The Agile Startup: Quick and Dirty Lessons Every Entrepreneur Should Know

Pass the One-Thirty Test

You know you’re ready to pitch when you can pass the One-Thirty Test. To pass it, you have to present the business, make your idea understood, and get people excited in one written page or a 30-second pitch. It sounds simple, but it’s easier said than done. Summarizing and being succinct while building excitement isn’t the easiest thing to do, especially for entrepreneurs. There are so many important details and exciting developments that it’s nearly impossible to keep it short and sweet. To ace the test, focus and clarity are more important than completeness and detail. By excelling at the One-Thirty Test, you prove yourself capable of both. Consider the converse—if it takes five pages and a bunch of charts to convince someone your idea has potential, then your pitch (and maybe your idea, too) needs work. The best ideas can often be captured in one line, or even a few words. Demonstrate your confidence and mastery by passing the One-Thirty Test.

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