Coaching Programs
TechLab Innovation Center & VDF Ventures Proudly Present:
The Pavilion Accelerator Workshop Series
The Silicon Valley Secrets to Raising Startup Funding
Hosted ONLINE by Sara Rauchwerger, TechLab Innovation Center Founder & Silicon Valley Veteran
In-Partnership with Geron Vanderfeesten, VDF Ventures
Background:
Having worked with thousands of startups and investors from around the world, we have gained a wealth of experience on what makes a pitch deck truly compelling. Many companies tell a story that is all about the technology but don’t answer many of the questions investors need to know when evaluating an investment opportunity. As a startup entrepreneur, it is vital to not just get your foot in the door but also deliver a message about your company that proves to your audience you’ll be able to set up a business instead of just building a nice piece of technology or a convenient service.
In 3 sessions of 2 hours each, spread out over 3 days, we will work closely with founders to tell exactly that story and maximize your chance of raising money from your investor wish list. The sessions are taught by Sara Rauchwerger, who’s coached many dozens of companies in her TechLab Innovation Center accelerator, located in Santa Clara, California, in the heart of Silicon Valley, and helped them raise well over $100.000.000,00.
Workshop Program
Day 1
What constitutes a perfect pitch deck? - Theory of structure and content necessary to build a deck that will convince your target investor
Interactive conversations: How to apply these concepts to your business? - Answering questions such as ‘What is it you truly do?’, ‘What problem are you truly solving’, ‘Who are your actual customers and where/how to find them’, ‘How are you going to achieve true scale’,... and many more.
Day 2
Continued interactive conversations to build a compelling executive summary.
Focus on the deal: How much are you raising? How much return will that generate for an investor? What deal terms should you offer? Do you actually need this money and can you prove that? Do you have the financial plan to justify these funding needs? What will you use the money for?
Day 3
Every company will present their improved deck to the group after having worked on it for a week.
Sara and Geron will provide feedback on where the company is in its journey towards getting ready to present to investors. They will judge whether the company is ready to be presented to their network, needs more work, or is too far from being ready.
If the company is deemed ready to be presented to their network, Sara and Geron will take the company to the next phase and arrange for these introductions. If the company has made enough progress and clearly has what it takes, Sara and Geron will continue coaching the company until they’re ready for an extra complimentary 4 hours of coaching. In no way, however, do the organizers of this workshop guarantee that any participant will be invited to join them in a follow-up phase. This depends on how hard the participant worked on the deck, whether they’ve shown they have what it takes to become investor-ready and whether they have made enough progress on their executive summary.
Concluding Remarks
Cost to Participate: EUR3000,00 per company (Max. two participants per startup)
Startup Strategies for Operational Excellence
The Silicon Valley Secret to Global Success At Scale
Hosted LIVE at L’Elan monthly
By Sara Rauchwerger, TechLab Innovation Center Founder & Silicon Valley Veteran
In-Partnership with Geron Vanderfeesten, VDF Ventures
Grenoble-area, France
Abstract:
Having worked with thousands of startups from around the world, we have repeatedly seen that founders continue to make the same mistake: not spending enough time building and maintaining effective internal operational strategies that correspond to a set vision. Founding teams generally are not thinking hard enough about how to build a solid corporate, well-oiled, commercially viable machine around their idea. There is a lack of understanding that great technology/product/service alone does not build a great company because all technologies/products/services may be great, but what matters above all is your ability to execute.
In this full day workshop, we will be honing in on how to turn your company into a relentlessly executing business in order to achieve true scale
Event Location:
Event will be held just 15 minutes outside Grenoble located in southeastern France nestled in the French Alps. You will be participating in the sessions in a serene environment with stunning natural beauty in the Capital of the Alps while discovering the region and its culture. The region is renowned for its scientific and technological advancement with prestigious research institutes and a thriving high-tech industry.
Event Timing:
Day 1 9:00H – 17:00H (including Breakfast, Lunch, Snacks, Drinks & Dinner)
Day 2 9:00H-14:00H (including Lunch)
Event Program:
Day 1:
Introduction: Building a Global Business
Are You Ready for Market Entry? Who are your target customers, where to find them, how to reach them?
Market Entry Components: Tried and tested ways of building out a client base for every type of business.
Market Entry Plan: Plan of Action to achieve stated goals.
Key to Success: Do’s and don’ts, learnings from decades of experience and dozens of fellow entrepreneurs.
Basic Elements of Building a Sustainable Business
Opportunities: What are they, how can you grab them and turn them into tangible results?
Challenges: What are they and how can you tackle them?
Revenues: Targets & Action Plan.
Costs: How to optimize cost structure?
Cash: How to manage cash intelligently and sustainably?
How to Build the Right Business Model for Your Company
The Business Model Canvas (or “Tapestry”)
What is the right Model for you to reach your target audience at scale and convert into paying customers?
Convert your model and take action.
Do you have a contingency plan? No founder’s story is a straight line.
Business Model Canvas Interactive Session
Build your own model relevant to your own company. Interactive session to turn the day’s lessons learned into a plan of action for your company.
Determine your strengths and weaknesses.
Evaluate your focus
Present your model (2 minute presentation)
Concluding Remarks
Day 2
Half day hike in the surrounding mountains exploring the beauty of the French Alps (weather permitting). Experience the local Alpine cuisine (high top hiking shoes are highly recommended, backpack to carry water and a wind/rain jacket).
Discuss along the way:
Human Factors influencing global expansion.