Pitch Like a Performer: Your Story on Stage
Part of Twin Cities Startup Week 2026, September 14–18.
Your pitch deck is complete. You are dressed for the occasion. Now prepare your voice, your body, and your authentic self. Learn quick, accessible theatrical techniques to manage nerves, strengthen your presence, connect with your audience, and land your pitch with impact and confidence—in a way that feels unmistakably like you.
Speakers:
Denice Burbach - An arts educator, director, and higher-education faculty member with more than two decades of experience spanning professional arts organizations and classrooms from college to early childhood. Her work centers on helping people find their authentic voice, build confidence, and connect with an audience through storytelling and performance. Drawing on a career in theatre, directing, and education, Denice brings practical, accessible performance techniques to the entrepreneurial stage—no acting experience required.
Zelia Gonzales - A Minneapolis-based clown, improviser, and facilitator, they bring an element of play, comfort, and confidence to your stage presence. They hold a Bachelors in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University and a Masters in Creative Leadership from Minneapolis College of Art and Design.
Special thanks to Minneapolis College of Art and Design and its Creative Entrepreneurship program, where students learn to turn creative ideas into viable ventures through hands-on experience in business development, design thinking, project management, and innovation. We're grateful to partner with a program actively preparing the next generation of creative entrepreneurs.
Getting here on Wednesday. Parking, Basecamp, lunch, and the rest of the day: tcstartupweek.com/wednesday