The Expert Blog

Less than two weeks to go before the ICE 2008 Registration Deadline - have you started your Executive Summary and Initial Presentation yet???

Not to worry, we're here to help!

I'll run through my way of approaching all types of pitches, whether written or spoken, text or PowerPoint - whatever.  Next Monday, we'll tackle the nuts and bolts of PowerPoint but let's talk about what needs to come across and then how.  In the mean time, if you have questions about executive summaries or presentations, please post them as comments at the end of this blog.  I'll respond as quickly as I can because there's nothing that I'd like better than for our Judging Committee to have an impossible job selecting the top thirty applicants to be Semifinalists!

When I coach at universities, I sometimes encounter the attitude that it's a lot easier for a technical expert to learn how to be a business person than for someone with an MBA to learn to be a technical expert.  There is some truth in that -

There tend to be three types of people when creating their first startup teams: at one extreme are those that think they can and should do everything and, at the other, those that are fearful that they have so little experience that they shouldn't even bother to start.  Of the two, I find it easier to convince the latter to build a team than the former, so if you're the nervous sort, take heart.  And if you're the know-it-all type, now is a really good time to realize that your chances of being funded as an individual are even smaller than your chances of being funded as part of a team if you retain that "I know more than you do" attitude!

ICE teams generally form around someone with a business idea, whether based on a cutting edge technology (e.g., Solasta, ICE 2006), a service (e.g., Blue Sky Green Planet, ICE 2007) or novel uses of existing technology (e.g., PowerHouse Enterprises, ICE 2005).  If you don't already have an idea, you have two choices: find a team that wants your skills and that you find interesting or come up with something new.  Today's blog is for those of you without an idea right now but who want to start a team rather than join someone else.

Entrepreneurs and especially ICE 2008 Competitors,

Welcome to a new feature on our website, the Coaching Blog. We'll be featuring a different area of expertise on a regular basis and encourage you to check in often. Questions and comments are welcome, though you need to be registered on the site to make them.

We plan to provide blogs on pitching, writing executive summaries, issues of intellectual property, and many others. Your suggestions are of course welcome.