Inspire Team

No Stakes Elevator Pitch

by for .  
#communicating with confidence
30 - 45

Goal

The "No Stakes Elevator Pitch" activity is a creative and engaging exercise designed to improve learners’ problem-solving and pitch presentation skills. In this activity, learners work in small groups to develop solutions for common, inconsequential problems and pitch their ideas in a lighthearted manner. The activity offers learners’ the opportunity to practice developing and delivering a pitch, on a lighthearted topic.

In this activity, the term customer segments is used. Depending on the learning journey, this may not be a familiar term to the learners. If that is the case, the term “groups of people” should be used instead.

Attachments

Materials

    Instructions

    Step by Step Instructions

    • Begin by explaining the purpose of the activity: to enhance problem-solving skills and practice concise pitching in a fun and low-pressure environment.

    • If the concept of a pitch is relatively new to learners, show them an example from Powwow Pitch, Bear’s Lair or Dragon’s Den as an example.

      • See Appendix A for suggestions and links.

    • Divide participants into small groups of 2-3 people, whether they are in person, attending virtually, or in a hybrid setting.

    • Distribute or assign cards that represent common problems to each group.

      • The problems should be small or insignificant, and ever better if they are silly or comical in some way. See Appendix B for ideas.

      • Ensure that each group receives a unique problem.

    • Similarly, provide or assign cards that represent a specific group of people (customer segment) to each group.

      • These groups of people should be fairly specific and unique.

      • See Appendix B for ideas.

    • Instruct each group to work together to develop a creative solution for the problem they've been given, for the group they’ve been given.

    • They should also craft a 30-second pitch based on the following general format:

      • "We solve the problem of [PROBLEM] for [GROUP/CUSTOMER] by [SOLUTION]."

      • Each group can add more details to their pitch, and should aim for 30 seconds.

    • Allow groups approximately 10 minutes to brainstorm and prepare their solutions and pitches.

    • Invite groups to present their solutions one at a time - each group can have 1-2 people deliver the pitch together.

    • Remind participants to have fun and be creative, as this is not a serious activity.

    Background

    Preparation

    • Prepare cards with a list of problems

    • Prepare cards with a list of groups of people/customer segments.

    • Ensure there are enough cards for each grouping of learners.

    • Choose a pitch to show the group in advance to help them understand the general structure of a pitch. 

    Technology Considerations

    • If conducting the activity virtually, ensure that participants have access to the necessary virtual meeting platform for group discussions (break out rooms) and pitch presentations.


    Additional Context

    • This activity emphasizes the power of creativity in generating solutions for everyday problems.

      • Learners understand that thinking outside the box and approaching problems with humor can lead to innovative and engaging solutions.

      • This can apply to simple/easy problems, as well as more complex problems and challenges.

    • Learners discover the importance of conveying their ideas succinctly and persuasively, a valuable skill in various professional settings (whether they are pitching a business idea, trying to get classmates/colleagues/community on board to solve a problem using a specific idea, or pitching themselves in a job interview).

    • The activity encourages adaptability by requiring participants to work with randomly assigned problems and groups of people/customer segments. It demonstrates the need to adapt quickly to different situations, a skill relevant in ever-changing environments.

    • The activity underscores the value of humor and lightheartedness in communication. It reminds learners that communication doesn't always have to be serious and that a touch of humor can engage and connect with an audience.


    Tips for Localization

    Use localized problems and groups of people/customer segments that are relevant to the participants' region to make the activity more relatable and engaging.

    Debrief Questions

    • Were there any surprising or unexpected solutions or pitches that stood out to you during the presentations?

    • In what ways can the skills and creativity demonstrated in this activity be applied to real-life problem-solving and communication scenarios? (Work, school, family, community)

    • What do you think this activity revealed about the importance of adaptability, humor, and creativity in problem-solving and communication?

    • Was it difficult to condense your solution and pitch into a 30-second elevator pitch? What strategies did you use to overcome this?

    Appendix A: Example Pitches

    Nunavut: Bernice Clark(Uasau Soap) @ Powwow Pitch (video starts at 55:40)

    Yukon: Joella Hogan (Yukon Soap Co.) @ Powwow Pitch (video starts at 39:20)

    NWT: Tania Larsson (Gwich’in First Nation Artist) @ Powwow Pitch (video starts at 52:30)

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