This week I was lucky enough to attend the University of Canterbury — Centre for Entrepreneurship’s Summer Startup Showcase 2023 (that’s a mouth full). During the event, there were 19 promising startups that attended and 10 of them had the opportunity to showcase their ideas and products to a captive audience.
The atmosphere was electric, with entrepreneurs eager to present their visions to potential investors, partners, and customers. It was clear that they had all worked very hard on their projects and rehearsed their pitches to be able to deliver their content in a clear and concise manner.
The startups that took part in the pitch evening were diverse in nature, ranging from tech-driven solutions to creative approaches to everyday problems. It was a shame that due to time constraints, we didn’t get to see the other 9 startups pitch their projects but hopefully they record their pitches and the videos can be circulated around to get some exposure and traction.
Thankfully all the startups had the opportunity to network after the event with other entrepreneurs and industry experts. This provided them with valuable insights and feedback that they can use to further develop their products and services.
But how can startups capitalize on the exposure they receive from events like this? For some of them, this will be the largest platform they get to use so it’s important that they capitalize on the event. Here are my top 12 tips for continuing the startup momentum:
- Follow up with contacts: It is important for startups to follow up with potential investors, partners, and customers after the pitch. This helps build relationships and can lead to future opportunities.
- Network with industry experts: Networking with industry experts can provide startups with valuable insights and feedback. Industry experts can also introduce startups to potential investors and customers, helping them grow their businesses.
- Launch your product ASAP if you haven’t already, it doesn’t matter how bad your first effort is you get to learn and gain valuable feedback with your product out in the wild. It doesn’t need to be perfect it just needs to be out there.
- Attend more events: Attending more startup events provides startups with the opportunity to meet new people, gain new insights, and receive additional exposure. The LILI event next week is a great event for startups in Christchurch to attend.
- Collaborate with other startups: Collaborating with other startups can provide startups with new opportunities and access to additional resources. By working together, startups can learn from each other and achieve greater success.
- Refine the pitch: Based on the feedback received at the pitch evening, startups should refine their pitch to better communicate their value proposition and unique selling points. If you want your startup to succeed you will always be selling and pitching, it might not be to a room of hundreds of people but it’s just as important in a 1:1 situation.
- Utilize social media: Social media is a powerful tool for startups to increase their visibility and reach a wider audience. By sharing updates and news about their products and services, startups can keep their followers engaged and build their brands.
- Participate in incubator and accelerator programs: Incubators and accelerators can provide startups with mentorship, resources, and opportunities to network with industry experts. This can help them grow their business and attract investors. Be careful of dilution though, you don’t want to sell a percentage of your company too early, especially at a low valuation.
- Leverage online platforms: Online platforms, such as LinkedIn and AngelList, can help startups connect with potential investors and partners. By creating a strong online presence, startups can increase their visibility and reach a wider audience.
- Build a strong brand: A strong brand can help startups differentiate themselves from the competition and establish a reputation in the market. Startups should focus on developing their brand identity, messaging, and marketing strategies to increase their visibility and attract customers.
- Get on the Startup Blink map!! ← Very Important
- Get on Y-Combinator’s Startup School platform!!! ← Extremely Important
The startup pitch evening was a fantastic opportunity for entrepreneurs to showcase their ideas and products to a captive audience. By following up with contacts, refining their pitch, utilizing social media, and attending more events, startups can capitalize on the exposure they received and continue to grow their businesses.
