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One of the great lessons I learned in college is that it is very difficult to fake skill. Indeed, skilled people have better long-term memories for domain infor

One of the great lessons I learned in college is that it is very difficult to fake skill. Indeed, skilled people have better long-term memories for domain information, encode domain-related information more efficiently. Similarly, skilled people are able to better deal with distracting tasks while still maintaining their train of thought in the domain-related area. That being said, through the offhand way they impart information, it is clear that they have a significant degree of skill in their domain. (Short lookup times, unaffected by distraction). Moreover, their body language was not urgent or desperate. I have a sneaking suspicion that getting VC is like dating; the needy don't get fed. So my advice to you: spend more time cultivating expertise in your field. This has multiple benefits: 1) you're more likely to actually succeed, and may be able to avoid having to take (YC) funding altogether; 2) you'll be able to talk offhand more easily about your startup.

thaumaturgy 17y ago
Good point, but our problem is mostly that the startup involves several different applications and has to solve problems in a several different spaces. We've got pretty solid expertise in all of the necessary fields, it's just a matter of getting the entire project described without forgetting anything important.
- OmarIsmail 17y ago
  I think that might indicate a fundamental issue with what you're doing with your business. One of the biggest rules in business, and even more importantly startups, is FOCUS. While your technology/process may apply to many different areas and industries, you realistically can't tackle and market to them all. Therefore you need to focus the process/technology into one area/industry and there should be an easy to understand compelling case on why it makes life better and easier. There's a reason why you're only given 1 minute.
10ren 17y ago
An aside. There's benefit the other way, too: a sense of self-confidence also helps one concentrate despite distractions, and prevents urgent and desperate body language. If you can concentrate, and not be overwhelmed with urgent or desperate feelings, you have more cognitive power available, and will perform closer to your potential. I agree with your points, especially about memory. Expert chess players have superior recall of chess positions - but only those that could occur in play. For other positions, their memory is comparable to ordinary people.
pg 17y ago
That is exactly it. They seem like they know what they're talking about. Not because of some clever trick about the way they presented themselves, but because they actually do know what they're talking about. Which means the way to make a successful video is not to focus on the video. It's to do what Scott suggested: work on the company. Then you'll be able to just sit down and do the video in a single, unscripted shot. And that is so much more convincing than someone sitting reading from a script.

thaumaturgy 17y ago

Good point, but our problem is mostly that the startup involves several different applications and has to solve problems in a several different spaces. We've got pretty solid expertise in all of the necessary fields, it's just a matter of getting the entire project described without forgetting anything important.

OmarIsmail 17y ago
I think that might indicate a fundamental issue with what you're doing with your business. One of the biggest rules in business, and even more importantly startups, is FOCUS. While your technology/process may apply to many different areas and industries, you realistically can't tackle and market to them all. Therefore you need to focus the process/technology into one area/industry and there should be an easy to understand compelling case on why it makes life better and easier. There's a reason why you're only given 1 minute.

10ren 17y ago

An aside. There's benefit the other way, too: a sense of self-confidence also helps one concentrate despite distractions, and prevents urgent and desperate body language. If you can concentrate, and not be overwhelmed with urgent or desperate feelings, you have more cognitive power available, and will perform closer to your potential. I agree with your points, especially about memory. Expert chess players have superior recall of chess positions - but only those that could occur in play. For other positions, their memory is comparable to ordinary people.

pg 17y ago

That is exactly it. They seem like they know what they're talking about. Not because of some clever trick about the way they presented themselves, but because they actually do know what they're talking about. Which means the way to make a successful video is not to focus on the video. It's to do what Scott suggested: work on the company. Then you'll be able to just sit down and do the video in a single, unscripted shot. And that is so much more convincing than someone sitting reading from a script.