So what’s PitchFest?
Do you have a great idea for a web application? Do your ideas keep you awake at night? Then come on down to TeamCamp for an idea “Pitch Fest”. Pitch your idea to a friendly group of people just like you. Together, we’ll explore and build on your idea. You’ll meet new friends and who knows, maybe you’ll meet a co-founder?
The Format
The format is simple: you talk, we listen and contribute. The output is better ideas. You don’t need a fancy PowerPoint presentation, or a working prototype for that matter (although that would be really cool). However, if you want people to understand your idea make sure you’re clear and concise and in particular explain what value your idea brings to your target customer.
If your not sure where to start I highly recommend reading So What? Who Cares? Why You? by Wendy Kennedy (an Ottawa native) which is hands-down the best resource I’ve read on how to turn an idea into an opportunity. Wendy recommends a simple 4 step process to translate tech-speak into the language of value:
- Describe the pressing need or pain that the customer feels right now
- Explain the value of your solution to your intended customer
- Talk about the attributes of your technology
- Back up your idea with proof (i.e. sort of evidence that your solution could solve the problem – like a customer).
Using this methodology to express your idea should be as simple as stating “Our customer’s _______ (problem) will be solved by our ______ (solution) because of our _____________ (technology attributes) that are backed up by ___________ (proof)” (fill in the blanks).
Prerequisites
I hate fine print just as much as anyone else; If you have a job, be mindful of your employer’s Intellectual Property rights. TeamCamp does not exist to steel other peoples’ or companies ideas. Make sure your ideas are original. By the same token, no one at TeamCamp is going to sign your non-disclosure agreement; If you’re unwilling to share your idea then a) you’re likely going to fail anyway, and b) you’ll never find anyone to work on it with you. Best of luck to you.
For these reasons, if you plan on pitching or attending a pitchfest I ask is that you review and accept the TeamCamp Participation Agreement.
In addition, it would be great if you contribute something to The Code Factory’s Cookie Jar after the meeting.
What Comes Next
Inspire, lead, execute is TeamCamp’s mantra. Pitchnight is the first part. You’ll find TeamCampers are a friendly bunch eager to hear your ideas. But don’t expect everyone to jump and and down and scream “OMG, your idea is brilliant – let’s work on it!”. It doesn’t happen that way. Give people a chance to ask questions, understand, and absorb your idea. You’ll also likely need to build a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) before people will really start to “get it”.
Inspiring people to work on your idea takes leadership; it’s the hard part. Unfortunately, I’ve seen a lot of people pitch their idea and walk away feeling disappointed. Being an entrepreneur takes a lot of tenacity, perseverance and hard work. A good idea is just the tip of the iceberg. Take what you hear, continue to develop your idea, and then come on back.
Resources
Since we started TeamCamp we’ve built a pretty good set of resources on this Blog. Take the time to look at some of the posts. There’s good information there and links to plenty of external resources. The best thing is that these ideas are generally from entrepreneurs in Ottawa. They’re always willing to help. Ottawa has an awesome startup community.
Nevertheless, come on down to The Code Factory, 246 Queen St., this Thursday (ring the buzzer to come up to the 2nd floor). Let’s catchup on what you’ve been up to all summer, collaborate on ideas, or if you’ve never been to a TeamCamp meeting before this is a great time to see what it’s all about. Hope to see you there!
