Launch! on the back of a napkin

A few weeks ago, Guy Kawasaki asked if I'd like to deliver the keynote at the SVASE (Silicon Valley Association of Startup Entrepreneurs) Launch 2009 event.

There are a couple important things to know about Guy. One is that he gets to go on all the coolest blogging trips. (Check out his recent photos from onboard the aircraft carrier Nimitz.) Two is that he knows everybody. Three is that when he asks you to do anything, the answer is "YES!" -- especially if it's as such a great event as Launch!

The whole idea of Launch! is that a whole bunch of brilliant start-ups that need money come to a big event at the Microsoft Mountain View Campus next Tuesday, June 9 from 7:30 - 1:30. They each have 10 minutes to present their concept to all the big Silicon Valley money people. If they launch well, they should come out of there with money in their pockets.

I'm going to use my opening 20 minutes to convince everyone to throw away whatever PowerPoint presentations they've been working on for the last months and instead use a whiteboard. We'll see...

Comments

[Dissertation Examples]

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[Ron W]

It's really not Powerpoint that causes bad presentations, it's you (the presenter). Powerpoint just makes it soooo easy to absolutely suck as a presenter. I've done many one hour powerpoint presentations that was probably six or seven slides. But slides with some meat on them. A radar graph, a process flow diagram, two or three mind maps, that sort of thing. Use some Tufte informational density & complexity rigor. Nail what you're going to say and use "the visual representation of information" to tell your story. Anybody who drones through 30 slides with six bullets each should isn't doing their job. Cruel fact.

[sam]

I don't necessarily think that Powerpoint is the devil. It's how you use it ;)

You can always put pictures in your powerpoint instead of words.

That way everyone in the room can see your presentation.

It's not quite the same thing as your elegant drawings. Most of us need a little crutch, whether a handout or a large image on a screen.

[Promotional Products]

This seems like an interesting concept. I'd like to know how it turns out. Good to see that small businesses are getting a chance to make it big in a way like this. I'm surprised they didn't make a reality show out of this.

[term papers]

Blogs are so interactive where we get lots of informative on any topics nice job keep it up !!

[Van Leasing]

I visited this blog first time and found it very interesting and informative.. Keep up the good work thanks..

[Bedd Gelert]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/8119916.stm

[Bedd Gelert]

Bang on the Button !! The trouble with PowerPoint and any other IT device is that people are thinking about the technology and the presentation NOT the ideas.

Pen and paper works very fast and you aren't worrying that you are going to lose the laptop with the trauma that would cause !!

And worrying is very bad for the creative thinking process.

How come you aren't as well known as Bill Gates ?? You really deserve to be.

Mind you Tony Buzan and Edward de Bono aren't exactly household names either, even if their ideas are known all over the world.

[jeremia]

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[Meghann]

Love the book Dan. Excited to see both you and Guy Kawasaki present at my company's upcoming America's Credit Union Conference & Expo in Boston!

[Traffichoney]

Same here Dan. Would love to see how they take this and if possible a video of you explaining the concepts. I love the book but have heard seeing you explain them in person is a real boost to level of understanding!

[Dan]

Dan - love the book, can't wait for the second. can you video the expressions on their faces when you ask them to toss their powerpoints? i'd be interested in the reaction you get. enjoy!