Project » Elevator Pitch
So you luck out and happen to board an elevator with a high powered venture capitalist who has the wherewithal to fund your fantastic idea for an iOS app. You've got a minute to talk him into cutting you a check (say, to hire a team of designers, purchase development hardware, pay for advertising or hosting space — whatever it is you need).
This is about that pitch.
No slides, demos, or visuals (besides gesticulation) — just you and your captive VC audience.
You can use your minute however you like, but here's some advice:
- Identify an itch, and explain how your app scratches that itch.
- To be convincing, you should at least appear convinced yourself. Rehearsing helps!
- While turning a profit is important, take note of the number of VC darlings that have yet to be properly monetized (e.g., Facebook & Twitter). First and foremost: build something people will want to use.
- If there’s any reason you feel you’re particularly well suited to the job of developing the app, then be sure to mention it. You’re pitching yourself as much as the idea you have in mind.
- Don’t grovel — you’re selling an opportunity here!
At the end of your pitch (or sometime during it), you should be sure to name a specific minimum dollar amount that you think is reasonable to help get you started.
Unfortunately I haven't any VCs in my pocket, so the class will play substitute audience. At the end of your talk, we'll take a vote on how likely we are to invest in your idea — the result of the vote and the overall slickness of your pitch will determine your score. Here’s the rubric I’ll use:
- (4 points) Was your pitch [4] Exceedingly slick, cohesive, and captivating, [3] Reasonably well-rehearsed and interesting, [2] Somewhat unfocused and/or unconvincing, [1] Disjoint, unimaginative, and/or boring, [0] Incomprehensible?
- (2 points) Was it clear what your app will do, and how it will be used?
- (2 points) Was your pitch between 1 and 2 minutes in length?
- (2 points) Voting result: would we invest in your idea?