers, pitching helps you communicate value and build relationships. Launch Your Career Pitching skills translate directly to job interviews, presentations, and entrepreneurship in the real world. Your idea deserves to be heard—pitching is how you make it happen!
Introduce yourself and your team in a memorable way 20 sec Problem Statement What problem are you solving? Whose lives will improve? Show the impact! 60 sec Your Product/Solution Explain technical aspects, decision-making process, and what makes you different 60 sec Demo & How It Works Show your solution in action—live demo or clear visualization of key features 30 sec Wrap-up & Next Steps Summarize key points and end with a strong closing statement Total: 3 minutes (180 seconds) — Practice with a timer to master your timing! 10s Intro 20s Problem 60s Your Product 60s Demo 30s Wrap-up
to cover all of this—make every second count! 1 The Hook Start with the problem you're solving 2 Solution What you built and why it's different 3 Demo Show how it works in action 4 Impact Who benefits and market potential 5 Team Who you are and your expertise 6 The Ask Next steps and what you need
to hear in the first 30 seconds? That you've found a real problem worth solving." Don't waste time on boring introductions. Hook your audience immediately by presenting a problem that is relevant, relatable, and urgent. Make them feel it: Use real-world data, statistics, or examples Be specific: Whose lives will be improved by solving this? Show impact: What happens if this problem goes unsolved? 30s To capture attention
Built Clearly explain your solution in simple terms. What does it do? 2 Why It's Different What makes your approach unique? How is it better than existing solutions? 3 Keep It Simple Avoid technical jargon. Judges aren't decoding complex terminology—they want clarity. 4 Focus on Value Emphasize benefits, not just features. How does it solve the problem? Example for Aviathon "We built a mobile app that uses AI to predict flight delays 2 hours in advance, giving passengers time to adjust their plans. Unlike existing tools, ours analyzes real-time weather and air traffic data for more accurate predictions." What to Avoid Overcomplicating: Don't spend too much time on technical details that confuse rather than clarify. Using Jargon: Terms like "leveraging blockchain- based microservices" mean nothing to most judges. Being Vague: "Our app makes aviation better" tells judges nothing about what you actually built. Ignoring the Problem: Don't jump to features without connecting them back to the problem you're solving. Listing Everything: You don't need to mention every feature—focus on the most impactful ones.
memorable Just Telling "Our app helps pilots find better routes" Describing features in text-heavy slides Judges left wondering "How does it actually work?" Showing Live demo: Open the app, enter flight data, show optimized route on screen Screenshots, mockups, or videos of your solution in action Judges see the value instantly and remember your project A 30-second demo is worth 1,000 words of explanation
to winning CRITERION 1 Creativity & Innovation Originality, fresh perspectives, and new approaches to solving problems CRITERION 2 Technical Execution Code quality, functionality, performance, and architecture CRITERION 3 Problem-Solving How effectively your solution addresses a real, relevant problem CRITERION 4 Impact & Potential Real-world adoption, economic viability, and long-term sustainability CRITERION 5 Your Pitch Delivery Clarity, confidence, passion, and how well you justify your decisions All criteria matter, but your pitch ties everything together Even the best project can lose without a compelling presentation
fresh perspectives Originality Is this a new approach to an old problem? Or a completely new idea that hasn't been explored before? Fresh Perspective Are you solving a known problem in an unexpected or clever way that others haven't thought of? User Experience Does your solution offer a unique experience that makes it stand out from existing alternatives? Creative Implementation Have you used technology or design in an innovative way to achieve your goals? How to Stand Out Don't copy existing solutions — show what makes your approach different and better Think beyond the obvious — challenge assumptions and explore unconventional ideas Combine ideas creatively — merge concepts from different fields for unique solutions Focus on user experience — innovative design and interaction can set you apart Tell your creative story — explain the "aha moment" that led to your solution Innovation isn't just about being different—it's about being better in a meaningful way
Promised 1 Core Features Does your project perform the tasks it was intended to do? Are the main features working? 2 Code Quality Is your code well-organized, readable, and tested? Does it minimize bugs and errors? 3 Performance How efficiently does your solution work? Is it optimized for speed and reliability? 4 Architecture Is your solution built to scale? Can it handle growth and evolving requirements? 5 Functionality Are all key features working as intended? Is the solution reliable with minimal issues? 6 Tech Stack Did you choose the right technologies for the problem? Can you justify your choices? Judges Will Ask Why did you choose this technology stack? What challenges did you face during development? How did you ensure your code is reliable? Can your solution handle real-world usage? Pro Tips Demonstrate that your solution actually works during the demo Be ready to explain your technical decisions clearly Show you tested your solution and fixed major bugs Highlight what makes your implementation unique or clever
Key Questions Judges Ask Solution Impact How effectively does your solution address the problem? Does it actually solve it or just make it slightly better? Audience Fit Who will benefit from this solution? Does it serve a specific group or industry? How well does it meet their needs? Feasibility Is the proposed solution realistic in terms of resources, timeline, and scalability? Can it work in the real world? Stay Focused on Relevance Don't lose sight of the core problem you set out to solve Avoid getting overly fixated on features or technical details that don't directly address the problem Make sure your solution is practical and actionable, not just theoretical Connect every feature back to how it solves the problem Show that you understand the real- world context and constraints Judges want to see that you've found a real problem worth solving—not just built something cool for the sake of it
Real-World Adoption Can your solution provide a workable, actionable answer to real-world needs? Would people or organizations actually use this in their daily operations? What barriers exist to adoption, and how can they be overcome? $ Economic Viability Can your solution create long-term value through cost reductions or improved productivity? Does it have potential to generate new revenue streams for users or your business? Is there a clear path to sustainability and profitability? Stakeholder Engagement Can your solution engage key stakeholders and build partnerships? Who are the champions that would support and promote your solution? How does it create value for multiple parties in the ecosystem? Long-Term Sustainability Is your project flexible enough to adapt over time to ensure its continued impact? Can it scale to serve more users or expand to new markets? What's your vision for where this could be in 1, 3, or 5 years? Judges want to see solutions that can make a real difference Show them you're thinking beyond the hackathon
Break Your Pitch Clarity Speak clearly and structure your pitch logically. Judges should understand your idea without confusion. Confidence Show that you believe in your solution. Confidence demonstrates preparation and conviction. Passion Let your enthusiasm shine through. Passion is contagious and makes judges care about your project. Delivery Tips for Success Do This Make eye contact with judges to build connection Use simple language that everyone can understand Practice your pitch multiple times before presenting Show energy and enthusiasm for your solution Be ready to answer questions confidently Avoid This Reading directly from slides or notes Speaking too fast or rushing through your pitch Using too much technical jargon or complex terms Appearing nervous or unprepared Going over your time limit
1 Going Over Time Judges will cut you off or lose interest. Practice with a timer and leave buffer time for questions. 2 Reading from Slides Your slides should support your pitch, not replace it. Engage with the audience, don't just read bullet points. 3 Using Too Much Jargon Not all judges are technical experts. Explain complex concepts in simple, accessible language. 4 Forgetting the Problem Don't jump straight to your solution. Always start by clearly defining the problem you're solving. 5 Demo Failures Always have a backup plan. Test your demo multiple times and prepare screenshots or videos as fallback. 6 Lacking Passion Show enthusiasm for your project! If you're not excited about it, why should the judges be? The best way to avoid these mistakes? Practice, practice, practice—then practice some more!
1 Title Slide Project name, team name, and tagline that captures your solution in one sentence 2 The Problem What problem are you solving? Why does it matter? Who is affected? 3 Your Solution What did you build? How does it solve the problem? What makes it unique? 4 Demo / How It Works Show your solution in action—screenshots, live demo, or clear workflow visualization 5 Technology Stack What technologies did you use? Why did you choose them? 6 Impact & Next Steps Who benefits? What's the potential impact? What are your plans after the hackathon? 7 Team & Thank You Introduce your team members and their roles, then thank the judges and audience Keep it simple: 5-7 slides maximum. Judges care more about your story and demo than fancy slides
ST EP 1 Write Your Script Draft what you'll say for each section. Don't memorize word-for-word, but know your key points and transitions. ST EP 2 Time Yourself Practice with a timer to ensure you stay within 3 minutes. Adjust your content if you're running over or under time. ST EP 3 Practice with Others Present to your team, friends, or mentors. Get feedback on clarity, pacing, and areas that need improvement. ST EP 4 Rehearse Multiple Times The more you practice, the more confident you'll be. Aim for at least 5-10 full run-throughs before the actual pitch. Pre-Pitch Checklist Tested your demo and prepared a backup plan Practiced your pitch at least 5 times Confirmed your pitch fits within the time limit Prepared answers to potential judge questions Reviewed all slides for clarity and typos Got feedback from at least one person outside your team Confidence comes from preparation—put in the work and you'll shine on stage! Make sure you've covered all these before presenting
Task 1 Form groups of 3-5 people with your team or nearby participants 2 Discuss and answer the three questions below for your Aviathon project 3 You have 10 minutes to complete this activity—one person will share your answers Question 1 What aviation problem are you solving, and why does it matter? Write your answer here... Question 2 What makes your solution different from existing alternatives? Write your answer here... Question 3 In one sentence, what is your pitch's hook or opening line? Write your answer here...
by showing a real problem that affects real people. Your solution is only as good as the problem it solves. 2 Keep It Simple & Clear Avoid jargon and complexity. If judges can't understand your pitch in 3 minutes, they won't remember it. 3 Demo is King Show, don't just tell. A working demo is worth a thousand words. Always have a backup plan. 4 Practice Makes Perfect Rehearse your pitch multiple times with a timer. Know your content so well you can deliver it confidently. 5 Show Your Passion Enthusiasm is contagious. Let judges see why you're excited about your solution and why it matters. 6 Think Beyond Today Show judges you're thinking about real-world impact, scalability, and long-term potential. You've Got This! Remember: The best pitch combines a compelling story, a working solution, and confident delivery. Now go out there and win Aviathon!
story—make it unforgettable Practice Together Win Aviathon Change Aviation Good luck, and may the best pitch win! 🚀 Remember: Judges want to see your passion, your problem- solving skills, and your vision for the future. Be confident, be clear, and most importantly, be yourself.
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