The short answer
An elevator pitch generator helps you write a short spoken pitch, usually 30 to 60 seconds, that says who you help, the problem you solve, the outcome and why you're different. The fastest method is a formula: 'We help [who] [achieve an outcome] by [how].' For sales, tailor the opening line to each listener's situation instead of reusing one pitch for everyone.
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Key takeaways
Start from a formula: A fill-in-the-blanks structure gets you a first draft in minutes. The real work is choosing specific words for each blank.
Thirty seconds, then stop: The 30-second version ends with a question. Use the 60-second version only when the listener asks for more.
Say it out loud: Pitches written to be read sound stiff when spoken. Read it aloud, time it, and cut anything you stumble on.
Tailor the first line: Keep the core fixed, but open with something about the listener. That's what makes it a pitch, not a tagline.
4 Elevator Pitch Formulas That Work
Every good elevator pitch fits one of a few formulas. Pick the one that matches the moment, fill in the blanks with specific words, then read it out loud.
| Formula | Structure | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| XYZ | "We help [who] [do what] by [how]." | Introductions, bios, networking |
| Problem, solution, proof, question | "[Problem]? We [solution]. [Proof]. How do you handle it?" | Sales conversations and calls |
| Positioning | "For [who] who [need], we [benefit]. Unlike [alternative], we [difference]." | Crowded categories |
| Trigger | "I saw [change]. Usually that means [problem]. We [outcome]." | Prospects you've researched |
The XYZ formula is the easiest start. It's often credited to Steve Blank, and it forces you to name a customer and an outcome before a method. The positioning formula goes deeper on differentiation; our value proposition generator guide covers it in full.
The trigger formula is the strongest for sales. It's the only one that starts with the listener, which is why it works best when you know who you're talking to.
The 30-Second Elevator Pitch Template
Thirty seconds is about four short sentences. That's enough for the problem, what you do, one proof point and a question, and nothing else.
[Problem the listener recognizes, as a question or observation]
We help [who] [achieve outcome] by [how, in plain words].
[One proof point: a customer type and a result]
[A question about how they handle it today]
Here's the template filled in for Northwind, a fictional quoting tool for freight brokers:
You know how freight brokers lose spot loads when quotes take hours?
We help pricing teams quote in minutes by putting live rates on one screen.
A regional broker we work with now quotes the same day, every time.
How long does a spot quote take on your team?
End with the question, then stop talking. The pitch's job is to start a conversation, and the question hands it over.
The 60-Second Elevator Pitch Template
The 60-second version adds a short story and a reason you're different. Use it when someone says "tell me more", not as your opener.
[Problem, tied to something the listener cares about]
[Why it's getting worse now: the change in their market]
We help [who] [outcome] by [how].
[Short story: a customer like them, before and after]
Unlike [the usual alternative], we [one clear difference].
[A question or a small ask]
Spot freight has changed: shippers now book whoever answers first.
Brokers who quote in a day lose loads they used to win.
Northwind helps pricing teams quote in minutes from live rates.
One broker your size was re-quoting lanes they'd held for years;
now their analysts answer while the shipper is still on the phone.
Unlike rate tools that only show prices, we draft the quote too.
Would it be worth comparing notes on how you quote today?
Elevator Pitch Examples by Role
The same formulas work for any seller, but the emphasis changes with your role and the setting. These examples use fictional businesses.
SDR on a cold call
Hi Maya, Sam at Northwind. I'll be quick: Halden's hiring pricing
analysts, which usually means quotes are backing up. We help brokers
quote in minutes. How long does a spot quote take you today?
For the first ten seconds of a call, see our cold call opener guide.
Account executive opening a meeting
Before we dive in, the short version of why I asked for this time:
brokers adding lanes as fast as Halden usually see quotes slow down.
We help pricing teams answer in minutes. I'd like to check whether
that's true for you before I show anything. Is it?
Founder at an industry event
We help clinic groups fill open shifts without paying overtime.
Most still fill gaps by calling around; we let nurses claim shifts
from their phones. What does your team do when someone calls in sick?
Agency owner
We rebuild B2B websites around customer proof instead of features.
Most sites we see bury their best reviews three clicks deep.
Who on your team owns the website right now?
Consultant
I help finance teams close the books in days instead of weeks.
Usually it's three or four manual handoffs, not the software.
How long does your month-end close take?
Recruiter doing business development
I place senior data engineers at fintech companies, usually within a month.
Most clients come to me after a role has been open for a quarter.
Do you have anything that's been hard to fill?
Founders: lead with the customer, not the company. It's the most common founder mistake in a pitch, and our founder-led sales guide covers why.
Testing Your Elevator Pitch Out Loud
A pitch isn't finished until it's been spoken. These tests take ten minutes and catch most problems.
- Time it. Record yourself. Over 35 seconds for the short version means cut a sentence.
- Run the "so what" test. After each sentence, ask "so what?" If the next sentence doesn't answer it, rewrite.
- Try the stranger test. Say it to someone outside your industry. If they can't repeat it back, it's too abstract.
- Hunt the jargon. Circle every word your buyer wouldn't use. Replace each one.
- Check the ending. If it ends with a statement, change it to a question.
Re-test every quarter. As your product, customers and market change, the pitch drifts out of date. Listen to a few recorded calls and notice which lines prospects react to and which they talk over.
An Elevator Pitch Generator for Every Prospect
Your core pitch is fixed. The first line should change for every prospect, using the trigger formula: something true about their business, the problem it implies and your outcome. That's the difference between a tagline and a pitch, and it's the part that takes research.
See it in other formats. For a closer look at how tailoring tools work, see our sales pitch generator guide, and for the same pitch adapted to email, calls and follow-ups, see our sales pitch examples.
Put the pitch in writing too. A spoken pitch is gone when the call ends. A short written or visual version, sent the same day, gives the prospect something to forward to the colleague who actually owns the problem.
The Edithly elevator pitch generator reads each prospect's website and writes a tailored elevator pitch on your brand, with several styles to choose from, shared as a link you can send ahead of a call or after a meeting.
How Edithly does it
Generate an elevator pitch for any prospect in three steps
Edithly writes an elevator pitch around one prospect's business and your positioning, on your brand with several styles to switch between, and shares it as a link with a view count.
- 1
Click the Elevator Pitch tile
On Home, pick Elevator Pitch. Your positioning, value propositions and proof are already in your playbook, filled from your website.
- 2
Enter the prospect's company and website
Add the contact's name and LinkedIn if you have them, and a note on the angle, such as 'they just opened a second warehouse'.
- 3
Generate, choose a style, share
Click Generate elevator pitch, switch between styles until one fits, then use Copy link to send it.
Website
Ready
- Hook
- Problem
- Your answer
- Proof
- Ask
- Copy link
- By hand
- 20 to 30 minutes per prospect to research and tailor
- With Edithly
- A couple of minutes per prospect
Frequently asked questions
What is a good elevator pitch formula?
A reliable one is 'We help [who] [achieve a specific outcome] by [how].' Another is problem, solution, proof, question: name a problem the listener recognizes, say what you do about it, give one piece of proof and ask how they handle it today. Pick whichever sounds most natural when you say it out loud.
How long is an elevator pitch?
Usually 30 to 60 seconds, which is roughly 75 to 150 words at a typical speaking pace. Start with the 30-second version and keep the 60-second version for when the listener asks for more. If you can't say each sentence comfortably in one breath, the sentences are too long.
What should you not say in an elevator pitch?
Skip your company history, jargon, feature lists and vague claims like 'innovative' or 'industry-leading'. Don't end on a statement; end with a question that invites a conversation. And don't use the same pitch for everyone: a line about the listener's situation is what makes them want to hear more.
Can AI write an elevator pitch?
Yes. AI drafts a solid elevator pitch from good inputs: your positioning and, ideally, facts about the person you're pitching. Without those, it writes generic lines. Treat the draft as a starting point, read it aloud, remove anything you wouldn't naturally say and check every fact before you use it.
Can Edithly generate an elevator pitch for each prospect?
Yes. Add your product once, then paste a prospect's website into the Elevator Pitch tile. Edithly writes a pitch around that company's situation on your brand, with several styles to switch between, and shares it as a link with a view count. The free Starter plan includes 50 credits.