On a lively Friday night in Philadelphia’s Fishtown neighborhood, Pitch-A-Friend Philly hosted an unconventional event at Meyers Brewing, where individuals used PowerPoint presentations to hype up their single friends to an eager audience of local singles. Alyssa Klauder took the stage, passionately pitching her friend Rich D’Antonio to the crowd. The atmosphere was electric as Klauder showcased D’Antonio’s executive family Costco membership, generating cheers from the audience. She then moved on to highlight his support for women’s rights, receiving applause and excitement from the captivated attendees. Pitch-A-Friend Philly, a brainchild of Melissa Schipke and Ariana Brogan, adds a twist to the viral PowerPoint party trend by creating an opportunity for friends to present and promote their single friends in an alternative to traditional dating apps.
Inspired by the popular Pitch-A-Friend events in Seattle that gained traction through TikTok videos, Schipke and Brogan felt compelled to bring a similar experience to Philadelphia’s single community. Schipke, drawing from her background in the startup space, saw the potential in applying pitch decks to the dating scene. Thus, Pitch-A-Friend Philly was born. The event made its debut in November 2022, hosted by Punch Buggy, a local brewery in Kensington, after the bar owners saw the viral TikToks.
Since then, Pitch-A-Friend Philly has organized a total of 18 gatherings across various Philadelphia breweries, including Meyers Brewing in Fishtown and Victory Brewing Co. near Logan Square. Initially starting with a couple of presenters, the event now attracts up to ten individuals at each gathering, showcasing their skills as subject matter experts on friendship in a captivating and entertaining manner.
One presenter, Kristen Coyne, a nurse specializing in pediatric trauma, stepped out of her comfort zone to create a whimsical and colorful presentation using the online design platform Canva. She pitched her friend Kayli McGlynn with the support of a few friends who helped fine-tune the presentation. For McGlynn, the experience was a delightful surprise, as Coyne had initially seen the event on Meyers’ Instagram page and convinced McGlynn to let her pitch her. The event aligned perfectly with McGlynn’s 2022 motto of doing it for the plot, embracing new adventures and conquering fears.
While both McGlynn and D’Antonio did not receive any immediate romantic connections from the event, they still saw value in participating. D’Antonio, who had limited success with dating apps, enjoyed the alternative approach of meeting new people in a natural setting. It was a fun and unique experience for him, deviating from the conventional methods of finding a potential partner.
Schipke revealed that some attendees have found matches through the Pitch-A-Friend events, while others have been approached by interested parties after being pitched. Although she plans to collect data and conduct surveys in the future to measure success rates, Schipke emphasized that Pitch-A-Friend Philly primarily focuses on providing an entertaining and enjoyable experience rather than being a match-making service.
During the events, presenters take turns sharing PowerPoint presentations that highlight their friends’ best qualities through photos, anecdotes, and interesting facts. To ensure a positive and fun atmosphere, presentations must abide by three rules: maintaining a lighthearted tone without roasting anyone, refraining from sharing explicit photos, and keeping the duration to approximately five minutes. The finale of each presentation includes the contact information of the friend being pitched. Following all the presentations, the organizers invite single audience members, as well as those who were pitched, to raise their hands for a chance to mingle and connect.
After the success of their recent event on January 5, Pitch-A-Friend Philly plans to continue hosting events monthly or on a similar cadence. They have even introduced a new addition called Pitch-A-Pet, where they showcase adoptable furry friends from ACCT Philly, an animal care and control service provider, between presentations.
To participate as a presenter, individuals can sign up online by completing a questionnaire about themselves and the friend they want to pitch. Presentations can be submitted via email as PDF or PowerPoint files, or through Google Slides or Dropbox for review. By reserving a spot and paying a $5 fee, presenters secure their position in the next event. If the event reaches maximum capacity, the fee is refunded. Attendees who are not presenting can enjoy the presentations throughout the night free of charge, while presenters and their friends receive a complimentary drink and some liquid courage to enhance the overall experience.
Pitch-A-Friend Philly offers examples of previous pitches on their website to assist new presenters in crafting their presentations. Schipke advises presenters to highlight their friends’ remarkable qualities, what makes them great potential partners, and the type of connection they are seeking. The key to a successful pitch lies in the presenter’s ability to convey their enthusiasm for their friend and their genuine passion for advocating why they should find love.
As Pitch-A-Friend Philly continues to evolve and attract a growing audience, it remains an exciting and alternative way for individuals to connect and find potential partners. Through the engaging format of PowerPoint presentations and the lively atmosphere of local breweries, participants can navigate the dating landscape with a fun and personalized touch. With upcoming events already scheduled and the introduction of Pitch-A-Pet, Pitch-A-Friend Philly promises even more memorable experiences for Philadelphia’s singles community.
