Watch and Score Elevator Pitches

Tom Kraft, PhD, MBADirector Technology Ventures Development

Rice Alliance for Technology & EntrepreneurshipLecturer in Management

Jones Graduate School of Business

 

1. Who? Who are you or team? Why did you come together?   Getting used to voice. Something special about team relative to product? 

2. What? What is the problem, pain, or need addressed? How extensive is this need or how big is the potential ?

 

Note! These first two points can be presented in reverse order.

Up front you need a shot across the bow and end with a repeat.

3. How? How are you going to address the pain or problem?  

4. Better? Is your solution better than the alternatives? How much better? Patentable?

 

5. So What? Will people accept your solution? Is it better enough? Does it really matter? What is the Value you plan to deliver to customers? 

4 and 5 can go together

6. What Now? What is the status of your solution at this time and what are your needs?

 

7. Wishing? What would you like the listener to think of you, your team, your idea or your value proposition?

 

This can be as simple as 1-3 words 

8. What’s Next? What do you want the listener to do next? Contact you? Provide funding? Be a buyer? Vote for you? Join with you? Please note that the teams do not necessarily need to ask for funding but they should ask for something to justify why they are even there in the first place.

9. Wow. What is a memorable “tag” line or “wow” line or mantra that the listener will remember and take away with them. 

This should tie to the opening salvo.

Now we want you to watch and listen to six elevator pitches from teams that were in the last Rice Elevator Pitch.

Some were good and some not so good. As you watch and listen, we ask that you pay special attention to six points and then complete the score sheets attached.

Identify the team you are watching. Next try to recall 1, 2 or 3 key words that you recall that addressed the following six points.

Team Name

Key What was said Score 1-5 (5 good)

Pain, Problem, Need

What was the pain, problem or need addressed?

2

What. How do they address need ?

What was their solution or how did they plan to address this need?

4

So What? How better off?

How will their customers be better off with their solution?

3

What now? What does the company want or need?

2

What next? This asks what is expected of the listener.

5

WOW entry and tag line?

Was there an exit line or tag line that tied it all together?

5

Action Figures

NuMat

Amaethon

House Inc

Nu Mat

Key What was said Score 1-5 (5 good)

Pain, Problem, Need

Not totally clear- storage fuel 2

What. How do they address need ?

Model that tells how to optimize storageExample store natural gas at 1/5 the pressure.

4

So What? How better off?

Presumes storage is sub-optimum 3

What now? Need to do it 2

What next? 4-7 million 5

WOW entry and tag line?

Creating material to change the world

5

Amaethon

Key What was said Score 1-5(5 good)

Pain, Problem, Need

Ethanol Uses too much corn and subsidies

3

What. How do they address need ?

Alternative to sugar cane at half price 5

So What? How better off?

Who and what is better is confusing 1

What now? Unclear 1

What next? 500K and reach profit in 1 year 5

WOW entry and tag line?

Make ethanol profitable 4

Action Figures

Key What was said Score 1-5 (5 good)

Pain, Problem, Need

Boys customize their toys 3

What. How do they address need ?

Provide retail space to do this- use 3D printing

4

So What? How better off?

Experience toy building 3

What now? Unclear 2

What next? $1Million 4

WOW entry and tag line?

Piece of the ACTION 2

House Inc

Key What was said Score 1-5 (5 good)

Pain, Problem, Need

Purchase not invest – don’t feel instant rewards

2

What. How do they address need ?

Provide feeling of instant rewards 4

So What? How better off?

They make buy decisions that benefit them

3

What now? Unclear 1

What next? Unclear 1

WOW entry and tag line?

None 1

Kentucky Chia

MoMo

Phone Soap

piezopower tech

Now go create a great elevator pitch

Tom Kraft, PhD, MBADirector Technology Ventures Development

Rice Alliance for Technology and EntrepreneurshipLecturer in Management

Jones Graduate School of Business

tlk1@rice.edu 713-348-3622