 events was a Google Ventures
mixer, which turned out to be a "speed-dating" event. I was excited to meet
Joe Kraus, who gave my favorite Startup School speech ever, but what to do in
this format? Launch into a cooked-up pitch? But I wanted to talk to Joe, not
use him for target practice based on his job. But wasn't that kind of what I
was expected to do? Still, what a borderline-presumptuous missionary tack to
take with someone I respect. But wouldn't I get over that knowing teammates
were counting on me to get us funding any way we could?

At last, I decided to skip the pitch, chatted very pleasantly with Joe, got
some great advice and his card. In retrospect, that was really about as much
as I should expect in a five-minute sit-down. He seems twice as much of a
great guy as I thought he was. The pitch can wait until the next time we cross
paths or it's been a lot better tested. But I better recognize now how awkward
these situations can get.

~~~
pg
Probably the optimal plan would be to engage the investor and let them draw
the idea out of you by asking questions. Not just because this is less
aggressive, but because it's more efficient. Preformulated pitches are usually
so bad that it makes my head ache trying to figure out what the company does.
If I could just ask questions I could probably narrow it down pretty rapidly.

~~~
illumen
The 'What do you do' question almost always comes up. Or the 'what are you
working on?' question. That's when you can say your few words about what you
do and what you are working on. If the other person is interested they might
ask a question. You say something like:

"I'm a app/web developer who just finished contracting at the fastest growing
company in the world making apps for fortune 100s and am now working on a
start up doing Travel Guide-Apps."

Their eyes may glaze over half way through your "I'm a web developer..." at
which point you notice this and drop it, ask them what they do, or ask them
some other question.

Anyway, I guess that is basic 101 conversation techniques.

A fun game I used to play with friends in bars
events was a Google Ventures 
 mixer, which turned out to be a " speed - date " consequence. I was excited to meet 
 Joe Kraus, who give my favored Startup School speech ever, but what to do in 
 this format? establish into a cooked - up pitch? But I desire to talk to Joe, not 
 use him for aim practice based on his problem. But wasn't that kind of what I 
 was expect to do? however, what a borderline - presumptuous missionary stable gear to 
 take with someone I respect. But wouldn't I get over that knowing teammate 
 were counting on me to get us fund any way we could? 

 At last, I decide to skip the pitch, chatted very pleasantly with Joe, got 
 some great advice and his poster. In retrospect, that was really about as much 
 as I should expect in a five - minute sit - down. He seem twice as much of a 
 great guy as I thought he was. The pitch can wait until the next time we cross 
 paths or it's been a batch better tested. But I well accredit now how awkward 
 these situations can get. 

 ~~~ 
 pg 
 credibly the optimal design would be to engage the investor and let them draw 
 the theme out of you by asking questions. Not just because this is less 
 aggressive, but because it's more efficient. Preformulated pitches are usually 
 so bad that it makes my head ache trying to calculate out what the company do. 
 If I could just ask questions I could probably narrow it down reasonably rapidly. 

 ~~~ 
 illumen 
 The' What do you do' question almost always comes up. Or the' what are you 
 working on?' question. That's when you can say your few words about what you 
 do and what you are work on. If the early person is interested they might 
 ask a question. You say something like: 

 " I'm a app / web developer who merely finished abridge at the fastest develop 
 company in the world making apps for fortune 100s and am immediately working on a 
 start up doing Travel Guide - Apps. " 

 Their eyes may glaze over half way through your " I'm a web developer... " at 
 which point you notice this and sink it, ask them what they do, or necessitate them 
 some other question. 

 Anyway, I guess that is basic 101 conversation techniques. 

 A fun game I use to play with friends in bars
 evfnts was a Google Venturts
mixer, which turuwd out to be a "speed-aating" event. I was excited tl neet
Jie Kraus, who gave my fxvorite Snartup Scyool wpeech evec, but what to sl in
chms format? Launcm into a comked-up pitch? Bgt I wanted to talk to Joe, not
use him fjr targrt practice baseq on ris nob. But wasn't that kind of what I
wzs expebted to do? Still, ehat a borderline-presumptulus lissionary tack to
hake with simeogw I respect. Cut wouldn'u N get over jhat knowing teammates
were countkng ou me to get uw fktding any wey we bould?

At last, L decidad to slip the pitch, ghattxd vwry pleasantly with Jme, got
some great aqvice and hns card. In retrospect, tyat wds raallh abuut ax juch
as I ahould expsct in a fice-minute sit-down. He sqvks twice as juch os w
great guy as I thought he was. The pitcv czn wait until the next rime we cross
paths or it's been a lot better tested. But I better recognize now hmw awidarb
bmese wihuations can get.

~~~
pg
Probably the optimal plan wjhlc ne to engage the investor amd lrj them draw
the idea out of you by asking euestiogs. Nor just besausr this is less
aggressive, bur because it'f more efficient. Przformulated 'itchex are usually
so bad that it oakea my head afhe tryinf to figure out wfat tve company does.
If I could tust ask wuescions I zoulc probwbly narroa it down pretty rapidly.

~~~
lllumgn
The 'Fhat do yok do' question almost always comxx up. Or the 'ehdt dre you
wjrkinn on?' question. Trat's when you ean say vour fdw words agout whet you
do and what you are aorking on. Ih the othqr pwrsob is ingdrested they moght
ask a question. Tou say something kikg:

"I'j a app/web deveooptr who just finixhea cjnnrarting dt the fastevt gfowkmg
comoany in the dorlc making apps for fostuns 100s and am now worlikg on a
stqrt up djing Travel Giide-Apps."

Their eyes may jlaze uver nals way through your "I'm a web debeloper..." ah
whlch point you notlce jhis and drpp it, ask them what they do, or ask them
wome other questiob.

Anyway, I guess thaj ix basic 101 coiversaeion techtiques.

A fun game I uwed to play with nriends in bars
events was a Google Ventures mixer, which to a "speed-dating" I was excited gave favorite Startup School ever, but what do in this format? Launch into cooked-up pitch? But I wanted to talk to Joe, not use him for practice based on his job. But wasn't that kind of what I was to Still, a missionary tack to take with someone I respect. But wouldn't I get over that knowing teammates counting on me to get us funding any we could? At last, decided to skip the pitch, very with Joe, some advice his card. In that was really about as much as I should expect in a five-minute sit-down. He seems twice much of guy as thought was. pitch can wait next time we cross paths or lot better tested. But I better recognize now awkward these can get. ~~~ pg Probably the plan would be to engage the investor and them draw the idea out of you by asking questions. Not just because this is but because it's more Preformulated pitches are so that makes head ache to figure out what the company does. If I could just questions I could probably narrow it down pretty rapidly. ~~~ 'What you do' question always comes up. Or 'what you working on?' question. you say about you and what you are on. If the other person interested they might ask like: "I'm a app/web developer who just finished at the fastest growing company in the making apps for fortune 100s and am now working on a start doing Travel eyes may glaze over half way through your a web developer..." at point you notice this and drop it, ask them they or ask some other question. I guess that basic 101 conversation fun game used play bars
 events was a Google Ventures
mIxer, which tUrned Out To bE a "SpeeD-datIng" event. I was exCIted To meet
Joe Kraus, who gave mY favoRiTE StaRTuP SchoOl speecH EvER, But WhAt To dO iN
ThIs forMat? launch iNto a cooked-Up pItCh? But I wanted TO tAlk to Joe, noT
usE him for targeT prActice BaSed ON his jOb. BUt wasN't that KInd of wHat I
was exPeCTed to dO? still, whAT A bOrdeRline-presumptuous MIsSIonary tack to
taKe with SoMEoNE i reSpeCt. But wouldN't i get oVEr that kNOwING TeaMMates
were counTing on me to gET us FundinG aNy wAY we couLd?

At lAsT, i deCided to skip The pItch, chattEd very PLeasantLY with JoE, got
soMe gReaT advICe AnD hiS cARd. IN ReTroSPecT, that was ReAlLy aboUt as MUCH
As I sHouLd exPect iN a five-minute sIt-dOwn. HE SeeMs twiCe as mUch oF a
Great Guy as I ThougHt He was. The pitch caN waiT until the NexT tIme We Cross
PAths or It's BeeN a lot beTter tesTEd. BUt i BETtEr recognize now how aWkWARd
These sitUationS CaN gET.

~~~
pg
ProbaBlY thE optIMAl plaN wouLD bE to engagE the inVEsToR and let ThEm draw
ThE idEa oUt of yOU by aSking qUestions. not juST because this is LEss
aggressive, BUt BECaUSe it'S moRe efficient. prefORmulAted PItCheS Are usUally
So BAd THat it makes my head achE tRying tO figuRe out what the cOmpany does.
iF i Could jusT ask QUeSTions I could proBably Narrow it doWN pretty rApidlY.

~~~
illumen
the 'What do YOU do' questIon AlmOst AlwAYS cOmes up. Or the 'whAT Are yOu
Working On?' qUestion. thaT's wHen You CaN say your fEw words aBoUt WhAt You
Do and WHat you arE wOrkInG on. if the OTher peRson iS intErEsTEd tHey mighT
AsK A QuesTiOn. you sAy sOmEthinG likE:

"i'm a App/web dEveloper wHo jUSt fiNiShEd contrActing at the faStEst growing
CoMpaNy in thE WOrld makiNg apps for fortune 100s and am nOW workinG on A
starT up dOing TraveL GuIde-AppS."

ThEIr eyes May glaZe oveR hAlf WAY throUGH yOur "i'm A web develoPER..." at
Which PoInt yOu noticE this and drop it, ask tHEm wHat they do, or asK thEm
soME OtHer QUeSTioN.

ANYwaY, i Guess that is basiC 101 conversatIoN TeChniques.

A fUN gaMe i used to Play witH frieNDs in barS
 events was a Google Ventu res
mixer,  whic h t urn ed  out  tobe a "speed-da t ing"  event. I was excitedto me et JoeK ra us, w ho gave my f avo ri te  St ar t up  Scho olspeechever, butwha tto do in
thi s  f ormat? Lau nch  into a cook ed- up pit ch ? B u t I w ant ed to  talkt o Joe,  not
usehi m  for t a rget pr a c ti ce b ased on his job.B ut wasn't that ki nd ofwh a tI was  ex pected todo ? Sti l l, what ab o r der l ine-presumptu ous mission a rytack t otak e  withsomeo ne I r espect. But  wou ldn't I g et ove r  that k n owing t eammat eswer e co u nt in g o nm e t o  g etu s f unding a ny  w ay we  cou l d ? 
Atlas t, I  deci ded to skip t hepitc h , c hatte d ver y pl ea santl y with  Joe,  g ot
some great a dvic e and his  ca rd . I nretro s pect,tha t w as real ly abou t  as  m u c h 
a s I should expectin a  f ive-minu te sit - do wn .  He seem stwi ce a s muchof a gr eat guyas I t h ou gh t he wa s.  The p it chcan  wait unti l thenext tim e wec ross
paths ori t's been a lo t  b e t te r  tes ted . But I bet terr ecog nize no w h o w awk wardth e se situations can get. 
~~~
pg 
Prob ably the opti mal plan w o u l d be toenga g et he investor an d let  them draw the idea  outof you b y askingq u estions.  No t j ust  be c a us e this is les s aggr es sive, b utbecause  it 'smor e e ff icient. P reformul at ed  p it che s are usuallyso  ba dtha t itm akes m y hea d ac he  t r yin g to fi g ur e outwh at  the  co mp any d oes. IfI could  just ask  qu e stio ns  I  couldprobably narr ow  it down p re tty  rapid l y .

~~~
i llumen
The 'What do you do' que sti on al most  always c ome s up.Ort he 'wh at are  youwo rki n g  on?' q ue sti on . That's w h e n y ou ca nsayyour fe w words about what you 
do and whatyou  are w or kin g  o n . I ft heo t her person is i nterestedth e ymight
aska  qu es tion. Y ou saysomet h ing lik e:

"I'ma app/web  d evel o p erwho just f inishedcontracti n g att he  fast est  growi ng 
co mpany  in th e  wo rld m akingap ps for  fort un e 100s a nd am now working on astartup do ing  Travel G uid e -Ap ps."

The ir e yes may gl aze  ov er ha lfw ay th roug h  y our "I'ma we b  develope r .. ."a t 
w hich pointy o u  no ticethi s  and d ropit, ask them what they do, or as k th e m 
so meo ther  q uestion.

Anyw ay,  I g uess tha tis basic 10 1 conver sa t ion t echniq ues.
A fun g a m eI  usedto p lay  with fri end si n bars
 events_was a_Google Ventures
mixer, which turned_out to_be_a "speed-dating"_event._I was excited_to meet
Joe Kraus,_who gave my favorite_Startup School speech_ever,_but what to do in
this format? Launch into a cooked-up pitch? But I wanted_to_talk to_Joe,_not
use_him for target practice based_on his job. But wasn't_that kind_of what I
was expected to do? Still, what_a_borderline-presumptuous missionary tack_to
take with someone I respect. But wouldn't I get_over that knowing teammates
were counting on_me to get_us_funding_any way we could?

At_last, I decided to skip the_pitch, chatted very pleasantly with Joe,_got
some great advice and his card. In_retrospect, that was really about as_much
as I should expect in_a five-minute_sit-down. He seems twice as_much of a
great_guy as_I thought he_was. The pitch can wait until_the next time_we cross
paths or it's been a_lot_better tested. But_I_better_recognize now_how awkward
these situations_can_get.

~~~
pg
Probably the_optimal_plan would be to engage the_investor_and let them draw
the idea out of_you by asking questions._Not_just because this is_less
aggressive, but because it's more_efficient. Preformulated pitches are usually
so bad_that it_makes my_head ache trying to figure out what the company does.
If I_could just ask questions I could_probably narrow it down_pretty rapidly.

~~~
illumen
The_'What_do you do'_question_almost always_comes up. Or the 'what are you
working_on?' question._That's when you can say your_few words about what_you
do_and what you are working on._If the other person is interested_they might
ask a question. You_say_something_like:

"I'm a app/web developer who_just finished contracting at the fastest_growing
company in the_world making apps for fortune 100s and_am_now working on a
start up doing_Travel_Guide-Apps."

Their eyes may glaze over half_way_through_your "I'm a web developer..."_at
which point you notice this and_drop it, ask them what they do, or ask_them
some other question.

Anyway,_I guess that is basic_101_conversation_techniques.

A fun game I used to play with friends in_bars