Record & upload to bCourses a (maximum) 5 minute pitch, using a maximum of 5 slides.

Team Pitch – Round 1 – V1

Task

Team Assignment

Present in class, and record & upload to bCourses a (maximum) 5 minute pitch as

a team, using a maximum of 5 slides.

The topic can be your project, intended project, project topic area, or other technical

topic (but are recommended to use this as an opportunity to practice presenting and

writing related to your Capstone project).

The purpose of this assignment, with very limited time and slides, is to challenge

teams to prioritize key messages into succinct narratives, to create maximum written

and verbal impact.

The goal is not perfection – it is to discover your team’s strengths, and areas to

strengthen for the Team Pitch Round 2.

Framing

Your team has connected with a venture capital firm in Menlo Park, and after following

up via email, have been invited to have a 10 minute call with a partner. Your goal is to

introduce the ‘big ideas’ of the project and highlight the potential value to the firm, to

secure support or buy-in.

Time with the firm’s partner is very limited, and competition is intense - your team's

pitch must be professional, have a well-structured and succinct message, with a

persuasive argument.

Requirements

You can choose any topic related to your project, intended project, project subject

area, or technical topic of interest (but are recommended to use this as an opportunity

to practice presenting and writing related to your Capstone project).

Presentations must:

 Have video or screensharing on throughout - if screen sharing, ensure to use the 'Side by Side' mode (eg in Zoom) so the speaker is still visible.

 Introduce themselves

Slides must include:

 A maximum of 5 slides (inclusive of all slides, such as title slides, reference lists etc etc)

 Project (or topic) title, presentation date, all team member names.

 Contact information for the team point of contact

 Minimum 1 image, drawing, or other graphic

 3 peer-reviewed sources of information

 Correct in-text citations and reference list with Harvard APA style

Presentation Tips

Presentation connection and professionalism

 Look right at the webcam, not the computer screen (even if it feel’s awkward!)

 Use a virtual background, or a blank wall, or use bedsheet hung up behind you to create a backdrop if you don’t have a suitable space).

 Use LOTS of light around you – move a lamp to (ideally) in front and above you, and check beforehand for unflattering shadows.

 Dress as if you were meeting a venture capitalist in person ‘smart casual’ or

‘business casual’. Above all, choose clothes and accessories that make you feel

confident and empowered.

Taking the stage

 Slow your normal pace of speed down by about 10% - listen back to your videos to hone in on the right pace for you.

 Pre-prepare a ‘script’, but try not to read word-by-word (it makes for unnatural

speech patterns). If you HAVE to follow a script, make tonal marks and pause

marks to mimic natural speech and practice until it’s smooth.

 REALLY overact! Dial up your excitement level, volume, and energy to a bit over the top!

Bad examples

Parody showing common presentation pitfalls

Parody of a boring presentation

Parody of all buzz words / argument, and no facts or explanation

Good examples

UC Berkeley Grand Slam

Animation and audio only