Art of the Start: Turning Ideas into High-Growth Businesses

Bill Reichert and I have partnered on countless new businesses over the years, guiding emerging companies as both professionals and investors. Our seed-capital investment fund, Garage Technology Ventures, provided early support for major startups like Pandora, and we continue to meet with hundreds of aspiring entrepreneurs every year. Needless to say, we’ve seen it all when it comes to business plans and pitches.

In this class, Bill and I provide access to the most powerful principles we’ve learned to help you bring your concept to the next level and garner investor interest. Every business is unique, but trust us: there are steadfast principles that position all new business ideas for success. 

Here’s a hint: those who set out to make meaning are much more likely to succeed than those who set out to make money. As a former Chief Evangelist of Apple, I know firsthand how building a company on a strong meaning—democratizing personal computing—can lead to amazing success. If you have an idea for a business that you think will make the world a better place, this class will help you organize your thoughts and make it happen . . . right from the start.

Through exclusive video lessons and tactical exercises, we'll cover:

• Starting: How to position your company for success by making meaning, asking questions, and developing a mantra.
• Launching: The importance of getting your product to market and telling your story. Early feedback from your customers is pivotal!
• Fundraising: What you need to know about the VC world, how to clean up your act to be presentable as a business, and how to communicate what makes your business special.
• Pitching: How to present your business in a professional way by being prepared, keeping your audience engaged, and listening to feedback.
• Socializing. How to build a social platform for communication that your following will appreciate.
  (Hint: Think like NPR!)

By the end, you'll share your own 10-slide pitch deck for your business — and show us your "wow" factor.

• Introduction
• Make Meaning
• Ask Questions
• Make a Mantra
• Don't Worry Be Crappy
• Tell Your Story
• Tips and Tricks
• Know What You're Getting Into
• Get the Basics Right
• Get Your Act Together
• How to Ask for Money
• Define Your "WOW"
• The Art of Pitching
• The Art of Socializing