Meet the Experts Powering Our 2025 Pitch Training Day
- May 9
- 3 min read
This Saturday, >>venture>> finalists will gather for a high-impact Pitch Training Day—a full-day program designed to help finalists refine their pitches and prepare for the next stage of the competition. The event brings together an exceptional lineup of experts from the startup, and innovation ecosystems, offering participants a unique opportunity to learn, practice, and receive valuable feedback.
Panel Discussion – Demystifying Jury Round 2
The event will open with a panel discussion during which Donat Matthews, Marco Ziegler, and Penny Schiffer will guide our finalists through the do's and don'ts of the second jury round based on their experience as industry experts and jurors in the competition.
Donat Matthews: Donat supports several SMEs in roles such as Chairman or board member, offering independent thinking, speed, courage, and creativity. His contributions help these businesses grow and navigate crucial deals with clients, suppliers, partners, as well as mergers, acquisitions, and exits. Additionally, Donat occasionally engages in crafting creative solutions for complex situations with trusted individuals. Demonstrating a commitment to the community, he also serves as a jury member for two leading Swiss business plan competitions.
Marco Ziegler: Dr. Marco Ziegler is a Senior Partner at McKinsey & Company. He primarily serves companies in the chemical, pharmaceutical, and advanced industries, with a particular focus on operations, digital transformations, supply chain, procurement, and manufacturing.
At >>venture>>, Marco is a member of the Foundation Board and the Steering Committee.
Penny Schiffer: With over 15 years of experience in innovation management, corporate venturing, and strategy, Penny excels at shaping deals and driving business innovation in tech sectors such as cloud and IT services. Her entrepreneurial mindset and strong communication skills enable effective collaboration and pragmatic implementation. Actively involved as a jury member, speaker, and business angle, she bridges the gap between corporate R&D and the external innovation landscape, leveraging technical inventions for market success. She had deep knowledge of the european IT services market.
Workshop Sessions
Two specialized workshops will be offered during the day:
The Pitching Canvas
Led by: Stefan Huber – Innosuisse Coach & Storyteller
Focus: This session will introduce finalists to the Pitching Canvas tool to help structure their story effectively. They will learn presentation slide best practices and craft a concise one-sentence description of the startup’s purpose.
Presentation Skills
Led by: Yannick Orto – Head of Communications at McKinsey & Company, and Andrew Loan – Communication expert, ex-McKinsey & Company Focus: Master the soft skills needed to command a room, including posture, volume, and hand gestures. Gain strategies for handling challenging questions during the Q&A portion of the second jury round.
The Jury – 23 Experts Offering Feedback and Guidance
At the heart of the day is a 5-minute practice pitch, delivered in front of our expert jury. These jurors are here not just to listen, but to give meaningful, constructive feedback that will help our finalists refine their pitch for Jury Round 2.
Pitch Training Day is more than just preparation — it’s a pivotal moment for >>venture>> finalists to sharpen their message, gain confidence, and expand their network. It’s a chance to test ideas in a low-pressure setting, get honest feedback, and connect with peers and experts who understand the journey.
One thing is certain: whether on stage or over apéro, the connections made today will echo well beyond the competition — as sources of insight, encouragement, and future collaboration.
コメント