Hi,
Here is my elevator pitch, please comment or digress:
Hi, my name is Tudor Tihan and I am the founder of a Romanian IT outsourcing company called Zamolxis Interactiv, LLC. We produce video games, game development tools, and provide consulting services in the areas of game design and architecture. We have had great results as an outsourcing party. For example, we are in top 0.3% of a top coders list containing more than 150 thousand worldwide coders. Recently we have started to develop our own products. We are launching two of them this month, a mobile game, via our local mobile carrier, and a casual game, via a medium sized game publisher. We have 3 more games in the works, a RPG and a MMORPG for mobiles due on December and meant for worldwide distribution, and a web based game in November. We are looking in speeding up our growth process which is currently funded by our service providing business. With 250K US$ we can ensure a Return-On-Investment of over 250% in 5 years, if none of our games are above mediocre. We prefer one or more Angel Investors, ideally with a proven record and experience in the technical oriented business. Thank you for your time.
You can reach me at: +4 0788 192188 (it`s GMT+2 hours, Eastern Europe...) or email me at office@zamolxisinteractive.com. These 2 numbers would be on my black and golden business card.
Tell me what you think.
Thank you.
Tudor
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Hi Tudor... :-)
Consider this scenario: I`m a stranger to you. I run a national business in the timber industry, and we`re looking to diversify. My son likes video games, and I`ve been looking at possibly getting involved in that particular industry. So I went to a convention of game developers. I`m not all that familiar with anything, but I have a lot of money I`d like to spend to get involved in a business.
I`m on my way over to eat dinner at the hotel, and find a line. There I am, waiting to get a table, and you`re standing beside me. I mention that it`s a long wait, but I hear the restaurant`s good. You agree, and say you`re also thinking dinner would be good at the time.
I ask, "So....what do you do? Are you a game person?"
At that point, you have the moment to run your elevator pitch. The above is just too much like a brochure. This should be conversational. It should be interesting enough that I actually listen, although my mind was on waiting for a table, wondering should I maybe try some other restaurant without a long line.
So I hear...."blah blah blah blah....3% of 150,000...blah games...Romania...somewhere overseas...blah blah..."
My response, "What did you say you do again?"
I wonder...If 0.3% is the top third, you`re in a group of 45,000 people. If it`s .03 or 3%, then you`re in a group of 4,500. Is that something you want to be excited about?
"...blah blah...We develop our own products....blah blah...!" BONG!
"Wait...did you say you make and develop games? What sort of games? My kid is interested in that, and I`ve been thinking of maybe investing."
:-)
Consider this scenario: I`m a stranger to you. I run a national business in the timber industry, and we`re looking to diversify. My son likes video games, and I`ve been looking at possibly getting involved in that particular industry. So I went to a convention of game developers. I`m not all that familiar with anything, but I have a lot of money I`d like to spend to get involved in a business.
I`m on my way over to eat dinner at the hotel, and find a line. There I am, waiting to get a table, and you`re standing beside me. I mention that it`s a long wait, but I hear the restaurant`s good. You agree, and say you`re also thinking dinner would be good at the time.
I ask, "So....what do you do? Are you a game person?"
At that point, you have the moment to run your elevator pitch. The above is just too much like a brochure. This should be conversational. It should be interesting enough that I actually listen, although my mind was on waiting for a table, wondering should I maybe try some other restaurant without a long line.
So I hear...."blah blah blah blah....3% of 150,000...blah games...Romania...somewhere overseas...blah blah..."
My response, "What did you say you do again?"
I wonder...If 0.3% is the top third, you`re in a group of 45,000 people. If it`s .03 or 3%, then you`re in a group of 4,500. Is that something you want to be excited about?
"...blah blah...We develop our own products....blah blah...!" BONG!
"Wait...did you say you make and develop games? What sort of games? My kid is interested in that, and I`ve been thinking of maybe investing."
:-)
Firstly, Craig thank you for taking time to analyze my pitch. You are very nice.
I realize now that I may need to change it quite a bit.
I`m proud of my ratings on outsourcing websites, but I guess I have to convey that quality in a different way. I want to say Perfect ratings, ~500th place of 150K worldwide coders. The only thing between me and the first place is number of contracts. That wouldn’t fit within one minute, that’s for sure.
So, let me try again:
Hi, my name is Tudor Tihan. I own a company called Zamolxis Interactiv. We are making mobile, web, and casual games and we are interested in expanding to PC and Xbox. We have great experience in mobile and PC games development as an outsourcing party. We’ve produced tools for other game developers, helped with design and also provided consulting services on game architecture to 3rd parties. Further proof of our competence is our excellent ratings on several outsourcing websites. We fund our own products with the profits resulted from our outsourcing contracts, but this process is too slow for us. We want 250K US$ to properly launch our mobile games (both completed and in development) and to ensure the launch of a PC game within one year. We expect to break even in 18 months and to provide a ROI of more than 250% within 3 to 5 years. Thank you, Here’s my card.
How this then?
I realize now that I may need to change it quite a bit.
I`m proud of my ratings on outsourcing websites, but I guess I have to convey that quality in a different way. I want to say Perfect ratings, ~500th place of 150K worldwide coders. The only thing between me and the first place is number of contracts. That wouldn’t fit within one minute, that’s for sure.
So, let me try again:
Hi, my name is Tudor Tihan. I own a company called Zamolxis Interactiv. We are making mobile, web, and casual games and we are interested in expanding to PC and Xbox. We have great experience in mobile and PC games development as an outsourcing party. We’ve produced tools for other game developers, helped with design and also provided consulting services on game architecture to 3rd parties. Further proof of our competence is our excellent ratings on several outsourcing websites. We fund our own products with the profits resulted from our outsourcing contracts, but this process is too slow for us. We want 250K US$ to properly launch our mobile games (both completed and in development) and to ensure the launch of a PC game within one year. We expect to break even in 18 months and to provide a ROI of more than 250% within 3 to 5 years. Thank you, Here’s my card.
How this then?
Hi Tudor... :-)
Consider this scenario: I`m a stranger to you. I run a national business in the timber industry, and we`re looking to diversify. My son likes video games, and I`ve been looking at possibly getting involved in that particular industry. So I went to a convention of game developers. I`m not all that familiar with anything, but I have a lot of money I`d like to spend to get involved in a business.
I`m on my way over to eat dinner at the hotel, and find a line. There I am, waiting to get a table, and you`re standing beside me. I mention that it`s a long wait, but I hear the restaurant`s good. You agree, and say you`re also thinking dinner would be good at the time.
I ask, "So....what do you do? Are you a game person?"
At that point, you have the moment to run your elevator pitch. The above is just too much like a brochure. This should be conversational. It should be interesting enough that I actually listen, although my mind was on waiting for a table, wondering should I maybe try some other restaurant without a long line.
So I hear...."blah blah blah blah....3% of 150,000...blah games...Romania...somewhere overseas...blah blah..."
My response, "What did you say you do again?"
I wonder...If 0.3% is the top third, you`re in a group of 45,000 people. If it`s .03 or 3%, then you`re in a group of 4,500. Is that something you want to be excited about?
"...blah blah...We develop our own products....blah blah...!" BONG!
"Wait...did you say you make and develop games? What sort of games? My kid is interested in that, and I`ve been thinking of maybe investing."
:-)
Consider this scenario: I`m a stranger to you. I run a national business in the timber industry, and we`re looking to diversify. My son likes video games, and I`ve been looking at possibly getting involved in that particular industry. So I went to a convention of game developers. I`m not all that familiar with anything, but I have a lot of money I`d like to spend to get involved in a business.
I`m on my way over to eat dinner at the hotel, and find a line. There I am, waiting to get a table, and you`re standing beside me. I mention that it`s a long wait, but I hear the restaurant`s good. You agree, and say you`re also thinking dinner would be good at the time.
I ask, "So....what do you do? Are you a game person?"
At that point, you have the moment to run your elevator pitch. The above is just too much like a brochure. This should be conversational. It should be interesting enough that I actually listen, although my mind was on waiting for a table, wondering should I maybe try some other restaurant without a long line.
So I hear...."blah blah blah blah....3% of 150,000...blah games...Romania...somewhere overseas...blah blah..."
My response, "What did you say you do again?"
I wonder...If 0.3% is the top third, you`re in a group of 45,000 people. If it`s .03 or 3%, then you`re in a group of 4,500. Is that something you want to be excited about?
"...blah blah...We develop our own products....blah blah...!" BONG!
"Wait...did you say you make and develop games? What sort of games? My kid is interested in that, and I`ve been thinking of maybe investing."
:-)
Firstly, Craig thank you for taking time to analyze my pitch. You are very nice.
Hi, my name is Tudor Tihan. I own a company called Zamolxis Interactiv. We are making mobile, web, and casual games and we are interested in expanding to PC and Xbox. We have great experience in mobile and PC games development as an outsourcing party. We’ve produced tools for other game developers, helped with design and also provided consulting services on game architecture to 3rd parties. Further proof of our competence is our excellent ratings on several outsourcing websites. We fund our own products with the profits resulted from our outsourcing contracts, but this process is too slow for us. We want 250K US$ to properly launch our mobile games (both completed and in development) and to ensure the launch of a PC game within one year. We expect to break even in 18 months and to provide a ROI of more than 250% within 3 to 5 years. Thank you, Here’s my card.
Hi, my name is Tudor Tihan. I own a company called Zamolxis Interactiv. We are making mobile, web, and casual games and we are interested in expanding to PC and Xbox. We have great experience in mobile and PC games development as an outsourcing party. We’ve produced tools for other game developers, helped with design and also provided consulting services on game architecture to 3rd parties. Further proof of our competence is our excellent ratings on several outsourcing websites. We fund our own products with the profits resulted from our outsourcing contracts, but this process is too slow for us. We want 250K US$ to properly launch our mobile games (both completed and in development) and to ensure the launch of a PC game within one year. We expect to break even in 18 months and to provide a ROI of more than 250% within 3 to 5 years. Thank you, Here’s my card.
:-) You`re welcome. It`s mostly fun for me, but also is helping me refine my writing in ways I can`t even begin to explain.
Now, as to the pitch changes. I like them a whole lot more, but (of course) I still have my objections. :-) And as always, remember I`m that millionaire guy in the lumber industry, waiting in line with you for a table in a restaurant!
To being with, you say, "We have great experience in mobile and PC games development as an outsourcing party. etc..." Then give a couple of examples. Then you say, "Further proof of our competence is our excellent ratings on several outsourcing websites."
What proof? You`ve only given anecdotal evidence that someone likes you, a bunch of people are using you, and in their experience, they seem to like the results.
Logically, if that many people like you, then why are you asking me for money? If you have this proof, how come you need me? In other words, if you`re so great, why are you asking for help?
One of THE most maddening cliches around, that`s been around for years without any rebuttal is this: "If you`re so smart, why aren`t you rich?" The correllary to that is, "If you`re rich, you MUST be smart!" It`s utter blather, without a shred of actual meaning, but people love to think it, feel it, and base their life actions upon such nonsense. So how can you deal with it.
I like that you`re stating particularly who you are, and why you`re looking for money. I`d move this part up to the second sentence:
"We fund our own products with the profits resulted from our outsourcing contracts, but this process is too slow for us. We want 250K US$ to properly launch our mobile games (both completed and in development) and to ensure the launch of a PC game within one year."
I`m waiting for a table, so I don`t want to visualize a spreadsheet in my head. I don`t really care when you expect an ROI or what the numbers are. Capture my imagination! Explain to me why my kid would LOVE it if I were to buy into your company! (But it has to be generic, not targeted only to this example.)
The point of the pitch is to intrigue me...fire up my imagination. I want to see myself being involved. I want to see myself in the glory of being a world-reknowned investor...a VC guy...someone with clout and power on Wall Street! Remember, everyone has a dream for themselves, and visualizes themselves as successful based on that dream.
You`re a programmer, and your dream is based on technology and games. I`m a millionaire lumber guy with a kid who thinks I run the world. Someone else is a guilt-ridden trust-fund baby, wishing they could do more for the world. What is it about your business that captures the imagination? Where`s the romance, the adventure!
Tap into your OWN passion! Why are YOU excited about what you do? Speak with passion, and it`ll translate into everything you say. Even if you aren`t asking for money directly...your passion will be intriguing and memorable. All you want is a meeting! You don`t want actual money while we`re standing in line.
Your intent is for me to say, "Hey..y`know what? Here`s MY card! Call my office next week and set up a meeting. Tell them who you are, and give me your card. I`ll have my people notified to expect your call." See?
Craig said:
OK, here it would be the first thing that I should have mentioned. I am not so sure I’d take a millionaire on the ride if he’s doing it to impress his kid. To be frank, I’d much rather attract an experienced angel investor that routinely invests into 5 companies each year, expecting 4 or them to lose his money. Even better, an angel investor with experience in high-tech or entertainment industries. This is why I added the figures, thinking that this is the relevant information for such an investor to be able to quickly decide whether it is worth his time or not. But you are right, there should be more passion showing in the pitch.
CraigL said:
Yes, I’ve got to find a more fortunate way to establish that we are not just wannabees.
Craig said:
That’s simple to explain, the service providing business doesn’t make one rich too fast when started from zero on the outsourcing path (nor in general, the key to richness is an abundance of customers buying expensive products, products that preferably do not require anything to produce or that are created once and xerox-sold a gazillion times.)
Craig said:
I`ll post the pitch when I finish rewriting it.
Tudor
:-) You`re welcome. It`s mostly fun for me, but also is helping me refine my writing in ways I can`t even begin to explain.
Now, as to the pitch changes. I like them a whole lot more, but (of course) I still have my objections. :-) And as always, remember I`m that millionaire guy in the lumber industry, waiting in line with you for a table in a restaurant![…]
Now, as to the pitch changes. I like them a whole lot more, but (of course) I still have my objections. :-) And as always, remember I`m that millionaire guy in the lumber industry, waiting in line with you for a table in a restaurant![…]
OK, here it would be the first thing that I should have mentioned. I am not so sure I’d take a millionaire on the ride if he’s doing it to impress his kid. To be frank, I’d much rather attract an experienced angel investor that routinely invests into 5 companies each year, expecting 4 or them to lose his money. Even better, an angel investor with experience in high-tech or entertainment industries. This is why I added the figures, thinking that this is the relevant information for such an investor to be able to quickly decide whether it is worth his time or not. But you are right, there should be more passion showing in the pitch.
CraigL said:
To being with, you say, "We have great experience in mobile and PC games development as an outsourcing party. etc..." Then give a couple of examples. Then you say, "Further proof of our competence is our excellent ratings on several outsourcing websites."
What proof? You`ve only given anecdotal evidence that someone likes you, a bunch of people are using you, and in their experience, they seem to like the results[…].
What proof? You`ve only given anecdotal evidence that someone likes you, a bunch of people are using you, and in their experience, they seem to like the results[…].
Yes, I’ve got to find a more fortunate way to establish that we are not just wannabees.
Craig said:
Logically, if that many people like you, then why are you asking me for money? If you have this proof, how come you need me? In other words, if you`re so great, why are you asking for help?[…]
That’s simple to explain, the service providing business doesn’t make one rich too fast when started from zero on the outsourcing path (nor in general, the key to richness is an abundance of customers buying expensive products, products that preferably do not require anything to produce or that are created once and xerox-sold a gazillion times.)
Craig said:
[…]Tap into your OWN passion! Why are YOU excited about what you do? Speak with passion, and it`ll translate into everything you say. Even if you aren`t asking for money directly...your passion will be intriguing and memorable. All you want is a meeting! You don`t want actual money while we`re standing in line. Your intent is for me to say, "Hey..y`know what? Here`s MY card! Call my office next week and set up a meeting. Tell them who you are, and give me your card. I`ll have my people notified to expect your call." See?
That’s good advice but I just don’t want to sound too goofy. I will try to put some passion into it because I could at least speak about my goals. I hope you’ll warn me if my English fails me.I`ll post the pitch when I finish rewriting it.
Tudor
Don`t worry
about your English. In today`s world, with global business and people
from all over the world connecting up on the Web, it won`t matter. Any
decent copy-editor can fix your language in no time flat. In fact, when
you get your pitch honed, I can help organize the language.
What matters first is having the conceptual foundation. And that, I believe, is where the analogy of the lumber millionaire and his kid come into play. The key here is to imagine (or "imaginate," as my neice would say!) your target investor.
Secondly, to then develop a visual image of the physical location in which you`d meet such a person. That`s why it`s called an "elevator" pitch. The original idea is you`re stuck in an elevator in a big building, meeting someone wealthy. You have about 2 minutes until the elevator arrives at some floor before that person leaves.
It doesn`t have to be an elevator---it can be any place where time is limited AND there`s a complete lack of preparatory groundwork. You might be sharing a taxi, or waiting for the rain to stop in a small cafe. What matters is that an elevator pitch is based first on "small talk."
Your intent is to begin with small talk, seemingly not so important, for the single purpose of capturing the imagination of your listener. It`s up to you WHEN to apply the pitch. You don`t "have to" make a pitch to a lumber millionaire in a restaurant line. But if it works for him, it`ll also work for your angel investor or VC person who you literally bump into on a golf course.
There`s a wonderful movie with Michael J. Fox, where he`s a concierge with an idea for a hotel, "The Secret of my Success." He portrays the epitome of a startup business, single person, no money, always hustling for a way to get started. I think you`d like the movie, it would take your mind off "trying too hard" to formulate a logical, intellectual pitch. Then, when you`ve relaxed and had some fun, imagine talking "just for the fun of it," about your business. That`s the idea.
People get way too formal, worried that rich people are somehow a different species of human being. ;-) Everyone puts their pants on, one leg at a time. The richest people in the world still have to sleep at night, get old, throw up from time to time, and fart. Excepting in trust-fund cases, many rich people started with very little, or nothing at all. You`re not alone in all this!
But in my experience, people with money to invest are far more interested in how much YOU care about your business! Countless examples come to mind of people who`ve donated large or small sums of money to a gardener, paper boy, or waiter, only because that person had so much passion, action, initiative, and imagination, the wealthy person couldn`t help but be caught up in that creative energy.
It isn`t about a calculated spiel. Anyone with money is utterly bored with that never-ending request for money. Calculation usually means manipulation, and people with money are well-schooled in scams, flim-flam, unattainable dreams, and wishful thinking. You have something real! It`s already happening, and the ONLY reason you`re not doing more is because you lack some money.
When you have no money, it seems as if it`s the key to everything in life. But when you have tons of money, you begin to realize that it`s worth almost nothing in terms of life. People with that kind of money many times are simply looking for a way to participate again in real life, with real people, where they don`t have to always be on guard against being taken advantage of.
What matters first is having the conceptual foundation. And that, I believe, is where the analogy of the lumber millionaire and his kid come into play. The key here is to imagine (or "imaginate," as my neice would say!) your target investor.
Secondly, to then develop a visual image of the physical location in which you`d meet such a person. That`s why it`s called an "elevator" pitch. The original idea is you`re stuck in an elevator in a big building, meeting someone wealthy. You have about 2 minutes until the elevator arrives at some floor before that person leaves.
It doesn`t have to be an elevator---it can be any place where time is limited AND there`s a complete lack of preparatory groundwork. You might be sharing a taxi, or waiting for the rain to stop in a small cafe. What matters is that an elevator pitch is based first on "small talk."
Your intent is to begin with small talk, seemingly not so important, for the single purpose of capturing the imagination of your listener. It`s up to you WHEN to apply the pitch. You don`t "have to" make a pitch to a lumber millionaire in a restaurant line. But if it works for him, it`ll also work for your angel investor or VC person who you literally bump into on a golf course.
There`s a wonderful movie with Michael J. Fox, where he`s a concierge with an idea for a hotel, "The Secret of my Success." He portrays the epitome of a startup business, single person, no money, always hustling for a way to get started. I think you`d like the movie, it would take your mind off "trying too hard" to formulate a logical, intellectual pitch. Then, when you`ve relaxed and had some fun, imagine talking "just for the fun of it," about your business. That`s the idea.
People get way too formal, worried that rich people are somehow a different species of human being. ;-) Everyone puts their pants on, one leg at a time. The richest people in the world still have to sleep at night, get old, throw up from time to time, and fart. Excepting in trust-fund cases, many rich people started with very little, or nothing at all. You`re not alone in all this!
But in my experience, people with money to invest are far more interested in how much YOU care about your business! Countless examples come to mind of people who`ve donated large or small sums of money to a gardener, paper boy, or waiter, only because that person had so much passion, action, initiative, and imagination, the wealthy person couldn`t help but be caught up in that creative energy.
It isn`t about a calculated spiel. Anyone with money is utterly bored with that never-ending request for money. Calculation usually means manipulation, and people with money are well-schooled in scams, flim-flam, unattainable dreams, and wishful thinking. You have something real! It`s already happening, and the ONLY reason you`re not doing more is because you lack some money.
When you have no money, it seems as if it`s the key to everything in life. But when you have tons of money, you begin to realize that it`s worth almost nothing in terms of life. People with that kind of money many times are simply looking for a way to participate again in real life, with real people, where they don`t have to always be on guard against being taken advantage of.
Craig,
I`ve just re-read your last post and I think you are right in most aspects. I agree that passion should be the key but some part of me still needs to say at least some relevant numbers in the pitch.
So, what do you think of the following?
I`ve just re-read your last post and I think you are right in most aspects. I agree that passion should be the key but some part of me still needs to say at least some relevant numbers in the pitch.
So, what do you think of the following?
Hi,
My
name is Tudor Tihan. I am the founder of a game development company from
Firstly
as a freelance programmer and then within my company, I have made excellent
progress in the art of programming and received very good customer feedback and
ratings on several outsourcing websites. For the past 12 months I’ve been
focusing on game development proper, both as an outsourcing party and with my
own products. I am about to launch a mobile game as my own product in
Thank you.
Hi Tudor :-) Much improvement.
I like the first paragraph. The second paragraph starts great, and you introduce an example. What I`d like to know is what happened to that re-build? In other words, tell me what you do, how it`s made you successful to the point where money is an issue. To say that you rebuilt Doom three years after Carmack did it, doesn`t really apply.
Edited next paragraph:
Insert:
One thing that bothers me about elevator pitches in general, but it`s maybe my own style, is I don`t like how rehearsed they sound. As an entertainer, I tend to intersperse whatever I`m saying with pauses to include my listener. I`ve not heard much about this when people explain or teach the Art of elevator pitches.
But I do know that I spent a lot of time with people who have money. I know their mind, their attitude, and their sense of appearance. Think of Donald Trump, he`s a nice median sort of in-between. He`s not too formal, not too bumbling.
Remember too, that when you`re suddenly confronted with an opportunity to make the pitch, you`ll be in one of two situations (there are more, but Murphy`s law of anything that can go wrong, going wrong often plays):
The first is that you`re talking with someone and have no clue they`re wealthy, looking to invest, and are listening closely to you. It`s an informal situation, they`re just regular folks, and you`re just talking. They`ve asked you some question about something, and you realize you`re telling them your dream of wanting 1/4 million investment capital. They`re judging YOU, not your company, and you hadn`t realized it.
The other is that you stumble into a situation where you DO know who you`re talking with. Perhaps you`ve just jumped onto an elevator to be confronted with Steve Jobs! You panic, your pants fall off, your throat goes as dry as a desert, and you blink.
Rather than practice the words until they`re over-practiced, spend some time learning how to handle an instant blast of adrenaline. It`s known as "stage fright," and there are ways you can intentionally put yourself into situations where you get that feeling. One, off the top of my head, is to get a friend to introduce you to a nice looking woman who`s a stranger. Go up to her and ask her, would she mind if you tried out a business idea on her, just to see what she thinks?
:-) That`ll put you into a reasonable approximation of panic. But it`ll also help you to practice how to overcome that panic. See? The pitch is coming along fine. Now just don`t confuse the words you`re practicing, with the underlying purpose---to find someone you`d like to do business with for mutual benefit.
I like the first paragraph. The second paragraph starts great, and you introduce an example. What I`d like to know is what happened to that re-build? In other words, tell me what you do, how it`s made you successful to the point where money is an issue. To say that you rebuilt Doom three years after Carmack did it, doesn`t really apply.
Edited next paragraph:
As a freelance programmer, I have received very good customer feedback and
ratings on several outsourcing websites. For the past 12 months I’ve been
focusing on game development proper, both as an outsourcing party and with my
own products. I am about to launch a mobile game as my own product in Romania
Insert:
This is a game about (main theme), filled with action and adventure, but with a difference. (Insert 1-line differentiation).
Edited:I`m looking for $250K to properly
grow the company and handle the risks. For example, I want to secure a
patent for a technology I’ve developed. Your investment also will be enough to carry the company over
the break even point, which my analysis indicates should be within 18 months. I`m offering a return on your investment
that could easily be 250% in 3 to 5 years, possibly more.
One thing that bothers me about elevator pitches in general, but it`s maybe my own style, is I don`t like how rehearsed they sound. As an entertainer, I tend to intersperse whatever I`m saying with pauses to include my listener. I`ve not heard much about this when people explain or teach the Art of elevator pitches.
But I do know that I spent a lot of time with people who have money. I know their mind, their attitude, and their sense of appearance. Think of Donald Trump, he`s a nice median sort of in-between. He`s not too formal, not too bumbling.
Remember too, that when you`re suddenly confronted with an opportunity to make the pitch, you`ll be in one of two situations (there are more, but Murphy`s law of anything that can go wrong, going wrong often plays):
The first is that you`re talking with someone and have no clue they`re wealthy, looking to invest, and are listening closely to you. It`s an informal situation, they`re just regular folks, and you`re just talking. They`ve asked you some question about something, and you realize you`re telling them your dream of wanting 1/4 million investment capital. They`re judging YOU, not your company, and you hadn`t realized it.
The other is that you stumble into a situation where you DO know who you`re talking with. Perhaps you`ve just jumped onto an elevator to be confronted with Steve Jobs! You panic, your pants fall off, your throat goes as dry as a desert, and you blink.
Rather than practice the words until they`re over-practiced, spend some time learning how to handle an instant blast of adrenaline. It`s known as "stage fright," and there are ways you can intentionally put yourself into situations where you get that feeling. One, off the top of my head, is to get a friend to introduce you to a nice looking woman who`s a stranger. Go up to her and ask her, would she mind if you tried out a business idea on her, just to see what she thinks?
:-) That`ll put you into a reasonable approximation of panic. But it`ll also help you to practice how to overcome that panic. See? The pitch is coming along fine. Now just don`t confuse the words you`re practicing, with the underlying purpose---to find someone you`d like to do business with for mutual benefit.
Hi Craig,
As usual you are great :)
That build was not a complete game and I lost most of it in a computer crash. (this sounds like me lying about the game, so lets add a bit more fire: at that time my parents couldn`t afford buying me a computer, so the computer that crashed was my uncle`s).
Craing said:
About blinking. While I`m not exactly scared of beautiful women, I am trying to become as fidgety as Bill Gates or John Carmack. Perhaps that`s the key for success :). I will not change my voice to a nerd`s squeal, that`s for sure.
In any case, this I am mostly using the pitch on the phone, a trip to US each time an investor gives me a call is out of the question. And I`m pretty sure they would be scared of me, as here, in Eastern Europe, we don`t hold eye contact as much as you do in US. I may also look frightened or something to an American, right?
In any case, thank you very much for helping me with the pitch! If you do find a rich guy who is interested in bathing in the proverbial spotlight as the major investor behind the next big game dev. company, then, perhaps, you could give him my phone number +4 0788 192188. </ shameless promotion>.
Thanks again.
Best regards,
Tudor
As usual you are great :)
That build was not a complete game and I lost most of it in a computer crash. (this sounds like me lying about the game, so lets add a bit more fire: at that time my parents couldn`t afford buying me a computer, so the computer that crashed was my uncle`s).
Craing said:
To say that you
rebuilt Doom three years after Carmack did it, doesn`t really apply.
What do you mean by this exactly?About blinking. While I`m not exactly scared of beautiful women, I am trying to become as fidgety as Bill Gates or John Carmack. Perhaps that`s the key for success :). I will not change my voice to a nerd`s squeal, that`s for sure.
In any case, this I am mostly using the pitch on the phone, a trip to US each time an investor gives me a call is out of the question. And I`m pretty sure they would be scared of me, as here, in Eastern Europe, we don`t hold eye contact as much as you do in US. I may also look frightened or something to an American, right?
In any case, thank you very much for helping me with the pitch! If you do find a rich guy who is interested in bathing in the proverbial spotlight as the major investor behind the next big game dev. company, then, perhaps, you could give him my phone number +4 0788 192188. </ shameless promotion>.
Thanks again.
Best regards,
Tudor
A pleasure :-) It`s been an interesting exercise for me as well.
I think your next step is a Web site devoted to seeking investor interest. Perhaps its own domain, linked into your main business site. You could put together a company prospectus, and all the figures and spreadsheets I`ve asked to be left out of the elevator pitch.
Make it an online version of a traditional paper prospectus, with your specific numbers and so forth. It could be a sub-part of your main business site, but I think it would either get lost, or be a distraction. That`d be why you could have a separate domain.
I`m not sure, but it seems to me there are sites that specialize in consolidating "seeking investors" or that sort of thing? I`ll post a thread.
:-)
I think your next step is a Web site devoted to seeking investor interest. Perhaps its own domain, linked into your main business site. You could put together a company prospectus, and all the figures and spreadsheets I`ve asked to be left out of the elevator pitch.
Make it an online version of a traditional paper prospectus, with your specific numbers and so forth. It could be a sub-part of your main business site, but I think it would either get lost, or be a distraction. That`d be why you could have a separate domain.
I`m not sure, but it seems to me there are sites that specialize in consolidating "seeking investors" or that sort of thing? I`ll post a thread.
:-)
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