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I get your point from a sister thread. "Don't waste time on your application - build your product" But I disagree. Here is why: expressing your idea is one for

I get your point from a sister thread. "Don't waste time on your application - build your product" But I disagree. Here is why: expressing your idea is one form of product development. Writing down your idea in a way that other people understand is absolutely essential. Similarly, practicing for demo day means getting the exact phrasing of a 7 minute talk absolutely perfect. That might seem like a waste of time, until you realize that you'll be able to pitch at the drop of a hat for the life of the company as a result.

tptacek 19y ago
People spend a lot of time trying to sound slick for investors. You may find that customers are more forgiving of your rough edges. Either way, real investors are going to be a lot more convinced by your traction than your talk.
wallflower 19y ago
>Similarly, practicing for demo day means getting the exact phrasing of a 7 minute talk absolutely perfect. When I was a student of Toastmasters, I came across the treasure chest of dot-com era (2001) VC pitches from SpringBoard Enterprises ("Women-Capital-Connections"). I feel that many of the video clips of pitches in their Learning Center's Video Archive demonstrate the power of a confident, polished, professional, articulated pitch. I'm happy to have found them again on Google. RealPlayer streams (Use Real Alternative instead of Real Player) http://www.springboardenterprises.org http://www.springboardenterprises.org - Learning Center - Video Archive or http://64.45.59.230/learning/lc3.asp?pid=699 http://64.45.59.230/learning/lc3.asp?pid=699 KimFisher of AudioBasket.com - http://eventuring.org/Video/real/opsv00audiobasketa.rm http://eventuring.org/Video/real/opsv00audiobasketa.rm Julz Chavez, Get Real Girl, New York 2001 (0:42 min) Chavez describes her two market segments and focuses on her addressable market. http://eventuring.org/Video/Real/marny001getrealgirla.rm http://eventuring.org/Video/Real/marny001getrealgirla.rm Yes, most of the pitches are for failed B2B enterprises but you can't dismiss the presenter's drink-the-kool-aid-style fervor (remember that?)

tptacek 19y ago

People spend a lot of time trying to sound slick for investors. You may find that customers are more forgiving of your rough edges. Either way, real investors are going to be a lot more convinced by your traction than your talk.

wallflower 19y ago

>Similarly, practicing for demo day means getting the exact phrasing of a 7 minute talk absolutely perfect. When I was a student of Toastmasters, I came across the treasure chest of dot-com era (2001) VC pitches from SpringBoard Enterprises ("Women-Capital-Connections"). I feel that many of the video clips of pitches in their Learning Center's Video Archive demonstrate the power of a confident, polished, professional, articulated pitch. I'm happy to have found them again on Google. RealPlayer streams (Use Real Alternative instead of Real Player) http://www.springboardenterprises.org http://www.springboardenterprises.org - Learning Center - Video Archive or http://64.45.59.230/learning/lc3.asp?pid=699 http://64.45.59.230/learning/lc3.asp?pid=699 KimFisher of AudioBasket.com - http://eventuring.org/Video/real/opsv00audiobasketa.rm http://eventuring.org/Video/real/opsv00audiobasketa.rm Julz Chavez, Get Real Girl, New York 2001 (0:42 min) Chavez describes her two market segments and focuses on her addressable market. http://eventuring.org/Video/Real/marny001getrealgirla.rm http://eventuring.org/Video/Real/marny001getrealgirla.rm Yes, most of the pitches are for failed B2B enterprises but you can't dismiss the presenter's drink-the-kool-aid-style fervor (remember that?)