Posts Tagged ‘sprout’
Have a brilliant business idea and want to pitch to a room of entrepreneurs, investors, and venture capitalists? Or what if you’re a startup and in need of some dev work, mentoring, or design work, but haven’t had the chance to find the help? Maybe you’re the investor looking for a great new idea to invest in? Then your calendars for the first event of The Combine, The Open Pitch Session, Thursday, October 20th.
Last year’s Open Pitch Session was jammed packed with great ideas and opportunities. This year’s event will be held at Alumni Hall, doors open at 6:30 pm, event starts at 7. Immediately following the Open Pitch Session is Tech Cocktail where you can continue the networking with the VCs, investors, entrepreneurs, and startups.
Our very own, Brad Wisler, will be moderating the Open Pitch Session. We think of him as a mastermind in pitching, so he’ll be able to keep the ball rolling to try and get everyone connected and ideas heard. Bring slides, mockups, prototypes, or just an idea and be ready to impress in five minutes. Pitch from any stage of the idea because you never know who can help you out!
Going to pitch? Great, we want to make sure you get your time to shine, so please fill out this quick form. If time allows, we hope walk-ins will get a chance to pitch. Even if you aren’t pitching, go ahead and complete the form so we have an idea of who is attending.
Feel free to spread the word about Open Pitch. This event is open to the public.
Good luck, maybe you’ll hit a home run!
For more information about Open Pitch or The Combine, check out The Combine Blog.
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Posted by Kacey on October 13, 2011 
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Freelancers everywhere. Lend me your ears.
Working at home is great, in theory. You wake up, make yourself an omelet (or don’t), pull on some sweats and start the day. There is no wasted time commuting and no meetings to attend. Your boss isn’t checking how often you’re on Facebook or asking questions about your progress. Better yet, there’s no guy with bad body odor playing Michael Bolton in the cubicle next door. Life is sweet.
If only it were that simple. In real life there’s no time for omelets. You’re busy managing multiple tasks and looking for projects on top of a supposedly healthy social life. But doing quality work takes more than just time. It takes motivation. Some can function from the comfort of their couches or kitchen tables. Others, not so much.
At the local coffee shop you wait 20 minutes for a table, only to find walls with no outlets and a weak wireless connection. Hours later you look at your clock and realize you’ve been there 3 hours and all you have to show for it is an empty latte and nothing done. It’s enough to make you swear off coffee.
Where’s the happy medium? Inspiration comes from surrounding yourself with inspiring people, but nobody likes to be micromanaged.
Hackers in Residence is for freelance developers and designers looking for office space and project opportunities. Use our space in exchange for a fraction of your time to work on projects for our sprouts. You reap the benefits of a laid-back, creative atmosphere while maintaining a constant work flow and access to our resources and networks. Better yet, you can get health care at the SproutBox group rate.
Best of both worlds? We think so.
Interested? See our Opportunities page for more information on how to apply and what we’re looking for.
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Posted by Brad on December 9, 2010 No Comments
You sent in your application, we read it, we liked it and now you’re coming to Bloomington for Selection Weekend. After much anticipation, it’s time to choose our 8th sprout. Maybe it’s you. Frankly, I have no idea because I’m not the one reading the applications. But I do know that if you made it this far, you have an idea that impressed our committee.
Of course, I would advise you to run through the six criteria for a strong candidate. These are crucial for giving a complete presentation and will help you anticipate tough questions in advance. But don’t forget one of the most compelling parts of your presentation: your story.
What inspired the idea for your business? Why are you really at the box presenting to us? This may seem like a small detail. You may even be rolling your eyes. But if you aren’t excited about your story, how do you expect the committee members to be? You spent endless hours crafting a detailed business plan, explaining exactly how you intend to make money. Now this is your chance to show us why the committee should pick you over every other startup that applied this quarter.
Set your presentation apart with a story that makes a strong impression and tell us what you’re all about. Think of what qualities make a great story: short, engaging, relevant and personal. These qualities aren’t reserved for classic bedtime stories or cocktail parties. They are a guide to help you clearly explain the vision for your company in an interesting way and to make your presentation memorable.
Now, I’m not saying that you should start with a twenty-minute monologue about your undying love for SaaS companies, but a simple, compelling story sets the tone for the rest of your presentation and naturally transitions to the question, “What problem is your company going to solve?”
Tell us why you’re here and why you’re confident that your idea solves a real problem. If you believe in what you’re doing, your personality and dedication will be obvious.
We look forward to seeing what you have prepared. Good luck, have a safe trip and we’ll see you soon.
Applications for our next sprout are now open! Apply here.
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Posted by Brad on September 21, 2010 No Comments
