Real-world lessons on pitching under pressure from the October Pitch Slam

October’s Angel Club Pitch Slam delivered a crash course in what it takes to win investor conviction, live, unscripted, and unforgiving. With investors like Angel Gambino, Anthony Rose, and top tier judges in attendance, founders faced the ultimate test of clarity, adaptability, and strategic storytelling. What separated the standouts from the rest?

• Frame the moment, don’t just pitch, perform: Pitch Slam is more gladiator pit than boardroom, and the best founders met the moment head-on, weaving their personal vision into tangible business goals.

• Distill and differentiate: Winners had a laser on what sets them apart. and weren’t afraid to name the competition, then show why they’ll come out on top.

• Keep it succinct, make it real: Three minutes is an eye blink. The strongest founders kept slides crisp, communicated traction with evidence, and left judges curious for more.

October’s Pitch Slam Winners:

• Paul Breslow (Crewz) - Reimagining P2P ride-sharing

• Gavenraj Sodhj (Maddie Bio) - Pioneering therapies for rare diseases with multi-omics

• Raul Dominguez (Evolve Energy) - Revolutionizing EV charging for hospitality

• Emma Meehan (KinetikIQ) - Two-time pitch room champion for razor-sharp delivery

Conviction on Display: Inside October’s Pitch Slam

In October, founders from across the globe put it all on the line before an all-star judging roster featuring Angel Gambino (Angel Club), Anthony Rose (SeedLegals), Volker Hirsch, Patrick Driscoll, Bob Sheard, and Sebnem Tugce Pala. Each pitch was a sprint, three minutes to turn heads, shift thinking, and spark belief.

The curtain-raiser? Nate Rose of Lymbic AI, who electrified with a pitch on brainwave-based ID to combat deepfakes. Judges didn’t just soak it in, they challenged, probed, and cut to the brass tacks. Anthony Rose called out the need to “show not just what’s possible, but why this team will crack it.” Angel Gambino reminded all founders to spell out their model: “Know your real-world customer, your revenue path, and your fastest-route market. Paint it in bold strokes, not broad ones.”

Breakout Room Gold: Feedback to Remember

After main stage action, breakout rooms got lively. Judges distilled what works:

• “There’s always competition.” Winning founders didn’t shy away, they clarified their edge and acknowledged the landscape.

• “Hook us emotionally.” Pitches with a story, a struggle, or an aha! moment punched above their weight.

• “Big problems, bold solutions.” Moonshot goals caught the eye, judges want founders swinging for the fences, not settling for safe.

• “Be brief, be brilliant.” Keep your narrative tight; intrigue with what’s possible if you’re given the chance.

  
  

Hall of Fame: This Month’s Standouts

Congratulations to an elite cohort who wowed the judges:

• Paul Breslow (Crewz): Peer-to-peer ride-sharing disruptor

• Gavenraj Sodhj (Maddie Bio): Rare disease therapeutics through advanced data science

• Raul Dominguez (Evolve Energy): EV charging platform targeting hospitality’s blind spot

• Emma Meehan (KinetikIQ): Setting the pitch room standard for the second month running

Each winner secured an automatic invitation to next month’s main event, social media spotlights, and priority access to the Angel Club network.

Ready to Level Up? Here’s Your Game Plan:

• Founders & Investors What’s App Group: here

• Pitch the Angel Club syndicate here.

• Supercharge your fundraising and investor outreach with Ready to Raise.

• Unlock Angel Club Membership here for exclusive support from seasoned investors.

• Book a call with SeedLegals here for startup-friendly legal help.

• Open a Mercury account here for founder-first banking backed by real humans.

• Register for the next Pitch Slam here and claim your moment.

  
  

Pitch Slam is where conviction earns its stripes - are you ready to enter the arena?