Pitch to Convince:
Pitch to Convince:
A Powerful Finish Marked by Confidence, Courage and Connection
The final session of NEEB’s Pitch to Convince programme brought together a cohort of founders who arrived with anticipation, nerves and no small amount of self-doubt — and left with something far more valuable: confidence, clarity and a strengthened sense of community.
Across the programme, founders have been supported to sharpen their pitching skills, articulate their business stories and communicate with conviction. But the final session revealed something deeper. As each founder stood to speak, it became clear that the real transformation wasn’t only in the pitches themselves it was in how founders saw themselves and one another.
Marion Sidebottom captured the heart of the experience when she reflected:
“It would have been so easy not to turn up today because I thought, I’ve not finished. I’m just gonna be a disaster. So I’m glad that I did.”
That honesty resonated across the room. Entrepreneurship is rarely a straight line, and moments of uncertainty are part of the journey. The temptation to wait until everything feels ‘ready’ can be strong but Pitch to Convince exists precisely to challenge that instinct.
Magdalena Mahdy, MICB, responded with words that summed up the spirit of the cohort:
“You would have robbed us from this experience with you… thank you so much for turning up every time and challenging yourself and getting out of your comfort zone.”
At its core, Pitch to Convince is about more than slides, scripts or stage presence. It is an intentional space for founders to practise courage, test ideas and grow through vulnerability, supported by peers who understand the realities of building a business.
The willingness to show up, share openly and support one another turned individual nerves into collective strength. For founders, these moments matter. Progress is built less on perfection and more on presence — on making the leap, speaking before you feel ready, and learning through doing.
Programme Impact
- 22 founders completed the programme
- Participants strengthened pitching skills, storytelling and personal confidence
- Peer connection and mutual support emerged as a defining outcome
With momentum building, a new Pitch to Convince cohort will begin in February, welcoming the next group of founders ready to challenge themselves, refine their stories and grow in confidence.
The journey for the existing cohort also continues with The Weave bringing together all Pitch to Convince cohorts for a final pitching showcase event in April 2026, creating an opportunity to reconnect, celebrate progress and put learning into practice on a larger stage.
Pitch to Convince is a reminder to every founder: showing up is the first and most important act of leadership. You don’t need everything to be finished — you need to be present in the process. That is where founders, and the businesses they lead, truly begin to grow.