We all know that delivering a great business pitch can give you a headstart and get your company off the ground. It’s great to be outspoken and candid; it reflects confidence and ambition. However, be careful not to say things that will set off alarm bells.

For starters, check out these five phrases to avoid in a pitch presentation. With a little brushing up and a stellar pitch deck, you’ll be ready to captivate your audience.

1. We’ll need you to sign an NDA before we start pitching

No VCs in their sane mind would sign any NDAs just to hear a pitch. Whatever the idea you were going to talk about, most likely they’d have heard many variations of it. By wanting to bind them legally, you can very well see yourself out the boardroom door before you even speak.

2. My friend (inserts industry influencer’s name)…

Name-dropping will not impress VCs. What investors care about is the value of your business idea, not the value of your network. Instead of relying on big names, spend time and work on your facts and numbers to prove that you’re worth their time and money.

3. We have the first-mover advantage

First mover advantage isn’t sustainable. Technology moves at a hyper-speed pace, as you speak, the same technology may have already been launched into the market. Save the naïveté and instead focus on what makes your startup stand out from the sea of competition.

4. Customers do not get it now, but we’re sure they will in n months time

Well, I hate to break it to you, but if your customers don’t get it now, chances are they never will. And it’s probably because your product is not solving any of their problems. Saying this will only give the impression that you haven’t gone down to the grounds to understand your market’s needs – and your product is likely worthless.

5. All 5 of us co-founders are the CEOs

While equality is ideal and romantic, it most definitely will not appeal to investors. Because really, who gets to make the final call if you have 5 decision-makers? Investors would also be interested to know who the CFO or Head of Product is to get in depth on the specific topics.

Polish your pitch

If you have checked one or more of these pitching faux pas, it’s high time you go back to the drawing board. It may seem insignificant, but it plays a big role in sealing the deal. You only get one shot with most investors, so make it count.

This article was first published on TechInAsia

You might have been diligently working on your pitch all year long, or might just be throwing it together now. Whether it’s the former or the latter, get yourself ready because BEAM's The Pitch is back in Kuala Lumpur on 15th February. For startups, kindly submit your applications here  beam.biz/pitch. For investors looking to participate, kindly visit beampitchmyfeb2017.peatix.com