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  • admin 6:56 pm on July 29, 2012
    2 votes
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    Tags: , ,   

    I have put all of my work together at http://www.mrmckinnon.com/ossltonthego1. The elevator pitch is on the first page and the subsequent webpages flesh out the venture. For those of you that are not familiar with Ontario’s curriculum, all students in Grade 10 must write the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT). It is written in […]

    Continue reading I have put all of my work together at ht… Posted in: Venture Forum
     

    • dmcinnes 12:33 am on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Great job Jody!
      I thought your pitches were clear, concise, engaging and realistic. Both appeared well researched very professional. I had some questions about “assigned teachers” to provide feedback. Is that something that already exists, or a service your company would provide?
      At this point, I’d be a little on the fence, but might be willing to invest. Well done!

      David McInnes

    • Jody McKinnon 4:23 am on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi there. Thanks for your comments. IN many schools, a teacher or group of teachers has the responsibility for preparing students for the test. In my school, it has been the core English teacher. So in this case, he/she would be the ‘assigned’ teacher. This way no teacher is responsible for no more than 22 students (the class size cap for Applied courses in my board). I hope this clarifies it for you. Thanks!

    • Yves Mainville 10:47 am on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Yes, I would invest.
      Your presentation was dynamic and engaging and pretty much grapped you by the eyeballs from the start. 🙂
      I much enjoyed the format of your presentation – simple to navigate, concise and to the point. I would like to hear more about the market expectations and before actually signing on the dotted line, would like to hear more about motives behind the users (as it is the MEO that wants high grades in this case, and not necessarily the students, no?).
      regardless, this holds potential for me.

      well done.

    • Brian H 11:11 am on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Jody,
      Jody,

      I really like the app and service but I would not invest under the current fee structure. If all approx. 900 Ontario High Schools purchased a licence for $50 you would have a total revenue of $45 000 minus app store and processing fees. You would have to bank that a major amount of parents would purchase this app at $5 price point.

      I would be interested in this venture if the app could be sold directly to the Ministry to provide the services to all stakeholders free of costs. Otherwise, the market is too small to cover the overhead costs to properly deliver the services promised (staff, hardware, network, development, support ect.)

      Thanks,
      Brian Hotovy

      • Jody McKinnon 12:32 pm on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Thanks for your comments. The purpose of this app was to not make money. The fee was nominal on purpose. If this were a real venture, my hope is that the government would have invested in it and provided the differences in costs.

    • Ronna Hoglund 11:47 am on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Jody,
      Thank you for sharing your elevator pitch with me. I do think that you presented a compelling pitch, however, as a parent of a 17 y/o boy in the Ontario public school system, I would be very grumpy having to purchase “extra” help in any format for him to succeed. That said, my children (I also have a 19y/o daughter) were both successful with the test and I am sure there are other parents and teens who might appreciate it.
      Ronna

      • Jody McKinnon 12:33 pm on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        I hear that Ronna. IN theory, if this were a real app and the province paid for it, parents would pay nothing. Because in theory, this app is free for the user…only more if the parents want to receive the reports and controls.. Thanks for your comments.

    • shawn harris 11:50 am on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Jody,

      Great job on your pitch!

      I think that your focus on this new educational app to help risk learners is very fitting for the current educational technology market! I would surely invest. This is certainly an area with potential for growth in the next several years not just in Ontario but in the Caribbean and other developing countries. I thought that the tone of your pitch was very professional, clear and to the point. This venture seems convincing compared to others I might add.

      I think “No student should be left behind” could be your company’s slogan. What do you think?

      Jody I notice you did not talk about the global market or did I missed that? Is this new app only for Ontario? Are you planning to go global? We have literacy exams here in the Caribbean too. Your team seems credibility and look highly spirited.

      By the way, loved the video about you receiving the Olympic Torch in Dec 06. That must have been an awesome experience. Thanks for sharing with us!

      Overall, I do think your venture has a good market that is increasingly growing overtime. You have provided a detailed venture pitch with information about the market and the product. The concept is a good one… again, thanks for sharing it with us and all the best!

      ~ Shawn

      • Jody McKinnon 12:34 pm on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Thanks for your comments. My market is local and I have no interest in going global at this time. I don’t know much or anything about the structure of tests around the world, However, if this were a real venture and it worked well here, it could easily be adapted for export to other jurisdictions. Thanks!

    • Jody McKinnon 8:10 pm on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Colin. Thanks for your response. You are correct in that it is a niche market and that is what I wanted all along to begin. Should it prove worthwhile in the real world, it could easily be available for all learners preparing for the test. I had thought about the tax break thing for investing, but I wasn’t sure about how that would work or if it would be realistic or legal. I’m not a marketing expert, entrepreneur or a business person. I’m just an English teacher that wants to see boys be more successful on the literacy test. Thanks again!

    • Hussain Luaibi 10:55 pm on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Jody
      Neat work! Everything was done nicely. I think your venture will find its place in the market easily especially you mentioned that you prefer it to be in the local market. With the statistics you provided in regard to failing percentage of the exam takers specifically among boys, I presume the market welcomes such education-oriented business initiative because it is simply needed. What helps here is the fact that it is a unique attempt.
      However there is one thing that makes me a bit hesitant which is the profit. You are driving at moving the investors to put their capitals in such a project but you don’t promise them with a good financial repay. Jody, you are addressing and dealing with investors not philanthropists!
      Good job!
      Hussain

      • Jody McKinnon 3:47 am on August 1, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Hi Hussain. Thanks for your comments. The purpose of my venture was never to make a profit. You’ll notice that I’ve positioned this as a way to fit a corporate social responsibility model…i.e. a way for the company to give something back to the community. Thanks again!

    • Dave Horn 11:39 am on August 1, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Jody

      I thought this was a very well done venture both in presentation and in concept. You were very clear in you elevator pitch and I think that you have hit on a market which does exist. Working in a school with students who are often disengaged and who struggle to study I could see the use for a mobile review tool with extrinsic rewards. I know in BC there is a slow removal of some of the standardized testing and I wonder how this trend could affect the OSST?
      As an investor I would be interested in seeing the full venture plan and implementation scheme, as even if the OSST were to be removed this tool could be adapted for other testing needs.

      Very well done

      Dave

    • mariefrancehetu 7:17 pm on August 1, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hello Jody,

      I was impressed with both your elevator pitch and venture pitch. Both looked quite professional and offered a good balance of visuals and text. As CEO you inspired me confidence that you know your stuff.

      Your venture pitch and entire website was well researched and you really covered all possible questions a possible investor might have. Just one little thing, some of your lines on your web site overlap near the bottom and make it difficult to decipher those last few lines. Otherwise the whole look of the web site is appealing and as an investor I would certainly consider investing in your venture!

      Congrats on your hard work . . . it really paid off!

      Marie-France

    • Sherman Lee 12:26 am on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hello Jody,

      Just as an aside, I can see your care for your students through your venture, and I think that is a great thing as an instructor myself. Putting my investor cap back on, your OSSLT on the go has potential. Your elevator and venture pitches were effective. The elevator pitch was efficient and effective. One personal pet-peeve of mine is dragged on and slow-paced elevator pitches. I see them almost like a commercial for investors – too slow and you killed the budding interest. Your venture pitch was well presented, and has your elevator pitch nicely embedded in it for easy referral. Overall, it was a great job!

      CEO & Team: You left the best till last. I think you had a great structure that you introduced what your product was attempting to address and how it brings value to investors before reinforcing that trust with the introduction of you as the CEO and your highly capable team. By doing so, you gave a reason for me to remember you and your team by!

      Venture Concept: I think this is a plausible concept. Being very familiar with the tutoring industry, I know how product that is driven by a standardized exam could draw a lot of interest. This is not only interest coming from the students, but more so from the parents. And what’s better than an app that you can easily take anywhere with you. This definitely beat those phone-book size study guides!

      Marketability: I like it that the users get to use this for free. It is often easier to manage by schools if the students don’t have to pay. That is a big draw in for this market. Do you have any plans on expanding your market beyond who you have identified? I see that the at risk and also the re-write as more of a niche market. Since this standardized exam is for Ontario, I can see that it is of your best interest to reach as much of Ontario as you can. Another suggestion would be a global market. Yes
 although your product was created for a niche, it doesn’t need to stay in it. Again, from my tutoring experience, there are parents who are thinking of immigrating to Ontario who might be interested in this as well. This would, of course, be a great marketing feat to reach deeper into the immigration population. There’s lots of potential, so make sure you plan things out!

      Venture Plan: I would like to know a bit more about your plans for kick-off. How are you going to promote this product? What is your plan for dominating the market and keeping your product unique?

      With such a great pitch, I would like to invest in your venture. Prior to committing a solid amount, I would like to further discuss with you in regards to the OSSLT on the go business model and marketing plans.

      Thank you and great job!

      Sherman

    • Kenton Hemsing 8:13 am on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Jody,

      I would invest for the greater good of the students, the ask is not much and the outcome makes it worthy of an initial investment. However, I do have a concern and that is with the government’s reaction to more students being successful on the exams, will they respond by increasing the standards and making the exam harder if future sessions? I know that some provincial exams I have had experience in administering have a set expectation that a certain percentage of students fail.

      I think that a venture like this could also be expanded to include apps for other provincial or standardized exams, (I am not very familiar with the Ontario system), but in Alberta something like this would be useful for all other provincial achievement and diploma exams.

      You pitch is excellent and very well constructed. Great work.

      Kenton

    • Jody McKinnon 1:54 pm on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Greetings all from Iceland..I”m still up after 36 hours, so I apologize if this post isn’t that coherent. Thanks for all of your comments since yesterday. I appreciate the feedback and do see that something like this could work in not only Ontario, but abroad. Re: the test getting easier? I’m not sure I buy that, but there will always be kids that don’t pass. We just need to make that a lower number. Anyway thanks again for all the excellent feedback. I’m not likely to post again. A pleasure working with y’all!

    • mackenzie 4:56 pm on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Great job! You presented the problem well and introduced the solution clearly. Your visuals enhanced the message I was intrigued to know more about your product. I would not invest in your product since I am not a big believer in teaching to a test, sorry. Great presentation though.

  • Denise 6:08 pm on July 29, 2012
    0 votes
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    Tags: , learning analytics,   

    This is a hypothetical venture that combine PLE and learning analytics. It is based on developing a platform for the GP registrar training program, so it is a bit context specific. Hope I have given you all enough background.   Venture pitch – AnalyseLearning

    Continue reading AnalyseLearning Posted in: Venture Forum
     

    • jtpatry 6:22 pm on July 29, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hey Denise, your video is set to private FYI

    • Denise 6:35 pm on July 29, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Thanks- youTube and I have been having a bit of a fight over this pitch! I hope it is fixed now.
      denise

    • jtpatry 6:43 pm on July 29, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Good to go now!

    • jtpatry 3:19 pm on July 30, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Good day Denise,

      Thank you for sharing your elevator and venture pitches. With the push for personalized learning environments, it seems to make sense to have one that is catered for the learning environment, and in this particular case the GP learning space. Your use of graphs provides a good visual for what the PLE would look like and how it will be incorporated. One suggestion maybe would be to compare (if there is any data) how similar PLE’s are effective in other marketplaces and how this specific venture PLE can utilize the current market and make it better.

      Thanks for sharing

      Jon

      • Denise 5:48 pm on August 1, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        HI Jon,
        Thanks for the advice. I think a good international search would be useful as there isn’t anything like it in vocational training or with unis here at pesent. Agree that including other success stories woudl have been good for the pitch, but also to inform the venture.

        Thanks
        Denise

    • janetb 10:57 am on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Denise,

      Personalized learning and analytics are certainly trends in the educational technology marketplace and I think you have presented a great idea in combining them. You have identified a market niche in GP training as well as identifying how your product is unique. Something that might add to your pitch is some information on dissatisfaction with the current system. Something that would indicate that your product is highly needed or can solve a problem in the way GP training is currently done.

      A really interesting idea – best luck on your venture.

      Janet

      • Denise 6:00 pm on August 1, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        HI Janet,
        Thanks. This was really a hypothetical but I found myself wondering if I could in fact roll something like this out, especially integrating actual patient data information.

        I thought about pain points and there really isn’t one – we could keep doing what we are doing for a while longer! But as an innovator I think the PLE and analytics would add real education value for the learner and then ultimately our RTPs. So i agree that I need to pitch more to why this prodiuct is needed than I did. Thanks for the feedback.

        Denise

    • gregcamp 4:44 pm on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Great job Denise. PLEs are definitley growing in value and we are seeing more of them in the educational market. I enjoyed your pitches and venture idea.

      Greg

    • Claire Burgoyne 5:16 pm on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Denise,
      Analyze Learning is well described in your elevator pitch. While you’ve described the features and niche market you don’t identify the gap that Analyze Learning addresses. Who is the competition and what does Analyze Learning offer that is currently unavailable?

      Claire

      • Denise 6:10 pm on August 1, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Hi Claire,

        Thanks for the feedback. I did try and indicate there was no competition in Australia at least. If it was missed this then my pitch didn’t highlight it well! I also agree that I may not have clearly articulated the benefits. Sometimes one gets embedded in an idea and doesn’t think about how others are seeing it.What is offers that isn’t anywhere yet in our market
        – increased learning and involvement of the registrar througha PLE integrated witht an LMS
        – visual analytics for the learner but ones that encompass all of learning and trianing ie the educaiton they do but also the actual patient exposure they have (and where the gaps would be).

        Thanks for identifying that I wasn’t as clear as I ahd hoped.

        Denise

    • lisamallen 10:53 am on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Denise,

      It’s clear that this is your area of specialty. Knowing that you’re experienced in this niche market, as an investor, it’s comforting that you’re so well vested here. I would invest for sure. The only weakness with your pitches, as other have already noted, is the comparables: What’s out there already? Who are your competitors?

      Well Done,

      Lisa

    • maybacon 11:13 am on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Denise,

      I like the idea of combining PLEs and Visual Analytics, especially in your area of expertise. I am certain that this venture would provide vital statistics and deepen understanding of a variety of elements in the medical arena. I also liked the examples of the interface, which really helped to clarify the venture for me. However, I would need to know a bit more about the existing competition to make a decision about investing in such a venture. It’s great to know, however, that you have the expertise to pull off this venture and have a good idea of your market.

      Best of luck!
      May

    • chrisaitken 12:13 am on August 3, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      The combination of learning analytics and PLEs got me very interested in your venture.

      The growing interest in PLEs typically presents a problem for educators in measuring and tracking learning for the purposes of assessment and ultimately granting a credential. A venture that is able to adequately address this issue is likely to find success albeit an ambitious one.

      Your venture pitch describes a very specific market group of vocational training in Australia – approximately 1100 positions. Initially I thought that an idea like this would have traction also in the general adult education and post secondary area. However, your paper details how AnalyseLearning will pull specific data from an LMS related to this specific training program. At this part, I begin to get confused. I think of a PLE as an open and often chaotic mix of digital learning tools and content existing largely outside of an institutional LMS and at times, outside of a standardized curriculum. For instance, a PLE could be comprised of annotated bookmarks, RSS feed, blog conversation, twitter feeds, etc which could all be very valuable to the overall continued learning of a student. AnalyseLearning appears to be specific to a particular learning program in pulling data from an LMS and presenting it in a tidy visual format.

      However, I do believe in your venture plan and you as an expert in your field. given the opportunity I would be interested in investing in this venture with the hopes that the intellectual property could spin off into further ventures in the analytics/PLE combination.

    • Denise 3:53 am on August 3, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      HI Chris,

      Yes I can see how the term PLE woudl cause confusion. As you identified this I wondered if I would have been better to call it a hybrid PLE. The idea being that some of the PLE links are predetermined within the setting that the PLE is integrated into and some are whatever the indivdiual wants. So in the GP training field there would be some organisation decided links, some individual decided links to education material/activities in the site and then totally random individualised linkages (like the classic PLE). If we developed this product well well then any industry could use the portal and link through to what they wanted the learner to focus on as well as what tools the learner wanted.

      Not sure I have stille xplained it well?!
      Denise

    • danishaw 7:42 am on August 4, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Denise,
      I found your venture analysis to be quite thorough as it outlined the general learning structure for general probationers in Australia. In addition, I believe the concept of AnalyseLearning is well rooted in theory for you draw on both emerging technologies of personal learning environments and visual learning. The use of diagrams aided in the description and the plan of the venture for it enabled the viewer to see the need for such an en devour; well done! To enrich your venture more so, perhaps you could include potential barriers to the program and strengthen your pitch so that it is straightforward and to the point. I found it a tad bit confusing as to what the product was and why I should want to invest in it. Overall, your venture is well researched and seems to serve a real need. Good luck with the next steps!

      Danielle

    • Denise 4:23 am on August 5, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      HI Danielle,

      Thanks for the feedback esp that it wasn’t clear what the product was! Missed the pitch here then!

      Denise

  • kimnoel 5:44 pm on July 29, 2012
    -3 votes
    |      

    Hi all, Here is my elevator pitch for my “faux” product Glogster VUE:     and you can read my venture pitch here: ETEC 522 – Venture Pitch Glogster VUE Look forward to seeing all of your pitches! Smiles, Kim  

    Continue reading Glogster VUE Pitches Posted in: Uncategorized, Venture Forum
     

    • Jody McKinnon 3:38 pm on July 30, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Kim. Your pitch is very smooth and the music and images work well together. I am a big fan of Glogster but didn’t they start charging a high fee recently? I am not sure that as a teacher I would use what you are promoting. I always had thought of Glogster as a way for the students to show me what they can do. I never thought of it as a teaching tool to present to them new materials. I guess it would depend on the subject of the glogs and whether or not I would use them. They would have to be very relevant to my classroom and be extensive enough to warrant paying the fee to access them.

      I think it is a neat idea overall, but for me, I see Glogster as more of a tool for students to use rather than a teacher tool. I’d have to see it action before I could decide to invest funds.

      Good luck!

      Jody

    • kimnoel 4:01 pm on July 30, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Thanks for your comments, Jody!

      My grade level (Grade 5) purchased a new licence in May (our previous one had run out), and we purchased the 200 subscriptions for $99 – unlimited glogs for 200 kids, management system for unlimited number of classes, for a full year.

      Yes, its more expensive than it was, but we consider it a fantastic deal. Considering some of our other subscriptions like Math IXL, for which I have a single class subscription at $199.00 for the year for 30 kids, Glogster is a bargain!

      As a teacher tool, I have used it many times. I have a glog that I use to introduce myself at the beginning of the year, and several that I have created to use with various topics such as incline planes, 3D solids, etc. The kids LOVE them and I find it a great way to introduce subjects, and to tie cross-curricular content together. I will be making many more I am sure!

      Thanks for viewing!
      Smiles, Kim

    • Jody McKinnon 4:08 pm on July 30, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hey Kim. Thanks for your reply. I guess it’s all about your audience. You are working with younger kids than me. My grade 12’s would probably groan if I asked them to make a glog or view one as an introduction to an assignment or topic. My grade 9’s, on the other hand, might find it more enjoyable.

    • Dave Horn 11:00 pm on July 30, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Kim

      I thought the elevator pitch was well done and you addressed some definitive problems, though I was unsure how I could actually incorporate the tool. As an investor I would like to have seen what the market potential was like, considering there any number of sites that can mix media, which are free. How would you distinguish Glogster in a competitive media world?

      Dave

      • kimnoel 10:51 am on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Hi Dave,

        I think that your point would be addressed in reading the Venture Pitch.

        Glogster VUE would be a “library” of already created glogs, making it unneccessary to create your own. For most users, Glogster VUE would be a FREE add-on to their already exsisting subscriptions to Glogster EDU.
        Thanks for viewing!
        Kim

    • dmcinnes 8:43 am on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Kim,
      Thanks for sharing your pitches with us. Both are well done. They are clear, comprehensive and convincing. Like many teachers, I am always skeptical of online education services that charge a fee. It oftens makes teachers run the other way. I do think that you have a good idea to add value to glogster as it stands.
      David McInnes

    • Yves Mainville 10:56 am on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Nice presentation Kim
      I would have liked to hear form you directly while we ‘were in the elevator’ but regardless your presentation was very professional and very smooth. I liked that I did not feel rushed or pressured.
      I appreciate the claim that there are no competitors, however, I think there are similar products in the market space with regards to the tech/web 2.0 side of things (pinterest, prezi, etc.) and would be worried about being to protect the uniquess from competitors.
      Unless I missed something, and I apologize if I did, but I would like to hear more about the team as well.
      I am a huge glogster fan and I think the concept has potential with a bit more fint tuning.

      Thanks for the presentation.

      • kimnoel 11:02 am on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Hi Yves,

        Glogster VUE is a “library” of user-created glogs – that is where I got the “no competitors” slant. As far as I was able to determine, Glogster creates the only online, multimedia, interactive poster application, thus VUE would be the only library or compilation of user-created, peer-reviewed glogs.
        Thanks for viewing!
        Smiles, Kim

    • Brian H 11:22 am on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Kim,

      Your pitch is very interesting and would cause me to do more research as an investor.
      My instinct though is that fee based systems for Web 2.0 services is very difficult as free versions appear overnight.

      Having your service paired with a major student management system or collection of services may pique my interest.

      Thanks,
      Brian

    • Ronna Hoglund 11:33 am on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Kim,
      Thank you for sharing your elevator pitch. While I am a huge Glogster fan and I can see a possibility for success for your venture, I think adding your voice or a video presence and some more information in your pitch would command the attention of potential investors.
      Ronna

    • mariefrancehetu 6:28 pm on August 1, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hello Kim,

      I thought your elevator pitch was quite effective . . . few words and to the point. However, I did struggle to real the lines before the next slide came along.

      Your venture pitch was excellent, well balanced with text, images, graphs and you covered every area a venture pitch should. The problem was well laid out and the solution explicit. I especially liked the introductory letter as if you were sending this package to companies. Maybe you have hiddent talent here and should become an entrepreneur.

      Kudos Kim!

      Marie-France

    • sheza 11:18 am on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Kim,
      I think that your elevator pitch is simple and subtle – but I think that when approaching investors you would have to tweak it to be more aggressive! I was also not too familiar with Glogster, although I knew that it was a poster-tool online, I wasn’t aware of Glogster EDU. So, after viewing your elevator pitch I did some poking around the Glogster site to be able to envision the ideas you had in the venture pitch. I can see the need for a serachable library on Glogster, because I was trying to find some education-based glogs and mostly came across personal glogs and then finally found some homework-related glogs that I was then able to use to better understand your pitch. I think perhapsincluding an example of the glogs you say you have created to teach with would be beneficial in educators/investors envisioning what the Glogary would consist of. I like your idea about the rating system to give the Glogary a compeitive edge over competitors like Prezi – I DO think they and other media-rich presentation sites online are your competitors even though they don’t have a similar library search; and I think that as an intelligent entrepreneur you should accept that and be mindful of it.
      Although I think glogs are great I do see them as more of a student-use tool rather than a teacher resource tool and if Glogster markets itself as selling student use accounts I fear that your Glogary will be full of student work that other students could easily plagiarize. As an educator I would be weary of using the Glogary. That being said, I don’t think that you will be able to capture the Market Share you are expecting with the venture if teachers won’t be likely to use it, therefore I wouldn’t be interested in investing.

      Good job on creating a very professional elevator and venture pitch though!

      Sheza

    • mackenzie 4:57 pm on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      The visuals were good but the text was distracting from the impact of them. When reading a pitch in video form I find it hard to grasp the message because of the focus it takes to read while the visuals divert my attention.

    • Sherman Lee 11:21 pm on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Kim,

      I have not used Glogster extensively before so I was a bit confused in your pitch. I know that you have mentioned to another investor that you are aiming at those who have some knowledge of Glogster. And as the saying goes… only invest in what you are familiar with. Until I learn more about Glogster and use it a couple of times, I don’t think I can make a judgement into putting down my money. It is fair and I agree with you in terms of how it would be way too big to present two products Glogster VUE and Glogster in such short pitch time.

      One other thought is, I really wish I could have heard your voice in the elevator pitch. It would help me make a connection to you.

      Overall, I think the idea is cool. I wish you luck in your venture and I do look forward to see your future development if you would not mind inviting me again when you do another pitch.

      Sherman

    • Hussain Luaibi 12:22 am on August 3, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hello Kim
      Making a venture pitch is not easy, It takes time. And I am sure it took you some time doing this good one. I am not really acquainted fully with the system you are promoting in your pitch. So basically your pitch has opened my eyes to the existence of such a system . As an investor I will not just get involved in such project because I need to investigate its potential market.

      Target market: I feel that your project target market inclines towards the organizations, institutes and big centers. And that is not a defect. On the contrary it solidifies the ground where it stands.

      How effective will the project be?
      Well, the idea of finding an authentic source of information where educators can use to enhance their work seems very nice. However, it is not new in the market. There are many web-based sites where teachers can consult for information. So it would be one of them.
      Investment: I agree with my classmates who mentioned that hey would wait to see how it moves in the market before making any decision about investing in it.

      After watching your pitch and venture , I feel I am not ready to invest but I am ready to explore it.
      Good job
      Hussain

  • mariefrancehetu 5:29 pm on July 29, 2012
    1 votes
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    Tags: Week 13   

    Hello,   My elevator and venture pitches outline a learning venture that offers conversational sessions for ESL and FLS learners.  Please keep in mind that although the pitches make it out to be a ‘real’ enterprise, and the idea is more than viable – it is fictional in nature . . . (for the moment!)   […]

    Continue reading Marie-France HĂ©tu’s Elevator and Venture Pitch Posted in: Venture Forum
     

    • jtpatry 4:16 pm on July 30, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Good Day Marie-France,

      Thank you for sharing your elevator and venture pitches. You can tell that you have a passion for second language development, education and the workplace environments. Your presentation was clear and well laid out and the “live” video footage of workers in action was great to see! With this type of business venture, one would think the government would be interested candidates, especially to help support individuals who may have the basics of FSL, but still need require assistance to become more confident communicators. Would Converse-A-Long have a database of past conversations or mock conversations that users could download and practice? I may have missed that in your presentation. All in all, bravo!

      Thanks for sharing

      Jon

      • mariefrancehetu 3:54 am on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Hello Jon,

        Thank you for your encouragement on my learning venture pitch. There are many governmental programs within the ministries to help employees become bilingual, particularly if a job requires you to oupdate your language profile. This being said, taking group courses is often not enough to provide adequate second-language practice for students, this is how an enterprise such as Converse-a-long would fill a gap.
        Conversations take place between a client and a teacher ‘live’ over Skype or on the phone according to the client’s availability. Conversations would be based on client need, this means simply conversing on specific topics, or practising for an exam.

        Cheers!

        Marie-France

    • Donna Forward 5:05 pm on July 30, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Bonjour Marie-France.

      I’ve tried to view your videos but I always receive the notice saying “sorry there was an error encountered while loading this video”. Do I need to download a special program to help view these? I see that Jon was able to view them so please let me know if there is something I need to do.

      Merci,

      Donna

      • mariefrancehetu 3:57 am on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Hello Donna,

        You should just need to click on the play button to view these videos. Perhaps it has something to do with some type of software you need to play the videos, such as mediaplayer or the like. If so you will just need to download this from the Internet – It is free I believe. Vimeo is just a place where I ‘store’ my videos. Have you tried to view HD videos on your computer before . . . has it worked?

        Hope that helps – let me know if it doesn’t.

        Marie-France

    • Meggan Crawford 5:53 pm on July 30, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Marie-France,

      I really like the idea of a venture that helps people to find others with whom they can get oral practice in a second language as learning a new language without such conversation is very difficult! I think that the ways in which you explain all of the possible reasons for someone to want such a service is very beneficial for your venture. I was, however, left uncertain about a few things, the first of which was exactly what form this venture takes – is it a website? It seems somewhat like a language tutoring system so I wasn’t entirely sure whether it was a technology based venture, apart from the use of skype. As well, in your elevator pitch you did not explicitly state which languages Converse-a-long currently supports, though I assume it is French from the titles you used! I would be curious to know which languages are the most sought out – would you also offer English oral practice, for example?

      Overall, a very interesting plan!
      Thanks,
      -Meggan

      • mariefrancehetu 4:02 am on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Hello Meggan,

        Converse-A-Long is a service that is offered to clients who wish to practice their second-language with professional teachers either through Skype or phone or in person. It is a learning venture that uses technology, both for advertising and for the actual ‘conversing’. In the Elevator pitch I mention ESL and FLS, this means English Second-language and Français langue seconde. In the Venture pitch I do mention that contrary to our rival we offer our service in both official languages. So yes we do offer English oral practice.

        Please keep in mind of course that this business if fictional – all the characters in the venture pitch are playing along if you would. It is easier to discuss the venture as if it were real however.

        Thank you so much for your feedback, I will look at yours this evening.

        Marie-France

    • Donna Forward 12:25 am on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Bonjour Marie-France,

      At last I was able to view your 2 videos, Well done. It’s amazing but your Venture Pitch is very similar to mine. If you have a chance to listen to my idea, let me know what you think.

      Your Converse-a-long Elevator pitch was visually appealing and you covered many important points, especially the importance of being bilingual in order to be competitive in the job market.

      The idea of “tailored conversational sessions” is catchy and your choice of communicating through Skype shows that you are looking at inexpensive solutions for students and adults who are wanting oral practice for the second language that they are learning.

      You mention “oral pocket books”. These are obviously handheld devices and you have chosen a good choice of words to visually describe your product.

      I would have like to have seen more numbers and target goals so that I, as a possible investor, could have a better idea of what profits there are to be made in your company. A more detailed future plan of your next few years might offer more information on where you would like to go with Converse-a-long.

      A very, well presented Venture Pitch.

      Donna

    • Allan 5:09 pm on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Marie-France,

      Wonderful presentation. I enjoyed your elevator and venture pitches. I especially found your promotion of the Converse-a-Long team to be very effective. I found that by emphasizing the team early on, it highlights the expertise and knowledge of the product. Very good thinking!

      I found that the fact that Converse-a-long is conducted mainly via Skype to offer lower overhead costs. It’s excellent you brought that into the discussion. It’s also effective that you point out that Converse-a-long does not offer direct competition with ESL institutions.

      However, I thought that your pitches could’ve been stronger had there been some financial analyses. As an investor, I am somewhat wary about investing my money without some breakdown of how I could benefit in the upcoming years.

      Otherwise, this is a very strong presentation. Congratulations!

      Allan

      • mariefrancehetu 3:30 pm on August 1, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Hello Allan,

        Thanks for you feedback! You are right, my presentation would have been stronger had I provided more of a financial analysis, something I found difficult to do seeing converse-a-long is merely a figment of my imagination. Finance is also not my strong point and I’m afraid it shows.

        Thanks for your honest opinion of my presentation.

        Marie-France

    • Claire Burgoyne 5:56 pm on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Marie France,
      Your venture addresses a common challenge of pairing native speakers with French language learners to facilitate practice conversing. You did a thorough job of describing Converse-A-Long. Nice touch to include photos of the team; including spoken introductions would make this section even stronger. Offering the flexibility of conversing online, by phone, or in person is likely to attract a wide range of users. It’s not clear whether you provide anytime, anywhere service for face-to-face sessions outside the Ottawa area. With your plan to expand into Spanish language options it would be helpful to include information about who will offer expertise in that area. Overall a well thought out venture. Well done.

      Claire

      • mariefrancehetu 3:33 pm on August 1, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Hi Claire,

        Thank you for your feedback! I agree that a short video presentation from the teachers would have been great, but my daughters and husband were not willing to go that far in playing along. I mention Converse-A-Long is based and offers services in the National Capital area, which includes Ottawa and Gatineau and that I wish to expand to Toronto by 2016 – but perhaps that is not clear enough in the presentation.

        Thanks for your encouragement!

        Marie-France

    • gregcamp 8:16 pm on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Great job Marie France, your background as a french teacher brings credibility to your venture and you did a great ob describing how the venture would work. I like that you are planning to expand into Spanish as it shows investors that there is upside to this venture.

      Greg

      • mariefrancehetu 3:35 pm on August 1, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Hello Greg,

        Thanks for your encouragement! In hindsight, reflecting on my colleagues’ comments and after viewing many other venture pitches I realize I should have further expanded on my expertise, and that of the fellow teachers, to really bring more credibility to the project.

        Cheers!

        Marie-France

    • Danielle Dubien 4:35 pm on August 1, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Marie-France,

      I really enjoyed learning about your venture! I’m treating it as a real one because it seems extremely realistic and viable, coming from someone who has taught ESL and FLS. Please don’t feel like you have to answer all my questions, though.

      Teaching a second language face-to-face allows for a much richer learning experience than training over the phone. For example, in F2F sessions, the confidence level is much easier to assess and allows you to use tools like flash cards, recording devices, visual aids, supporting reading and writing materials and much more. How do you compensate for the difference in service quality? Different price ranges, perhaps? How do you assess whether phone training is good enough to meet a student’s needs? What with the huge financial value of contracts, and having a federal employee’s career on the line, are you prepared to guarantee excellent results with the over-the-phone and sometimes-glitchy Skype services?

      If you offer anytime, anywhere services, I understand the need to increase your staff. Many 2nd language schools have a reputation for treating their teacher-employees poorly, giving them inconsistent schedules. How can you prove that this is not the case in your venture, with anytime, anywhere scheduling? I know that’s not directly related to your venture, but it would certainly have an impact on it if turnover were high, and the quality of your services would suffer. The service you offer of meeting people face-to-face may be a challenge too, especially with the NCR being sometimes difficult to travel through. How can you minimize the cost of travel if you have students located anywhere from Gatineau to Kanata?

      Your competition is potentially high, what with the NCR being populated with loads of bilingual people able to offer a similar service over Skype. Are you aware that Skype offers programs that make it easy for clients and teachers to connect and that it facilitates payment methods?

      How is it that you are not in competition with companies that offer courses based on progressive lesson plans?

      I think both of your videos are very well constructed, with great use of audio/visual content and music that doesn’t over-power your voice.

      I agree with you that knowing more than one language has a very positive impact on individuals’ lives and on society! If you do go forward with this venture, I wish you a lot of luck!

      Cheers,
      Dan

    • mariefrancehetu 6:17 pm on August 1, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hello Dan,

      Thank your for your feedback and questions. I have answered them as if my venture were real.

      I absolutely agree that f-2-f or blended environments are best for learning languages, that is why Converse-A-Long does not compete with language schools or programs that offer these types of courses. Rather we offer complimentary conversational practices, because in my experience as a FLS teacher students in group classes don’t get enough oral practice.

      Converse-A-Long does not offer support with reading or writing skills, all we offer based on our expertise and student need is conversational sessions.

      Not even the most professional schools (the military one I work for included) can guarantee a student will pass an exam, so Converse-A-Long would not be able to offer that guarantee. However, because of our expertise in preparing students for the exam, we could certainly offer simulations of the exam to better prepare students.

      Because Skype is not always reliable, we could certainly offer to phone a client (our cost if any is incurred) if the conversation through Skype does not work, and we are already part of the special Skype plan for businesses and clients. It would be more expensive for us to come to an individual’s workplace if a client wants that type of service, but some clients might choose that option, especially if practising for an oral government test.

      Strangely enough there is no other company offering this type of targeted conversational service in the Ottawa\Gatineau area. We believe interested candidates will take advantage of the anywhere\anytime service offered, which means that most of them are looking for convenience and want to converse from home or work using the easiest method possible – probably Skype or phone. For those who want in person service, it costs more, so there would be a tendency to have less clients willing to pay the price.

      I have travelled a great deal across Ottawa and Gatineau and apart from peak hours, travel time is quite reasonable from one end of the city to the other – unless it is rush hour, and likely we would not make appointments during that time if possible. The increase in demand means we need to grow, which means we have had to refuse or postpone some sessions until we increase our staff. This is why we need the funding to help us handle the hiring and training period of more staff and then time to expand our venture.

      Thanks for your honest feedback and asking all these questions, it really sounds as if you were a real investor.

      Marie-France

      • Danielle Dubien 4:29 pm on August 3, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Hi Marie-France,

        I’m glad that you say you’re not able to guarantee results. Some schools are over-optimistic with the claims that they make.

        Now I understand why you say you are not in direct competition with second language schools; your services are compliemnetary to theirs. Still, while these schools offer training in writing, comprehension and conversation, nothing stops them from offering their own conversation-based training. Individual students will request these services and pay out of pocket if they have to because their career is on the line. I’ve seen schools offer this service and wouldn’t underestimate its value as competition to you.

        As for travelling through the city, sure it’s quick enough in a car, but a company like yours, that is situated in a city is likely to hire a significant amount people who travel by bus. A lot of 2nd language teachers I know rely on public transportation. For them to travel from one client to another takes a lot of time, wears on the body and is often a reason to quit for a more stable work environment.

        Overall, I still think your venture is strong and has a lot of potential in the real world. Whether or not you go forward with this project, I wish you the best!

        Dan

    • HJDeW 5:13 pm on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Marie-France, as a current visitor to your area of the country, can I take a short course with your product? Is there accommodation made for the many visitors who come to the Ottawa/Gatineau region and stay for up to 2 weeks? Being immersed in the language of the area would certainly add value to my trip as I could holiday and learn.

      I’m not sure I fully understand who the clients are for your venture as you described it. Who is actually handing you money for this service? Are there corporate or individual clients, or both? Is the market in Ottawa ready for skype conversations, particularly with privacy issues (not knowing who else may be in the room at the other end!)?

      You mentioned that Toronto may be the next move for your venture. Are you prepared for a very different learning culture in the Big Smoke? What marketing strategy will you use to gain client base in a tough second language market? Just a few questions before I consider investing.
      Helen

    • mariefrancehetu 6:40 pm on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hello Helen,

      What excellent questions!
      First a few precisions:
      – We offer our second-language conversational sessions to anyone in the NCR who wishes to practice their second language.
      – Our clientele mainly comes from students already taking second-language courses or following language programs, since we are a complimentary service that fills in the need for extra conversational practices.
      – We would not be able to provide clients coming in from out of town with accomodation, but certainly our web site could have links to things to do in the Ottawa region, perhaps even paid advertising to help us cover the cost of our web site.
      – Skype is already used extensively in the Ottawa region, and at our end, Converse-A-Long staff can guarantee privacy, at their end it is the responsibility of the client. Since our conversations are based on practising the language, there is nothing really ‘private’ in the conversations to the point where we need ultra secure lines.

      – Prior to expanding to the Toronto area, our company would do a thorough market analysis to see how it could establish its roots. We would investigate possible challenges and differences in marketing strategies, as well as what languages, beyond French and English, Converse-A-Long could expand upon. Targeting a ‘niche’ market in Toronto would be essential, and would likely take time.

      Thanks for asking me to elaborate further on my project, it makes the ‘creating a venture’ exercise even more realistic.

      Marie-France

    • Denise 8:31 am on August 3, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Marie-france,

      I found both pitches well presented and engaging. The elevator pitch definitely made me want to learn more and move on to the venture pitch. While the music in both pitches was lovely I think it detracted from listening soley to you as CEO (and was what Clark and Mayer (2005) woudl call extraneous sounds.)

      I thought you outlined the pain point and solution and how you differentiate from other ventures – to the point when it is actually unique. It was great to meet the team, but as you commented earlier offering more background on their skills would have strengthened the pitch.

      The $300,000 grossed figure didn’t give me an indication of loss/profit in the last year. I saw it as less risky to be investing in a venture that was already established, but wasn’t clear what was involved in the expansion of the company. More teachers means more clients but also more wages and taxes – so will increasing staff and business give a logarithmic rise in profits, only a relative rise or no rise at all? Dis it self limiting? Explaining how you have expanded your business to date and been clearer about the low overheads may have helped put my mind at rest about return.

      i did wonder if there was a way to tap into the language schools to which you value add rather than compete, and have them market Converse-a-long?

      Having focused on the finance I was however enticed by the social implications of this venture. too.

      I liked the idea – simple and effective – but I wasn’t completely convinced to invest because I wasn’t sure about the return on investment going forward.

      denise

    • mariefrancehetu 2:53 pm on August 3, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hello Denise,

      Thank you for your excellent feedback on both my pitches. In my self-evaluation I did notice the same strengths and weaknesses you mention.

      I wish we could have posted our pitches a couple of weeks ag so that we would have had time to tweak our presentations before submitting them to David.

      I really value feedback from my peers, for it is important to know how others view your presentation. It is a hard thing to do to judge how presentations will be perceived on your own. In the real world I would surely have sent my pitch to colleague to get an honest opinion before actually launching it out publicly.

      Thank you again for your honest opinion – I appreciate it.

      Marie-France

      • Denise 12:42 am on August 4, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Hi Marie-france,

        I agree. It has been good to review people’s pitches. I have learnt a great deal from how you and everyone else approached their pitch, and that was just as important as the direct feedback from everyone. I have loved the innovative ventures everyoen has had!
        Sounds like you might consider making your venture a reality – so good luck if you do.

        denise

    • danishaw 6:38 am on August 4, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Thank you for sharing your ideas for advancing and improving upon french language skills! I think you have the basis for a potentially profitable venture, however there are a couple of items that should be included within your venture analysis or your pitch. First a foremost, it would be beneficial to include what language Converse-a-Long supports within the opening of your pitch so that viewers are able to identify if it suits their desires for investment. Secondly, I do believe that you could support the business and product using more technology than solely Skype and a website. With audio, video, and mobile technologies advancing and being common tools used within learning, I believe it is pertinent that you implement such within your business to keep current. Without the incorporation of such, I am afraid that many investors might shy away from putting a great deal of money into a venture that could potentially be updated by a more trendy application in the near future. Overall, I appreciate your expertise and time spent on developing a product that obviously meets an educational need. Well done!
      Danielle

  • vawells 4:23 pm on July 29, 2012
    3 votes
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    Welcome to LevelMe, an educational app for teachers, parents, students and educational professionals. Level your books using the newest smartphone app, anytime, anyplace. Watch the elevator pitch, read the venture pitch and get ready to invest! Elevator Pitch Read LevelMe Venture Pitch by Valerie Wells  LevelMe Venture Pitch References   Valerie

    Continue reading LevelMe Posted in: Venture Forum
     

    • unclereg 9:54 pm on July 30, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hey Valerie,

      You’re very well spoken. Great presentation of your elevator pitch. So when you’re out shopping you could scan a book and see its reading level and then you would have to determine its appropriateness based on the person you are buying it for. That means you would also need to know that persons current reading level. The one problem I see here is publishers eclipsing this idea by including reading level suggestions on the spine, or dust covers of books. I also realize that publishers place age suggestion and not usually reading levels, and the two are not usually the same. I’m also not sure what to suggest as an improvement or a consideration for the future.

      Nice delivery though.
      -Regen

    • vawells 3:12 am on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Thank you for your feedback Regen.

      Valerie

    • Deborah S 9:13 am on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Valerie,
      Your elevator pitch was well delivered and it was helpful to see you in the video to increase potential investor buy-in.

      Your venture pitch was supported by some relevant statistics such as number of mobile internet activities and number of smartphone owners. I thought your summary of competitors was very effective. I was curious why you weren’t planning to develop the app for BlackBerry users. I am from Waterloo (the home of RIM) and know that most of us here use BlackBerrys. I think you may be excluding a large potential market by only developing for iPhone and Android devices. I also wasn’t clear about your target market. Your venture plan referenced K-12 students, but wouldn’t the primary users of this app be parents and educators?

      Good luck!

      Deborah

    • vawells 9:20 am on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Deborah
      Thank you for your feedback. The plan referenced the number of students to give investors an idea of just how many students there are out there and in turn then the need for an app like this for parents and teachers.
      You are right about BlackBerry users, however I was trying to narrow the market at first and then expand slowly. You make a good point and these users should have been added to future directions for markets.

      Again thanks for your interest

      Valerie

    • gillian 9:07 pm on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Valerie,
      Your confidence in your venture comes across clearly in your elevator pitch and I commend you for stepping in front of the camera – something I was not comfortable doing. You hit the key points and piqued interest to investigate further into your venture. My only criticism would be the fact that it was clear you were reading your pitch and thus losing some personal engagement with the viewer by breaking eye contact.
      As for your venture itself, I thought it was a very unique idea and was unaware that there was even any competition out there for such a product, yet you were able to communicate your venture’s edge quite well. I wonder though – how does your product work with e-books? E-books themselves are becoming a large market and one I think should not be discounted for consideration for your product.
      I thought it was genius to market to parents as well as educators, but I thought you did not spend too much time on this aspect of your market.
      Your research and stats were very helpful in showing the value potential of your product. A very concise and comprehensive pitch overall.
      gillian

    • vawells 1:54 am on August 1, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Thanks for your feedback Gillian. You have made some very good points.I think the reading part was nervousness, no matter how many times I did it I always reverted to reading, Frustrating!

      I had not considered e books but should have. Thanks for pointing that out as it will be a huge market.

      Again thanks for your interest
      Valerie

    • kimnoel 12:51 pm on August 1, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Valerie,

      Absolutely LOVE your venture idea! As a K-6 teacher, I have spent way too many hours on the Scholastic et al. sites figuring out the reading levels! I would love your app!

      Your pitches were concise, comprehensive and professional. Your presence, and your included background would give me, as an investor, confidence in your credibility and in your team. You appear to have done a good amount of background research, and I was impressed by the listed apps and sites that you had (I will be using some of them myself!)

      The only area where I would have liked a little more info would be the “roll-out” plan of the app, and the long-term plans ( but I realize there is a limit to how much you can include on this assignment!)

      Overall, I think you did a great job, are very credible, have a viable product, and if I were an investor, I would certainly arrange to me w/ you!

      Well done!
      Smiles, Kim

      • kimnoel 12:52 pm on August 1, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Oooops!

        That should say “…arrange to MEET w/ you.”

        Kim 🙂

    • Danielle 2:22 pm on August 1, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Valerie,

      I think you have done a great job with your elevator pitch venture pitch. Your ideas are very well researched and I think that such an application would be highly valuable to both educators and learners.

      As a language teacher, it is a challenge to find reading texts that are appropriate to my learners level. Such an application would simplify my job significantly.

      Your pictures very optimistic! This is great, however, your investors might appreciate being aware of some of the and potential challenges.

      I think this is an excellent venture idea and I’m certainly interested!

      Danielle

    • vawells 4:23 pm on August 1, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Thanks Kim for your feedback. I agree that the roll out plan is definitely missing and would need to be added.

      There are resources out there for reading level however they are cumbersome due to having to type in the text.

      Valerie

    • sheza 8:08 am on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Valerie!

      I think that your tone of voice exuded confidence in your elevator pitch and that, along with the idea of the venture itself made me want to go on to your venture pitch and I’m glad I did because it was very well put together!

      In regards to your elevtor pitch I think perhaps you could have used a different medium if you weren’t too comfortable putting yourself in front of the camera or memorizing what you had to say without having to read it – for example mybrainshark presentation or an imovie where you could overlay your voice onto corresponding images and what not.

      However, spaking again as an EVA I was moved to go onto your venture pitch because I did hear the confidence and thought the venture was interesting.

      Your venture pitch is very well written and researched. You do a very thorough analysis of your market and your competition. I can see that you have also done the math regarding the revenue and ROI and these figures do look promising. I can see that this would be a viable venture and I would consider investing after seeing your complete business plan.

      Thank you!

      Sheza

    • vawells 10:32 am on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Sheza

      Thanks for your interest and the constructive feedback. 🙂

      Valerie

    • Dennis Pratt 8:43 pm on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Valerie;

      My first thought was “What a great idea!”. My daughter is entering grade 2 but reads at a higher level (not meaning to brag). It is difficult to even go to the library and find books that are at her reading level. Usually we just let her pick what she wants to read but if we want to push her forward we would get her to read books at (or just above) her level. I have to admit this might even be good for me as sometimes I might pick up a book that is too heavy for the light summer reading I am trying to relax with. I don’t know that the reading level would help but if you can scan for reading level maybe you can scan for other things, too.

      Good luck on carrying this venture out.

      Dennis

    • vawells 5:59 am on August 3, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Dennis
      Thanks for your reply. I think that with the increase use of mobile devices and constant updates to the software scanning for other things may be a possibility and perhaps an in app purchase down the road..

      Love to hear about your daughter’s reading level as difficulties in this area can be such a frustration for children.

      Valerie

    • troos 2:47 pm on August 3, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Valerie:

      You’ve done an excellent job in convincing me to invest in LevelMe. I think this would be an excellent and useful tool to have as an app on a smartphone. Your elevator pitch clearly shows your enthusiasm in this product; you are convinced it is something that can and will be used by potential customers. Your personal presence in describing your product is effective and convincing. The only thing you may want to fit in is a little more about the market size in terms of client numbers and revenue. I feel this is important for me, as an investor, to know right at the start. I realize you cover this and cover it well in your venture pitch but just a brief mention in the elevator pitch would be good.

      Your venture pitch is thorough in identifying the need and solution your product will accomodate. You do an excellent job of breaking down your potential market and your projected revenues are very believable. You have provided clear research regarding both the existing and potential market. Your team appears clearly competent to develop and market this product.

      Overall, I really like the concept and,as a parent, would find this to be an extremely useful tool. I have found that the few books that are currently marked with a reading level are not very accurate in their projections. Your tool would hopefully provide an unbiased analysis of the reading level. I am somewhat concerned regarding the revenue generation through advertising in the general, parental version of your app. If I was to use this as a parent (which I think would prove to be your largest client base) I would be annoyed and turned away by this advertising. I feel that after an inital free offering of your product in a very simplified format, you could quickly move to a product you could charge a few dollars for to have it be ad-free. Just a thought. Overall, I am very excited regarding this product. You have made an excellent proposition.

      Tim

      • vawells 5:27 am on August 4, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Hello Tim

        Thank you for your interest in LevelMe. I think your suggestion to have a paid ad free version for parents makes sense for those who want to pay. This would be very easy to arrange as an in app purchase.

        I will certainly pursue this offering for the parent app.

        Thanks for the constructive feedback

        Valerie

    • Bridget 4:36 am on August 4, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Valerie,

      Your elevator pitch, while not filled with bells and whistles was very convincing and when you asked the question “Have you ever had to buy a book for someone only to find it was too hard or too easy for their reading ability?” I found myself answering “yes” since this happens to me on a frequent basis. The ease and mobility of using apps appears to me to be one of the strongest points of your idea. I would also add grandparents to the list since they are often the book buyers who feel lost in the field of new books and stories making them gravitate to those with which they are already familiar.

      From what I understand there is not an international standard for reading levels so what system would you propose to use when determining the reading level? I assume that your program will work with e-readers.

      I like the idea of offering the freemium along with an upgrade, however, I would be interested in learning what you are considering as the added features. As readers enter middle school they often find that the thought of reading longer books to be daunting. I think that an interesting feature might be the ability to determine how long it might take to read the book and then break it down into 15 min per day etc. in order to help them set realistic goals to finish.

      I am very interested in providing you with the $250 000 financial backing for LevelMe and I look forward to a great partnership.

      Bridget

      • vawells 5:32 am on August 4, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Hi Bridget

        Thank you for your interest and support. I am sure this will be a successful partnership for both of us.

        Valerie

    • toddpowell 10:45 pm on August 5, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Valerie,
      While not a parent (yet), I cannot tie in personally with your venture. But as an English teacher, I would love the ability to have your product to suggest to my parents. You have presented in such a clear and concise way that all questions are fully answered even before being asked.

      Well done, and I would certainly back this venture!

      Todd

    • vawells 1:20 am on August 6, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Todd
      Thanks for your support and feedback.
      Valerie

  • gregcamp 2:49 pm on July 29, 2012
    0 votes
    |      

    Finance For Life is a cloud based interactive learning management system that provides students in the K-12 system skills in finance, economics and business management. Finance For life was developed by teachers for teachers to help educated today’s youth in order for them to be successful in today’s turbulent market. 1 minute venture pitch: http://youtu.be/eKQdnb_MU0U 8 minute venture […]

    Continue reading Finance For Life Posted in: Venture Forum
     

    • vawells 6:26 am on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Greg I really enjoyed your elevator pitch. Your personal delivery of your venture was professional and clearly delivered. As Founder and CEO of Finanace for Life, you exuded an air of confidence that gave weight to your pitch and inspired confidence in me as a potential investor. Your credentials and obvious commitment and passion for your venture also caught my attention and made me want to delve deeper into your venture by moving on to your venture pitch. Well done!

      I will be posting a more detailed analysis of your venture pitch.

      Valerie

    • vawells 6:28 am on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Venture Pitch Analysis
      Pain Point:
      The problem that your company Finance for Life would be addressing is clearly defined and supported with sound research. The need for today’s youth to be prepared for financial obligations that they will face is a realistic problem.
      Solution:
      The development of a cloud based LMS for grades 1-12 incorporating support for teachers and students sounds like a realistic option. I am unclear as to which type of LMS you would be using but perhaps because it is cloud based this is not a concern.
      Differentiation:
      The gap in the school curriculum has been clearly identified and your product is all inclusive with support provided. A couple of questions that came to me as an EVA: Are there other products/companies out there that provide a similar service? Why would schools buy this service and not have government write a curriculum to meet the needs?
      Marketing:
      Clear marketing strategy with a small demonstrated measure of success. However, how much is your product? How many licences have been sold and how many do you need to sell to make the projected 50 000 dollars?
      Championship:
      Your commitment, credentials, confidence and passion about your product are clear and inspire confidence. However I would need to know more about your team.
      The Ask:
      1.5 million dollars
      The Return:
      I am unclear as an EVA how much return I can expect on my investment.

      Yes I would potentially be willing to invest in this venture at this time however I would need more financial information around my return on investment and some of the questions clarified before I fully commit. The pitch is credible, concept is feasible and the potential market is there for this venture to be successful.

      Well done
      Valerie

    • janetb 9:35 am on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Greg,

      Your credibility and competence came through loud and clear in your elevator pitch. It left me with the sense that you have the personal motivation, leadership ability and business sense to lead this venture forward successfully. I know time is very limited in the elevator pitch, but a comment or two on the uniqueness or differentiation of your product would have added to the overall impact of your already excellent pitch.

      All the best,
      Janet

    • Leonora Zefi 8:58 pm on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Excellent pitch Greg.

      Your message is very clear and confident . You clearly outlined the need, the service, the market and the ask. Very well done.
      As the president and sole owner you exude passion and confidence.

      Concept
      The concept is explained clearly. I liked the idea of switching from videos presenting the questions/data and your introduction of the venture concept.

      Venture Plan and critical evaluation

      Great analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the venture. Aware of and honest about budget restrictions despite the large market for financial literacy and employment preparation skills.
      Clear explanation of the business model and revenue projections.

      Thanks,
      Leonora

    • chrisaitken 12:29 am on August 1, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Excellent presentation Greg. You convinced me that there is a need and market for educational content in finance. I am a little confused about the concept however from the elevator pitch. Aren’t Learning management Systems content neutral – a medium for the course? Or is this actually online courseware for finance courses?

    • ping 8:06 am on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Greg,

      Impressive pitch! I agree that finance training for children is very necessary, and therefore will open a considerable market for a venture like yours. Your elevator pitch is delivered lucidly and confidently, I guess you might have this idea in search for a long time. The beautiful child song in your venture pitch matches the theme perfectly, I can even feel that children are appealing for the kind of knowledge your venture will supply them.

      As an investor, I would like to know more about the competition you might confront. I remember I’ve heard of similar concepts somewhere; and there are books available addressing the same issue. I would need a clearer vision of your product, of what form it will show to the buyers and the users. Will it more likely to be a course, or a game? I know there is a popular-role-playing game just simulating the role of millionaire, and it’s popular among the young people. Another concern I need convinces is that if you can make your course in the cloud, while should you limited your buyers in the school system? Why not let people access it from home at anytime? There are many parents like me are looking for tools like yours to teach their children financial skills. There’s a huge market there to get money returned.

      Good luck to your venture!

      Ping

    • lisamallen 11:03 am on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Greg,

      I thought your elevator pitch and venture presentation was fantastic. By the end of your presentation, I found myself nodding and thinking, “this is definitely a worthwhile venture.” I thought you touched on everything that needed to be touched on and am definitely ready to invest and hand over the cash to make this succeed!

      Cheers,

      Lisa

    • maybacon 11:22 am on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      I really like how you have clearly defined every aspect of your pitch, which was interesting and complete. My only reservation in investing in this venture is that I am not familiar enough with the market to adequately assess the product for investment. What level of education is Finance for Life directed at? I think people with higher education but only a basic high school economics course, such as myself, could benefit from this venture as much as younger students – could this be a possible market for expansion?

      Greak work!
      May

    • Chelsea M Woods 9:37 am on August 3, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Greg, I enjoyed your idea and think it has great potential. I am interested in your your idea of developing a learning management system for the courses rather than running on an existing system (I assume that is what you meant). Understanding finance, economics, and business management is highly relevant to basic functioning in our society, yet many of us never take any relevant courses, and it is missing from the core requirements in many school districts, and it’s hard to find experts in the area who are also teachers (not surprising :)). Great idea! Chelsea

    • karonw 10:17 pm on August 3, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Greg,

      Excellent venture! I found your venture very appealing and it sounds like a great idea. In both your pitch and proposition you have been able to present the solution to what people are facing, the overview of your venture, the benefits of your venture and a detailed business plan that explains the revenue etc. As an EVA, I think your elevator pitch was fantastic, you gave a great introduction with a bit of your background information and this has definitely helped you gain creditability and accountability. Also, you have articulated your elevator pitch really well, you were able to hit all the main points yet deliver it in a full of confidence, calm and convincing tone throughout your pitch within 56 seconds. As an investor, I am attracted to your venture and would definitely consider investing in it.

      Best,
      Karon Wong

    • danishaw 8:43 am on August 4, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      By reviewing your pitch, I was able to gain insight into the basics of, Finance for Life. You outlined the need for such a product, the expertise of the team, and the current selling market well. To improve upon such, I would suggest providing the viewers with some screen shots or images of the features of the program so that they get a glimpse of the product and want to explore further within your venture analysis.

      With regards to your venture analysis, I believe the introduction , text, and musics provided the viewers with solid data/research that proves the need for your product as well as created interest. It was a great addition to your presentation! I would have liked to see what the product could potentially look like as well as some sort of graphic outlining how other business courses compare. Overall, however I really enjoyed the presentation, good job!

      All the best,
      Danielle

  • Allan Cho 2:18 pm on July 29, 2012
    0 votes
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    Welcome to Layar’s newest mobile app Layar to Educate.  As an augmented reality technology, Layar is the first company to focus exclusively on augmented reality for educators. Watch the elevator pitch and visit my venture pitch. Assignment 3 (Venture Pitch) – Allan Cho Enjoy!

    Continue reading Layar to Educate Posted in: Venture Forum
     

    • jtpatry 1:43 pm on July 30, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Good Day Allan,

      Thank you for sharing your pitches. I agree with you from an educators perspective and business end, that AR is going to be a game changer and now is the opportunity to get in on the game. Layar to Educate has great potential to provide educators an opportunity to create an AR experience without having to have any extensive programming experience. One advantage that I think that Layar to Educate has against other companies such as the ones you mentioned and also Aurasma, is that this offering of technology can be directly integrated into textbooks or other print media seamlessly. With the current format of the application Layar, allows users to upload images and links to interact with the application (in a selected format), would Layar to Educate allow for opportunity for users to create a magazine/textbook/poster layout to print directly from the site, which then could be distributed to students or other participants? The idea of providing lesson plan examples is also a really great selling feature, especially for new teachers or users. It would provide beneficial real stepping-stone for those leery users. Great pitch and idea to incorporate into the current Layar platform. Investment made!

      Thanks,
      Jon

    • janetb 9:17 am on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Allan,

      Great elevator pitch – it was engaging and appealing. You make a clear point as to the trend towards AR. As someone not very familiar with augmented reality, it would have helped me if you had included a line or two in your elevator pitch about how, specifically, AR could be used in the classroom. However, that could be a reflection of my lack of knowledge, rather than your pitch.

      All the best in your venture,
      Janet

    • chrisaitken 12:32 am on August 1, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Great to see a pitch on augmented reality. Someone if the next few years will be very successful in an AR for education pitch. I would have to think the the development of this product would be extremely expensive. I am going to look into your venture pitch and respond shortly.

    • Leonora Zefi 8:58 pm on August 1, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      I really enjoyed your elevator pitch message Allan.
      Very clear and persuasive message . You succeeded in giving a clear and promising prospect for Layar in less than a minute. The future of Layar in education seems very promising.

      Concept and Marketability

      Your venture concept addresses an important need in education. Your analysis through questions and answers of what the app will address makes the venture credible and alleviates any issues related to risk in investing.
      You have done a great job in differentiating the app from other solutions that show thorough market research as well.

      Venture strengths and weaknesses

      The only strength you focused on is the team and their expertise – it would have been helpful to see other strengths that you have in fact identified in other sections, for example, under “benefits”I think you have a couple of strengths that could add value to promoting the venture. Also, I would suggest that you think about any weaknesses because that kind of critical reflection and honesty makes the venture pitch even stronger.
      I liked how you ended the venture pitch – reiterating The Ask and, that’s extremely important.

      Thank you for sharing your elevator and venture pitch Allan

      Leonora

    • ping 10:11 am on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Allan,

      I’m very interested by your pitch, because it’s the first time I’ve heard about AR on mobile. In my conception, AR or any other virtual reality technologies are very computing-intensive, that makes them too expensive from general use, no matter to be used on a battery-limited mobile phone. I also have a question: why people need AR on mobile, is the immersive feel of VR really shown on a small screen like this? I take these questions into your venture pitch, I think I’ve found many answers there. Now I know that Layer is a VR app already available on mobiles (sorry I never heard of it), it can be used as scanner + search engine. With this feature, I believe there is a good chance for it to be used in education. One thing I would like to know is that who will be your targeted user, the teacher or the learner? Does a teacher need this tool during his/her lessons? I would like to see more description in your pitch on how this tool works for Education specifically. What kind of change do you need to add on the existing Layer, so that the scan & search results will be suitable for education usage? From an investor’s position, I suggest you highlight more differentiation of your app to the alternatives, including map-apps on mobile, so that I could have a better sense of how many user would be attracted to ensure the return.

      Thank you for this great idea, and bringing me a new vision of augmented reality!

      Ping

    • lisamallen 11:01 am on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Allan,

      Great elevator pitch – really well done. I like the concept you’ve come up with for your venture, but perhaps I don’t understand the technology too well because I was left with a few questions about how, specifically virtual reality can be beneficial in the classroom. Keep in mind that I am not a teacher, but I would have appreciated a more detailed outline on how this technology could be used by teachers.

      I also would have like to see more on your competition. Are there similar technologies like this already available?

      Overall, well done,

      Lisa

    • maybacon 11:32 am on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Allan,

      This is a terrific idea! With the current commercial AR gaining momentum, it is good to know that your venture would cover the missing educational component. My main concern as an investor, though, is that I would like to have a better understanding of what the product does, as I felt a bit confused on this point. From what I could deduce, the product allows people to photograph objects/places and connects them with links to educational information (?), which would be a great way to learn about foreign countries, historical monuments, how devices function, and so on.

      Interesting idea and great pitch!
      May

    • chrisaitken 12:46 am on August 3, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Allan

      The possibilities of an AR app for education are immense. There is definitely a market in the education space and with the proliferation on mobile devices a schools could implement this project.

      As you mention in your venture pitch, Augmented Reality has been profiled in the Horizon Report in 2010 and 2011 but surprisingly absent in the 2012 edition. I believe this could be because of the size of investment needed to build an augmented reality application. There is no question in my mind that a product such as this would be a massive success, and I do think we will see something soon. However, given the complexity of augmented reality that is beyond the QR code type, I believe we are likely to see this product come from a company like Adobe or Google that employs hundreds of developers and can financially back such a project. I think if your team, as education specialists, were willing to team up with a strong software engineering team I would want to invest. Alone, however, I think the project might be too ambitious!

    • karonw 10:43 pm on August 3, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Allan,

      I think that this is a great venture especially with the growing mobile trend. Augmented reality can definitely change the perspective in education. As an EVA, I thought that your elevator pitch delivered the essentials for this product in a very timely manner. You tried to narrate the core points and allow your slides to elaborate on they key points which was a smart/great idea. However, I did feel that I was sitting through a presentation more than an elevator pitch. I think if you incorporated perhaps a few scenes of yourself I would have felt different about this. I would have liked you to be the protagonist for your venture/ elevator pitch as I believe that would not only add creditability but it would also convince me more. In your proposition, you mentioned that your venture is applicable to smartphones including iphone and android, will this AR application also be available to Blackberry? As an investor, I would need to ensure that the venture I invest in would guarantee me an increase in revenue and that what I have invested in was the best out of the best. Through your proposition, I know that your venture have outbeat Junaio and Google with the educational aspect, however Blackboard itself also have an AR application built for educational use, it is also capable for smartphones including iphones, androids, blackberry and also capable to be used on other mobile devices like iPads and with various lines of products that can be paired up with their AR application. What would Layar be able to offer me that Blackboard’s application wouldn’t?

      Regardless, this is a great concept.

      Best,
      Karon Wong

    • danishaw 9:09 am on August 4, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Although you outlined the potential of Layer to Educate and who it would serve within your pitch, I was unable to grasp what exactly the product would consist of. I am totally aware that it is difficult to determine what to include/not include within the pitch, however because your product is unique, I believe the viewers might need a little additional information on how exactly it might work.

      With regards to your venture analysis, you have provided a thorough review of all of the features of the product. To improve upon such, however you could include research-based references and statistics to back up your venture. You have made very good points however as a potential investor I would be skeptical to invest in a product that was not based on sound research.

      Danielle

    • Chelsea M Woods 9:53 am on August 4, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Allan,

      Your pitches had me at the edge of my seat! Augmented reality is definitely high on the agenda for education in the future, and you have clearly distinguished Layar from Google and Junaio. Your inclusion of sample lesson plans and support will provide pathways so that teachers can increase use and understanding of augmented reality. You have described the expertise of your team, and you have provided enough technical detail to clarify the purpose and application of augmented reality for people who are as yet unfamiliar. After watching and reading your information I suddenly have a previously undeveloped goal to introduce augmented reality in my school.

      There are some clarifications that would make your pitch more effective, although I understand that these are not always possible because of the need to be brief and concise. You could expand on your marketing plan: how will you reach educators? Which educators will you connect to first? You can also clarify how you will make a profit: is it from sale of the App (what is the cost?) or from other sources? How much will your team be paid? A screenshot of statistics on student reading would also be helpful.

      Overall an excellent pitch and well-worth further investigation! Thank you.
      Chelsea

  • Bridget 12:44 pm on July 29, 2012
    2 votes
    |
    Tags: ,   

    Welcome to MotionMath, where math problems are transformed into multimedia situations. Created for math teachers by math teachers this program provides easy to use, affordable access to problems which come to life in the classroom. See our Elevator Pitch for a quick introduction or the Venture Pitch for more details. I am looking forward to […]

    Continue reading MotionMath Posted in: Venture Forum
     

    • Jody McKinnon 4:06 pm on July 30, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi there. As a mathphobic guy, I say yes yes yes to this venture. I love that it melds multimedia and math together. Maybe I would have done better at it had it existed 25 years ago when I was in grade 7! Wow. I just realized how old I was…anyway. I love the concept and I can this working very well. To extend this idea, what if you had students make their own videos too that could be added to a database of student exemplars.

      Overall, I like the idea, although, I don’t recall learning about your CEO or team.

      I’m all in!

      Jody

      • Bridget 6:03 pm on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Hi Jody,
        Thank you for your comments. My goal has always been to show people that experiencing math can be fun and with technology it is getting easier.
        I fell into the selling the product trap in my elevator pitch but after watching others I have a better feeling of how I need to hook the investor so that they will even consider looking at my venture pitch which holds more information. Yes, students making videos is excellent and part of my plan this year which I am very excited about.
        Bridget

    • dmcinnes 9:33 am on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Bridget,
      I really liked your pitches. I thought both were very clean, clear and succinct. You did an excellent job of presenting a clear vision that focuses on a very real problem. Very professional and believeable. I’d be interested in investing.
      Well done!
      David McInnes

      • Bridget 6:04 pm on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        David,
        Thank you. I learned so much about editing in this one and have even more to learn. It has been great watching other people’s pitches for ideas.
        Bridget

    • Yves Mainville 11:10 am on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Bridget, you had me at ‘hello, errr, ‘demo’!
      Your elevator pitch was excellent. Being a math head, I appreciated HOW you connected math to real-life and I think there is terrific potential with your concept.
      I also very much liked that you are VERY pedagogical and that this aligns perfectly with the future of curriculum as per mandated by minsitries of education far and wide.
      Before I invest, I would like to discuss a few items with you and the team:
      – could we put more ‘pitch’ on the presentation and a tad less on ‘demo’ if we want to get more investors?
      – What are the plans for key partnerships? I think of a company called ‘Explore Learning’ Gizmos that have a similar concept and I think there is great potential in exploring partnerships with these kinds of companies.
      – Perhaps i need to go through the material again, but I would need to hear more about the market and competition (sorry if is there, I was perhaps still jumping up and down about the demo).

      Well done! Where do I sign?

      • Bridget 6:14 pm on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Hi Yves,
        I am glad you liked the demo idea…..kids are all over the few I have made and used with my classes.
        Thank you for the comments. Great point about the “more pitch” and something that I had realized when the final product was complete. Fitting it all into 1 minute was quite difficult but when I sit back after view so many others I can see how I could have presented more as a pitch.
        I have used Gizmos and that would be a good partnership…nice thinking. The main competition in TedEd which came out in June/July this year. It’s different but still new so who knows where and how big it will go. I do plan to contribute directly to their repository though…why not.
        Bridget

        • Yves Mainville 7:15 pm on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

          That’s a great attitude… I agree, ‘why not?’. However, I seriously do think you are on to something though… I would love to see the reaction from the group MoEd group that asked me to present this past year… they would eat this up.

          🙂
          -y

    • Brian H 11:32 am on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Bridget,

      Your elevator pitch sold me on the product but didn’t hook me as an investor. As an investor I would love to see returns that would be higher that what is projected in your numbers.

      However, your content could be valuable to one of the big text book companies. Have you considered selling your content to the highest bidder? Or are you the next company that will provide resources on a mass level?

      Very compelling as an educator. Wary as an investor!

      Thanks,
      Brian Hotovy

      • Bridget 6:18 pm on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Hi Brian,
        Thank you for your comments.
        Yes, I agree, got sucked in to selling the product. However, I have some ideas now that I have seen a few pitches. I missed that point a bit in hooking the investor so that they will have the interest to look at the longer pitch.
        I am not sure where the text book companies will be going in the long run but it is good idea.
        Bridget

    • kimnoel 1:04 pm on August 1, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Bridget,
      Nice elevator pitch! I love the idea.

      Would this work together with a specific set of objectives common to a particular province, or textbook publisher, or be largely generic ? I’m thinking of math IXL, which although not at all like your idea, is successful due largely to its concentration on math curricular objectives by Canadian province.

      Well done!
      Smiles, Kim

      • Bridget 6:23 pm on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Hi Kim,
        Thank you for your comments.
        You ask an interesting question. I had originally thought about having the content be solely Canadian which is similar to what IXL does although they are more of an online quiz/tutorial system. All my examples would be Canadian content with topics being tagged appropriately. I would be Interested to know how well IXl does….an interesting thought for partnership.
        Bridget

    • Danielle 1:12 pm on August 1, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Bridget,

      I think you have done a fabulous job with your venture. Both your elevator pitch and your venture pitch are very clear and well laid out. The only thing is I thought your elevator pitch was more of a sales pitch then a message conveying the essence of your venture. However, I was captivated by the idea and I’m certainly interested!

      I think the pilot idea is excellent. I think this is a very important for investors to see this and to get market research feedback from end users. I also think it would be useful to include current research on the effectiveness of authentic, meaningful, and relevant learning experiences.

      Finally, I would suggest including the credentials of your management team.

      Overall I think this is a fabulous venture and certainly one I would consider investing in!

      Danielle

    • sheza 10:43 am on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Bridget,

      I was really impressed by the professional quality of both your elevator pitch and venture pitch. The product is wonderful – I can definitely see it being used in classrooms and students learning a lot from it — I say this as an educator, but as an investor I wouldn’t have moved onto your venture pitch since your elevator pitch was more of a demo than an effort to convince me to open my wallet. I would have liked to see mention of the pilot schools and the revenue generated or projected in your elevator pitch so that I would have asked to hear out your venture pitch. The venture pitch was extremely well done and the demo was certainly thorough! I think again though, that an investor would like to see more emphasis on the “so what” rather than only see “the what”. Your information on the market and your projections for increasing that market share are believable and I also like the fact that you were able to show revenue projections in graphs. The comparison between competitors was also well done. Your team looks great, though I agree with Danielle in that it would be wise to tell us why these people are the best for the job.

      Overall, as an EVA, after seeing your venture pitch I believe this is an impressive venture and I would be willing to invest! As an educator, I can’t wait to be able to use it in my classroom.

      All the best!

      Sheza

      • Bridget 6:25 pm on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Hi Sheza,
        Thank you for your comments. I do agree that I needed to pitch more and got sucked into the demo.
        I appreciate the vote of confidence.
        Bridget

    • mackenzie 4:35 pm on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      To start great job with you pitches, they were easy to follow and they have made me interested in investigating further. I like the idea of taking textbook questions and making them more real world questions just like the tank question that Dan Meyer presented in his conference video. I love the idea of getting students to explore questions in a more hands on way, supported with multimedia support. As an investor I question the viability of the product since there are a ready several online sites that offer similar services like 101 questions and Dan’s own personal site. As an investor I would be concerned that once the product was used by one teacher in a school why wouldn’t that teacher just copy as many lessons as possible then give it to his colleagues or store them for future use. It also seems that this product would be easy to duplicate and your competition would increase.

      • Bridget 6:42 pm on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Hi Steve,

        Thank you for your comments.

        My biggest worry was passing Dan Meyer’s video off as my own…..referenced it but not sure if it would stand in a real pitch. I am glad to hear that you are a fan and although this was his first 3-act problem (I think) it has remained a favourite of mine.
        Dan focuses on the 3-acts which I think are great yet they are often not structured enough as a marketable product and they need a flexible teacher who knows the content very well in order to be successfully executed. I use his, and my own quite frequently in my classes. I am aiming to make more of a package out of the situations which can be more friendly for newer teachers and can be open or closed questions depending on the comfort of the teacher.

        Great point about the duplicating and even with registrations teachers share passcodes so this is something to consider. Competition is good and I think that there are going to be many changes in the way in which math is taught in the near future and good fun to be part of the ride.

        If you like Meyer you might also like Stadel http://mr-stadel.blogspot.ca/ who is also creating 3-act stories.

        Bridget

    • Sherman Lee 11:28 pm on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Bridget,

      If I had more investment dollars, I would definitely commit money to your venture as well! It was actually a rather difficult because you did make an awesome pitch. I really liked it. The video and the showcasing make it authentic and easy to see your vision in action.

      My biggest question for you is, how will you keep your product unique in the long run? Do you think that your product is easily replicable? How will your business model help prevent the market from diverging from your current dominance? I would also like to hear more about your team, to help me build trust in your venture.

      Do pitch to me again when you are ready!

      Sherman

    • Hussain Luaibi 11:18 pm on August 3, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Bridget
      Nice venture and a clever pitch! I am not a math teacher but I remember I used to be a top student. I used to love it. I think this project is unique and not easy to make. But nothing is impossible as long as there is a will to do it. Such initiatives should be encouraged to take their proper space in the world of education.
      One of the positive things about your project is that it could revive math teaching in general. You are starting a different method of teaching it, not the usual conventional style. And that is really unique in itself.
      A subject can be hated if it is not taught properly. Here we are tackling a very sensitive point, which is creating the interest in the learner. The new format of math teaching might trigger this interest and keep it tuned.
      Your project can get through the hearts of investor especially those who know how important math is for the whole system of education. The investors might get scared at first of the idea of teaching math through media tools but their reaction will not last long as soon as they understand that there is a huge market for it.
      Bridget, you will get a lot of investors. I am one of them!
      Good job
      Hussain

  • Meggan Crawford 12:28 pm on July 29, 2012
    0 votes
    |      

    The Pro-D Room is ready to bring personalized professional development to teachers.  With this new site, teachers have control over their pro-d courses and can access expert-run courses online.  Take a look at the elevator pitch to learn more about this exciting venture! For more detail, read the Venture Pitch! Thanks! -Meggan

    Continue reading The Pro-D Room Posted in: Venture Forum
     

    • jtpatry 4:49 pm on July 30, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Good Day Meggan,

      Thank you for sharing your elevator and venture pitches. Your Pro-D pitch was very well done and one that I wanted to know more about. Professional development is key in any profession and many times enough the selection or offerings are not worth the time or are able to cater to the diverse teacher needs. Teachers, like students need to have different offerings and methods to engage. I think the idea to collaborate and work-within a site (yet remaining independent) is key to getting your viable Pro-D brand out to the masses.
      How flexible is Pro-D? If teachers weren’t able to join the live session for whatever reasons, would there be opportunity for a pre-recoded webinar to access and take part in? I think this is a great idea and one that would offer educators of all levels to take their own Pro-D into their own hands and hopefully take the initiative and challenges them.

      Great job and thanks for sharing!

      Cheers,

      Jon

    • janetb 8:52 pm on July 30, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Meggan,
      This is an excellent idea! Your elevator pitch was very convincing and got me hooked. The venture pitch was well organized and engaging. I felt it exhibited the following strengths:

      Pain Point – you accurately and clearly identified the pain point. As an educator in rural BC, I related very strongly to the difficulties involved in accessing meaningful pro-d.

      Solution – Moving pro-d to technology makes sense – and saves cents; personalizing it makes it meaningful.

      Differentiation/Competition – You very clearly laid out the existing competition, of lack thereof, and how The Pro-D Room is different. I felt the online options for accessing the pro-d provided a range of choices to individual or groups of teachers.

      Market – Your market was clear.

      The Team – Your personal expertise and the areas of experience listed in your team gave me confidence that you could deliver the product.

      I have two suggestions for making an excellent proposal even better.

      While you stated the instructors would be well vetted by your team, you did not include a plan for how you would find those instructors. As identifying and hiring those instructors would be a key component of the success of the business, I would have liked more information on how you would advertise or market for those instructors.

      You referred to “Start-up Costs” but did not identify how much those costs might be, nor when the investor might expect a return. I realize you plan to take a year to establish the initial course options, but you did not indicate how long after that you might expect to start making a profit.

      Overall, I would definitely be interested in investing in this venture. It identifies a need, a unique and innovative solution, a strong market, and a strong team. This is a very exciting proposal with a great deal of potential.

      Janet

    • Claire Burgoyne 4:29 pm on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Meggan,
      Your Pro-D Room pitch is well done. Early on in your presentation you describe pro-D as required and irrelevant to individual teachers. Isn’t school and district organized professional development meant to assist teachers in reaching goals established by administration in consultation with teachers? It’s my understanding that each school has a pro-D committee that works to define relevant topics and provide worthwhile workshops for teachers. Teachers currently have access to professional development of their choice although the opportunity to access funds for these options is limited. Pro-D Room’s low cost offerings are a plus and with them being offered online they can easily be accessed by teachers everywhere.

      Claire

    • Leonora Zefi 3:58 am on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Megan,
      Thank you for sharing your venture idea.
      The clarity and your enthusiasm make your pitch very effective Megan.

      Concept
      This is a great concept and I like how you have included selection criteria for the teachers showing that this is a quality offer. You have identified a unique need and a solution to address it effectively. The flexible delivery format makes Pro D Room a very marketable offering
      You have obviously thought about a variety of marketing the venture and judging by your analysis of the need and numbers of teachers who need Pro D either for personal/professional growth and/or to meet the regulatory professional organizations. While it sounds like an interesting idea to generate more business, I would have liked to see a bit more explanation about this idea that “For every course that an instructor teaches they will be given free access to another course of their choice, as well as a commission for every student who successfully completes the course.”
      Marketability
      Well supported and researched arguments for the future market opportunities for Pro D Room. You have also differentiated your venture from the competition quite clearly.

      Venture Plan
      Your plan is clearly outlined Megan, however, it would have been helpful to include a few more details about the financials.

      Great work.
      Thanks,
      Leonora

    • lisamallen 10:57 am on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Well Done Megan,

      I enjoyed both your elevator and paper venture pitch. Clearly, your venture serves a need in the market and I think you’ve detailed it accurately and convincingly! I would for sure invest. The only weakness that I could see here is the details on the finances. What’s in it for the investor? How do I, as an investor make money on this? I know it’s hard to detail everything within the time/ word limits for this assignment, but touching on that information would have been helpful to investors (and made your pitch more thorough.)

      Well done,

      Lisa

    • maybacon 12:17 pm on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Meggan,

      Wonderful venture and pitches!

      The Elevator Pitch: The venture concept was clear, concise and interesting, making it evident that you are knowledgeable about the market, passionate about the field of education and willing to partner with people of expertise in order to deliver a useful service. Not only would I want to invest in The Pro-D Room, I would want to use the service!

      The Venture Pitch: The idea of working alongside potential competitors or fulfilling a niche they have left unexplored is a very useful idea. I was actually quite surprised that nothing similar to this venture exists, because this makes professional development both more valuable and interesting for the educator.

      One concern I have is with the payment for student completion method, as it implies that student failure is the educator’s “fault”. While a large percentage of failures most likely indicates a problem with the educator, it is normal that some students might not pass a course for a number of reasons unrelated to the teacher’s abilities, and this might be an interesting area to research before launching the service. Regardless, this is a very small point of contention in an otherwise stellar idea.

      I am also wondering where profits go… back into the company (as in a not-for-profit) or to shareholders? As an investor, I would like to know whether I am investing for social return (which there would be much of with such an idea) or for monetary gains.

      Excellent idea, great pitches!

      May

    • ping 12:28 pm on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Meggan,

      I like your pitch, it’s very lucid and passionate. You make your venture differentiated from others by focusing on the submarket of personalized learning for teachers, it’s very strategic! I like your description of solution and market in your venture pitch. You seem to be well prepared for this idea and ready for market challenges. One of my concern is that where your course modules will be created. Will you & your team create modules by yourselves (like a press house), or will you make a platform to host courses from other educational sources)? I think content creation is essential for a venture like Pro-D, so I would hope to know more about R&D aspects of your venture to be ensure your productivity and competition. What will distinguish your courses from training courses for general purpose? For the financial parts, the “Ask” is not quite clear to me, as well as the charging model for return. With these informations you could convince me to make an investment to this prospective venture. Good Luck Maggan!

      Ping

    • chrisaitken 1:10 am on August 3, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Megan

      Great idea. Your concept is a way of providing professional development that I would like to be a part of. I wonder how comfortable school administrators would be in allowing teachers to choose their own courses. Some would be, others may not. I think there is a lot of potential here.

    • Chelsea M Woods 9:40 am on August 3, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Meggan, I love your idea and your elevator pitch sells it effectively. I was interested in your statement that courses can be one day long, and would have liked to hear more about credits for teachers and course categorization (how do you deal with varying levels of content and interaction?). Great idea, thank you!
      Chelsea

    • danishaw 10:36 am on August 4, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Meggan,
      You have provided a venture that has great potential and is very current as it seems that parts of it could follow the open educational movement. Depending on the geographical location of educators, professional development varies. What might be required within one province/country might differ considerably. This being said, I do believe that once you have a great deal of content ready to be delivered to educators, the potential to customize to find individual needs of districts might be a potential avenue. One aspect that could have supported your analysis or pitch would be to include a sample of what a course might look like. Furthermore, you do mention that educators request pd opportunities that vary in content however a graph of surveyed educators stating within certain areas could also narrow down such broad subject. Simply leaving it as “PD” might be too ambitious for a start-up company. Overall, I enjoyed watching and reading your ideas. All the best,
      Danielle

  • Danielle 3:55 am on July 29, 2012
    -1 votes
    |      

    Welcome to SUSTAINABLeLEARNING.com, a free social networking and learning enterprise aimed at bringing together like-minded educators and learners from around the world to socialize, network, play games and share ideas and resources on sustainable development.  For more detailed information on this amazing investment opportunity, please click here. We also invite you to meet the founder […]

    Continue reading Welcome to SUSTAINABLeLEARNING.com Posted in: Venture Forum
     

    • Jody McKinnon 2:57 pm on July 30, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Danielle. First and foremost, I want to commend you on the quality of your video and the attention to detail in the presentation of your longer venture pitch. The editing and framing of the video are very impressive. In your report, I was particularly impressed with the visual appeal, the structure, and the themes that you have used to present it. I love the water related theme and your CEO team seems top notch 😉

      As for the venture itself, in a world filled with social networking options, I am impressed by your idea in that it is different and does stand out to a degree. I agree with your assessment when you state that it might be difficult to launch among other weaknesses and threats you have identified in your SWOT analysis. Hopefully with enough investors and an excellent marketing campaign (sustainable of course!), you would get enough users. I think that if you targeted teachers of social sciences, geography, environmental studies, science and green industries, you might have a natural group to begin with. Also, if you target existing green industries and companies, your audience will build quickly. Perhaps if you used a celebrity endorsement from someone like David Suzuki, your product could grow in leaps and bounds with little to no effort.

      Overall, if I were an investor, I would certainly consider providing some assistance to this venture. It is not only a great way to connect with like-minded individuals and groups from around the world, but it is also a great way to help save our planet. Well done!

      • Danielle 7:14 pm on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Hi Jody,

        Thank you very much for your feedback. And your ideas are great! I’d like you to consider applying for a job at SUSTAINABLeLEARNING.com! We need your talent and expertise!

        Danielle

    • Ronna Hoglund 5:48 pm on July 30, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Danielle,
      Your personal elevator pitch was the clincher for me. Putting yourself “out there” is very effective. Besides that, you have a great idea and one that is close to my heart which, I think, can make a difference with investors. So, all in all you were very clear and concise in your elevator pitch and filled in all the necessary blanks in your venture pitch. I would invest in sustainableelearning.com.
      Regards,
      Ronna

      • Danielle 7:40 pm on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Thanks Ronna! As a platinum level investor, you are entitled to a preferential rate on our “Class A” shares! 😀 Thanks for your feedback, I appreciate it!

    • Dave Horn 10:36 pm on July 30, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Danielle

      I thought that your elevator pitch was simple, but professional and you had very clear voice and conveyed a genuine characteristic, which does I believe, give investors confidence. I could see a small niche market existing for the sustainable approach, but I questioned how much room for growth there was in the long run. While I wouldn’t invest right away, it would definitely be a venture that I kept an eye on.

      Dave

    • dmcinnes 9:49 am on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Danielle,
      I thought your elevator pitch was really well done. It was clear, simple and professional. I also really liked your venture pitch. I thought the format was professional looking and visually appealing. I really liked your metaphors (confluence, rapids, tributaries, etc.). I think there is a niche here that you have tapped into. Social Networking is great, but they don’t have focus and are too overwhelming. Your proposition for an idea that is focussed and based on “social purpose” has some potential. It might be a small market though. I’d be interested as an investor for the greater good, but not as one looking to make a great deal of money.
      Well done!
      David McInnes

      • Danielle 8:43 pm on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Hi David, you have an interesting point. You would invest for the greater good but not to make money? Then perhaps you are suggesting that the venture attract donations rather than venture capital. Something for me to think about, thanks very much! Danielle

    • Yves Mainville 11:03 am on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Danielle

      Very impressive pitch. The presentation was very pro-like and quite complete. I also likes the team member’s names. 🙂
      The concept seems viable, but perhaps a little trendy – I would would like to know more about the long term viability of the concept, but this is more a case of this being outside my comfort zone and I am most likely ignorant on these particular facts.

      My concern is with the competition / market. There seems to be a fair bit of it and large well established to boot. That being said however, there seems to be a definite niche and you cater to it well.

      Excellent presentation.
      thank you.

      • Danielle 8:54 pm on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Hi Yves,

        Thanks for your feedback and ideas. I agree that the investment would be a risk given the competition. It would require a stellar marketing campaign at the least. Thanks again for the comments.

        Danielle

    • Brian H 11:43 am on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Danielle,

      Outstanding elevator pitch. You had me engaged and ready to write a cheque.

      However, I looked for my 250% return and as an investor, was not confident in the venture’s ability to generate revenue.

      Your project however could hit a niche market and could secure government and non-profit funding without the need for private investors.

      Very intriguing!

      Brian

    • sheza 11:39 am on August 1, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Danielle!

      I was really impressed by the professional wuality of your elevator pitch and the overall look of your venture pitch. Obviously, when I read the content I became even more impressed! You have clearly crossed all your Ts and dotted your Is! The idea is an interesting one and while I admire its roots and vision, I don’t think that it would be a viable venture due to the untangible nature of the concept. I think that many schools and teachers have adopted eco-friendly ideals and values in their teaching and learning and I think that it is a neat idea to have a place to come together and combine these, I think that it is a little too optimistic. Social networking takes up so much of our time today, and I just don’t think that you will generate so much interest from the people to add this to their plates as well. Perhaps the venture could be developed into an add-on feature to another already popular social networking site? Perhaps a pitch to Facebook to have a Sustainable eLearning or Green Networking division as part of their platform?

      I really admire the hard work that you have put into your work though and even though I wouldn’t be ready to put the money into this particular venture, I would certainly be interested in working with you and your team in the future.

      All the best!

      Sheza Naqi

      • Danielle 10:37 pm on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Hi Sheza,

        I chuckled at your feedback. I am often criticized for being too optimistic! 😀 I appreciate the time you took to assess my venture. Your feedback is helpful!

        Cheers,

        Danielle

    • kimnoel 1:11 pm on August 1, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Danielle,

      Nicely done! Your pitch looked and sounded professional, and I think your venture idea has merit. It certainly plays into the “green” culture.

      I do wonder about the market however. While I am sure there would be a moderate market, I wonder if the market is there to become a true financial success.

      Smiles, Kim

      • Danielle 10:42 pm on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Hi Kim,

        This venture does not target people who want to make a difference but those who take the take the necessary steps to do so. I agree that these individuals are few and far between. A lot of work needs to be done to create an active culture of change. Thank you for your feedback, I appreciate it!

        Danielle

    • mackenzie 4:59 pm on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      The elevator pitch was well done, I really got to connect with you personally and see what you are about. The idea of that kind of return on my investment was captivating since most companies usually only hope to break even by year 5. I was impressed that you did SWOT and ROI analysis that connected the future growth to government and corporate opportunities. I wish more was said about competition and how you are dealing with their interest in you investors.

    • Sherman Lee 10:48 pm on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hello Danielle,

      Congratulations, I think you have done a great job on your pitch. As many have complimented already that your pitch was very professional. If I had to be super picky, the only thing I would mention is your voice. It was strong, well paced but the microphone you had didn’t do you justice. It was a bit too far away so it picked up a lot of background, but that is strictly picking bones out of an egg of me. As an investor, your venture drew in my interest, but not from the standpoint that I would make money off of direct. However, I do see that my company could invest in something that would give back to the community. It will build a better outlook as my company is launching an eco-conscious program to our employees. Overall, you did a marvelous job!

      CEO & Team: Danielle, you looked so professional in the elevator pitch. Without even looking at further references, you have received my buy in with your gestures. I think that is a very important part of a venture pitch. In a short minute, a list of reference would do peanuts, but a professional and strong speech carries you miles ahead. Your team was equally professional looking. It would be great if I get to meet them later on.

      Venture Concept: I like your concept of making a social network of sustainable development educators. Like I have mentioned before, your concept may not draw in direct money but it will end up benefiting in many other ways, such as creating a more positive outlook for your investors. I would like to see you play on more of that to draw in more investment interests. Please let me know of your plans of how you would accomplish that.

      Marketability: Unfortunately, I don’t think this product is very marketable on its own. However you may consider building publicity through any giants that are already in the sustainability campaign for years. Connect with your local groups to help draw in the crowd.

      Venture Plan: I would like to know a bit more about your plans for kick-off. How are you going to promote this product?

      With such a great pitch, I would like to invest in your venture. Prior to committing a solid amount, I would like to further discuss with you in regards to your business model and marketing plans.

      Thank you and great job!

      Sherman

      • Danielle 11:12 pm on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Wow, Sherman!

        Thank you! What a phenomenal set of feedback! Can I hire you?? I’d pay you well! Your questions are excellent as they raise important issues about the pitch. I really appreciate it! Too bad we can’t go back and adjust our pitches.

        Thanks again for taking such care in your analysis,

        Danielle

        • Sherman Lee 8:30 am on August 3, 2012 | Log in to Reply

          Hi Danielle,

          You know, I wish this was due about 3 weeks earlier. That would have given us the time to revise and show improvement and progress. Although I also understand how that would make our schedule super jam packed with all the group presentation etc. I am glad that what I have shared is of value to you, Danielle. Again great job!

          Sherman

    • Hussain Luaibi 9:44 pm on August 3, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Danielle
      Great work! Your venture is really interesting and what makes it so is the fact that it gathers people who have the same concerns or expectations. Your pitch is done professionally. As for the venture itself, well I personally prefer to make the venture more interactive or more pictorial These things pave the way to the invesors’ hearts. But that is not really a big thing. The great thing about your venture is that I feel as an investor that it can get a place in the market . There are many sites that offer the same service but yours is more organized and engaging.
      As an investor, I believe I want to slow down before I start .
      Great job
      Hussain

    • Danielle 8:41 am on August 5, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Hussain,

      Thank you for the feedback, and great idea on interactivity. If I had the time and expertise, I would have built a sample site for “potential investors” to view. Of course if this were a real venture, the site would already be in place. I appreciate your comments and the fact that you see the potential in this site. Thanks again!

      Danielle

  • Dave Horn 10:51 pm on July 28, 2012
    0 votes
    |
    Tags: etec522, mobile learning, teacher-training   

    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 […]

    Continue reading Hi and welcome to E3 Consulting. We spec… Posted in: Venture Forum
     

    • Meggan Crawford 6:06 pm on July 30, 2012 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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

  • Dennis Pratt 9:53 pm on July 28, 2012
    -1 votes
    |
    Tags: ,   

    Welcome to SAFETY TRAINING FOR YOUTH. As a construction teacher and MET student I am in the right position to help digitalize construction teaching. Watch the elevator pitch and visit my venture pitch and reflection in Google Docs. I think you will see my passion and desire to see safety improved in construction classes. *photos […]

    Continue reading Welcome to SAFETY TRAINING FOR YOUTH. As… Posted in: Uncategorized, Venture Forum
     

    • Jody McKinnon 4:17 pm on July 30, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      HI Dennis. I think you are on to something here. Your idea is a great one and I would hope that it would be developed and implemented immediately. Safety is our number one goal and I think that by putting in a digital form, you could probably catch your audience’s attention even more so. In fact, it might be fun to make safety videos with your students to add to your collection of legit safety videos. The idea seems very solid and could easily be sold or given to other jurisdictions as you have stated, it’s a not for profit idea. I didn’t see or hear anything about your CEO and Team so I couldn’t comment on that. Overall, I think it is a great idea that should be pursued immediately, if not sooner.

      Jody

      • Dennis Pratt 2:34 pm on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Jody;

        I can’t wait to get going on the project and plan to initiate it this year over my last two courses. I had a hard time thinking of myself as a CEO for this venture as I do plan on organizing it but don’t know what kind of money will be involved to get it off the ground or see it through until the end. I tried to just mention my credentials and leave it at that. I think many people find it difficult to talk about themselves or sell themselves to others.

        I appreciate the feedback as it is sometimes hard to come by, even amongst your colleagues.

        Thanks,

        Dennis

    • Yves Mainville 11:21 am on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Dennis,

      Solid elevator pitch and quite relevant. I think it is very ‘Ă  propos’ in current educational circles and the ministry’s push into trades.
      I like the mobile accessibility of the product.
      I would like to hear more about the competition and the market before investing however. Being somewhat familiar with this area, I think strategic partnerships will be key as well.

      Well done.

      • Dennis Pratt 2:28 pm on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Yves;

        I like your idea of strategic partnerships as the initial networking would be more work but it would pay off quickly. As for the competition, I did not touch on it as much as I could have, mostly because there is not much available for youth specific training. There are a few websites put out by the government but they are mostly text and aimed at older youth. I can see this project aligning with Occupational Health and Safety at the provincial level and maybe even getting some government funding through them to develop quality resources.

        Thanks,

        Dennis

    • dmcinnes 1:59 pm on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Dennis,
      It sounds like a good concept. I can imagine how difficult it is to get all the students on the “same page” when many are absent on days that proper operation of tools, or safety demonstrations are conducted. What I wonder about though is how relevant will the videos/apps be when different shops use different tools, and various brands of tools? Also, is there a convention of set standards across Canada or does it vary province to province? Are the differences slight enough that it wouldn’t matter? I wonder if it might become a bit of a hodge podge with some manufacturers videos, some of your own. Would your identity/branding get lost in the shuffle?
      Overall well done.
      David McInnes

      • Dennis Pratt 2:24 pm on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        David;

        Thanks for the feedback and I have the same concerns myself. Most of the construction labs have a basic set of tools and that is where I will start with the simulations and videos. After that set is done I would branch off and specialize into tools that are less common. I can see the library growing and evolving with time. I really like what the Khan Academy has done with their library of videos and would try to do something similar over the years that I am teaching. Eventually I would like to get others involved, maybe through a contest so I am not the only one producing professional quality videos and simulations. For the most part there are similarities between most machinery and that is a great starting point.

        Thanks,

        Dennis

    • dmcinnes 2:00 pm on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      p.s. I forgot to add that I think Workers Compensation Board might really get behind a project like this. Maybe some funding would be available.

    • kimnoel 1:16 pm on August 1, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Dennis,

      Nice pitch and a very relevant venture idea. I love the app idea and I think that this could be something other than a “not-for-profit”! Didn’t hear anything about the company or team, but I think you should run with this (hopefully all the way to the bank!) 🙂

      Great job – Good Luck!
      Smiles, Kim

    • Danielle 2:32 pm on August 1, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Dennis,

      Great idea for a venture! I also like your elevator pitch. How you personally introduce the idea and follow up with examples is quite effective . As an investor, I would probably want to see more information about your marketing strategy, championship, and the competition. However, I think the venture speaks for itself and certainly has the potential of taking off. Well done!

      Danielle

    • jtpatry 11:06 am on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Dennis,

      Great idea for a venture concept in the hands on construction learning environment. Safety is always key in these types of environments and by having a mobile app with video data banks to refer back to or engage with prior to using machinery is a great idea. Getting the students involved with the venture would be a great idea as that someone mentioned above!

      Thanks for sharing!

      Jon

    • mackenzie 4:31 pm on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      I liked the elevator pitch it showed your problem and your solution. It caused me to look at you venture pitch more thoroughly. I liked the simulation idea but wonder if simulations are the way to go with such a hands on topic. I like the PHET simulations for physics and find them very useful and they save me large amounts of time with lab set up and take down. I would love to actually see one of these simulations since PHET was set up with nobel peach prize money.

      • Dennis Pratt 8:51 pm on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Yes, the simulations and videos will be where most of the money goes. I would have a laptop or iPad set up like a kiosk where students can go to reference the machines they are supposed to know before they operate them. They would have to complete the simulations successfully a few times before getting on the actual equipment.

        Thanks for the response.

        Dennis

    • Bridget 5:53 pm on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Dennis,

      Thank you for sharing your pitches and after reviewing your elevator pitch I have the follow comments.

      I like the way that you video-taped yourself in front of the tool bench since this immediately gave me an idea of what you would be talking about. I also found the pictures to be effective especially the x-ray.

      As a time saver, videos are a great idea and work well within the realm of a flipped-classroom concept but I am not certain that they need to be recreated since a selection of safety videos already exist on the internet. I would have to weigh the value of the time and money spent reproducing these videos. If there is a reason for them to be specific it was not evident in the elevator pitch.

      Bridget

      • Dennis Pratt 8:55 pm on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Bridget;

        I struggled getting everything into the elevator pitch as time seemed to go way to fast. I would have to produce new videos, for the most part, that target youth specifically. The safety videos that are available are mostly created for industry and adults. Youth need more focus and reminders about what the main points are.

        The best example I can think of is Bill Nye. He creates amazing video about science that are created specifically for kids. If you have ever seen him speak to adults he is not so animated or exciting as he does not have to be.

        Dennis

    • sheza 7:54 pm on August 4, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Dennis,

      I think you have a great idea here. There is a huge push in all districts, provinces and many workplaces that deal with the trades to hire people who are well-trained on the safety of working with machinery. I liked the simple and straight-forward nature of your elevator pitch, though it would have been good to see some more aggressive marketing to an investor in there. I think you could effectively pitch this venture to the WHIMS Board or as you mention in your venture pitch, the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety because your product could fill in the gaps left by their guidelines.

      I especially like the fact that your product will consist of simulations that students go through to learn about the machinery and the safety precautions to take in using it – this is a feature that will give you a competitive edge over other safety resources available online. Launching this product as an app is also a great way to reach youth.

      I think that their is viability in this venture and that you should pursue it! I would be interested in investing after seeing a more clearly worked out business plan.

      All the best,

      Sheza

    • Hussain Luaibi 12:21 pm on August 5, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hello Dennis
      Your project has potential success in it. What makes it so is the fact that you are highlighting an important factor in the field training and education: safety. In spite of the fact that you didn’t refer to the CEO and the team working with him, your project is still outstanding in terms of potential profitability. I think your idea can be a great haven for a lot of vocational institutes and schools due to the practicality of the project.
      As for investing in your project, well, I would love to do it of course after considering the rivals of such idea.
      You need to keep on to make it a real one and not only a 522 assignment.
      Great job
      Hussain

    • toddpowell 10:51 pm on August 5, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Dennis,
      I have had many conversations with my school’s shop teacher about many of the same issues that you are highlighting. There is a great need for your project, and I would love to see this available in the future!

      Cheers,
      Todd

  • maybacon 9:22 pm on July 28, 2012
    2 votes
    |      

    Welcome to Construct-Ed, a scaffold and consulting service that provides knowledgeable individuals with the instructions and resources for creating effective online courses based on  constructivist teaching methods. To find out more, please watch Construct-Ed’s elevator pitch, below: Construct-Ed Elevator Pitch Still have questions about Construct-Ed? Please the Construct-Ed Venture Pitch and Analysis. Looking forward to […]

    Continue reading Construct-Ed Posted in: Venture Forum
     

    • unclereg 10:18 pm on July 30, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hello May,

      Your pitch looked great and was very well presented. I had to watch it a few times to get a full understanding of the pitch….you delivered it well, but I just needed to catch-up with some parts. Overall, I liked the idea and do realize that ‘yes’ some need help constructing courseware especially if they’re not teachers originally. I would invest in this idea.
      Good job.

      -Regen

      • maybacon 1:53 pm on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Thanks for the feedback!

        May

        • unclereg 10:17 pm on August 5, 2012 | Log in to Reply

          Hello May,

          Here are some more of my thoughts on your idea. Looking over your feedback and responses to the posts and feedback of others made more of a great impression on your commitment to the idea. There doesn’t seem to be a question you can’t answer thoughtfully. Good job. As for the idea, again I think there are many people out there who wind up in a position to teach something they know about, but do not have the skills to deliver some lesson plans that will engage. The exact market I think this idea would be best for is within trade schools such as BCIT/Kwantlen Trades/etc. These schools have the most knowledgeable staff for the topics they deliver but could use extra help in making lessons plans that match their superior knowledge of the trade. Keep up with this idea, and good luck. The presentation was great.

          -Regen

    • vawells 6:48 am on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Elevator Pitch:

      Hi May

      I really enjoyed your elevator pitch. Your presentation of the venture was professional and clearly delivered. The images and music were well matched and held my attention throughout the pitch. The logo for your venture was fabulous! As Founder and CEO of Construct-ED, your voice exuded an air of confidence that gave weight to your pitch and inspired confidence in me as a potential investor. Overall your pitch caught and held my attention and made me want to delve deeper into your venture by moving on to your venture pitch.

      One suggestion to strengthen your pitch would be to include some information about your credentials and some information about who would be working with you.

      Well done!

      Valerie

    • vawells 7:11 am on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Venture Pitch Analysis

      Pain Point
      The problem that your company Construct-ED would be addressing is clearly defined and supported with sound research. The need for well designed courses that utilize constructivist strategies is a niche that needs to be filled.

      Solution:
      The development of a custom design of LMS to meet the customers’ specific needs and support for customers sounds like a realistic. Because it is customized for particular clients type of LMS does not matter so that should attract a wide market base.

      Differentiation:
      While you identify companies that offer some of the services your company has the clear advantage of offering the whole suite of services that gives you a clear advantage.

      Marketing:
      Marketing strategy using a 2 year phase in model clearly laid out. Your uniqness ensures a broad market base.

      Championship:
      Your commitment, credentials, confidence and passion about your product are clear and inspire confidence.

      The Ask:
      I would need to know, as an EVA, how much of an investment you would be asking me to make.

      The Return:
      I am unclear as an EVA how much return I can expect on my investment.

      Yes I would potentially be willing to invest in this venture at this time however I would need more financial information around my investment and return on investment before I could fully commit. The pitch is credible, concept is feasible and the potential market is there for this venture to be successful.

      Well done

      Valerie

      • maybacon 1:52 pm on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Thanks for the thorough feedback, Valerie!

        If I were to modify my pitch now, I would ask an investor for $30,000 for 25% of the company (shares/profits). While I believe there is much growth potential for this venture, I think that at the idea stage (i.e. no sales yet), any investment is essentially a gamble, so I would not want to inflate the valuation. The $30,000 would cover set up costs, web programming basics (because I could do most of the design and web implementation myself) and cover attendance at one trade show (which my MBA contact tells me can cost approximately $10,000). Because the initial “team” would consist of only myself and occasional consultant work until the demand surpassed my abilities, profit would be redistributed among investors.

        Great questions – I wish we’d had a chance for feedback sooner, since it would have helped me to fine-tune the venture pitch 🙂

        May

    • Deborah S 10:04 am on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi May,
      I enjoyed your elevator pitch. The combination of graphics and your presence led to an engaging pitch.

      This is a very interesting concept and I think you did a wonderful job summarizing the competition. I was a bit unclear as to who your main market was as you mentioned K-12 educators as well as the corporate sector. Were you planning to target one of these in particular? I was also curious as to whether or not you see the need to provide technical support to your customers. You are delivering information such as LMS tools to use, but I’m wondering if there wouldn’t also be a great opportunity to follow that up with tech support as they’re building their solution.

      Great job!

      Deborah

      • maybacon 1:42 pm on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Hi Deborah,

        I like the idea of providing technical support. In my venture pitch, I do mention providing one on one consultations, and these could include tech support. The reports (templates) would also include not only recommendations for which tools to use, but instructions on how to use them (for example, how to sign up for a specific LMS, create a blog on a certain platform, etc).

        Thanks for the feedback!

    • karonw 12:57 pm on August 1, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi May,

      Good job on your elevator pitch presentation! It was very aesthetically pleasing and it totally got my attention. Your friendly smile in the beginning also started off the pitch with a very positive touch. As an EVA, in reviewing your pitch I was able to obtain information as to what is the current problem and Construct-Ed is the solution to all the problems business men and people with degrees are facing. You went into the details as to how Construct-Ed works which was very detailed in facts. The only thing I was unclear on was who you’re marketing this venture to, my assumption based on the pictures I saw in your pitch was that it was meant for both corporate professionals and students in post-secondary? Other than that, I think you did an excellent job and I can see a lot of effort has been put into creating this pitch.

      Karon

      • maybacon 1:39 pm on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Hi Karon,

        Thanks for your comments – Yes, the target market is professionals, business managers and DIY enthusiasts who have little or no educational background. My goal would be to begin with this focus online, but eventually offer the consulting service to business and focus on corporate training, once the online venture has gained momentum, to minimize risk.

    • ping 1:09 pm on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi May,

      Excellent elevator pitch! Very innovative idea! I think constructive education is necessary for many professional people, as I can find many engineers in my company don’t know how to present their ideas properly. I can see your venture has market potential both in school and in professionals. I like the idea of “constructive templates”, which I believe could be a convincible selling point of your products. I wonder, however, how your templates would look like? Are they similar to those templates freely available in Microsoft PowerPoint? Or, will your template be more comprehensive, constructive, and relevant to professional features? I’ll be interested to see your market strategy, as for what part of users you plan to target at first stage. You might have answered these questions in your venture pitch, sorry I only find a lost link in it at this time. I think you’re very qualified to lead this venture, and I can see its chance of success in the market. Well done & good luck, May!

      Ping

      • maybacon 1:35 pm on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Hi Ping,

        Thanks for the feedback. To answer your question about templates, Construct-Ed Would offer a template-based report (so Construct-Ed would have several templates based on type of client – professionals, business managers, DIYers and so on) but the client would receive this as an instruction manual/report. Each report would have client-specific customization, though after a number of clients Construct-Ed would have a complete framework for each client type. I hope I’m making myself clearer and not more confusing, but the gist is that this is not software, but a consulting firm that offers a business model for education.

        Thanks again for the comments & questions,
        May

    • troos 1:41 pm on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hello May:

      Your Construct-Ed venture has great potential. I like the emphasis on application of teaching theory to online learning. Your elevator pitch does a great job explaining the need for your product and your personal presence at the beginning lends the necessary credibility. You speak clearly and at a good pace to reflect your enthusiasm. I would have liked to see a little more information in your elevator pitch regarding market. What is your expected revenue? Who, specifically, are your expected clients – is it individual teachers, companies or institutions? What is the projected size and extent of your market? You likely provide these answers in your venture pitch but touching on them in your elevator pitch would have made your proposal more convincing to me, the investor. Overall, great work!

      Tim

    • Leonora Zefi 5:19 pm on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Your elevator message pitch was clear and engaging May. You struck the perfect balance between your narration and animated images to convey your venture concept.
      You conveyed confidence, credibility and enthusiasm as a CEO.

      Concept and marketability
      Your venture idea addresses a very relevant need in education. I like your ambitious growth plan ($100 + 5% of the e-courses student enrollment fees (3% after 100 enrollments). Your “personalized” approach to determining the clients’ needs will go a long way I think.
      You have differentiated the venture from competition through the comparison matrix and that clearly shows your venture’s marketability.

      The ask is quite clear, however, it may have been helpful to outline the financials for the investor because the way it’s laid out, it seems a bit overwhelming and difficult to see the ROI or the “one year” breakeven projection.

      You did a fantastic job with the elevator pitch and the design of your venture pitch May.
      Thanks,
      Leonora

    • gillian 8:53 am on August 3, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      May,
      I found your elevator pitch extremely effective; it was the perfect mix of narration, text and image. I also love your logo (I think that allowed you to put your love of graphics into action).

      Your idea is an interesting one and I agree there is a need in the market for such a service. However, I wonder how easy a sell it will be as you do seem to touch on the very dangerous area of teacher autonomy.
      I have to say I really enjoyed reading your reflection as my reactions to this project were very similar in regards to entrepreneurship and being business minded. I too found putting value on ideas a very difficult thing to do.

    • Dennis Pratt 8:52 pm on August 3, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      May,

      Like the others I enjoyed the elevator pitch as it was well done and explained the venture well enough. I know how fast 60 seconds can go when you have 10 minutes of material. I had to make sure I selected what I thought were the most important points and put them in the elevator pitch, leaving lots of details out. It looks like you had to do the same. I agree that many teachers (as well as many others) would like to develop education materials to fit their needs but do not know how, or how to make it interesting. I think that a well-trained consultant would do wonders as they teach some of the basics and guide the user in creating great resources together. Simply put, I think this is a great idea and hope you can find the right people for the job. That will be a key element for your success.

      Dennis

    • Chelsea M Woods 10:07 am on August 4, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      May,

      ConstructEd is timely, relevant, and has an excellent design. You have tapped into a key concept that is preventing the spread of learning: the teaching certificate. Sadly, even with a teaching degree many of us falter at the creation of effective online or blended courses, and ConstructEd would help teachers and non-’teachers’ alike to share knowledge in a time when knowledge in increasing so rapidly that those who specialize in education are often unable to keep up with progress in their fields of expertise. Your business model would enable teachers to connect students with experts in the field and take on the role of coach or mentor as appropriate, and help experts to share their knowledge in a way that makes it accessible to others.

      Every aspect of your pitch is thoroughly researched, detailed, and innovatively constructed. Your pricing plan, education plan, and customer support will all make your venture effective, and you have presented yourself as an extremely competent champion.

      The logo and layout are beautiful.
      Thank you for developing an excellent venture!
      Chelsea

  • troos 6:29 pm on July 28, 2012
    0 votes
    |
    Tags: educational technology, , professional development,   

    In Ed-Tech Pro-D, I provide an opportunity for teachers who may not wish to complete a degree in educational technology an opportunity to participate in some extended professional development within a community of practice.  Please find my venture pitch and elevator pitch embedded below. Tim Venture Pitch: Elevator Pitch:

    Continue reading Ed-Tech Pro-D: Professional Development for Educators in Educational Technology Posted in: Venture Forum
     

    • Jody McKinnon 4:49 pm on July 30, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Tim. I was very impressed with your presentation and the amount of detail that you have put into it. I am not in BC so I was a shocked to see that much investment in PD! I have no idea what it is here in Ontario, but my guess is that is less! You have tapped into a much needed area. PD is not that enjoyable anymore and you have identified those pain points so well. I think this idea has lots of potential. My only real criticism is the music in the longer pitch. I was not a fan of it. Otherwise, good job.

      Good luck

      Jody

      • troos 4:51 pm on August 3, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Hi Jody:

        Thanks for your comments. I think you would be surprised at the amount spent on PD in Ontario. I suppose I chose the music based on personal taste but should have thought more about broader appeal.
        Tim

    • Yves Mainville 11:25 am on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Tim,

      I am very impressed with your presentation and I think it holds great value. The pitches were very slick and thorough. I think the team makeup is win-win and will prove to be a huge asset to this venture.
      I was sold at pain point #2!
      I thought there were many commonalities with the EduNexus pitch and I am sure they would like to explore partnership possibilities.
      The use of ‘pain points’ was clever and really helped sell the concept.
      I am comforted by the clear direction of the company, the thoroughness of the presentation and feel like my investment would be a solid one.

      Count me in.

      • troos 4:54 pm on August 3, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Yves:

        Thanks for your support. I think there were several ventures in the area of professional development that had similar slants but individual strengths. They would all do well to amalgamate these strengths into one venture.

        Tim

    • dmcinnes 2:13 pm on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Tim,
      Your pitches are thorough and clear. Seems like you have a good concept. Amongst my peer teachers, technology training is always the area that they seem to be missing or wanting. There is an attitude that teachers should go out and just get trained themselves (self-serve style) to teach in the 21st century, but for many technology training is very intimidating. That is why the individualized coaching and guidance would be helpful. I don’t think I am convinced to invest, but I might be on the fence.
      As Jody mentioned, the accordion music in the venture pitch was killing me! 😉
      Overall well done!
      David McInnes

      • troos 4:56 pm on August 3, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        David:

        Sorry about the music. I guess I am just not in touch with what would have a broader appeal. I was trying to find something that would make the listener relax to some extent but still stay engaged. Maybe lowering the volume would have helped.

        Tim

    • kimnoel 1:22 pm on August 1, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Tim,

      Well done! Your elevator pitch sounds great – have you considered a career in media? Ha!

      Professional development for teachers in technology is an area that is certainly lacking, and I think that you have a viable venture here. If only teachers could get a day for their online professional development!

      Smiles, Kim

      • troos 4:58 pm on August 3, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Hi Kim:

        Thanks for your supportive words. With the amount of time it took me to put this together, I don’t think anybody is about to request my services in media. :-). Time would certainly be the limiting factor in getting teachers to participate in this venture.

        Tim

    • Dennis Pratt 8:08 pm on August 1, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Tim;

      As the others have mentioned it iis obvious that you have put a great deal of thought and planning into this venture and it could be up and running in no time. Teachers are always looking for simple solutions with ready-made plans where they can implement what they learn as soon as they leave a professional development session. I see this working across BC and then into other provinces, as well. I would like to know more about the product itself and maybe see some examples of the professional development your team has planned for these teachers. Overall, great work and I hope to see the venture in full swing somewhere down the line.

      Dennnis

    • Danielle 5:58 am on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Tim,

      This is a fabulous venture and the thoroughness of your of your research and the professionalism of your presentation has me convined. I think the ProD issue is a global problem and I feel we face many of the same issues you mention where I live. I really like your advisory team and I think with a little market research among teachers and distracts, you have a winning venture! Well done!

      Danielle

    • jtpatry 11:15 am on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hey Tim,

      Very well done Elevator and Venture pitch, uber professional for sure! I truly believe that Professional Development offered in this particular manner would be something that teachers and other professionals would be wiling to commit to. You mention wikis and blogs for teachers to access, would ProD have a webinar data bank that could also be used to view for various PD opportunities?

      Thanks for sharing and good luck!

      Jon

      • troos 5:05 pm on August 3, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Hey Jon:

        I believe you have suggested a great addition to the services offered by my venture. webinars would be an excellent way of connecting with many teachers and demonstrating methods and resources online. Thanks,
        Tim

    • sheza 11:35 am on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Tim!
      Very professional elevator and venture pitch. Your elevator picth was clearly designed with the investor in mind and you captured my interest by your very straight-forward display of diagrams and statements that related to the venture’s success. Even though I was slightly confused about how the venture would make its money (as usually online communities of practice are open-resources) I was still interested to move onto your venture pitch where I then got this answer. I especially see the need for your venture since you are right in stating that much of PD learning is reduced to flash-in-the-pan ideas.

      All the best!

      Sheza

      • troos 5:07 pm on August 3, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Thanks Sheza. It is difficult to fit all you want to say into the one minute time slot for the elevator pitch. I guess the point is to choose what will most likely capture the attention of and convince an average investor.
        Tim

    • mackenzie 4:37 pm on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Great job I loved the clarity. I was pleased with the visuals including the embedded video in your presentation, I wish the music was different but you can’t have everything. I was wondering how much money was necessary to achieve your goals and how long it would take to get my initial investment back. Are you an educator yourself or are you going to be a CEO full time. Professional development is a problem and I like your solution, I was I knew more about what types of resources you would offer.

      • troos 5:12 pm on August 3, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Steve:

        You picked out my weak areas. 🙁 I had a hard time putting a monetary value on exactly what I would need. It would depend on a host of factors and would take significant market research to determine. You are the third person to comment on the music so I’m convinced I need to do a better job at selecting something more appealing. Thanks for your supportive comments.

        Tim

    • Bridget 5:56 pm on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Tim,

      Thank you for sharing your pitches and after reviewing your elevator pitch I have the follow comments.

      I like the way you stated your concern at the very beginning concerning the insufficiency of current PD. I enjoyed your presentation and the way that you had your picture beside the diagrams in the introduction. However, I sometimes did not know where to look and I had to go back and re-watch it a few times to get a clear of what you were proposing.

      Listing the fact that there are three other managers was great except I found myself wanting to know a name or see a face.

      I also found myself wondering why you were looking for an investor if there is $40 000 000 available from the BC government for education. I understand that they might be backing you in some way but I would suggest being more specific in how they are supporting you financially.

      Bridget

      • troos 5:18 pm on August 3, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Thanks Bridget:

        I felt that depending on the type of listener, they could either focus on the animated graphics or on the video and get the same information. I undertand your concern regarding the distraction of trying to follow both. Regardig the management team, I guess I felt I had gone far enough in creating a fictitious venture with me as CEO with a management team. Creating personalities and faces for these team members certainly would have added to the presentation. I think my venture pitch at the end outlines my needs for the investment. I would have initial setup costs for webspace, hardware and software, marketing, technical expertise, and office space among other things. Thanks for your helpful comments,
        Tim

    • toddpowell 10:54 pm on August 5, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Tim,
      The amount of effort and detail that you put into your pitch was amazing. Very well done. You had me at hello, as a fellow BC teacher!! I believe that a project such as this has so much validity, especially with the battle that we are facing today!!

      Cheers,
      Todd

  • Hussain Luaibi 6:23 pm on July 28, 2012
    -2 votes
    |      

    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
     

    • Donna Forward 9:59 pm on July 30, 2012 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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

    • Ronna Hoglund 11:58 am on July 31, 2012 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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

  • karonw 5:48 pm on July 28, 2012
    0 votes
    |      

    Welcome to Blackboard Virtual (Blackboard Virtual is the venture that was developed by Karon Wong) – a venture specifically designed to facilitate and develop skills and knowledge learners need in a virtual setting, Blackboard Virtual promotes better teacher‐student interaction through a real‐time, collaborative educational platform where users can post comments, initiate discussions, enter a chatroom, […]

    Continue reading Blackboard Virtual Posted in: Venture Forum
     

    • unclereg 10:35 pm on July 30, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hello Karon,

      I was a little unsure as to what this idea was designed to do. I’m out of the loop when it comes to smartphones (I don’t own a cell phone) so I’m guessing Blackboard is a pre-existing company and you’ve created a new mock additional program for it called ‘virtual’. I think this idea needs an accompanied picture or mock screen shot, or described scenario in which this program can be applied. I think the use of a phone app is smart because phones are everywhere and this could be a popular program….I’m just not sure of all the features it allows.

      Thanks.
      -Regen

      • karonw 12:26 pm on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Hi Regen,

        Thank you for your feedback, Blackboard Virtual is a mobile application that performs virtual classrooms via a mobile device rather than through a computer as more people carry a cellular around in comparison to a laptop.

        More details in regards to my venture can be obtained through my venture proposition.

        Thank you for reviewing my venture.

        Best,
        Karon Wong

    • vawells 2:04 am on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Karon

      I really enjoyed viewing your elevator pitch. Neat idea using a smartphone as the delivery tool! Your idea of capitalizing on the mobile market and smartphones is a realistic venture that would certainly have a niche in the market. I am a little unclear as to what you are offering though. Would the features of Blackboard all be accessible and fully functional on the mobile device?

      Good luck with your future ventures

      Valerie

      • karonw 12:43 pm on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Hi Valerie,

        Thank you for your feedback. As indicated in my venture proposition Blackboard Virtual was specifically designed to facilitate and develop skills and knowledge learners need in a virtual setting (just like virtual classrooms e.g. elluminate live but instead of via a computer it is accessible through a mobile device), Blackboard Virtual promotes better teacher‐student interaction through a real‐time, collaborative educational platform where users can post comments, initiate discussions, enter a
        chatroom, upload media files, pictures and files, perform mobile conferencing (like face time) with their mobile devices, and voice authorizing. All the other products that Blackboard have can be paired up with this mobile application as Blackboard’s products are all made web accessible so as long as the mobile device have a dataplan or has access to wifi it can access all its products.

        Karon

    • Deborah S 10:16 am on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Karon,
      I enjoyed your elevator pitch and thought it was great that you delivered your pitch from inside your device. Clever! I’m still a bit unclear as to what your product or service is.

      I thought your venture pitch was well laid out and liked the use of colour in the subheadings. I thought the description of the problem could have been a bit stronger as I wasn’t sure what need your company was filling. As an EVA, I would have also liked more detailed information on the services that your competition is currently providing to assess how your product or service is different from theirs.

      Good job!

      Deborah

      • karonw 12:36 pm on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Hi Deborah,

        Thank you for taking the time to review my venture pitch. I tried to showcase how virtual applications would work for a mobile device, hence I have came up with the idea of using a mobile device as a frame for my venture pitch. It was very unfortunate that when I provided all the details to my venture pitch no matter how fast I spoke or how I tried to trim it down with the core details included it still went over 1 minute long. Hence, I had decided to provide a venture pitch that gives a general overview of the current problem, the solution and the main winning point it has compared to its competitors while trying to provide the details in my proposition. The idea was to move virtual classrooms into a mobile device as mobile devices are more common to be carried around, therefore it will be more convenient for learners to access their courses and collaborate with one another live.

        Thanks for your suggestions!
        Karon

    • gillian 9:20 pm on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Karon,
      What a great elevator pitch – presenting a mobile venture via a mobile device is genius – you should pitch it to Blackboard! I was impressed that you were able to maintain eye-contact throughout your pitch and although a little fast – you were able to communicate the important parts of your venture.
      As for your venture pitch, however, I am afraid I am in agreement with other comments – I am not sure what your venture is. My understanding from your pitch is that Blackboard Virtual already exists … what are you proposing that is new? Am I wrong in my understanding?
      gillian

    • karonw 10:05 pm on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Gillian,

      Thank you for your feedback. Blackboard Virtual is what I am proposing it is a mobile application that performs mobile conferencing which is like virtual classrooms done via the mobile device. And no, Blackboard Virtual does not exist it was a venture that I have came up with. Blackboard is a big corporation and have many products including Blackboard collaborate, blackboard transact, blackboard connect, blackboard analytics, blackboard engage and blackboard mobile. However, blackboard mobile is not the same as blackboard virtual as blackboard mobile is just accessing information via the mobile device which is no different than just loading webct on a browser through the mobile device while the venture that I came up with was virtual classrooms offered through a mobile device. My venture proposition attached to this post has more details, please feel free to review it.

      Thanks,
      Karon Wong

    • kimnoel 1:30 pm on August 1, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Karon,

      Nice pitch and I love your venture idea. To be able to use your smartphone would be fantastic, and I think most users would consider it a valuable purchase.

      My biggest concern would be using the small screen on the phone. It would seem that this would be used mostly to check for assignment, grades, comments etc., rather than actually working in discussion forums, etc.

      Well done!
      Smiles, Kim

      • karonw 10:48 pm on August 3, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Hi Kim,

        Thank you for your feedback. The small screen on the phone was put into consideration for this venture, hence Blackboard Virtual was made available to smartphones, including Blackberries, Androids, iPhone OS and devices such as the iPod touch, iPad and webOS as well .

        Karon

    • Danielle 5:39 am on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Karon,

      I am impressed with the presentation of your pitches – very professional. I am also impressed with how your company has been working with “thousands” of organizations, etc, and in 70 countries. Investors are not going to feel as great of a risk with that kind of background. My only suggestion would be to differentiate your product. What is particularly novel and innovative about this venture compared to the wider market, what are some of the challenges, and how will I gain from this from an investor’s point of view? I think you have done an excellent job with this presention, though I think I would need a little more information before diving in.

      Danielle

      • karonw 10:58 pm on August 3, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Hi Danielle,

        Thank you for the feedback. The main feature that Blackboard Virtual offers compared to its competitors is mobile conferencing. Although, all its competitors have similar educational mobile applications Blackboard Virtual is the first to have mobile conferencing, which is bringing a virtual classroom to a mobile device. Mobile conferencing for a course can bring people closer together. Although students do not attend the class by physically being there, they render more mutual support and develop better learning relationships. The virtual classroom is
        no different than a real classroom as students will be able to see and hear one another with face-to-face interaction. Yet, less progressive students do not have to feel intimated in front of a class but can comfortably pose their questions onto the discussion forum or in the chatroom. By investing in Blackboard Virtual, your institution will be recognized by its unparallelled success which would lead to higher rates of enrollment in the programs being offered by your institution and in return you will have an increase in your revenue.

        Karon

    • troos 2:03 pm on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hello Karon:

      The Blackboard Virtual venture you propose sounds like a viable and valuable proposition. Its too bad you couldn’t slow down your presentation somewhat to make it clearer. It may have helped to provide some graphics in your presentation that help focus the listener on all the different aspects you are addressing. Although I found your presentation through the smartphone a neat idea, it would be nice if it was a little larger, using more of the available screen space. I certainly appreciate what you are trying to do with your venture in making learing more mobile and accessible. Great job.

      Tim

      • karonw 11:01 pm on August 3, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Hi Tim,

        Thank you for the feedback! Unfortunately, when I uploaded my elevator pitch to YouTube it got compressed pretty badly and the video turned out half the size it was supposed to be.

        Karon

    • Bridget 5:58 pm on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Karon,

      Thank you for sharing your pitches and after reviewing your elevator pitch I have the follow comments.

      You hooked me from the beginning with the video within the video and I was instantly curious about what you had to say. The iphone instantly told me that what your company was offering would most likely have to do with mobile technology. I think it would have been fun to make it go deeper with the video inside the video inside the video etc. but I am not sure how technologically challenging this might be.

      However, the quality of the audio made it difficult to hear and there were not any diagrams or flow charts to help with the explanation of your venture. I understand that it is an app to aid in online learning but it is not clear as to how it will help.

      Bridget

      • karonw 11:06 pm on August 3, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Hi Bridget,

        Thank you for your feedback. Blackboard Virtual is the first to have mobile conferencing, which is bringing a virtual classroom to a mobile device. Mobile conferencing for a course can bring people closer together. Although students do not attend the class by physically being there, they render more mutual support and develop better learning relationships. The virtual classroom is no different than a real classroom as students will be able to see and hear one another with face-to-face interaction. Yet, less progressive students do not have to feel intimated in front of a class but can comfortably pose their questions onto the discussion forum or in the chatroom.

        Karon

    • Dennis Pratt 9:01 pm on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Karon;

      I like the idea, especially as I have gone mobile over the last few years. I like to have all my favourite programs and web pages on mobile as well as on the computer. It just makes everything smoother and easier one it is set up for mobile devices. I can see Blackboard going this way in the near future. As others eluded to, I would like to know more about the issue you are trying to solve in the elevator pitch. Good work, though.

      Dennis

      • karonw 11:14 pm on August 3, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Hi Dennis,

        Thank you for your feedback. Due to the unavailability of laptops and inaccessibility to internet connection, learners are more likely to be disengaged and unmotivated with their learning. Blackboard Virtual was designed to be available through any mobile device. While many mobile applications performs nothing more than just online learning where information is pulled off from the browser, Blackboard Virtual was designed to offer the benefits of synchronicity and engage interactivity, the mobile conferencing feature would support teacher-student and student-student relationships, enhancement on students’ motivation and interaction.

        Karon

    • toddpowell 10:59 pm on August 5, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Karon,
      Your presentation was very well done, and kept my attention. A couple of issues that were brought to my mind was, what do you intend to do with the students in the class who can’t afford smartphones, parents won’t buy them smartphones, etc. I just have a fear that this is creating a little bit of a have-vs-have not situation.

      Cheers,
      Todd

  • mackenzie 1:40 pm on July 28, 2012
    -3 votes
    |
    Tags: community of practice, , shared lessons,   

    Hi Everyone, For some time, I have been concerned that it is nearly impossible for teachers to find, share and discuss resources or initiatives with other teachers that are like-minded or that are simply constrained by the same learning outcomes.  As a social venture that doesn’t make money, but more importantly saves time and money […]

    Continue reading SHARED LESSONS Posted in: Venture Forum
     

    • Donna Forward 10:31 pm on July 30, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hello Steve,

      Great opening with your Elevator pitch. It is visually attractive and I like your choice of pictures (like the one with the teacher and the stack of papers and marking). It was also interesting how you ended your introduction leaving the listener curious to hear more and that they should contact you if their interest had been tweaked.

      The idea of Shared Lessons is good and you describe it well as a “cloning software that scaffolds and builds on the knowledge of the group”. It is almost a Google Doc’s type of concept that you are improving upon.

      A few ideas to perhaps improve your Venture Pitch. I would have liked to have seen more slides to describe your venture as you were talking. Sometimes I was waiting for a new slide to appear but you remained on a previous one while you contined with your pitch. Also, it might have been a good idea to re-record your narrative as you spoke since there were several spots that you stumbled upon. By doing this you could have more of a professional, polished presentation.

      The idea of your to help bring resources to reach all teachers is a excellent proposal. I’m not sure if you’ve quite convinced me to invest however, but the potential is there.

      Donna

      • mackenzie 2:24 pm on August 1, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Donna

        I agree the visuals could have been more powerful, and executed with greater effect.

        Being a social enterprise aimed at one particular district definitely made it difficult for the average investor to grasp what I have intended. I tailored the pitch to such a specific client’s actual needs based on actual meetings with district personal that the audience(classmates) has joined the process part way through.

    • Dave Horn 10:48 pm on July 30, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Steve

      As a teacher who has definitely been under the gun to develop lessons, the idea to collaborate and share lessons definitely appeals. As an investor, I wondered how I could contribute and how any monetary gain could happen. I may have missed it, but what about having a small cost for joining and sharing on the site? Who would be running and managing the site so as to update and organize materials?
      Great effort though and I always like the idea of collaboration.

      Dave

      • mackenzie 2:25 pm on August 1, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Dave

        This project will not make money. Every teacher that I have approached has liked the idea. But if asked to pay money to join, they said it would drive them away from the site, or any similar venture site. Some colleagues said that they may consider joining this site for a small window of time to reap the resources but would not keep a continuing membership. Essentially, the idea of profiting in any way from their sharing of resources was unpalatable to them, and seemed to set an adversarial tone and not a collaborative one.

        • Dave Horn 9:08 am on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

          I can see your point about membership creating an adversarial tone, or one where people have temporary accounts to access content, but then don’t really contribute in return. What about moving it to a larger scale, where the school boards/districts paid a small fee to allow their teachers access, this could at least cover the costs of maintenance and such.

    • Hussain Luaibi 1:29 am on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hello Steve
      Great efforts can be seen in your work. You explained things in a natural way which gives more credibility to the whole project.
      As a teacher, I think sharing materials is great. But that can be done through many free software these days. The i-cloud and the drop-boxes can be a product killer. With the tight-fisted school budgets , many school these days would prefer to use free drop-box to do the same job. Besides, you mentioned that profit is not a priority here. How would you expect to entice the profit-oriented investors?
      I think the idea is generally good but it won’t last long in the light of the flourishing market of information sharing.
      Great presentation, Steve.
      Hussain

      • mackenzie 2:25 pm on August 1, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Hussain

        This is definitely not profit investors dream come true, but that was not my intention. I was targeting my own school district to allocate some resources to back my social enterprise. It was never my intention to appeal to investors that had monetary goals, but instead to reach an investor that shared my vision for a cultural paradigm switch from isolation to inclusion.

    • shawn harris 8:30 am on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Steve ,

      Thanks for sharing your presentation of pitches with us!

      As an educator the market concept appealed to me and I was more than willing to listen in to hear what you had to offer the market and to potential investors. The idea for sharing lesson plans is one which I give praises to as last year the education department had to fly specialist teachers from one island to the next for meetings and planning of lessons for the new academic year. In this technological era, that should not be done as it is too costly.

      With that said, the concept about online space for teachers to collaborate, share resources and their best practices was clear to me as you gave some valid reasons and examples why this market is needed. You sounded passionate about the solution you are bringing to the table. However, for both pitches you did not introduce yourself nor did you make mention of the management team behind this as this would add some credibility to the potential investor.
      I think you should have taken the time to re-record parts of your pitches for a smoother and a more professional work.

      As others mentioned there are other spaces for shared lessons and collaboration. You mentioned that the product is not about profit, so what’s in it for the potential investor?

      Overall Investment Status: I like your idea about helping educators to collaborate in a shared space however, I don’t see the CEO or the team, I don’t know the financial details about the market as little is mentioned about the marketing aspect or specifics about revenue and I didn’t hear much about the global market. I consider this extremely high risk and would not pursue.

      Good effort!

      ~ Shawn

      • mackenzie 2:25 pm on August 1, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Shawn

        As this is a venture aimed at my district, and since I am already a well-known member of its professional development initiative program amongst district leaders, a formal introduction didn’t seem necessary. Essentially, I was aiming my presentation at my target audience, an audience that already knows and trusts me, rather than providing a cold sell to angel investors. And since I was having trouble conveying all the things I wanted to in the time I had, I streamlined the parts that were less necessary. I know that I could easily present a paper that conveys most if not all of the information necessary, but I have an actual meeting scheduled with district members in the fall and believed I could double dip so to speak by creating a dual purpose pitch. I obviously need to work on my pitch so this was an excellent opportunity to test the waters. Thanks so much for your input.

    • Ronna Hoglund 4:28 pm on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Steve,
      You pitched your product well with great visuals and with a personal touch. You certainly made the “pain point” clear – we ARE overworked!! I like the idea of collaboration but I am not quite clear on how this will make $$$$. Thanks for sharing.
      Ronna

    • Denise 9:32 am on August 1, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Steve,
      As an educator I thought your idea was an interesting solution,..

      As an investor I was taken with your written introduction it really captured my imagination. When I listened to the elevator pitch I was disappointed. You presented well, the slides were clean and good visuals, but I didn’t meet you either visually or in any introduction nor get an idea of your competency. I would have been wowed with an elevator pitch that highlighted what you had written.

      The venture pitch I felt suffered again for me by not meeting you here either,and having a personalised approach. You did sell the team well – but too late. While you did stumble in the audio I think this would have been less noticeable if Ii had been seeing you – or had seen you.

      As Donna commented i would have liked more visuals. it became quite hard to keep listening to your voice when the visuals didn’t match and weren’t changing. One clasic example was the numbers of teachers across BC – I got lost and the information would have been better reinforced with a slide.

      While the venture wasn’t about money I wasn’t sure what you did want from the investor.

      Unfortuantely i would have turned off the venture pitch half way through (for the reasons above) So while a good solution you didn’t keep and increase my excitement/imagination with this. I don’t know, but your initial written intro was so enticing I wonder if a written venture pitch woudl have kept me engaged?

      Good luck with it if you are going to try and implement it though! Difference between a user’s enthusiasm and an investment analysis.

      Denise

    • Kenton Hemsing 8:39 am on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Steve,

      The idea is good, many teachers will be very interested in an easy to use site that allows them to gather lesson ideas and resources. However, as an investor, I do not feel that this would be a venture for myself. The target market is great, but for a service that does not generate any income directly it is too much of a risk for myself. I think if you were willing to sell advertising space within the site I would be more inclined to invest as there is some potential to generate a vast amount of money.

      Collaboration is lacking in our profession, and I feel that it is directly related to time constraints. Your solution seems to be useful for some in that they can gain resources and lesson ideas directly, but it too could suffer in that there will not be many contributors to the site. I appreciate that you are honest in that critical mass is 100 contributors to the site and 5000 users, but it seems that is a small amount of contributors in the grand scheme of things. If the site was able to make uploading lesson ideas as simple as filling in a form or check boxes with an area for a quick description of how to implement the lesson, I think more people would contribute. More contributions are key to the success of the site.

      Also, what is going to be done when there have not been any new contributions for a while? I know with initiatives like this there is always a rush at the start, then nothing new added for a long time. Will there be PD sessions offered and release time given to teachers to contribute ideas and lessons, or will this be expected to be done on their own time?

      Great idea and pitch as well as the venture plan. I am just not convinced it would be an investment for myself.

      Thanks,
      Kenton

    • mariefrancehetu 3:35 pm on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hello Steve,

      I thought your elevator pitch was well rendered with a good choice of pictures to accompany your presentation.

      First of all the idea behind ‘Shared Lesson’ is an innovative one. I can see how this type of sharing online platform could work as a great teaching tool within my own work environment where I teach adults. At work we do share projects, and collaborate on lesson planning, but it seems to always be the same people who do so. You obviously well researched this potential venture and I do like the idea that it is a social venture. The vocabulary you used to explain your venture was general and accessible to a large audience.

      Suggestions for improvement:
      – Segmenting your venture pitch into shorter periods where you speak, with perhaps more slides and especially titles that let the listener focus on the next category introduced. This would also have permitted you to record shorter segments and thus record again if necessary.
      – Increasing the volume when recording, because I had difficulty hearing you even with the volume up high
      – The first minute of your venture pitch had little to do with your elevator pitch, so I was left wondering what your project was about until later. Perhaps you could have summed up your project and then provided details about the problem and solution.

      As an investor, I may want to invest in this type of project, because I have a social conscience and know projects like these can help foster technology within the classrooms, but I found that if the presentation had been a bit more dynamic I might more readily have embarked in your venture wholeheartedly.

      Cheers!

      Marie-France

    • Sherman Lee 11:41 pm on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Steve,

      Good effort in your pitches. I think “Shared Lesson” is a great concept from a teacher’s point of view. I can see how this tool can promote better instructional design as well, so as a teacher, I support your effort in this regards.

      As an investor, I have a couple of questions in mind that were not quite clarified. First and foremost is how would “Shared Lesson” know the lessons are contributed by teachers? If you go by teaching license, there would be a lot of great educators that would be ruled out. Are those lessons reviewed individually? If that is the case, how much expenses would it cost in a month? a year?

      Furthermore, I think you would need an immense amount of money in order to jump start the marketing of this product. How would you build popularity? Organization such as TEDed would invest in many revenues to get their publicity to draw in sufficient attention. I would like to know more about your marketing plans.

      Lastly, I think it would be a great idea to make your speeches a bit smoother. I find it difficult to keep focus without seeing your face but keep hearing a bit of hesitation in your tone.

      Good job though! Let me know if you are going to do a re-pitching!

      Sherman

    • Danielle Dubien 12:29 am on August 3, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Steve,

      I’m from Ontario, so I won’t be investing in your venture. Nonetheless, I found your idea interesting and wrote down a few things…

      The main concern I have with this venture is the search method. It seems that even if you separate the material by topic, there still would be loads of material to go through to find just the right lesson plan. If your venture contained a classification system that is quick and easy for teachers to use, it would have a lot of value!

      Now, even though some lessons are voted higher because of “repins”, this does not mean that they are pedagogically sound. Most primary teachers don’t have a background in science or math so misconceptions in these topics could propagate through your system. As well, lessons that are newly pinned will definitely have less pins even if they are better lessons. That fact alone can mean that newer lessons are unfairly skewed towards the bottom and have less of a chance to even get seen, let alone voted positively.

      Being that this venture is limited to BC is great because it means that there is only one set of provincial goals that are in play. That said, I believe your math curriculum is shared with many other provinces and territories. How would you feel about having a separate site like that of your venture dedicated to that common math curriculum?

      Around the 6:00 minute mark, you talk about spreading to other provinces. I don’t think that’s a good idea because everything will get very complex, what with the different curricula everywhere else. I would suggest creating separate, customized programs like yours for each province and territory. That said, you could still enable some sort of function that makes it possible for people to copy and paste an art lesson from grade 5 in BC that corresponds to and is relabeled to match a goal in grade 4 in Nova Scotia, for example.

      You say that this site will contain lessons that are of professional quality, in comparison to what is on Pinterest. What will you do to ensure quality control? Up and down votes by repinning still requires teachers to take the time to look at lesson plans that may be poorly created.

      I’m glad you’re starting with a pilot project. Hopefully, you would have a simple questionnaire for teachers to fill out so that it would be easy to sort through the feedback.

      Much luck with your venture!

      Dan

  • Deborah S 1:27 pm on July 28, 2012
    2 votes
    |      

    Welcome to the Student Interview Coach!  Our online service provides timely feedback to students on their interviewing skills based on a mock interview that they upload to our website. Read the Venture Plan here. Deborah

    Continue reading Student Interview Coach Posted in: Venture Forum
     

    • Jody McKinnon 4:57 pm on July 30, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      HI there. As a guidance counselor, I see this venture as being extremely valuable. What a wonderful opportunity for students to practice a very important skill! I like the quick turnaround for feedback. My only concern is this: you’ll need a huge staff potentially to deal with the onslaught of interviews! Good job with the video!

      Jody

    • Deborah S 5:06 am on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Jody,
      Thanks for the feedback! I think interviewing skills are really important and something that we don’t pay enough attention to. In my experience, an interview can be the deciding factor as to whether or not someone is offered a job. The sooner students can improve their skills, the more successful they will be later on.

      Deborah

    • Yves Mainville 11:32 am on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Deborah,
      I think this is a solid venture concept and I really liked the quote “Practice is the best teacher”. Having done this very kind of practice a few times, I can clearly state that practice is key. I was wondering however about the ‘niche’ you are targeting and wondering if it is too broad and competitive? I did this sort of thing when I took a leadership course awhile back – should this be a consideration as a strategic partnership or expansion phase? As for market, students are a fickle bunch that seem to want to spend their money on other things than these kinds of services…
      I would want to hear more about these items before investing.
      I really like the concept and think it has great potential.

      great job on the presentation.
      cheers.

      • Deborah S 11:35 am on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Hi Yves,
        Thanks for the feedback. This service is actually being marketed to school boards and university administrators. I don’t envision that students would pay for it themselves (as you’ve noted, they find other ways to spend their money) but rather it would be a line item in the school or university budget.

        Deborah

    • dmcinnes 2:54 pm on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Deborah,
      Great job on your presentation. As always done by you, it is very thorough, well-researched and totally believable! I think interview skills are a critical asset, that for the most part completely over-looked. They were as I was growing up anyways.
      In your venture pitch, I really appreciated your breakdown of market potential, etc. Putting hard numbers to an idea really helps with your credibility.
      Count me in as an investor.
      David McInnes

      • Deborah S 4:10 pm on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Hi David,
        Thank you for your generous comments! I think it’s important to try and quantify things and I like numbers. Good to know I can count you in should I decide to pursue the opportunity : )

        Deborah

    • kimnoel 2:03 pm on August 1, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Deborah,
      Really nice job on your presentation! You have touched on an area that really does need to be addressed and most times overlooked. My biggest concern would be the satffing – I think yu would inundated with requests for interviews!
      Well done!
      Kim

      • Deborah S 11:26 am on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Thanks for the feedback, Kim. You raise a valid point about the potential staffing issue and one solution may be to try and schedule schools ahead of time to ensure appropriate staffing is in place.

        Deborah

    • Dennis Pratt 8:25 pm on August 1, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Deborah;

      I think you have a creative use of technology targeted at a niche market. If you have a small team (depending on use and growth) it might actually work. I know interviewing is a skill and can get or lose you a job. I can see the benefits of this type of assistance. I might be interested to know if your team would consider going live and do mock interviews over Skype or something similar. Your team could ask the questions while the interviewee is working on their responses. This would give your team a better feel for the client as they could expand on questions or follow a tangent just as you might in an interview. I don’t see the lack of technology as barrier as most students have access to a video capable smartphone, iPod or webcam, if not at home, at school.

      Dennis

      • Deborah S 11:27 am on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Thanks, Dennis. I did consider real-time feedback, but thought it could be challenging due to time zone differences and that would also mean I’d need lots of interview experts all at the same time. It’s definitely something to consider though.

        Deborah

    • Danielle 5:22 am on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Deborah,

      This is an excellent venture that has been very well pitched! Your professionalism and confidence will win over investors, not to mention your thoroughly researched plan. The logo on the wall was a nice touch! Though I think your cameraman was a little nervous :-D. You have thought of all of the challenges that you might face and as an investor, I might want to know a little more about how those challenges will be dealt with. But I am impressed by the overall presentation and I am definitely in.

      Danielle

      • Deborah S 11:29 am on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Thanks for the feedback, Danielle. This was my camera-person’s (my 17 year-old daughter) first assignment : ) She also composed the music that I used in the elevator pitch.

        Deborah

    • troos 4:33 pm on August 3, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Deborah:

      Your elevator pitch presents a clear outline of the need and solutions of your venture. Your presentation is professional, enthusiastic and engaged; you seem confident your product has demand and value. A little more information in the elevator pitch regarding market predictions would have made it more convincing to me, the investor. The initial part of the pitch seemed like you were selling a product to your clients rather than convincing investors. This clearly shifted at the end. Overall I have decided to invest in your venture because you have convinced me of its relevancy to today’s students.

      I am even more convinced of this after reading your venture pitch. Your needs assessment is fully supported by your significant research. You have differentiated yourself clearly from your competition, exploiting a unique market. Your revenue predictions are well researched by comparing to similar products and projecting market value onto the number of clients. Your background in accounting and education is evident, making you a competent team leader. You have provided good detail in supporting the “ask”. The only question I have regards your management team. You speak well of yourself as the CEO but there is nothing on the supporting cast. Your projected client base indicates that you will need some people to help you. What qualifications will these people be required to have? Will the investment I make rise if your number of clients changes from your projections?

      As a whole, you have made an excellent venture proposition and I look forward to seeing its fulfillment.

      Tim

      • Deborah S 7:41 am on August 4, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Hi Tim,
        Thanks for the feedback! I appreciated your comments about the elevator pitch. This exercise certainly gave me an appreciation of how difficult it is to cram everything you want to say into only 60 seconds! If I were going to pursue this venture, I would definitely provide more information on the management team as you suggested.

        Thanks again,
        Deborah

    • Bridget 4:04 am on August 4, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Deborah,

      I very much enjoyed your venture pitch in which you made great use of visuals and offered a very clear explanation of Student Interview Coach. I appreciate the way in which you stated the problem for students and teachers and offered one solution for both groups. I think that this is a great idea and I like the importance that you put on immediate feedback which is always more effective than when too much time has elapsed. There is a lot of focus placed on creating resumes but the interview is often the most stressful part of the process and where job seekers could do with the most practice.

      In regards to the students making their interviews, I assume that they enlist another person to do the mock interview. Do you provide a bank of typical questions, which might be asked in order to guide the interview? These are details, which can easily be worked out as long as the technology can be created to support this venture; and I am sure it can.

      You did a solid review of the competition and it is interesting to note that no one up to this point has marketed to the students.

      I would be interested in investing in your venture.

      Bridget

      • Deborah S 7:43 am on August 4, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Thanks for the feedback, Bridget! I think you’ve honed in on a future enhancement to the service in providing a bank of questions. I can certainly see the need for it and could easily work it in as a link on the website.

        Thanks again,
        Deborah

    • sheza 8:18 pm on August 4, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Deborah,

      You are onto a great idea here! I especially liked the professional nature of your elevator pitch – I found it to be concise and it gave me as an investor a reason to read onto your venture pitch. You described your market well, and gave me an understanding of the product you hoped to offer and the reasons why. Well done!

      Your venture pitch was just as well put together. It looked like a professional report ready to be sent off to an investor. You include a thorough analysis of your competitors and your market share is well-researched. The revenue you hope to generate is based on believable data and I can see the potential that the project holds. I like that you give us a picture of your background as the CEO of this venture, but it would have ben good to see who some of the other players would be on your team.

      Overall, your venture looks like it has a lot of worth and I would be interested in seeing a complete business plan!

      All the best,

      Sheza Naqi

    • toddpowell 11:03 pm on August 5, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Deborah,
      As a teacher who teaches Planning (and deals with many students who are readying themselves for the employment market), I see strong validity in this venture. Students need all of the practice that they can get, and with the quick turnaround, the learning potential is invaluable. I am concerned with the amount of the interviews needing to be done 🙂

      Cheers,
      Todd

  • Brian H 11:12 am on July 28, 2012
    0 votes
    |
    Tags: , , , ,   

    Electronic Classroom Solutions Welcome to ECS, a startup that provides retrofitting software and services to existing student management systems. We have a successful beta version of our platform that bypasses BCesis’s interface and that of other SMS’s. We pride ourselves on bringing aesthetics, usability and efficiency to existing platforms– all while saving education systems millions. Elevator Pitch […]

    Continue reading Electronic Classroom Solutions Welcome t… Posted in: Venture Forum
     

    • Meggan Crawford 6:32 pm on July 30, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Brian,

      As a potential investor I am very interested in your venture. There are often platforms that need adjustments made, rather than replacement, and I am curious to see how ECS would manage those daunting tasks.

      I think that the key to your venture is keeping the retrofits of the platforms simple – if these new tools require a great deal of training or cause a lot of frustration ECS is not likely to thrive. If, however, these retrofits improve access to and use of existing tools they are worthwhile. At the same time, there is likely to be some negative reaction to these retrofits, as some teachers will likely balk at the idea of having to learn a new interface. My key question about your venture is how a new ‘face’ for a program can make it into something that meets the needs of schools, governments, etc. For example, you give the example of BCesis and how it has not met the needs/goals of any party, but how will a retrofit make it suddenly work? This may be my lack of programming knowledge, but I am curious nonetheless!

      Other than that, it was great to see your short and long term goals as it clearly laid out the direction that ECS hopes to take. It might help to give a bit more context for how these goals will be met (i.e. how do you overcome competition to become the leader!).

      Great work – thanks for sharing the ideas!
      -Meggan
      p.s. You probably want to check the spelling of opportunity at the 15second mark of your venture pitch 🙂 (Now Fixed–Brian)

    • Donna Forward 11:04 pm on July 30, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hello Brian,

      You really have a great idea here. I know that BCesis is not well liked by many teachers and you offer a good money saving venture that is very convincing. I believe that you could actually make a go at this. You have really done your homework and researched this topic well. Your argument for the company is truly credible.

      If I had to be picky, there was one point during your presentation where the music was louder than your voice and I had to strain to follow but otherwise, a very professional presentation.

      I would invest in Electronic Classroom Solutions!

      Donna

      (Typo fixed in Video)

    • gregcamp 8:33 pm on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Brian, as an investor and teacher I am interested in learning more about your product as it sounds like you have a great idea that has real merit. The difficulty I see if having the ministry or school boards by into your idea. Great job

      Greg

    • Allan 11:50 pm on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Brian,

      As an investor, this is a very impressive presentation, and I am interested in investing in your product!

      I like the concept and business plan of ECS as a startup that provides retrofitting software and services to existing student management systems. Your elevator and venture pitches is really convincing in showing ECS as a successful platform that bypasses BCesis’s interface and that of other SMS’s.

      The presentations were very energetic presentation – music is important – and you brought out the best of your slides and statistics. Your argument is also convincing — the fact that you did some really hard good research on the BC Government is fantastic – I’m glad you touched on its need for an alternative – the government is a good buyer.

      Your technology is also a great validation — open source. It’s a low-cost effective technology, and efficient with low overhead costs. I especially am impressed by your 3-5 year picture. As an investor, knowing that ECS has a chance to prosper in a $7.5 million dollar market, as you pointed out, assures some of my hesitations and piques my curiosity as an investor.

      Well done!
      Allan

    • Denise 10:25 am on August 1, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      HI Brian,

      I too was impressed with your elevator and venture pitch. Both were punchy and the music really did generate a passion for the venture. I enjoyed “meeting” you in the elevator pitch and so felt really comforatable watching the venture pitch without seeing you again.

      I thought you answered painpoint, solution, differentiation and really provided a clear idea of ask and return as well as convincing about the team.

      I am not from Canada and so don’t know a lot about BCesis, but your pitches made me very keen to learn more and considering investing. You emphasised partnerships and opportunities that made the venure seem less risky too.

      Denise

    • Kenton Hemsing 12:30 pm on August 1, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Brian,

      You have put together a fantastic, effective and well researched pitch for your company. I am interested in learning more about how you are going to retrofit and make the student information systems more user friendly and intuitive for the end users. I thought that you did a great job in creating a rock solid reason, solution and expansion opportunity for your company. Well done.

      However, as this topic is a bit out of my expertise, I feel that I could not invest without doing a lot more research myself and totally understanding the market you are venturing into, nothing to do with any weaknesses in your pitches.

      Thanks,
      Kenton

    • Danielle Dubien 6:51 pm on August 1, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Brian,
      The quality of your pitches is amazing! Great use of music, pictures and narration!

      You’ve convinced me that there is a financial need for your service.

      You differentiated your own venture well from the others. How do you manage to keep your costs so much lower than those of Pearson? Is it all because of your use of open source products?

      Once your services are used by different clients, what ensures ongoing viability of the venture?

      I wish I knew more about your topic to be able to make more comments. All in all, I think your pitches are extremely done and definitely worth an investment! I would have little, if anything to contribute to your company because I know nothing about the topic, so the only contribution I could make would be financial. It would better serve you to have someone else invest.

      Cheers,
      Dan

      • Brian H 8:00 am on August 3, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Danielle wrote “How do you manage to keep your costs so much lower than those of Pearson? Is it all because of your use of open source products?”

        Thank you for your questions. We can keep our costs low as our interface is open source and the retrofit software is a simple program that logs the new interface into school’s existing management system. Schools really only pay for a small adapter between the old and new systems rather than a complete overhaul. Training costs are less as the new system is based on web 2.0 standards with the usability consistent to social networking sites.

        Great question!

        Brian

    • mariefrancehetu 3:54 pm on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hello Brian,

      Well done! I think your elevator pitch was well done, you chose your words carefully and rendered your message clearly. Your use of images, video and screen captures was very well-balanced and well-suited to your subject matter.

      Your venture pitch was equally well done, it looked quite professional. The only improvement I could note was the soiund quality, sometimes it sounded as if your recordings were of lower quality, thus providing a less homogenous presentation.

      Your message was clear, your subject well researched. If I were an administrator within a school board I would certainly consider investing in your venture. You cleverly outlined the need and solution and convincingly outlined the gap left by competition.
      I would definetely be interested in meeting with you for further discussions and possible partnerships.

      Cheers!

      Marie-France

    • HJDeW 8:16 am on August 3, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      David, this venture has merit and potential within a BC educational environment, with growth into other SMS locations (eg. Ontario). The look and feel of the product appeared user friendly and intuitive, but I wondered if market research or beta-testing on the ECS environment was conducted?

      Within the elevator pitch, your passion and commitment to the product was evident and compelling. It was good to have your visible presence as a lead-in to the venture information. Nicely done.
      Helen

  • jtpatry 9:44 am on July 28, 2012
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    Welcome to KidTweet, a mobile and web-based platform for elementary and middle school teachers and students. Elevator Pitch “KidTweet” The Venture Pitch can be found and read here: JPatryA3VP(KidTweet) Thank you! Jon

    Continue reading KidTweet Posted in: Venture Forum
     

    • vawells 3:01 pm on July 30, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Jon
      Thank you for sharing such an original useful idea for teachers and students. I can see the uses for this tool in and out of school. I enjoyed viewing your elevator pitch and venture pitch. The visual in the background of your elevator pitch was a good idea and your pitch was delivered with conviction. As you state in your venture pitch more research into startup costs would be needed to establish how much of an investment you would be looking for.
      One suggestion I would make would be to include how this service would make money for me, the investor.
      Again thanks for sharing
      Valerie

      • jtpatry 12:49 pm on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Hi Valerie,

        Thanks for the feedback! After viewing many others EP I noticed that they included the money bit. I know I should have included it in my pitch, or something to give it a more profitable boost. I think I got really tied up in the concept itself and how I see the potentials to be an effective tool in education.

        But for sure, I know it missed that bit!

        Thanks again!

        Jon

    • unclereg 10:44 pm on July 30, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hello Jon,

      Creative name and application. I do not use twitter and didn’t know of its age restriction. This would be great to implement/offer at the elementary level. I liked the idea you made about students being given a chance to use a more kid-orientated version of twitter to build up social responsibility at a younger age. I would invest in this. Great job. Great delivery.

      -Regen

      • jtpatry 12:53 pm on July 31, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Regen,

        Thanks for taking a look and throwing your support to the venture. I would really encourage you to take a closer look into joining the Twitterverse. It is a world of 24/7 PD and an expansion of ones current PLN. You don’t have to be contributor to use the tool, you have the flexibility to “follow” those that are worthwhile and have substance. Give it a go, I think you will be pleasantly surprised. You can always set up an account and follow my name @jtpatry and take a look at the educators and professionals that I follow and see what they have to say.

        Cheers,

        Jon

      • unclereg 9:56 pm on August 5, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Hey Jon,

        In response to my initial posting, here is some more for your idea. Again, I love the idea because I’ve seen a similar twitter page work successfully in the Surrey School district regarding the topic of technology. Thanks for the recommendation to join twitter verse, I’ll be sure to join.

        Prior to your presentation I was not aware that students under 13 were not marketed for twitter use and were also not allowed to use the program. I think this is a great way to get younger students integrated into using these sorts of social media as a way to give them practice and responsibility to appropriately post to a site such as kidtweet. If students are not given proper access then they cannot truly practice concepts as ‘netiquette’. This idea will also give students access to communicate with students from within their district and beyond. So many times students do not get a chance to meet other students in the k-7 years prior to attending secondary school. I think this venture is a great way to build relationships between similar age students from different schools. Great idea Jon. Would like to see this idea up and running. Good luck.
        -Regen

    • karonw 7:43 pm on August 1, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Jon,

      I think that you have came up with a great venture and concept and it sure fills in the gaps for the elementary/middle school level students and teachers. As an EVA, I think you did very well in articulating your elevator pitch, it was very convincing and you have provided all the details that would motivate and engage one to invest in your product. Also, you sounded very confident which added bonus points to your pitch! I have reviewed your venture proposition and see the benefits and gains for the educators and students but not so much as an investor. If I was to invest in this product what are my gains in revenue? Would it be increasing the registrations at my institution as this product will help my school prepare students who would be responsible individuals in the real/digital world and engage in the global community or would it help me make a profit in another way? I think if you can provide me with this detail then I would definitely be more convinced to invest in KidTweet.

      Regardless, excellent effort and work on your venture.

      Karon

      • jtpatry 4:23 pm on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Hi Karen,

        Thanks for the feedback and questions. I know I really didn’t have much for the investor, I got really excited about the possibilities of the idea, and left that to the side. Probably not the smartest move in the Dragons Den. More thinking that I was going to invest the capital then anything. Some folks haven mentioned the idea of advertising, which I never really thought of, and the idea of licensing/subscriptions would be something valuable to include too.

        Again, thanks for the feedback and questions. Really appreciate it!

        Jon

    • lisamallen 10:48 am on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Jon,

      What a great idea and I thought your elevator pitch was fantastic – completely engaging and well done.

      My only suggestions here, as has been noted by other peers is more details on how the venture can make money for the investor. Also, since I am not a teacher myself, it’s a little unclear how twitter can be integrated into the classroom – what are the benefits of having it incorporated in teaching with younger kinds. Maybe I missed this but it wasn’t really clear.

      Cheers,
      Lisa

      • jtpatry 4:21 pm on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Hi Lisa,

        Thanks for the feedback and questions. I know I missed the boat on the “how I’m I going to make money” piece. I got really excited about the possibilities of the idea, and left that to the side. More thinking that I was going to invest the capital then anything. Some folks haven mentioned the idea of advertising, which I never really thought of, and the idea of licensing/subscriptions would be something valuable to include too.

        The idea of KidTweet (or Twitter) being incorporated in the classroom would be to connect with other classes or students, post questions, share/summarizing learning in 140 characters or less. Pretty much the same way many of us utilize twitter now. Its all about connecting, communicating, and
        sharing.

        Thanks again,

        Jon

    • maybacon 12:47 pm on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Jon,

      Elevator Pitch: Strong elevator pitch. You present yourself very well, clearly and concisely. This appears to be a very useful product in terms of education, adaptation to social media and Internet safety for minors.

      Venture Pitch: This pitch is compelling and well researched. I like the product as an educator and a parent, the concept is excellent for the contemporary social and educational arenas and having a service such as KidTweet could encourage schools to be more open to social media applications and BYOD programs.

      Your market research was thorough, though I would have liked to know more about the competition (apps or Twitter extensions that could potentially supplant KidTweet by operating under the Twitter umbrella). I also wonder how KidTweet will make money – will schools purchase a license to use KidTweet? Will KidTweet include ads? Could children also get a KidTweet account under parent supervision at home, or is this service exclusively for schools? Is there a possibility of following existing Twitter accounts but filtering tweets through the teacher for moderation first?

      I hope you move forward with this venture, as it is a brilliant idea and full of potential! I love the idea of allowing children to practice being good citizens online while protecting them and their future reputations from potential harm during the learning process. Excellent work!!

      May

      • jtpatry 4:13 pm on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Hi May,

        Thanks for some great feedback! The “idea” of KidTweet from what I searched out is one of a kind other than its older counterpart of Twitter. What I think takes this idea to the next level is that the concept is self-contained under its own umbrella, and you don’t have to worry about the security settings such as Twitter, and presently, if I wanted to use twitter in the classroom, the paper work needs to be completed and it would most likely get kiboshed for the potentials of inappropriate material from other postings. Twitter doesn’t provide the option for the filtering of tweets (teachers in the beginning would need to approve tweets and if there are inappropriate ones, it becomes a teachable moment. As for advertising, never thought about that. I know with many educational sites out there, half the time they dont’ even know what is being shown, and I have come across some pretty hefty religion promotions even in some of the sites my students use. If i know what is being advertised or promoted, can’t see why not.

        If parents are wanting to take on the supervision of their own children’s accounts, heck yes they can sign-up. But again, teachers who are providing this service with their classes might not necessarily “follow” the student.

        Never thought about the idea of following existing twitter feeds, I have no idea if that would work, would be something to look into as their are some really great teachers, educators and professionals to converse with.

        If I had the payroll to take this seriously, I wouldn’t hesitate in getting the ball rolling. I know there is more to it, but the idea is there.

        Thanks again May.

        Jon

    • ping 1:34 pm on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Jon,

      Impressive elevator pitch, and thorough venture plan! I like your idea, and the funny logo too. For students with mobile devices, the KidTweer is a good solution to link them together in a learning community. I mostly like your idea of experts online as consultants. I’ve thought about that myself. It would be a great learner-centered learning style to have students surrounded by experts anywhere and anytime.

      My question is that how do you identify those experts in the virtual society, by their professional category or others? And how do you redirect questioning students to these experts? Will the students post questions on their own KidTweer pages, or will they find easy connection to the expert right have knowledge in his interest. I might need more market analysis as for how many partition of kids under 13 will be allowed to have a mobile daily, that would help me to ensure a market size and potential return.

      Ping

      • jtpatry 4:17 pm on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Hi Ping,

        Those are really great questions. I think to establish those experts its by doing research before hand. Similar to showing any links to students, teachers must insure that the material is appropriate and kid-friendly.

        Yes indeed it would be great to have more market analysis of how many kids do indeed use the mobile devices. I know from what I discovered, the number keeps going up. This particular service would be offered in a web-based platform as well, allowing for all to contribute somehow (in or outside of the school environment)

        Thanks for the questions and feedback,

        Jon

    • Leonora Zefi 8:09 pm on August 2, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Your elevator pitch message is very clear and to the point Jon. You touched on all the key elements pertaining to this venture. By posing questions and providing answers to them, you kept me engaged.
      You did an excellent job in differentiating between kidtweet and tweeter.
      Your vision for the venture was clearly conveyed

      Concept and Marketability
      Kidtweet is a very original concept and your research shows the growth potential due to the large market for kidtweet. Capitalizing on strategic partnerships with ScuttlePad gives the venture a competitive edge.

      Venture Plan
      You have given a lot of thought to the implementation plan. I like your approach to appealing to the investor highlighting the economic and social benefit of the venture.

      Thank you for sharing Jon.

      Leonora

    • chrisaitken 1:14 am on August 3, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      This is a very good idea. Twitter is an excellent place to learn but most schools block Twitter and sites like it. I think KidTweet would give students an opportunity to connect with other students and teachers around the world – exciting! I actually quite surprised there isn’t already something like this out there. If there isn’t I’m sure there will be soon.

      • jtpatry 10:13 am on August 3, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Thanks Chris for taking the time to view the pitch! I have had my eye on the social media market for a platform like Twitter for kids, but no dice. You never know, KidTweet might just be it 🙂

        Thanks,

        Jon

    • Chelsea M Woods 9:44 am on August 3, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Terrific idea, Jon! I like the idea of giving students a Tweeting practice ground to explore what makes an appropriate tweet, and develop their understanding of follower, following, and mundane vs. relevant. I’ve heard of a few versions of Facebook for schools, but not of kid versions of Twitter. Thank you! Chelsea

      • jtpatry 10:14 am on August 3, 2012 | Log in to Reply

        Thanks Chelsea! I think at some point very soon there will be a platform like Twitter for kids, maybe this is the one 😉

        Thanks for taking the time to view the pitch!

        Jon

    • gillian 9:16 am on August 4, 2012 | Log in to Reply

      Hi Jon.
      What a great idea – despite some of the risks you so openly identify, I think you would have a fairly easy time of it getting this idea off the ground!
      I thought your venture pitch was perfect. It was simple and straightforward, allowing the viewer to focus (visually and aurally) on what is important, you and your message and the venture itself. I found the pitch and the presenter to be very professional and definitely would get me to want to know more as an investor.

      Your venture pitch was equally impressive and what’s more … honest. I thought the overall presentation was well researched and logical. The focus on security measures was important to sell this venture to both teachers and parents of your target age group. You also demonstrated some practical uses for the product in a classroom setting which is also important for the buyers of this product – who is not the user.
      Finally, I appreciated your honesty in your self-evaluation. I think many of us circled around the cost factor – I know I did!
      gillian

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