Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 29, 2020

If you have ten minutes, that means no more than ten slides. I’ve seen several presentations that never moved past the first slide before running out of time. I outlined what investors expect to see in an old article “ Adding Slides Does Not Enhance Your Investor Pitch. Then match your pace to cover all the material.

Startup 118

Startup Slides Technical Review Research 118

socalTECH

JUNE 13, 2012

You can slide it onto the corner of your iPhone, or you can flip it over, and it you get a wide angle lens. I had probably spent eight months perfecting the product, and getting the design where it needed to be, and all patents filed. First of all, tell us about what olloclip's products are? Unscrew that, and you get a macro lens.

Patents 191

Patents Ideas Design Startup 191

SoCal CTO

SEPTEMBER 20, 2011

I like how Mark Suster handles the question in 10 Marketing Lessons for Early-Stage Tech Startups. Someone Stole My Startup Idea – Part 2: They Raised Money With My Slides?! Some resources on this: Intellectual Property is More Than Patents Does My Startup Have Intellectual Property? " Ummm. "Good luck with that."

Startup 211

Startup IP Ideas Patents 211

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 19, 2015

If you have ten minutes, that means no more than ten slides. I’ve seen several presentations that never moved past the first slide before running out of time. I outlined what investors expect to see in an old article “ Adding Slides Does Not Enhance Your Investor Pitch. Then match your pace to cover all the material.

Slides 105

Slides Technical Review Startup Research 105

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 10, 2011

A perfect round number is ten slides, with the right content, that can be covered in ten minutes. Here are the ten slides you need: Problem and market need. Make sure to communicate the relevance of your product / services to market needs. Describe your technology patents and “secret sauce”. Opportunity sizing.

Slides 93

Slides Competition Sample Sales 93

socalTECH

JUNE 16, 2010

My partner and I, Cliff Elion, have a patent pending neck technology, which enables the guitar to be made at a very accessible price point, and also have probably more functionality and connectivity than any device in history. In You Rock mode, it will map away all the wrong notes, so as you slide down the fretboard, you still sound good.

Orange County 244

Orange County Startup Slides Paramount 244

SoCal CTO

SEPTEMBER 20, 2011

I like how Mark Suster handles the question in 10 Marketing Lessons for Early-Stage Tech Startups. Someone Stole My Startup Idea – Part 2: They Raised Money With My Slides?! Some resources on this: Intellectual Property is More Than Patents Does My Startup Have Intellectual Property? " Ummm. "Good luck with that."

Startup 198

Startup IP Ideas Patents 198

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 26, 2020

For example, “We just patented a new battery technology that will cut your smartphone charge time and cost in half.” Quantify the market opportunity in business terms. For example, “Nielsen projects that the market for smart phones will double every year for the next five years.” Use non-fuzzy terms to quantify customer value.

Product 169

Product Summary Startup Examples 169

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 30, 2013

If you have ten minutes, that means no more than ten slides. I’ve seen several presentations that never moved past the first slide before running out of time. I outlined what investors expect to see in another article “ Adding Slides Does Not Enhance Your Investor Pitch. Then match your pace to cover all the material.

Angel 102

Angel Funding Slides Technical Review 102

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 29, 2011

If you have ten minutes, that means no more than ten slides. I’ve seen several presentations that never moved past the first slide before running out of time. I outlined what investors expect to see in an earlier article “ Ten Slides Make a Killer Investor Presentation.” Then match your pace to cover all the material.

Slides 95

Slides Technical Review Startup Research 95

Startup Professionals Musings

JUNE 22, 2012

If you have ten minutes, that means no more than ten slides. I’ve seen several presentations that never moved past the first slide before running out of time. Have at least one backup plan, such as copies of your slides to hand out and discuss, in case all else fails. Then match your pace to cover all the material.

Tips 97

Tips Slides Technical Review Startup 97

Startup Professionals Musings

JANUARY 27, 2020

Lead with your best marketing pitch and conviction. Of course, it’s always good to speak with conviction, but marketing terms such as “improved productivity” or “lower cost” won’t make your offering memorable. For example, “I have patented a new tire that will double the wear mileage at half the cost.”

Sample 127

Sample Summary Startup Slides 127

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 4, 2019

I recommend a ten-slide pitch to start, reviewed by friends and advisors, to be expanded to a ten-to-twenty-page business plan with opportunity sizing, cost and price details, competitors, marketing and sales strategy, financial projections, and resources required. Prepare your marketing story for customers and investors.

Ideas 94

Ideas Slides Technical Review Patents 94

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 13, 2016

As a startup advisor and investor, I recommend a pitch deck with about 10 slides backed up with a written business plan of approximately 20 pages, both containing quantified answers to the following key questions. This is also the place to first mention patents and any other differentiators that put you ahead of competition.

Invest 108

Invest Startup Slides Equity 108

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 31, 2015

Rely on marketing content and emotion vs. facts. For example, “I have patented a new LCD with double the intensity at half the cost, already proven locally, and I just need resources to scale for this market.” Until an investor hears about a real customer problem, and understands your solution, the background is irrelevant.

Startup 104

Startup Summary Patents Examples 104

Startup Professionals Musings

AUGUST 14, 2014

This raises a big red flag with potential investors, who conclude that no competitors means no market, or you haven’t looked, and the new startup is likely not investable. First to market, for example, is not normally a sustainable advantage for startups. Here are some of the key ones: Patent protection in place as a barrier to entry.

Competition 93

Competition Startup Patents Slides 93

Startup Professionals Musings

FEBRUARY 16, 2016

If you have ten minutes, that means no more than ten slides. I’ve seen several presentations that never moved past the first slide before running out of time. I outlined what investors expect to see in an old article “ Adding Slides Does Not Enhance Your Investor Pitch. Then match your pace to cover all the material.

Startup 64

Startup Slides Technical Review Research 64

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 21, 2018

File a provisional patent or other intellectual property. You need to be able to highlight the synergy of team members who have the necessary technical, financial, marketing, and operational credentials to move your startup ahead of the crowd. Prepare a slide deck to highlight product and business.

Platform 94

Platform Equity Invest Technical Advisors 94

Startup Professionals Musings

APRIL 18, 2010

If you have ten minutes, that means no more than ten slides. I’ve seen several presentations that never moved past the first slide before running out of time. I outlined what investors expect to see in an earlier article “ Investor Presentation – 10 Slides is Just Right.” Then match your pace to cover all the material.

Tips 56

Tips Slides Startup Research 56

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 24, 2012

File a patent and trademarks to show real intellectual property. Investors expect a one or two-page executive summary sheet for the initial screening, backed up by a ten-slide Powerpoint investor presentation. All the conviction and market research in the world are no substitute for real customers paying real money.

Angel 104

Angel Screening Summary Startup 104

Both Sides of the Table

MAY 2, 2015

What I love about my job is getting to see teams of super-early-stage companies develop ideas that while raw have potential to make an impact on the market. This happens because many CEOs are passionate, market-driven people who are constantly trying to launch new products, win contracts, get press, hire staff and woo VCs.

Outsource Development 150

Outsource Development Metrics Startup Sales 150

Startup Professionals Musings

NOVEMBER 4, 2011

File a patent and trademarks to show real intellectual property. Investors expect a one or two-page executive summary sheet for the initial screening, backed up by a ten-slide Powerpoint investor presentation. All the conviction and market research in the world are no substitute for real customers paying real money.

Invest 99

Invest Angel Technical Review Summary 99

Startup Professionals Musings

DECEMBER 8, 2017

Let me be quick to say that a plan doesn’t have be a book, and probably should start as a “pitch deck” of maybe a dozen slides which cover all the right bases. For example, “I just patented a new cell-phone technology that will double battery life for half the cost. Marketing, sales, and customer experience.

Startup 65

Startup Writing Patents Competition 65

Startup Professionals Musings

SEPTEMBER 23, 2010

File a patent and trademarks to show real intellectual property. Investors expect a one or two-page executive summary sheet for the initial screening, backed up by a ten-slide Powerpoint investor presentation. All the conviction and market research in the world are no substitute for real customers paying real money.

Angel 89

Angel Funding Technical Review Startup 89

Startup Professionals Musings

JULY 27, 2018

Certainly a slide or two needs to carry over describing the product and features at a high level. Here are the unique business elements that I expect to hear as a potential investor: Target market size and growth projections. First to market” is not sustainable with normal startup resources.

Product 58

Product Slides Entrepreneur Invest 58

Both Sides of the Table

OCTOBER 19, 2009

They looked nervous at having to speak with me impromptu and without the benefit of financial figures to scoff at, product pitches that they’ve seen 100 times and a market sizing to unpick. I started by trying to think I could explain my concept without having to patronize everybody with artificial PowerPoint slides. Slides, please.”

Venture Capital 274

Venture Capital Blogging Startup Slides 274