The victory in the nomination "best startup with the prospect of entering the American market", Spb Startup Day 2017 and thoughts about the pitches
In early September in St. Petersburg hosted the Spb Startup Day 2017. The event is interesting at least for everyone who is associated with the theme of startups or at least thinks is associated. In this article I will tell about their impressions of the event, and at the same time will share the successes of our start-up JEvents — the victory in the nomination "the best startup with the prospect of entering the American market" with a prize trip to new York city and not only...
Looking ahead, I note that I is an event and preparation for it gave a great experience., So your thoughts I'll try to get as short advice to himself.
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Spb Startup Day
My acquaintance with Spb Startup Day began in 2015, completely by accident... the Mood was skeptical — I have nothing from him, not expecting, however, decided to go out of curiosity. Why do I think so? Perhaps I projected the experience of visiting other conferences, where there were two different slant — or marketing, where everything is trying to sell something, or technical bias — where the focus was some kind of robot running Java, which could keep the balance if you push. (no, it wasn't as fascinating as the video Boston Dynamics).
I was pleasantly surprised. The event was not only interesting, but it was very professionally done. After him came new ideas, knowledge and interests. I can only say that I recommend to all interested in technology to attend Startup Day. Interesting here was not only the ideas of start-UPS or presentations of the speakers, and, first and foremost, the people: active, energetic — this is a very cool and useful to learn. After him came new ideas, knowledge and interests.
tip: Go to different events in the field that interests you, read the programme, list of speakers, to make acquaintance.
I was going through the mail while on vacation, and among other things came across a letter from FRÍA (if you haven't heard before, it is the Foundation for Internet Development Initiatives, which among other things organizes and Startup Day). In the letter was the announcement of the event from which I learned about the contest pitches.
Who, in your opinion, goes to such competitions to pitch? For some reason I thought that only cool startups that already have a cool product, great sales, and in General they are all very good. Why they then generally go there, I don't think, but confidently believed that the rest there is nothing to do. But, for fun, decided to see the list of prizes. It turned out that there are a few nominations, one of which is "the best startup with the prospect of entering the American market" with a prize of tickets Moscow — new York — Moscow and a week in the office iDealMachine and assistance to the customer development in the United States. It was just what we needed for our project, which recently started its access to the U.S. market.
The wife said that we should try to send a request to the competition, after all, nothing to lose, but if the application is selected, it is possible for a project will benefit. What? Many holidays, especially suddenly and it's no contest :) In fact I had little faith that I would at least get selected for the pitch competition. Have prepared a pretty simple and short presentation, told her what we were doing, sent it.
Tips: Listen to your wife!) Relax, at least sometimes — to have time and effort to switch attention to something else! Don't be afraid to participate in something or somewhere to send a request, especially when you have nothing to lose.
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What is JEvents?
by the Way, this sticker is from our collection "Jewish stickers" which the Telegram and iMessage installed more than 50 000 people!
I fully admit that you haven't heard about our modest project Jewish mobile apps JEvents. Still, Yes, it is Jewish, because we collect information about Jewish events, news, jobs, programs and courses available in the city. Started about 2.5 years ago in St. Petersburg, we are now working in Moscow and even in new York.
Our app and website represent the events, programs and other Jewish opportunities (where in the app without the Jewish jokes and wisdom). Over all this happiness employs dozens of people, then systematic information could be used by thousands of interested users. What they are doing.
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a preview of the pitches
In my application with the presentation fairly quickly answered, we were invited to the training pitches. It turned out that the competition will involve about 50 projects! 50? Our chances of winning the nomination from 50% (either we win or not) at this point, fell 25 times to 1 to 50 or 2%.
Every pitch was given 60 seconds. The task is to package a story about your project in a minute it seemed difficult to determine what information about the project to write and how to present it better.
By the way, the training was serious, from the organizers was valuable and accurate feedback and recommendations for training. Each participant gave advice on what to change, what to add, what to reject, what to emphasize. In the end, the first version of the pitch was noticeably different from what was on the stage of the Spb Startup Day.
This hall in front of him saw those who were up on stage Spb Startup Day 2017.
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My conclusions about contests are pitches
Pitches have had different goals. Someone wanted to attract investors, and someone just wanted to take the opportunity to talk about your project from the stage to a large audience. Someone already product with thousands of users, and someone just came up with the idea and the presentation of one or two slides.
Which for me is pitch?
I see this format as a very quick presentation on the run, someone very important and busy. The city was in an Elevator with an investor, it is not up to you, but something to go nowhere. This is your chance! Briefly, in the case that he managed to understand what you do. The time is short. The less time you have, the more you need to prepare for it. Tell us about your project for 1.5 hours and without preparation, and if necessary to speak for 60 seconds?
It is very difficult (and perhaps no reason) to compare pitches SPb Startup Day 2017 at a single scale, but to see, I think, worth it.
Who should go on stage?
If anxiety prevents to clearly and confidently speak the entire presentation, try to find someone in their team who can handle it better. To answer difficult and important questions about the project, of course, have someone very well versed in it. But to tell in 60 seconds from the stage better than someone who does not fall into a stupor at the sight of thousands of people in front of him.
You SEO? 2 years of experience SMM? We need to talk about it in pitch?
Many projects waste precious seconds and presentation slides to show team members and roles in the project. Well, you know what I mean. Photos in circles with the signatures of the CEO and CTO and so on. I think it's appropriate not always, but in many cases you can do without it. Especially when you and your little-known project, and the competence and experience of the team members are unable to impress, add weight. This was, of course, a couple of teams that have it was very appropriate — experience of the team adds interest to the project.
does your project have the necessary resources?
There are projects which start to work only in the presence of a large audience. For example, Avito — who need to post ads where no one will see, because there is Avito, and there come millions. If you run a killer Avito — say a word about resources for a set audience. Sometimes the projects seemed to be simply not comparable in scale with what was presented to the audience...
the Competition with their slides
You're not so very simple project, right? People can be difficult at the same time to focus on what you say, and complex slides with lots of charts, graphs, images and information better to get rid of. Especially that you were already 20-30 people. You have little time — 60 seconds — decide what will be the main, and that add-on. Either you complete your slides, or they complement you. Help people to understand what they focus on.
Name.
Your project can be interesting to someone with 3 or 5 slide, make sure that your contact and the name of the project is not only on the first slide, but in the end.
What do you want?
Your project need 1 000 000 to increase the number of sales in 10 times, and the average bill 2 times? Say so! Want people to download your app? Tell them about it!
you think you made a clear presentation? Check it out!
Show the presentation to your friends far from your topic? They will understand? What they have questions?
get to "it"
Have you seen how often the person hesitates before approaching any investor? It is not always easy. If in your team you handle it better than others — do it. Call, write, come, let us a business card, let's to hand your smartphone to see the app, take their smartphone (asking permission) and put there your app! It is difficult, it may seem wild, out of place, but it is not only your personal chance. This is a chance for your team!
Today you pick up a smartphone investor, put your app tomorrow your wife will be proud of my husband because his project is recognized, appreciated, noticed, happy and himself a programmer, he received recognition. Try to think this way when it is hard to approach someone.
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JEvents Victory in the nomination "the best startup with the prospect of entering the American market"
About it briefly. In this nomination, won the project JEvents. For me it was very unexpected. I believe the blame for our team which is trying very hard (although better). In the hall was. They came, cheered, shook hands. When you communicate with people via a screen monitor or a smartphone, such feedback you have, and miss her so much, like and repost at all in the League.
That gave us this victory? An additional reason for pride for the project team is important! New setup, new people, new ideas, new energy.
About the practical use of the prize are not yet available. I will go to new York to iDealMachine — will definitely share.
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Record Spb Startup Day
Here's the recording of the whole event, the pitch competition starts around at around 2 hours 53 minutes. 50 projects will take place in 50 minutes. Suggest you write in the comments which project you liked best. It is highly likely that members of these teams will read these comments, they will be warm and nice.
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PS
Well and the most important: We are looking for partner and project coordinator in North America. Will be very good, if the city of new York. We have a lot of ideas, a good running project, potential funding source at the start.
If you are interested to talk about it or it might be interesting to someone from your friends — write on jevents.app@gmail.com
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