Innovation Pitch Training & Competition
Bring your business plan’s pitch and learn how to gain an edge with investors at this Full-Day Pitch Training & Contest
Essential skills for presenting a winning proposal to prospective investors
Purpose: The main objective of this program is to ensure you communicate the value of your business plan and investment opportunity to prospective investors.
Who is it for? Open to anyone with passion and drive to innovate and make a difference. This includes students (with faculty sponsorship), seasoned innovators, impact entrepreneurs or even if you are just getting started, … all experience levels welcome.
Stage of business development: Could be just a spark of an idea or a fully baked business plan.
Even if you have just a seed-stage idea (no business plan at all), or you have raised capital numerous time before, you will discover some of the secrets to winning support for your business from the right partners.
The workshop allows time to hone and improve an existing plan’s pitch, or you can take advantage of well-established “Lean Startup” strategies, use rapid prototyping techniques, or Agile/Scrum-related acceleration opportunities to prepare a basic plan. Raise early-stage funding or form a base of capital to expand an existing business.
Experienced entrepreneurs will also brush up their presentation skills for effective communication with any stakeholder.
When: Various dates, Summer 2017 – call or email for details.
Participants can select from either of these categories:
- Waste-to-Value (can participate in I3F Summer 2017 conference)
- Renewables-related ventures or projects — per In3 Capital Partners qualified 26 sectors
- Any other industry with social and/or environmental benefit
Program Description: Pitch Practice & Training – essential skills for presenting to investors
Date: To be arranged (contact us or join our mailing list)
Time: Full day: Part 1, 9:00 – noon — training and dry run practice; Part 2, 1:00-4:30 contest
Methodology: Program combines Lean Startup and Design Thinking techniques with presentation skills and investor relations best practices based on hard-won experience.
Structure: Begins with an “Open Space” marketplace – participants bring topics, and this process helps them organize into teams of 2-5. Team presentations are the best way of honing your own skills.
Agenda:
- Introductions
- Prepare Presentations – rapid prototyping technique
- Practice telling the story of your venture (dry run)
- Dealing with questions from investors
- Initial Feedback & Coaching
- More preparation and coaching time
- Give Presentations (video tape feedback, time permitting)
- Evaluations – discover both your strengths and future improvement opportunities; finalists selected
- Reflection and Conclusion – what you liked or learned
Evening Celebration: 7-9:00PM Finalist Presentations (theme of the event, in this case, raising early-stage funds)
Agenda:
10. Pitch Contest to “live” panel of experts
11. Quick tips
12. Awards or Prizes for top pitches
Facilitators & Organizers:
Daniel Robin (renewablesinvestors.com/team) & Armando Alcaraz (armandoalcaraz.com/about.html) are experienced group facilitators with diverse groups and serve as consultants to US and international businesses of all stages.
Daniel Robin is former adjunct professor of management and strategy at MIIS (Middlebury Institute of International Studies), is an impact investor, international finance practitioner, and workshop facilitator with more than two decades of experience. Daniel is co-founder of Renewable Energy Investor Forum and has taught presentation, coaching and communication skills, advised countless entrepreneurs, and moderated and chaired more than a dozen conferences and events in the US and internationally.
Certified by Moody’s Analytics in Emerging Markets Credit, Mr. Robin has received numerous speaking awards and held contests through the Sustainable Quality Awards, Commercial Sustainability Network and Toastmasters International.
Armando Alcaraz, is a management consultant and trainer with background in Cultural Anthropology and extensive work experience as a Social Worker and Interpersonal Communication Workshop Leader. His calm demeanor, grasp of workplace culture, understanding of people’s feelings and motivations, and focus on defined objectives, enables him to walk alongside you as a partner to rapidly attain transformational results.
Being raised in Mexico, Armando speaks both fluent English and Spanish. He draws from the wisdom and practical application of philosophies and processes such as Chinese 5 Elements, Non Violent Communication, mindfulness, and self inquiry when working with individuals and small teams; and AI, World Cafe, Open Space Technology and Future Search when engaging in large group dynamics.
Pre-study Resources:
1. Top Three Presentation Mistakes and recommended solutions — some of this will be covered in the Sept program
2. Seven Pitfalls to Avoid: Common Mistakes in Fundraising
Registration | Contact us for more information