You’re stuck in the elevator an investor you deeply admire. What do you do? When given this precious opportunity to express their startup succinctly, many entrepreneurs stumble and stutter, trying to get the right words out to impress their future funder. Because of this, investors pass up brilliant ideas simply because they weren’t presented properly. Rui Ma, a venture partner of 500 Startups, stopped by CoCoon on Monday to talk about creating the perfect pitch, depending on how much time you have.

From thirty second ‘elevator pitches’ to thirty minute interactive presentations, Ma covered all bases, pointing out key features that could make your startup stand out against the rest. She busted myths, scratching out the widely believed idea that pitches were solely meant for the ears of investors. In fact, anyone could be a potential listener for they could have connections to someone else useful or be a possible employee. Ma compared pitching to asking someone out on a date, both situations requiring a great first impression.

Being concise, building credibility and connecting with your listener emotionally will keep the attention you need to get your ideas across and understood. These points were especially useful for those moments when time is precious. Whether it’s traction or impressive technology, important features of your startup will catch the attention of potential investors, broadening the chances of getting the funding you need.