SmugMug Elevator Pitch
The SmugMug elevator pitch by Doug Macaskill (CEO) focuses on SmugMug’s competitive advantage and somewhat tackles a pain point from an eGiant: the CEO highlights SmugMug’s premium, part-of-the-club nature with no advertising which contrasts it with Google’s everyone’s welcome and targeted advertising.
The CEO’s delivery is a different approach: he is calm, direct, and very confident (bordering on cocky) in his product. He is relaxed and casually dressed, which actually serves to give him credibility as a young, connected individual. He comments on the opportunity space and the successes of the endeavour, but does not focus on the future vision of SmugMug.
All-in-all, this a quality pitch that leaves the EVA interested in what the CEO is so confident about.
Posted in: Week 03: Analyst Bootcamp
hall 3:16 am on September 21, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
I viewed SmugMug elevator pitch which I think is a very good product. I concur with you on the description of the CEO. I think that the background noise to near of the presentation was distracting which could turn off viewers.
kstooshnov 10:16 am on September 21, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
HI Conroy,
If you click on a few other clips of elevator pitches from techcrunch, they all have the brownish solarized effect, and the background noise is consistent. At one point, I heard the timer start, sounding like a chime you would hear in an elevator. Despite efforts to make it seem like these pitches take place in an elevator, it is evident that they are happening in a noisy conference hall, so even more trying for the pitcher to catch the listener’s attention.
Kyle
jenaca 7:06 am on September 21, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
I also viewed SmugMug elevator pitch. I agree that it is a very good product however, I think he could have focused more on what the future plans are for his product.
David William Price 9:24 am on September 21, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
This never explains what the problem is… why would I use the product? Why is it better? Why not describe the difference in interface design or philosophy? Lumping BMW and Toyota together is pretty bizarre. Why are the photos “bigger”? Why is this important? Why do they look “better than anywhere else on the web”? Having paying customers sounds good… but what are they paying? What are revenues? More importantly, what are profits?