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Category: Pitch

Getting on stage to pitch your startup soon? Here’s how to structure it

Rick Turoczy on January 14, 2022

By this point in my startup career, I’ve easily seen thousands of startup pitches. Maybe tens of thousands. What’s more, I’ve also had the privilege of working with hundreds of founders to workshop, refine, and polish their pitches for both VC pitches and on stage presentations. So if you’re a founder prepping to jump on stage at an upcoming startup competitions or demo day, I thought it might be beneficial for you if I shared a little advice that any number of founders have found valuable as they developed the stories of their startups to tell in front of a live studio audience…

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Have you heard about this startup…?

Rick Turoczy on March 19, 2021

As I mentioned, I was looking for an excuse to use Twitter Spaces, the Clubhouse competitor. And startups promoting what they’re working on seemed on brand. It’s not a competition. It’s just an opportunity to share more about your company. And the beta test of what may become an ongoing event will take place Thursday, March 25, 2021, starting at 4:00PM.

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Procrastinator’s paradise: TechfestNW announces the next round of PitchfestNW startups… and another application period

Rick Turoczy on January 24, 2019

Do you want procrastinators? Do ya? Because this is how you get procrastinators… TechfestNW was kind enough to open a second application period for PitchfestNW, their annual startup pitch competition, which recently closed. Now, they’ve announced the selections from that batch. But guess what? You can still apply.

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It’s not too early to think about 2018: TechfestNW PitchfestNW applications due January 9

Rick Turoczy on November 30, 2017

As a founder, you’re always looking for opportunities to promote your company. And locally, there are few opportunities as big as PitchfestNW, the pitch competition held as part of TechfestNW, Portland’s largest homegrown tech event. Plus, you get a free pass to the event.

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LAST CHANCE: Apply to 1776 Challenge Cup Portland and you’ll also get PIE

Rick Turoczy on June 16, 2017

Look. I get it. You’re busy. Doing startups is hard. And time consuming and stressful. But no matter how awesome your product is it won’t go anywhere if no one knows about it. So you’ve got to take time to put yourself out there. And get on stage from time to time. And here’s a great opportunity: the 1776 Challenge Cup Portland.

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Please swallow that Portland aggressive humility and apply for these startup competitions. You know, if you want.

Rick Turoczy on May 24, 2017

Dearest Portland startups, As much as I understand and sympathize with the rampant aggressive humility around here, I also recognize that you’re working on some incredibly cool stuff. And like it or not, you’re going to have find the wherewithal to tell other people about the amazing stuff you’re doing.

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Need a zillion dollars for your startup? ZINO Zillionaire Investment Forum might be a good place to start

A zillion is shooting a bit high anyway, don’t you think? How about we start with something smaller then? Like about $50,000. That’s the prize money you could take home after pitching the ZINO Zillionaire Investment Forum.

Rick Turoczy on July 29, 2009

Ah, what I wouldn’t do with a zillion dollars. Why I could fund any number of cool startup ideas.

What’s that? What do you mean “zillion” isn’t a real number?

Well, never mind that. A zillion is shooting a bit high anyway, don’t you think? How about we start with something smaller then? Like about $50,000.

Good. Because that’s the prize money you could take home after pitching the ZINO Zillionaire Investment Forum. Read More