Hussain Luaibi
Hello everybody and welcome to our new product the Digital Writing Pad ( or DWP). The new product ( hardware and software ) will help many educational centres, that use smartboards as learning platforms, to overcome the hurdles that students face when using the smartboards. What the Digital Writing Pad does is really magic. Go […]
Continue reading Digital Writing Pad Posted in: Venture Forum
Everybody likes to take notes especially if we want to work on an assignment or task. The notes will help us arrange our plans. What if the notes became visual? Definitely the task will be much easier to grasp and control. We are all visual learners and putting our thoughts into a visual framework […]
Continue reading Welcome to Week 9: Visual Intensive Learning Posted in: Week 09: Visual-Intensive Learning
(Note: I was unable to get a photo of the CEO) Smart is a famous company in the sphere of the educational technology that is used in schools and in places not related to education as well. Smart (or Smarttech) was founded in 1987 and was and still is based in Calgary, Alberta (Canada). Thomas […]
Continue reading (Note: I was unable to get a photo of th… Posted in: Week 04: Entrepreneur Bootcamp No, I would not invest in this project. What makes me feel so are the following: 1- the way the whole thing was presented. 2- Insufficient information 3- Vague ideas 4- Unclear target market Cloud Connect as a concept is great and we can […]
Continue reading No, I would n… Posted in: Week 03: Analyst Bootcamp
This project is potentially a great venue for investment. Yes, there are similar products but this product has been in the market for a while now and it has been used with almost all the operation systems of computers and tablets. So technically the product is ready for the fast growing market. What makes me […]
Continue reading Evernote: A promising project Posted in: Week 03: Analyst Bootcamp
I chose to tackle the article that deals with the ten predictions: “Top Ten Ed Tech Predictions for 2011” by Christopher Dawson. The article deals with a very important aspect in the world of computing and education. In spite of the fact that the article talks about predictions which are usually not tangible in our […]
Continue reading Predictions or Analyses! Posted in: Uncategorized
Hello everyone My name is Hussain Luaibi. I am ESL/ELSA teacher. I have been in this field for about 18 years. I did the same thing in Moscow, Russia for nine years and three years in the Middle East, Yemen. Currently I teach at MOSAIC , Vancouver BC. I speak two more languages Russian and […]
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Donna Forward 9:59 pm on July 30, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hello Hussain,
It was interesting how you presented your Elevator Pitch with no sound. However, It was easy to follow and the concept of your digital writing pad was well presented.
I like how you compared the digital writing pad with Smartboarts and you gave some good examples of the differences, such as kids not being tall enough to reach the topic functions on the Smartboard screen.
Your look at the potential markets was good and you came across as a geniune CEO. It didn’t look like you were reading, so it made your presentation more personable.
I like your idea because it is bringing a hand writing option back into the classroom while keeping up with the latest trends of technology. Also, the writing pad is a great idea to create an electronic, communal chalkboard.
The only problems you could face with a product like this is that people might rather use iPads instead of writing pads, since typing is much more common than printing or writing by hand these days.
Donna
Hussain Luaibi 12:34 am on July 31, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hello Donna
Thank you very much for your constructive review. With the feedback I am getting from my classmates I feel I am really enriched with valuable information about my work.
You mentioned that there is a potential rival to my product which is the iPads. Well, yes, the iPad could be a rival here but it doesn’t offer what the writing pad does. The latter is connected to the smartboards. Technocally we can’t do that with the iPad which is limited in terms of hardware and software. The Writing Pad doesn’t have the ability of the iPad and it is not meant to be like a tablet. It is a pad for writing on the board, I mean the smartboard. The iPad encourages individualistic learning style whereas the writing pad is meant to be communal.
Thank you for review.
Hussain
shawn harris 10:23 pm on July 30, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hi Hussain,
Thanks for sharing your pitch! The digital writing pad has it place in the market as I am interested in any tool which enhances learning! Love the examples you gave, they are convincing and depicts the reason for someone to invest in this product. Why is your elevator pitch without sound? It would have been felt by potential investors if the CEO was actually reading the slides or appearing in between slides.
I do believe this product has some potential on the market though it has some strong competitions such as the iPad. It has to be affordable to survive in the educational market.
I notice that you did not introduce yourself in the pitch and for the future you could look at making mention of your management team as this would add some credibility.
Good effort Hussain !
~ Shawn
Hussain Luaibi 12:49 am on July 31, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hello Shawn
Thanks a lot for your review. I appreciate the honest way of talking about my “product”. The examples I chose are to elevate the main idea behind my product. So it took me sometime to choose such examples. As for why my elevator pitch was silent, well, I didn’t think I needed to add comments or music to. I thought that it was informative and engaging. But all the same you are right I should have put at least some music or just some comments. I was also deterred from do so because of the technical side. I am good at playing with powerpoint files and I could have added a lot of things but I didn’t want to have a large size file that will not be uploaded easily.
I didn’t introduce myself in the pitch but I did mention the name of the company, I mean my company and I thought that would create a logical link.
Shawn this product is much cheaper than the iPad which can’t be hooked to the smartboard easily. The pad I presented is not meant to be a tablet but simply a pad for writing.
Thanks a lot
Hussain
Dave Horn 10:43 pm on July 30, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hi Hussain,
I agree that the presentation format was novel and it had a good use of images and text, though I felt like the pace was too slow. I saw problems with students using the tablets in terms of who was writing on the board and preventing others from “being difficult” during a lesson. It was mentioned before too, but I see tools like iPads and tablets providing greater overall functionality when paired with something like Apple TV. Given that it was going to be mounted on the desk, what work space would be left for the students when not using the pad?
Dave
Hussain Luaibi 1:00 am on July 31, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hello Dave
Thanks a lot for your constructive review. Yes, you might be right about the slow pace of the presentation. But that is how things are when you want to make things look credible.
The writing pad I presented is meant to be looked at a tablet at all. It is simply a writing pad hooked to the smartboard. The iPads and tablets you mentioned can’t do the same job. I think the iPad encourages individualistic learning behaviour whereas the writing pad is simply a platform for writing where everybody can see. Besides, if we think about the cost of the iPads and the Apple TVs, we will be shocked. The writing pad is more realistic in terms of cost and function. The writing pad was mentioned before but not exactly the same it is presented this time.
I appreciate your review.
Thank you
Hussain
Colin 8:19 am on July 31, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hi Hussain,
Who ever said silent film was dead? Despite no sounds, I liked your presentation especially the animation. Product-wise, I think the Smartboard market is relatively small outside of elementary school. There is only one Smartboard in my high school of 1200 students. Might I recommend expanding your target markets to include rooms with a LCD projector connected to a teacher workstation. LCD projectors ($750) are cheaper than Smartboard (over $1500) or class sets of iPads ($500 x 30).
Colin
Hussain Luaibi 1:38 pm on July 31, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Colin
Thank you for your review. I appreciate your suggestions. Yes, the project could be expanded to reach the LCDs as well. Yes they are cheaper than the smartboard (my school paid $4000 each. We have ten smartboards!) Our students are adult ESL students. With some more research about the market, the writing pad can be modified in terms of hardware to be used with the LCDs.
Maybe when the powerpoint file is silent, there will more suspense in the whole process! There will be reading not only listening… passively.
thank you
Hussain
Ronna Hoglund 11:58 am on July 31, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hi Hussain,
Thank you for sharing your venture idea. I do think your idea has potential and call me old-fashioned but I would like to see printing & cursive to be considered valuable life skills. My 17 y/o cannot write! I do think your elevator pitch would have been more effective in video format like your venture pitch. I am not sure potential investors would be “sold” as it is.
Ronna
Hussain Luaibi 1:51 pm on July 31, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hello Ronna
I totally agree with that writing is an essential part in the sphere of learning. With the high technology we are having these days, people have become dependent completely on ready made cliches. I was hoping with products like the one I presented I could re-address the issue of writing again in schools. As for the format of the pitch I thought doing it as a powerpoint will add some strength to the whole project. I just thought that it would highlight the theory of the venture. It would be very easy to transfer it into a youtube video. Do you think doing the pitch via powerpoint program is not very positive when it comes to winning the hearts of investors?
Thank you for the support
Hussain
Brian H 6:56 pm on July 31, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hussain,
Elevator Pitch Review
You have an interesting venture especially if the cost of the writing pads could be kept to a minimum. The writing pads would really be beneficial in traditional schools as the technology is not disruptive to standard lessons but is a natural analogue to digital process. The writing pads would not require major classroom changes and be appealing to many teachers whom are satisfied with tested pedology and practice.
There is a market for digitizing traditional practices and I would be interested in this particular venture even though I would not use it in my own classroom.
Thanks,
Brian Hotovy
Hussain Luaibi 11:09 pm on July 31, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hello Brian
Thank you for the support. I think the writing pad will not only facilitate the class activities but also will enhance teaching writing as an important aspect of education where writing hasn’t been given much attention.
Thank you
Hussain
Denise 10:05 am on August 1, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
HI Hussain,
I liked the idea and could see the benefit. Also liked that you saw opportunities beyond schools.
As with others, the silent powerpoint elevator pitch was different. Personally if I were looking to invest I would have been more engaged if I had met you, as with your venture pitch. I found the powperpoint slow and there were too many interactivies – which I found distracted from your pitch. I also didn’t get a sense of your background and competency as CEO. I have to say I probably wouldn’t have gone on to oyur venture pitch.
The venture pitch did give good demonstrations of the advantages of the writing pad and I found it easy to listen to you.However the pitch seemd more vague than your elevator pitch, it could have been more punchy – one suggestion would be to use the video and the powperpoint together. There were times where the way you presented the venture was not convincing eg “sign of potential succes” i think you could have been much more confident with a product like this.
You asked for $300,000 but I wasn’t sure how that investment would roll out, and the return seemed to have no actual figures to back it and you didn’t identify a time line for the return of investment.
Loved the concept, but I wasn’t convicned as an investor with your pitches.
Denise
mariefrancehetu 4:00 pm on August 1, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hello Hussain,
Great job! Here is my feedback for your elevator pitch and venture pitch.
I thought the use of words and images with no voice in your elevator pitch were quite effective! However, I did think that the tempo was a bit slow and you could have used the time saved on your one-minute presentation to add more information for example. Your elevator pitch did prick my curiosity as an investor . . . as a second-language teacher I could really see using these writing pads in my classroom!
Venture Pitch
Your venture pitch really covered all of the important points and convinced me this gadget could be of interest to me as an investor. However, if you need 300,000$ I would have liked to know what for and how you intend to spend it. Also you say you think the company would make X number of millions over the next year, and it would have been nice to see a graph that showed where the money would be coming from in percentages (from schools – K-12, private sector, universities etc.)
If this product really existed I really would like to promote it to my superiors, so that shows you were able to demonstrate the need and propose a solution quite well. Where your presentation could have been improved is the video clips of yourself. Perhaps pinning the main points you wanted to discuss on sheets of paper on the wall in front of you might have helped you sound more convincing so you did not have to think of your ideas as you spoke. Otherwise, great job integrating video, slides and wording in your presentation, I know how much work that can be.
Congrats Hussain!
Marie-France
Danielle Dubien 10:49 pm on August 2, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hi Hussain,
Your pad would be great for some of the applications you mention, as well as saving paper, being a great way for students to improve their calligraphy and providing great opportunities for collaborative drawing projects. However, considering the amount of time that teachers get students to write at the board, I’m not sure the increase in convenience makes the purchase worthwhile. In addition, it’s already possible to write on tablets, although they are very expensive and the technology still seems to be in need of development.
There may be a great number of SmartBoards in classrooms, but I would need hard facts to show just how much they are actually being used. There is just too much anecdotal evidence indicating that a lot of Smartboards are not used often or at all, and that this technology may be on its way out. Therefore, the link with the digital pad is not convincingly strong.
If the pad is attached to the desk, it would take away space for doing other things. There are high chances of the pad being damaged during a normal day’s activities, especially considering that a lot of kids eat at their desks.
If you want to provide students with the chance to write on the board while sitting at their desks, why not make your venture about an app for mobile devcices? Teachers could have the students select different templates like straight or round grids, diagrams or anything else and kids could write on selected spots. They could label a diagram, write out words in a grid to keep the writing neat, they could circle parts of a picture in an art history course… whatever!
I wish you luck in developing other ideas for use in educational technology!
Cheers,
Dan
Sherman Lee 11:01 pm on August 2, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hello Hussain,
Great effort there, Hussain. I hope you do not mind as I am going to be quite critical here, since you have presented on something that I am personally quite passionate about. Or at least hit quite close to home for me because I work with a writing pad (or tablet) all the time and had done quite a bit of research prior to making my purchase. I wish to help you push your idea further.
Overall, you presented yourself as quite a confident CEO. It is just a personal preference, but it would be great if you could speed up your speech a little. Other than that, your presentation methodology was good.
In regards to the concept, I think the biggest drawback from my point of view is the uniqueness of this product. I think there is quite a bit of competition for what you have. Aside from the iPad that someone else mentioned in their comment, a closer cousin to what you have would be the Wacom tablets. Out of all the writing input devices, Wacom has the best imitation that gives the closest feel to writing / drawing on paper. It is also a single USB line powered device that would input directly onto a computer, which means, with a USB hub and 30 of these tablets, your product’s functionality can be duplicated. Furthermore, I recall that you have mentioned the Smart Podium device as a competition either. I see that one as a valid competition for your product as it is geared directly to interact as a handheld or desktop friendly device to input onto the Smartboard. Regardless of rather current competition replicate your product directly, I think the most important thing is that there are similar product that can be tweaked to do what yours does. Should a school be looking at common inputting device, Microsoft Mouse Mischief also offer a very cost effective solution. Of course, my biggest question is, how will you solve that and show me the value proposition and sustainment of that value in the long run.
I wish you luck in developing this idea further and hopefully I have provided value to you in my comments.
Cheers,
Sherman
Hussain Luaibi 1:11 pm on August 5, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Sherman
Thank you very much for the nice input about the market and the competition my project will face. Yes, I agree with you that the competition is (will be ) relentless. Probably what will help my product is the simplicity and this means the low-cost of the pad which is meant to be fixed on the desk. The wireless connection is another great option but we have to prepare ourselves for the high increase in the cost.
Yes, Sherman, the pad market is very competitive and it is not easy to break into it.
Thank you
Hussain
HJDeW 7:49 am on August 3, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hussain, you have presented a unique product that will solve a ‘pain’ in the classroom. It has a compelling need (coming from a short person who can’t reach the top of most smartboards) with a strong potential for growth in the educational and corporate marketplaces.
Your presentation is short on lots of details that are needed for potential investors (differentiation of your product, return on investment, costs of delivery and distribution, client base, strengths of your management team) but your commitment and interest in this product are compelling.
As others have already noted, your ‘silent’ elevator pitch had some interesting elements, but was not as engaging or enticing as it could have been with such a venture. Your venture pitch contained all the essential elements and provided details about the product itself and how it resolves the need. I wondered if you were including support or training with the sales of the DWP?
Good luck with your venture!
Helen
Hussain Luaibi 12:52 pm on August 5, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hello Helen
Thank you very much for your constructive notions in regard to my pitch and venture. I will definitely take them into consideration because they are really valuable.
Thank you
Hussain