The Post Money Value

DIY Demo (or the TechCrunch Thing)

As you are no doubt aware, the dueling show your start-up things are happening pretty much as I type this (from 36,000ft).  I'm not going to dive into the debate on what show is better or who needs to die rather I'd like to offer up a perspective that was born from a particularly smart entrepreneur. 

I got the following email just prior to packing up for the airport:

Rick,

I didn't make the cut for either Demo or the Arrington love-in but I have an application that I think can be a winner on mobile devices.  Here is a link to a movie that my partner and I did. It is exactly what we would done at either of these gigs.  You can download it and I'd suggest you watch it on your Bold (or iPhone) to get the full view and impact on what [] can do.

I clicked and grabbed the file to watch on the plane.  Sure enough, in "full screen", they essentially showed this app "running" on my device with a voice over.  It was interesting and I'm going to follow up and get more information.

It got me to thinking; dangerous but I couldn't help it.   Instead of endless droning on about market size, no competition, next generation web 2.0 long tail social media personalization, they just flipped me a movie and said put this on your bold and check this out.  Perfect. If I like, we talk and all the rest of the stuff comes out in due course. If not, on to the next suit with a checkbook.

Fred Wilson (if memory serves me correctly) was the trend setting year(s) back in getting people to send in/post pitches as the fast elevator pitch and I'm sure has probably received tons of people doing videos, it is nothing new.

What I think is new is taking the approach of 'pretending' you are going in front of all these DEMO or TC people and doing a 3 ~ 6 minute pitch which, unlike much of the talking heads, just shows the application/service 'running' with a voice over. It's actually pretty compelling to hold a Bold in your hand and 'watch' the app vs. a talking head giving a pitch. 

Just do 'check this out' demo of the app and off you go.  At the end of the day, the app/service is what matters and this could be a very efficient way for you to get in front of many of us.

Food for thought.

(Well done, Eric, you got my attention)

If You Are Shooting for the Moon

One guy, my friend Tom, did it.  Here is his note to all of us:

"Michelle and I have started our great 'mid-life' adventure.  we have packed up our jobs and found a housesitter, and have bought a one-way ticket to South America.  no particular plans, no destinations, we're thinking that we'll be gone for six months or so.

it's a chance to change speeds, learn new ways of living and thinking, and figure out what we want to do with the second half of our lives.  fall in love again.  learn to dance the argentine tango.

we've started in Ecuador, where we are taking spanish lessons and exploring the lovely city of Cuenca. 

we're keeping a travel blog at www.cheeseandcrackers.ca.  we'd be thrilled if you visited our site.  don't be shy about leaving a question, comment, or even just a hello.  we'd love to hear from you."

Gotta love success. Safe travels, Tom.

Canadian Start-Up Goodness from Sun

Sun Microsystems has a program called "Sun Startup Essentials" which is designed to help you get going with respect to software/hardware discounts, storage, free tools, etc. 

If you are working on a start up here in Canada, this is an excellent program for you to take a look at.  Details can be found here.