Nailing the pitch was crucial for Zapier's success at Startup Weekend, with founders Bryan and Wade spending dozens of 10-15 minute chats about their idea before the event to validate its potential and gather feedback from developers. A killer team was also essential, comprising individuals with diverse technical skills and a laser-like focus on solving the customer problem. The team took care of the essentials by clarifying roles, rehashing the problem and solution, and securing a name and domain. On Friday night, they were able to put in significant work before crashing for the evening, leaving them well-prepared for Saturday's challenges.