Presenting your startup in English?

I'll help you pitch it with confidence!

Investors are looking for 🚩 red flags. Don’t give them any

Do you have another idea to discuss? Please send me an e-mail at or contact me on Linkedin

Is this you?

Are you a startup founder and a non-native English speaker?

This 1-on-1 bootcamp is designed to help you comfortably navigate presentations and other startup-related communication challenges

Fundraising

You are approaching investors, and you have to deliver the pitch yourself. You need practice and honest feedback

Entering a Business Accelerator

You need a good pitch for a business accelerator/incubator program

Networking

You have a lot to say, but your language feels rusty. You struggle with finding the right words during meetups, sales demos, etc.

The program

Business communication shouldn’t be about studying abstract vocabulary and unneeded grammar rules

Your pitch is unique, and it deserves to be heard loud and clear

Investor Pitch Simulation

We role-play a meeting where you act as yourself, trying to convince the investor to accept your offer. You’ll have to answer a bunch of tough questions about your product (based on our list of ~200 VC questions)

Business English Practice

Theory is boring. But it’s less boring when it’s exactly what you need. Receive personalized vocabulary feedback after each class

Learning the “Unspoken” Rules

Small talk, appropriate jokes, and avoiding red flags 🚩

The process

Flexible

The sessions are 1 on 1 and take place on Zoom / Google Meet. The base cycle is 10 hours-long, with 2 sessions weekly spread over 5 weeks, according to your schedule

However, the amount of hours and session frequency can be adjusted and increased if needed

Personalized

After the first call, you’ll be assigned your Progress Dimensions. They represent measurable areas for improvement, such as vocabulary, pitch delivery, or communication skills

Iterative

Each 2-hour cycle represents an iteration. Session 1 – pitch and (progress) assessment. Session 2 – exercising and filling the gaps, and so on

About me

Hi, I’m Ilia

I am a product manager with a digital marketing background

Though I am not a teacher, I acquired professional English through 8 years of cross-cultural communication and work experience. I have two business Master’s degrees from Spain and Italy, and I currently work with the British World History Archive. See more on my Linkedin

I like launching startups. I participated in startup competitions in Spain, Italy, and the US, including the entrepreneurial bootcamp at Stanford, where I pitched a project in front of Silicon Valley VCs

But most importantly, I enjoy working with founders. And I hope to give you a better chance at building something great!

Client testimonials

"I recommend Ilia! He helped me during the startup accelerator enrollment season. We adapted my pitch deck to the American style of presentation and also corrected the speech itself to sound more convincing and understandable. Ilia gets startup terminology, gives valuable advice, and has an excellent command of American business English."

Eugene Grinkevich

Founder, Talalent

"I contacted Ilia to practice pitching when it was needed 'yesterday'. I'd improved my delivery drastically before the deadline. I would also like to mention Ilia's experience and understanding of the startup industry and his flexibility when it comes to working together."

Vadim Larin

Founder, SolCheck

I am grateful to Ilia for the pitch rehearsal. I had almost no time for our calls, but we managed to make significant progress in a short time!

Ann Chukhnina

Founder, B4B World

"Working with Ilia was very useful. I was expanding into the US & UK markets (Martech SaaS), so the challenge for me was to master the terminology and speak the professional language. Ilia handled the task well, thanks to his startup background (unlike most theoretical teachers)."

Dennis Nikonov

Digital Marketing Data Architect

after our sessions, you'll be...

YOU ONLY HAVE ONE SHOT TO LEAVE A GREAT IMPRESSION.

MAKE IT COUNT.

FAQ

Does this program have a fixed starting date?

No, it doesn’t. These are one-on-one training sessions and the time slots will be agreed upon individually.

What level of English do I need to have before starting?

Level B1 (intermediate) with basic grammar knowledge.

What other languages do you speak?

Native Russian and Intermediate Italian.

Is 10 hours the only format there is?

No, it’s not. We can discuss your specific case during the first free consultation. From my experience, 10 hours is the bare minimum for getting noticeable results

Are you open to other forms of collaboration?

Sure! I’m open to other activities such as group training sessions, presentations, and business accelerator/incubator partnerships. Please send me an email at or contact me on Linkedin.

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