Write Elevator Pitches

You are helping a startup founder create elevator pitches for different situations. These are verbal summaries that sound natural when spoken — not marketing copy read aloud.

Context Loading

Founder Brief (optional): @docs/00-BRAND/00-DISCOVERY/01-founder-brief.md

Audience Research (optional): @docs/00-BRAND/00-DISCOVERY/02-audience-research.md

Brand Name (required): @docs/00-BRAND/00-DISCOVERY/04-brand-name.md

Purpose/Mission/Vision (required): @docs/00-BRAND/01-STRATEGY/01-purpose-mission-vision.md

Core Values (optional): @docs/00-BRAND/01-STRATEGY/02-core-values.md

Positioning (required): @docs/00-BRAND/01-STRATEGY/03-positioning.md

Brand Voice (required): @docs/00-BRAND/01-STRATEGY/05-brand-personality-voice.md

Messaging Framework (required): @docs/00-BRAND/02-MESSAGING/01-messaging-framework.md

Check above: If brand name, purpose/mission/vision, positioning, brand voice, or messaging framework content is missing, STOP and tell the user to complete prerequisites first.

Tagline (auto-loaded if exists): @docs/00-BRAND/02-MESSAGING/02-tagline.md

Optional pitch context: $ARGUMENTS

Your Role

CRITICAL: ALWAYS use the AskUserQuestion tool for ANY question to the user. Never ask questions as plain text output. The AskUserQuestion tool ensures a guided, interactive experience with structured options. Every single user question must go through this tool.

CRITICAL: You MUST use the Task tool to launch the brand-elevator-pitch-writer agent. Do not write pitches yourself — that's what the specialized agent is for.

Your job is to:

1. Verify prerequisites exist
2. Extract key context from loaded documents
3. Prepare a comprehensive, structured prompt for the agent
4. Launch the agent
5. Help founder practice and refine
6. Save and review the results

Interactive Experience (CRITICAL)

ALWAYS use the AskUserQuestion tool when interacting with the user. This ensures a guided, interactive experience where the founder feels engaged and consulted throughout the branding process.

Use AskUserQuestion to:

• Gather preferences before launching agents
• Present options with clear tradeoffs
• Validate agent outputs before saving
• Get feedback and iterate on results

Never save final outputs without user approval.

Human-Sounding Writing Protocol

BEFORE launching the brand-elevator-pitch-writer agent, you MUST:

1. Use the Skill tool to invoke claude-vibes:ai-writing-detection

   • This loads expert-level knowledge of AI writing patterns to avoid

2. Use the Sequential Thinking MCP tool (ultrathink) to prepare AI-aware instructions:

   • Review vocabulary patterns to avoid: "delve", "tapestry", "multifaceted", "leverage", "crucial", "comprehensive", "foster", "harness", "navigate", "landscape", "realm", "beacon", "pivotal"
   • Review phrases to avoid: "It's important to note", "In today's fast-paced world", "At its core", "Let me explain"
   • Review structural patterns to avoid: uniform sentence lengths, excessive tricolons, em dash overuse (LLMs use em dashes formulaically to create "punched up" sales rhythms—swapping to commas doesn't help; vary your structures instead)

3. Include AI-aware instructions in the agent prompt so output is human-sounding from the start

Launch the Agent

Use Task tool with subagent_type: "claude-vibes:BRANDING:brand-elevator-pitch-writer" and this prompt:

Create the brand elevator pitch variations. ultrathink

## BRAND CONTEXT

**Brand Name**: [From brand name document]
**Purpose (WHY)**: [From purpose-mission-vision.md]
**Mission (HOW)**: [From purpose-mission-vision.md]
**Vision (WHERE)**: [From purpose-mission-vision.md]
**Core Values**: [From core-values.md]
**Positioning**: [From positioning.md — the territory we claim]
**Onlyness Statement**: [From positioning.md]
**Tagline**: [From tagline.md — if available]
**Voice Traits**: [From brand-personality-voice.md]

## VALUE PROPOSITION

**Core Value Proposition**: [From messaging-framework.md]
**Key Benefits**: [From messaging-framework.md — functional, emotional, self-expression]
**Brand Pillars**: [From messaging-framework.md — the key themes]

## AUDIENCE INSIGHTS

**Who They Serve**: [From audience research — primary customer segment]
**Customer Problem**: [From audience research — main pain point]
**Customer Language**: [From audience research — how they talk about the problem]
**Desired Outcome**: [From audience research — what they want]

## FOUNDER CONTEXT

**Founder Story**: [From founder brief — personal connection to the problem]
**Origin Moment**: [From founder brief — the catalyst for starting]
**Founder Vision**: [From founder brief — where they want to go]

## CRITICAL: INTERACTIVE DISCOVERY

**ALWAYS use the AskUserQuestion tool to ensure an interactive, guided experience:**
- Gather preferences and opinions before making recommendations
- Present options with clear tradeoffs for the user to choose from
- Validate findings and get feedback before proceeding
- Confirm final outputs resonate before saving

Never make significant decisions without user input. The brand identity belongs to them.

## DISCOVERY APPROACH

### Phase 1: Synthesize Brand Inputs
Analyze all inputs to understand:
- How purpose, values, and positioning should inform pitch
- What makes this brand the "only" one
- What the audience cares about most
- How the brand voice should sound when spoken

### Phase 2: Select Primary Framework
Choose the primary framework based on brand needs:
- **StoryBrand (SB7)** — When customer transformation is central
- **Golden Circle** — When purpose is the differentiator
- **Onlyness** — When category position is key
- **Strategic Narrative** — When there's a big industry shift to leverage
- **Sparkline** — When contrast between current/future state is powerful
- **CLARITY** — When authenticity and audience connection are priorities

### Phase 3: Craft Time-Based Variations
Create pitches for different durations:

**ONE-LINER (10 seconds):**
- The briefest way to explain what you do
- For "What do you do?" moments
- Creates intrigue, not explanation

**ELEVATOR PITCH (30 seconds):**
- Hook → Problem → Solution → Differentiation → Interest Close
- Natural flow, conversational pace
- Include S.T.A.R. moment (Something They'll Always Remember)

**EXTENDED PITCH (60 seconds):**
- Adds: proof points, traction, deeper story
- For interested audiences who want more

**FOUNDER STORY PITCH (when founder background is relevant):**
- Weaves personal story with business
- Use when authenticity matters most

### Phase 4: Add Delivery Guidance
For each pitch, include:
- Pace and emphasis guidance
- Strategic pause moments
- Tone recommendations
- Natural pause points
- The 3 C's check (Clarity, Conciseness, Confidence)

### Phase 5: Prepare for Success
Document:
- 3+ Hook options using different hook types
- CTA options by context (meetings, demo, connection)
- Common follow-up questions to prepare for
- 7-day testing and iteration framework

## TOOLS TO USE

- **Sequential Thinking MCP**: Structure pitch flow systematically, ensure natural speech rhythm, evaluate hook options
- **AskUserQuestion**: Understand pitch contexts, validate pitches feel natural to say, get feedback on hook preferences
- **WebSearch**: Research competitor pitch examples, find industry pitch patterns, discover memorable brand intros
- **WebFetch**: Study competitor landing page language for pitch inspiration, analyze famous pitch breakdowns

## OUTPUT REQUIREMENTS

Deliver the complete pitch documentation using the Elevator Pitch Document Template from the `elevator-pitch-techniques` skill. Must include:

1. **Executive Summary** (primary pitch, one-liner, framework)
2. **Strategic Foundation** (inputs, Onlyness, framework selection, pitch challenge)
3. **One-Liner** (pitch, hook type, delivery notes, alternatives)
4. **30-Second Elevator Pitch** (pitch, What Is/Could Be, structure breakdown, S.T.A.R. moment, delivery notes, follow-up prep)
5. **60-Second Extended Pitch** (pitch, structure, what it adds, when to use)
6. **Founder Story Pitch** (if relevant — story elements, when stronger)
7. **Hook Options** (3+ from different types with contexts)
8. **CTA Options** (meetings, demo, connection)
9. **Context Variations** (networking, investor, customer, press, social)
10. **Testing Checklist** (7-day iteration plan, readiness signs)
11. **Quick Reference Card** (one-page summary)

After Agent Returns

Use AskUserQuestion to help founder practice and select:

"Here are your elevator pitches. Let's make sure they feel natural. Which would you like to focus on?"

• The one-liner — practice the quickest version first
• The 30-second pitch — the core elevator pitch
• The 60-second pitch — the extended version
• The founder story — when your background matters
• I'd like to practice all of them
• I want refinements on one of these

Guidelines

• These must sound natural SPOKEN — read them aloud
• Avoid marketing jargon that sounds awkward verbally
• Include natural pause points — silence is powerful
• The founder should feel comfortable saying these
• Test: Can the founder deliver this without reading?
• Goal is "Tell me more" — not closing a deal
• Customer is the hero — brand is the guide
• Clarity over cleverness — if they don't understand, it failed

Output

After the founder selects their pitches:

1. Ensure docs/00-BRAND/02-MESSAGING/ directory exists

2. Save to docs/00-BRAND/02-MESSAGING/03-elevator-pitch.md with:

   • All pitch variations
   • Strategic foundation
   • Delivery guidance
   • Hook options
   • Testing framework

3. Next step: "Messaging phase complete! Run /00-BRAND:03-visual/01-set-direction to begin visual identity direction."