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It's interesting that a similar technique for pitching movies (e.g. Terminator meets Titanic) is strongly discouraged while for startups it is encouraged. I wo

by byoung2 13y ago

It's interesting that a similar technique for pitching movies (e.g. Terminator meets Titanic) is strongly discouraged while for startups it is encouraged. I wonder what makes the same approach elicit different reactions across industry lines.

chetanahuja 13y ago
"while for startups it is encouraged" It's PG's advice, by no means universally shared in the investor community. Several investors I know will immediately go into a defensive shell as soon as they hear the "X for Y" construction. If you're a budding startup, please do your homework and know your audience before deciding the main tagline of your pitch.
- byoung2 13y ago
  It's PG's advice, by no means universally shared in the investor community Look at every major tech blog or site and you'll see list after list of startups described as "this for that" so even if it's not universal among investors, it is more than just PG pushing it.
dasil003 13y ago
I think it's an equally valid technique in both industries. It's just been around longer in the film industry which has a similar pitch-for-play financing culture as silicon valley, except it's been that way for quite a long time (since the collapse of the studio system really) so there's been a lot longer of the ecosystem to develop a culture of fast-talking pitchmen who may or may not have any substance, but are certainly ripe for satire and mockery either way.
namenotrequired 13y ago
My best friend is a wildlife documentary maker and we often discuss the differences between our fields. Another example is that in his field, everyone's idea is their big secret, while in the startup world, you're constantly reminded that your idea alone is worth very little and that you should talk about it as much as possible. I think the underlying difference is that when you're making a documentary, it's impractical to run "lean" or gather feedback from the market before it's done. You raise money once (based primarily on your idea), then you go to the location and shoot, then you do the montage, etc and ultimately there's a (hopefully big) release. There's barely any feedback loop to speak of.

by byoung2 13y ago

chetanahuja 13y ago

"while for startups it is encouraged" It's PG's advice, by no means universally shared in the investor community. Several investors I know will immediately go into a defensive shell as soon as they hear the "X for Y" construction. If you're a budding startup, please do your homework and know your audience before deciding the main tagline of your pitch.

byoung2 13y ago
It's PG's advice, by no means universally shared in the investor community Look at every major tech blog or site and you'll see list after list of startups described as "this for that" so even if it's not universal among investors, it is more than just PG pushing it.

dasil003 13y ago

I think it's an equally valid technique in both industries. It's just been around longer in the film industry which has a similar pitch-for-play financing culture as silicon valley, except it's been that way for quite a long time (since the collapse of the studio system really) so there's been a lot longer of the ecosystem to develop a culture of fast-talking pitchmen who may or may not have any substance, but are certainly ripe for satire and mockery either way.

namenotrequired 13y ago

My best friend is a wildlife documentary maker and we often discuss the differences between our fields. Another example is that in his field, everyone's idea is their big secret, while in the startup world, you're constantly reminded that your idea alone is worth very little and that you should talk about it as much as possible. I think the underlying difference is that when you're making a documentary, it's impractical to run "lean" or gather feedback from the market before it's done. You raise money once (based primarily on your idea), then you go to the location and shoot, then you do the montage, etc and ultimately there's a (hopefully big) release. There's barely any feedback loop to speak of.