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THE SHORT VERSION
What an elevator pitch is, and what it is for
An elevator pitch is a short, spoken answer to "So, what do you do?" The name comes from having one elevator ride to explain yourself. In practice you use it at networking events, career fair booths, the start of a coffee chat, a first call with an investor, and whenever an interviewer says "Tell me about yourself."
Its job is not to close a deal or list your achievements. It is to give the other person something specific to ask about. A good pitch ends with them asking a follow-up question. A polished one that ends with a polite nod did not work.
Most pitches that work have the same few parts: who you are in plain words, who you help and the problem they have, what you do about it, one proof point, and what you are looking for. Then you stop and ask them something.
ELEVATOR PITCH TEMPLATE
Fill in the blanks. Then say it out loud.
This is the structure the builder uses for a 30-second pitch. Replace each bracket with your own words, read it aloud once, and cut anything that sounds like a résumé.
For an interview, swap the closing question for one sentence on why this role is the next step.
THE 30-SECOND TEMPLATE
I'm [who you are], and I work with [who you help]. A lot of them run into the same problem: [the problem]. So I [what you do differently]. [One proof point.] I'm looking for [what you're after]. [A question back to them?]
About 75 words when filled in. Roughly 30 seconds at 150 words a minute.
WORKED EXAMPLES
Three elevator pitch examples, built with this tool
Each example shows the details that went in and one of the drafts that came out. The people and companies are fictional.
A backend engineer at a networking event
Who
a backend engineer
Helps
hospital IT teams
Problem
patient records can take a minute to load in the middle of a busy shift
Proof
Last year I got one hospital's load times from 40 seconds down to 2
STRAIGHT ANSWER / 83 WORDS / ABOUT 33 SEC
I'm a backend engineer, and I work with hospital IT teams. A lot of them run into the same problem: patient records can take a minute to load in the middle of a busy shift. So I find the slow parts of their systems and rebuild them so pages load in under a second. Last year I got one hospital's load times from 40 seconds down to 2. Right now I'm looking for people who work in hospital operations. What brings you here?
A nursing student at a career fair
Who
a senior studying nursing
Helps
older patients in cardiac rehab
Problem
many of them go home without really understanding their medications
Proof
My rotation unit now hands out the guide I wrote for heart failure patients
RESULT FIRST / 84 WORDS / ABOUT 34 SEC
My rotation unit now hands out the guide I wrote for heart failure patients. That's the short version of what I do. I'm a senior studying nursing, and I work with older patients in cardiac rehab. The problem I keep seeing is that many of them go home without really understanding their medications, so I write one-page medication guides in plain language during my clinical rotations. I'm looking for a new graduate residency in cardiac care. What is your team focused on this year?
A founder meeting an investor
Who
the cofounder of Ledgerly
Helps
food truck owners
Problem
most food truck owners only look at their books once a year, at tax time
Proof
120 trucks in Texas pay for it today
PROBLEM FIRST / 74 WORDS / ABOUT 30 SEC
You know how most food truck owners only look at their books once a year, at tax time? I'm the cofounder of Ledgerly, and that's the problem we're solving with food truck owners. We turn their card sales into finished books every week, with no data entry. 120 trucks in Texas pay for it today. We're looking for an investor who knows small business finance. Is this a space you have spent time in?
WHAT TO AVOID
Common elevator pitch mistakes
01
Opening with a title
"I'm a senior associate" closes the topic. Lead with who you help and the problem, and the title can follow.
02
Listing everything
Three roles and four skills blur together. One proof point, told clearly, is what people remember.
03
Using jargon
If you would not say it to a friend over dinner, rewrite it. Plain words make it easier to ask a question.
04
Forgetting the ask
Say what you are looking for, even if it is small. People can only help with what they know you need.
05
Running long
Most first drafts are twice the length they need to be. Time it, cut it to 30 seconds, then stop.
06
Sounding recited
Memorize the parts, not the sentences. A pitch that changes a little each time sounds like a conversation.
A few useful answers
Is the elevator pitch builder free?
Yes. The builder, the template, and the examples are free, with no account or email required.
Does the builder use AI or send my details anywhere?
No. Your pitches are assembled in this browser tab from written templates. Nothing you type is sent to Intriq or an AI service, and analytics and session recording are turned off on this page. Your entries are not saved when you leave, so copy anything you want to keep.
How long should an elevator pitch be?
About 30 seconds, which is roughly 75 words at a normal speaking pace of 150 words a minute. Keep a one-sentence version of about 15 seconds for busy rooms, and a 60 to 90 second version for interviews.
What should an elevator pitch include?
Who you are, who you help and the problem you work on, what you do about it, one specific proof point, and what you are looking for. Outside an interview, end with a question so the other person has something to answer.
How do you end an elevator pitch?
Say what you are looking for, then hand the conversation over with a question such as "What brings you here?" or "How did you get into this?" In a job interview, finish by connecting your answer to the role and let the interviewer lead.
