Speaker Guidelines
Congrats on being selected as a speaker for Founders Growth Nights!
This is your chance to connect with Amsterdam’s founder community, share valuable insights, and inspire growth-driven entrepreneurs.
To ensure the best experience for everyone, please take a moment to review our speaker guidelines.
Please take a moment to review them.
Last update: February 17th, 2025.
Give Value First. The Rest Follows.
Our goal is to create a space where founders learn, grow, and share real insights.
Founders Growth Nights is not a stage for self-promotion.
Nobody likes a sales pitch disguised as a learning session.
We do understand that promoting your business is important.
However, the best way to spark interest is to deliver a session so good,
that people want to learn more about you.
Focus on value.
Share real takeaways.
Give first.
The buzz will follow. 🚀
Your Timeslot
Depending on when your session is scheduled, there is a slight difference in duration of your timeslot.
January – June: 40 minutes July – December: 50 minutes
This includes your introduction and Q&A.
Please plan for your session to fit well within your timeslot, because we’re on a very tight schedule.
Best Practices
Focus on Value
✅ Share actionable insights that founders can apply.
❌ Avoid making the talk about yourself or your business.
Make it Actionable
✅ Provide clear steps and strategies.
❌ Don’t overwhelm with too many broad ideas.
No Self-Promo/Pitches
✅ Let your expertise shine through valuable content.
❌ No direct promotion of your products or services.
Engage from the Start
✅ Start your session with a strong hook that makes people care and want to listen.
❌ Avoid lengthy introductions about yourself/your business (just enough to show that you’re credible to speak about your topic).
Share Real Stories
✅ Use personal experiences and case studies.
❌ Avoid generic advice or theories.
Make it Interactive
✅ Include exercises or Q&A to involve the audience.
❌ Don’t deliver a one-way lecture.
Manage Your Time
✅ Keep your talk within 60-70% of the allotted time, leaving room for interaction and Q&A.
❌ Don’t run over your time slot.
This is the duration of your timeslot, which differs based on when you’re scheduled to speak:
- January – June 2025: 40 minutes
- July – December 2025: 50 minutes
This includes all the time you have for your introduction and Q&A.
Less is More
✅ Stick to 1-3 key takeaways for better retention.
❌ Avoid covering too many topics at once.
Make your Ending Impactful
✅ Wrap up with key takeaways and a clear conclusion or call to action.
❌ Don’t end with a pitch.
Make it Simple
✅ Keep it as simple as possible.
❌ Use jargon or overcomplicate things.
“If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough”
– Albert Einstein
Remove Fluff
✅ Remove any content that doesn’t support to your main message/key takeaway(s).
❌ If it doesn’t contribute to your main message or takeaway(s), cut it.
It's All About Them
✅ Focus on the participants and what they’ll gain from your session.
❌ Don’t make it about yourself or your business.
Rehearse
✅ Ensure your content fits within the time slot – practice beforehand.
❌ Don’t just hope it will fit.
Slides
If you choose to use slides for your session:
Keep your slides simple, clear, and impactful.
They should enhance your message – not distract from it.
Less is More
✅ Use slides to support your key points, not as a script.
❌ Avoid text-heavy slides that overwhelm your audience.
One Idea Per Slide
✅ Stick to a single key message per slide.
❌ Don’t cram multiple concepts onto one slide – less is more.
Minimal Text, Maximum Clarity
✅ Use short, punchy phrases or bullet points.
❌ Avoid long paragraphs or dense blocks of text.
Readable Fonts & Sizes
✅ Keep text large and easy to read (at least 24pt for body text).
❌ Avoid tiny fonts or overly decorative styles.
Consistent & Clean Design
✅ Stick to a simple, professional layout with consistent fonts and colors.
❌ Don’t mix too many fonts, colors, or styles—it distracts from your message.
Rehearse with Your Slides
✅ Practice with your slides to ensure they align with your talk.
❌ Don’t rely on slides to carry your presentation – your delivery matters most.
See you on stage!
Congrats on being selected as a speaker at Founders Growth Nights!
We can accept less than 20% of speaker applications, so it’s quite an accomplishment.
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out at:
[email protected]
