Hi and welcome to E3 Consulting. We spec…
Hi and welcome to E3 Consulting.
We specialize in building mobile e-Learning programs and training for educators, and are actively working to re-shape the mobile e-Learning market. Take a look at our introductory Elevator-pitch video to find out more.
If you are interested in possible venture opportunities, read our Venture Pitch for further details. A reflection of the venture has also been included.
Dave Horn
CEO & Founder of E3 Consulting
Meggan Crawford 6:06 pm on July 30, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hi Dave,
I think that your focus on mobile devices is very fitting for the current educational technology market! This is certainly an area with potential for growth in the next several years. I thought that the tone of your pitch was very professional, though you spent quite a while explaining mobile learning, which was good information, but did not tell me specifically about your venture.
I am interested in the venture itself, as the market is strong and there is interest in the area. I am curious how you plan to work around the built in teacher dislike of mobile devices – is there anything other than teacher training? As well, do teachers pay for the training or is it included with your company’s consultations?
Nice work, thanks for sharing the ideas!
-Meggan
Dave Horn 11:05 pm on July 30, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
One of the strategies I am taking with teachers and mobile devices is to actually have all of my teachers have one and we have provided several initial training sessions plus in school support teams. Training would involve not only the whole school, but also building up a team at each school to peer-mentor and then we could provided on going training and program development. The school/school board would pay for the training, though I do see potential in offering extra courses for teachers who were particularly keen, could be a great way to accumulate new staff and contacts.
Dave
shawn harris 9:58 pm on July 30, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hi Dave,
Thanks for sharing your pitches. Thought you did a great job like all of us. It was nice to see the man himself speaking about the venture as this adds some amount of credibility. The voice over was very clear and so too the lighting. I do agree with you that many of our youths own a device or two. I would say, too many! The concept was clear and its features.
I do notice you did not mention your marketing team.
You spoke about the potential investment, market share, I would certainly love to hear more about global market to make a decision on investment.
~ Shawn
Dave Horn 11:07 pm on July 30, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Thanks for the feedback. I can’t actually tease my students about mobile devices as I border on owning too many as well. The trick is to find ways to make use of them and then they become less of a distraction.
Dave
Donna Forward 11:48 pm on July 30, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hello Dave,
I like how you presented a reflection along with your venture pitch. It gave me an idea of where you were coming from and how this idea could actually become a reality.
I felt that your Elevator pitch was clear and genuine but a little “over the minute time limit”. I would liked to have received more details about the future of your venture and yearly goals.
All in all a good venture and you have definitely found an investment area that hasn’t been tapped.
Donna
Dave Horn 11:47 am on August 1, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
I know it was over the minute mark, I had practiced speech without filming and was around the 1:05 mark, but for some reason seemed to be slower on camera. Definitely something to work on.
Thanks for the feedback.
Dave
Kenton Hemsing 9:46 am on July 31, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hi Dave,
As an investor I would have to say that I am interested in your initial proposition, however, I am wondering why there was no mention of the partnership with Mindstorms in your elevator pitch. That partnership with your company seems pretty important and as an investor, I worry when you say that Mindstorms can pull out of the agreement early. I think to rest my mind at ease, your company would need to secure a long term contract with Mindstorms to ensure that the venture is able to reach its full potential before having something devastating happen like Mindstorm withdrawing. Three years seems a little short to give your services time to reach their full potential.
Also, I am a bit confused with the end product that your company is providing. Are you providing only mobile e-learning solutions and support or are you providing a BYOD learning support? Perhaps a combination of both? I think if I were to invest, I would like to see your company provide services specific to the institutions you are servicing, be it either an e-learning platform and support or BYOD. Also, I would like to see long term contracts signed with the institutions that you are providing your solutions to and services available to them once the contracts are completed at additional cost.
All in all, your idea is good, but I would need to know more about the long term future of E^3 before signing over my $250,000.
Thanks,
Kenton Hemsing
Dave Horn 11:51 am on August 1, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hi Kenton
I had originally made note of my partnership with Mindstorm, but then was trying to cut down word length, which still ended up being too long once on film, but should have found a way to keep it as the partnership is important.
It was definitely a guess on how long a partnership with Mindstorm should/would reasonably make sense, and as I consider it now I think I would have mentioned the option to approach several other companies, which make similar products as a secondary option.
The goal was to provide both plans,support, and training for mobile e-Learning so it appears I need to make that clearer.
Thanks for the very useful feedback.
Dave
Claire Burgoyne 6:20 pm on July 31, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hi Dave,
The E3 Consulting venture with its focus on using mobile devices for quality educational purposes is certainly targeting a growing market in education. Personalized learning and the need for students to develop 21st century skills are also hot topics. You captured my attention but didn’t fully describe what you’re marketing and how E3 Consulting satisfies the challenge of assisting educators in allowing for personalized learning options or the development of skills.
Claire
gregcamp 8:28 pm on July 31, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hi Dave, the market you are entering is very large and as an investor this is what I like to see. You appear to be a great fit for the role of CEO and I agree that mobile devives will become more common and accepted in the near future and it appears that your venture is well positioned to take advantage of this. I would have liked for you to mention your partnership in your elevator pitch as this would be very interesting for an investor to know. I am interested in investing in your venture but need some more information on what exactly your product is and how as an investor I make money.
Cheers,
Greg
Dave Horn 11:53 am on August 1, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Thanks for the feedback, I will definitely be working on the clarity of the products/services and how investors can make money.
Dave
Denise 10:44 am on August 1, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
HI Dave,
I thought you came across as defintely good CEO material in your elevator pitch! It was punchy and passionate and I was ready to read on with the venture pitch.
In reading the venture pitch I thoguht your clear and succinct approach was engagng. I also liked your personal signoff at the end like a letter. If I understood you correctly the company is offering services and product which is a bonus for the invevstor. The relationship with Mindstorms seemed to be a separate venture? and it was good you raised the risks of losing their partnership and involvement. I did start to feel like this was a significant risk, but your argument about the “vast potentials” won me back.
I would certainly be considering investing and would want to know more.
Great pitches!
denise
Dave Horn 11:55 am on August 1, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
The partnership with Mindstorm was to allow us to provide schools the opportunity to create a more immersive and interactive environment along with the mobile-e-learning program.
I think I would re-adjust the partnership issue, with a back up plan of seeking partnerships with other companies, which produced similar products.
Thanks for the feedback.
Dave
HJDeW 6:02 pm on August 2, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Dave, I was impressed with your elevator pitch. You presented your product with clarity and passion. What it may have lacked in detail, it made up in your obvious commitment to the concept.
I read in your responses that the actual ‘items’ that are being ‘sold’ are plans, support and training for educators to use mobile devices within their teaching practice. I can agree that this holds immense potential and would impact classrooms and teaching across the country. For that reason, I propose that you take your venture to the Colleges of teachers in each jurisdiction or even to the union leaders since there could be benefit from partnering with the organizations to whom you wish to market your product.
Helen
Dave Horn 11:37 am on August 3, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
I really like that idea of the college of teachers and unions, thanks.
Dave
Danielle Dubien 4:02 pm on August 3, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hi Dave,
You mention that schools are currently not meeting the needs of students. I know that kids are generally not learning math properly, and from the research I’ve seen, it’s primary teachers’ lack of knowledge and confidence in math and educational psychology that leads kids, especially girls, to do poorly in math and science. Technology programs aren’t going to change that.
As for literacy problems, the best solution I’ve seen is to get kids to develop the habit of reading regularly on their own time in a way that they enjoy it. The kids who were by far the strongest in my classes in spelling, composition and general knowledge were those who had a thirst for reading.
It’s easy to say that devices increase engagement, motivation, communication and creativity. However, this is a broad, sweeping statement that without proof and explanation is unconvincing to me. Supposing schools that use your services don’t show improvement in students’ results, your company could lose a lot of credibility. I understand that you’ll be doing research on the use of interactive surfaces in education. That’s great. For it to be convincing, I would have to be sure that the methodology used is sound and that you can explain in detail how different aspects of your e-learning programs improve learning. Specificity is important.
If your venture is about helping schools to integrate the use of mobile devices into their programs, then I would have liked to hear specifics about well-designed implementation plans that take into account the needs of your various potential clients. I need to know how you would assess the needs of a rural public school with a small amount of students versus a college with enrollment in the thousands. That said, I’m glad your plan is to increase your market gradually while making revisions as necessary.
You’ve presented a graph showing the number of students enrolled in online courses, but your venture seems to be about in-class use of technology which would be in competition for online courses. That graph could be an indication that the students who want to use technology are leaving face-to-face environments, and that those who are still in class are more the type who would prefer traditional teaching methods. Therefore, the use of that graph to support your venture is unclear.
Good luck with your venture. I’m not interested in investing, but if you enhance your presentation, I’m confident that you’ll find someone else who will support you.
Cheers,
Dan
Dave Horn 8:14 pm on August 4, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hi Dan
Thanks for the great feedback. I fully agree that Technology is no magic bullet that will suddenly make kids who were struggling have no problems. That’s why one of the main services was going to be teacher training and development, both on technology but embedded into that are pedagogical shifts. Clearly something I need to make more evident.
Assessing the needs of the schools, would have been accomplished through our initial assessments of the current programs, infrastructure and goals for the school. One of the advantages to a flexible consulting company is the ability to customize to the needs of the user.
Thanks again.
Dave