Beyond the pitch deck, meaningful connections drive opportunities, and Pathfinder CITADEL’s Cohort 2 Session 5 addressed exactly this dimension of startup building. M Arif Saleem shared practical insights on confident networking, effective verbal pitches, and building lasting professional relationships, moving the cohort’s focus from the more analytical topics covered in earlier sessions into the interpersonal skills founders need when engaging directly with potential investors, partners, and customers.
The session’s focus on verbal pitching complements the written and visual pitch deck skills founders typically develop separately, recognising that how a founder communicates in person, whether at a networking event, investor meeting, or casual conversation, often shapes first impressions just as significantly as a polished slide deck. This distinction between written and verbal pitching reflects a practical understanding that founders need both skill sets to succeed in real world fundraising and business development scenarios.
Confident networking was also addressed as a distinct skill, acknowledging that building genuine professional relationships requires more than simply attending events or exchanging contact information. Saleem’s insights likely covered how founders can approach networking with greater intentionality, building relationships that translate into meaningful opportunities rather than superficial connections that fail to develop into anything substantive.
The session was moderated by Bibi Maryeum, who guided the discussion and encouraged meaningful participation throughout, giving the session an interactive structure that allowed fellows to engage directly with the material rather than passively receiving instruction. This moderated format has continued to be a consistent feature across CITADEL’s cohort sessions, reflecting the organisation’s emphasis on participatory learning over one directional presentation.
Session 5 adds to Pathfinder CITADEL’s progressive curriculum for Cohort 2, building on earlier sessions covering problem validation, market needs, and value proposition development. By moving into networking and verbal communication skills at this stage, the programme continues its pattern of equipping fellows with a comprehensive toolkit spanning both the analytical and interpersonal dimensions of building a successful startup.
Follow the SPIN IDG WhatsApp Channel for updates across the Smart Pakistan Insights Network covering all of Pakistan’s technology ecosystem.
