I really enjoyed this project, and I’m very happy with my venture idea. Like most successful ventures, the idea of ConstructWithUs was born out of necessity. I asked myself, what do I need in education that I don’t have, and a data base of awesome project based learning resources was just that.
I struggled with my elevator pitch because there was so much I wanted to say. Even after I cut it down by almost half, I was well over the 1 minute time limit. I felt it was more important to speak clearly and calmly than to rush through my delivery. I found it difficult to translate the passion and excitement I have for the company through the video. This lack of visible enthusiasm is one of the weakness in the elevator pitch. I am pleased that I was able to touch on almost all of the elements: Pain point, solution, differentiation, championship, competition, the ask and the return. In the elevator pitch, I wasn’t able to fit in my marketing plan, but I’d hoped that by mentioning my experience in public education, it would be evident that I could leverage my professional connections to spread the word about my company. Another weakness in the pitch is that it is focused solely on the British Columbia market. That might seem limiting to prospective investors, but I really wanted to emphasize the immediate need in BC, and that ConstructWithUs has the local knowledge to provide a perfect fit. I added the bit at the end about becoming a “multi-million dollar international company” to allude to the fact that we could expand. Hopefully, the investor would look through the website and read the venture pitch to learn more.
I don’t have any real tech skills, so making my video or website flashy was impossible. I realized after the 21st take of my elevator pitch, that I had no business in front of the camera. A definite weakness in the video was that because it took me so long to get through my script properly, the sun had moved so much that even with the ceiling light on, the video was too dark. My kitchen is not a production studio! I considered filming my venture pitch, but I knew that it would just be me talking and I didn’t think that would be as engaging as a website (my first!). I like the website because you can easily navigate the information. I have clearly laid out the elements of the pitch. I tried to make it personal by telling the story about the idea of the company, and I think my biography builds confidence in my capability and qualifications to lead the company.
Truthfully, I think that ConstructWithUs could be a viable company without capital from investors. It would take more time, but the database could be initially populated with some hard work by myself, and other teacher friends specializing in different subject areas. I think the website and database could be built using free open source platforms, and with a bit of cheap help from close associates, ConstructWithUs could be up and running in a year. Because I work in a small BC school district, I could easily get a meeting with the Superintendent, and I’m confident that she would allow a paid pilot in the schools. Once ConstructWithUs has developed a successful relationship with that first school district, word of mouth and recommendation will attract other districts to come on board.
While ConstructWithUs is only an idea at this point, it is one that I will keep close. As I worked through my venture proposal, I convinced myself of its viability, and there may be a future with ConstructWithUs for me. Stay tuned!