Start\UP (Belfast)
Start \UP is a bootcamp aimed at early stage technology startup companies. The goal is simply to “get your business ready for operations”. In many, but not all cases, that means funding. In all cases it means “getting ready to do business”. And in reality there is very little distinction. An investor needs to believe that your startup is capable of operating.
There are six modules – of course – that will be delivered weekly via video conference from Silicon valley, CA to StartVI. Each weekly session is three hours, from 5pm-8pm on the following days:
Session Date Day
1 05/05/10 Wednesday
2 05/12/10 Wednesday
3 05/19/10 Wednesday
4 05/26/10 Wednesday
5 06/02/10 Wednesday
6 06/09/10 Wednesday
The first two hours of each session (5pm-7pm) will be presentation material and topic-related Q&A. Topics will include:
• Funding Sources and Strategies (Angel vs. VC, NI vs. SV)
• How a VC Fund Works
• Investment Rounds and Valuation
• VC Arithmetic
• Investment Collateral
• Elevator Pitches
• Investment Pitches
• Business Planning
• Exits and Valuation
• Due Diligence
• Operations Planning and Reviews
Topics can be added, changed or expanded depending upon the specific needs of the companies participating, as long as there is general agreement from all.
The final hour (7pm-8pm) is dedicated to general Q&A, previously requested and ad hoc topic clinics and networking.
The program will conclude on June 24th-25th with a two day face-to-face session @StartVI:
• Pitch Fest (where all companies get to tell their story)
• One-on-one clinics for personal and confidential feedback
The bootcamp is limited to twelve technology startup companies. There is no cost, and the only commitment we need is that, once selected, you stay the course. To get selected, show us that you have a big idea that can make a shit load of money, and that you have the staying power to pull it off. This is not your mother’s “investor readiness” course, it’ll be scrappy and irreverent, you’ll get pulled around (not apart), and asked to so stuff, both for yourself and others, can can take you out of your comfort zone. It’s definitely not for anyone who thinks they can be a “tourist” or are looking to be spoon-fed.
Email info@startvi.com to schedule a Skype video-call asap or even sooner.
I would love to see this program in the U.S.
7 days notice?
Unfortunately we had to. I can’t change dates for being in Belfast and needed at least VI sessions beforehand. If you are interested we can work with you, get you caught up and invited.
refreshingly honest answer.
With the short notice and me being in a different project in a different city it’s not quite possible. I think I’ve an idea that might work, wouldn’t mind throwing it out there so will be looking in.
Thanks for publishing the bootcamp stuff. If you’re still looking for subjects to cover on here, maybe you can answer a kind of marketing query; in the eyes of the silicon valley media – thinking likes of TechCrunch here – what makes a ‘rock star’ tech startup stand out from being just another software house?
E.g. I’ve seen ideas carried straight to the top of the TC homepage that are not new. But they spin a new dynamic around the product concept, it gets traction and suddenly people are ‘getting it’. What makes Silicon Valley get the things they do (and not others)?
Let me start a new post to discuss that one!
John. I’ll put a special one in Sonoma.
This is not a criticism just an observation – Any plans to cover tips and tricks for productising ideas and bringing them to market? What about competitive intelligence and pricing etc?
No plans to cover this in the bootcamp, but it’s covered in StartVI – and will get reviewed with operational readiness.
Cool. Sounds like you have all the bases covered then. Competitive Inteligence was my favourite bit of being a Product Manager when I worked at Lagan.
I think “have all the bases covered” is a stretch.
As will most things StartVI, our approach to Competitive Intelligence will may be counter-intuitive, or perhaps not … when you can’t win with their rules, redefine them, and keep redefining them, until you do win … and understand the difference between winning and being right.