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Staying ahead of pitching conventions

David Beckett will arrive at SBIC to deliver the masterclass on 26 Nov with a wealth of experience. He has trained more than 3000 startups and conducted over 1300 workshops – the event on 26 Nov will be #1313. His early career began with managerial and director roles at Canon, at a time when those early corporate norms were used to long presentations. That is not the case in the startup world, which favours brevity and focus.

David’s initial interest in establishing himself as a pitch coach stemmed from observing how presentation quality impacts confidence and careers. Over time, he has shifted from merely defining a “good pitch” to building methods that help founders construct their own pitches and gain confidence. The approach centres on empowering founders with a thinking framework and steps to find their own story and not to depend on the trainer to script the content.

Being able to prepare and adapt pitches independently is the goal, while being confident to utilise the latest tools, such as artificial intelligence (AI). The last 18 months have seen AI dramatically influence how pitches are created and David has tips for staying on top of this. The differences in coaching early-stage versus later-stage founders are also highlighted, alongside the enduring importance of human connection in pitching. Even if you have participated in previous pitching workshops, the upcoming masterclass is going to offer you something new.

Learn the pitching pointers to convince busy investors >>

INTERVIEW WITH DAVID BECKETT

Welcome back to SBIC, David. A lot has changed since you were last here, not least that the number of startups you have trained since your last visit to SBIC 8 years ago has almost doubled (700 then compared with 1300+ now).

What has been your main learning since your last visit?

One thing that never changes is that people decide with people – human connection is still the decisive factor. Despite technological advancements, decisions are ultimately made in human-to-human interactions. The “gold dust” occurs when a person stands in front of another, communicating clearly and responding to questions. Technology can assist in preparation and structure but cannot replace the live interpersonal exchange required to persuade and secure support.

What technologies are influencing the approach to pitching (or pitch training)?

The impact of AI on pitch creation is undeniable. There are benefits of using AI tools and just don’t lose sight of the risks – the key is to use AI smartly. These tools can help with rapid pitch creation, significantly reducing the time taken to draft content. The developments have been most notable in the past 18 months and startups are making use of numerous agents to support their tasks. However, be aware of the risks of using AI. If you skip the critical thinking needed to answer investor questions credibly, it will backfire.

Founders must own their pitch. Use AI to speed up the process but make sure the final narrative is entirely your own so you can handle the Q&A with authenticity and confidence. The goal is to leverage AI for efficiency while preserving human-led reasoning, rehearsal and ownership of the story. Always validate that the AI-structured narrative aligns with your real traction, customer insights and strategy.

How do early-stage startups differ from those at the TEDx-talk stage?

Personal conviction and vision matter at both stages. Early-stage teams often struggle with what to prioritise and what to omit. They must establish the importance of the pain/problem and validate their solution with early customer insights. It is key for them to put emphasis on clarifying the main topics, as well as demonstrating problem significance and articulating early validation steps.

For those at a later stage there should be a different focus. More advanced teams need to work on delivery to maximise impact. They can do this by making the story personal, adjusting emphasis and energy, and refining word choice and gestures. They should talk more about proof (traction, results) and can credibly articulate a bigger vision – how much larger the opportunity could become – grounded in achieved milestones.

What are your key tips to startups preparing to present to investors?

It doesn’t matter what stage you are at, the core investment priorities remain the same. Investors care most about whether a startup: addresses a huge unsolved problem (pain); is delivering something compelling (product); shows traction and customer engagement (proof); and is led by a strong team (people).

These key pillars are known as “the four Ps” and are the key fundamentals presenting to investors. They serve as the starting point for any investor-focused pitch, guiding what to emphasise in the first 30–60 seconds to capture attention and establish professionalism and relevance. You could then go deeper into the business model, the total addressable market and go-to-market strategies, along with technology details and any further team insights. Emphasis should be placed on making short and focused statements, aligning content to what the audience cares about. Be sure to prioritise key results over process.

Which areas should startups focus on when preparing their pitch?

Begin by identifying who the audience is and tailor content to their interests. Define a clear objective and call to action for whoever you are presenting to, whether it be customers or investors. Recognise time limits and remember that audiences form impressions within the first minute, so you need to capture attention quickly with the most relevant information.

Once you have crafted your basic pitch, you can adapt it for various scenarios. Build versions of the story for different lengths, ensuring the first half-minute signals professionalism and value. Lead with the four Ps aligned to the audience’s context.

Thanks David and we look forward to seeing you on 26 Nov!

Look out for the follow-up article coming in early November with further tips.

Registration is open now and there is no pre-work is required; participants should simply think about their next real pitch scenario.

SPEAKER PROFILE

David Beckett is an international pitch coach at Best3Minutes and has extensive experience helping entrepreneurs and companies to win business and investment. The startups he has coached have raised over 500 million euros and he has delivered over 1300 pitch workshops in 35 countries. David has also trained more than 44,000 professionals, as well as over 30 TEDx speakers. He is the creator of The Pitch Canvas and author of the books Pitch To Win and Blue Moon Pitch.

GOOD TO KNOW:
The event is open to all. It is free for ESA BIC Noordwijk incubatees and those in the SBIC community: coaches, members and partners (check the Slack channel for your link). If you are not in our community yet, sign up for membership here! Students can get 50% discount when registering for this event. Get in touch using your institution’s email address.

View upcoming events happening at SBIC Noordwijk >>

The post Interview with David Beckett in preparation for pitching (masterclass: 26 Nov) appeared first on Space Business Innovation Centre Noordwijk.

The following is compiled from the agenda items on the NLSA website

The first information session organised by NLSA will be held this month – on 29 Oct 2026 – and will continue (almost) weekly every Thursday, starting at 16:00. Each webinar lasts 45 minutes. The organisation or expert hosting the session will first explain a specific financing scheme and there will be 20 minutes at the end allocated for questions from the participants. The sessions are online-only and you can register via the links below. s in the program below and register via the corresponding links.

Good to know:

• What: Info sessions covering financing opportunities
• When: 29 Oct to 10 Dec 2026, on selected Thursdays from 16:00 to 16:45 (CET)
• Who should attend: Companies and organisations in the aerospace sector
• Registration: You can register for the sessions via the links below
• Language: All the webinars will be in Dutch

PROGRAMME

Webinar 1

EIC and Eurostars | 29 Oct 2026 | Register

Jean-Luc Eggen from RVO explains two European funding schemes. The European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator supports deep-tech startups with groundbreaking technology and growth potential through grants and/or investments. Eurostars offers grants to SMEs developing market-oriented technology in international consortia.

Webinar 2

Innovation Credit | 5 Nov 2026 | Register

René Roumen, Innovation Credit programme coordinator at RVO, explains the Innovation Credit scheme. This scheme finances the development of innovative projects with technical risks and good market prospects.

After registration, you will receive practical information and the link to participate. NLSA hopes to see you at these sessions

View the webinar information via the NLSA website

The ESA business incubation programme promotes space business ideas:

Discover the innovations of the current incubatees being supported by ESA and NLSA.

The post Netherlands Space Agency webinar series on financing opportunities for the space sector appeared first on Space Business Innovation Centre Noordwijk.

KickstartAI, established as an independent non-profit company in 2022, drives initiatives that strengthen the Dutch AI ecosystem and accelerates the application of AI in the Netherlands where it adds most value. It also brings together technical practitioners and strategic leaders at events such as its flagship conference TechDays, taking place in Amsterdam on 15 Oct 2026. Safety and AI is high on the agenda for the organisation with a KickstartAI blog post stating that “the current state of AI in autonomous systems reflects a balance between technical realities and societal concerns about safety and reliability.”

Journalist Ioanna Lykiardopoulou discussed the role of AI in safety and security in a more recent KickstartAI blog post, commenting: “AI plays a critical role in strengthening our safety across diverse domains, from cyber defence to combating financial crime and protecting national security. Yet, this same capability also exposes us to serious risks: AI can serve as both a powerful shield and a vicious sword, depending on who wields it.”

That article explored how AI is being used to reinforce cybersecurity, financial fraud detection, threat prediction and military defence operations. The upcoming event later this month in Noordwijk, that sees KickstartAI collaborating with NL Space Campus and SBIC, takes a look at AI in relation to space tech.

Space tech and AI

The European Space Agency (ESA) is investing in and enabling AI adoption in numerous areas. In May 2025, a white paper was published demonstrating how AI is shaping the future of telecommunications and highlighting the synergies between AI and satellite technologies. Fast forward a few months to Mar 2026 and news was shared about the establishment of a new AI Hub to advance satellite-enabled connectivity.

More recently in Sep 2026, ESA announced a new collaboration with Mistral on the establishment of a strategic framework in response responds to the growing demand for trusted and sovereign AI capabilities across the space sector.

“Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming a key capability for the future of space, and ESA is already demonstrating its value through operational and research projects,” commented ESA director general Josef Aschbacher. “Through this strategic cooperation with Mistral, a leading European AI company, we are taking another important step towards reinforcing Europe’s technological leadership and resilience. Together, we aim to develop innovative, secure and trusted AI solutions that benefit the space sector and European society.” This comes ahead of the 3-day conference on AI next week at ESA ESTEC leading researchers, engineers and industry experts at the intersection of artificial intelligence and space exploration.

It is now timely to put AI, space tech, safety and resilience in the spotlight at the heart of the Dutch space ecosystem in Noordwijk, close to the ESA’s European Space Research and Technology Centre.

The below text is an edited re-post of the details on the KickstartAI booking form

Event: AI for Safety & Resilience on 29 Oct

Satellites and aerial sensors watch over our planet around the clock, tracking floods, wildfires, heat and changes in the places we live. Turning that data into answers people can act on is still hard. AI is changing that, from models that detect risks in Earth observation imagery to AI agents that answer geospatial questions.

This event on 29 Oct will bring two complementary perspectives on AI and Earth observation in the spotlight. It is aimed at professionals working with data, AI or geospatial technology. You’ll find the sessions especially relevant if you are a:

• ML engineer or data scientist interested in applying AI models, including agentic AI, to satellite and Earth observation data
• GIS specialist or remote sensing expert curious about how AI agents can automate finding, combining and analysing geospatial data layers
• Product lead or founder building AI products that need to be reliable, measurable and ready for real-world use
• Professional working on resilience, risk or policy, looking at how space data can support disaster monitoring, risk detection and climate adaptation.

The session will focus on how these technologies come together to support emergency response, risk modelling and long-term societal resilience.

Navigate the intersectinon of AI and space tech for safety & resilience >>

What to expect

The first perspective will cover a broad look at which AI approaches work for resilience challenges. The second, will provide insights into an AI agent that turns plain-language questions into analyses on remote sensing data. The presentations will touch upon:

• Foundation models
• AI in space hardware
• Earth observation; and
• Satellite-based applications.

Whether you’re building satellites, writing models, working in policy or just curious how space tech helps us prepare for an uncertain future, this event is for you.

AI for Safety & Resilience is co-organised by KickstartAI, NL Space Campus and SBIC Noordwijk. Conversations can continue during the AI x space edition of Network & Drinks. Separate registration is required.

SPEAKER PROFILES

Yağmur Mavruk is an AI engineer and co-founder of Maiden Space. She will present about AI models for Earth observation workflows and agentic AI in satellite-based solutions. This area has been the focus of Maiden Space for the last year.

Vito Vekic is an AI developer at Terramira. He will present how Terramira built an AI agent that turns plain-language questions into analyses on remote sensing data, helping to detect, observe and monitor risks in the physical environment.

GOOD TO KNOW:
The event is open to all. Afterwards, you are invited to meet members of the KickstartAI, NL Space Campus and SBIC Noordwijk networks during the monthly NL Space Campus Network & Drinks. Registration is required

View other upcoming events happening at SBIC Noordwijk >>

Discover ESA BIC incubatee using AI in its agricultural platform >>

The post Sovereign safety and resilience in the space domain driven by autonomous AI (event: 29 Oct) appeared first on Space Business Innovation Centre Noordwijk.