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

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ABOUT THE CLASS

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.

Every business is unique, but trust us: there are steadfast principles that position all new business ideas for success. 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.

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.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

Through exclusive video lessons and tactical exercises, Bill and I will guide you towards a successful start for your business. We’ll cover:

• THE ART OF STARTING YOUR COMPANY. How to position your company for success by making meaning, asking questions, and developing a mantra.

• THE ART OF LAUNCHING. The importance of getting your product to market and telling your story. Early feedback from your customers is pivotal!

• THE ART OF 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.

• THE ART OF PITCHING. How to present your business in a professional way by being prepared, keeping your audience engaged, and listening to feedback.

• THE ART OF SOCIALIZING. How to build a social platform for communication that your following will appreciate. (Hint: Think like NPR!)

WHAT YOU’LL MAKE

PROJECT DELIVERABLE: Submit a 10 slide pitch deck for your business.

DESCRIPTION: As we go over in the class lessons, limiting yourself to a 10 slide pitch deck will keep you focused as a presenter and improve your chances of getting the attention of people who can help your business. The slides should include the basics of your company (info about team, competitors, proof of concept, etc) and most importantly your “wow” factor.

SPECS: Your project should have exactly 10 slides. All type should be 30pt or larger. You will upload a link to the PDF for the rest of the class to view.

STUDENT PROJECT CONTEST

Out of the top twenty most upvoted student projects in the class Bill and I will select our favorite three. The students responsible for these projects will receive a TWO HOUR MENTORING SESSION from us either in Silicon Valley (if you can make it out here) or via video conference. Bill and I are excited to be wowed by your ideas!

TO BE ELIGIBLE, ALL PROJECTS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY JUNE 11, 2014.

ABOUT THE TEACHER

GUY KAWASAKI
CHIEF EVANGELIST, CANVA
guykawasaki.com/

Guy Kawasaki is the chief evangelist of Canva, an online graphic design tool. Formerly, he was an advisor to the Motorola business unit of Google and chief evangelist of Apple. He is also the author of APE, What the Plus!, Enchantment, and nine other books. Kawasaki has a BA from Stanford University and an MBA from UCLA as well as an honorary doctorate from Babson College.

Bill Reichert has over 20 years of experience as an entrepreneur and operating executive. Since joining Garage in 1998, Bill has focused on early-stage information technology and materials science companies. He has been a board director or board observer at CaseStack, WhiteHat Security, ClearFuels Technology, Simply Hired, MiaSole, D.light Design, ThermoCeramix, and VisaNow, among others. Prior to Garage, Bill was a co-founder or senior executive in several venture-backed technology startups, including Trademark Software, The Learning Company, and Academic Systems. Currently he is the Chairman of the Small Fund Roundtable of the VC Taskforce and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations in New York.

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