Not sure about anyone else, but for me, pre-COVID, time was mostly linear. Sure some days/weeks rushed by in a blur, and others seem to drag for an eternity. But basically, time went on in a linear fashion.
During and post-COVID? Not a snowball’s hope in hell is time linear, it’s decidedly elastic, and it makes funky twisting patterns and entire weeks (and probably months) vanish in the blink of an eye.
Like I said, maybe it’s just me?
There has been a LOT happening in start-up land these past few weeks.
I did indeed go to Sydney for my very first sales trip. I met amazing people; we had great conversations. I met with potential clients - and things are tracking along. I had a glass of wine with a fantastic mentor. She suggested I attend Intersekt23 in Melbourne. I’m so glad I went! I met new people doing amazing things and I caught up with friends also doing incredible things. All in all, it was a sunny, bright engaging and inspiring trip.
And then I went to Intersekt23, in Melbourne, the following week. Like I say time is weird these days, that was (checks calendar) 3 weeks ago now. Two days of conference, with lots of people - they had over 1000 attendees. Loads of excellent panel discussions; I met so many people doing really interesting and exciting things. I met people building climate models, I met women who have built multiple start-ups, with some amazing wins and a few serious lessons along the way. I met people who are looking to expand into new markets, I met people who shared their journeys - the wins and the heartbreak. Sometimes, there are wins and then heartbreak, and then more wins. But only if the founder can find the strength and resilience to keep going.
We’re still in that delightful honeymoon phase, where things are going mostly well. Not quite linear, we’ve had a few 😔 moments, but so far we’re heading in the direction we want to. We’ve had no truly crushing ‘No’s.
And then having travelled internationally twice in two weeks, and peopled more in a few days than I have in the past 12 months (or is that 3 years), some lurgy caught up with me.
Several weeks ago we applied for the Ministry of Awesome’s Founder Catalyst program. Last week we discovered that we were shortlisted to pitch to the team. That happened yesterday.
I’ve pitched a few times now. I’m definitely not a master at it.
If you don’t know, this is how it works.
You have 5 minutes.
That’s it.
You have 5 minutes to tell people about your idea.
What’s the problem?
Who has this problem?
What’s your solution?
Who are you?
What makes you special?
How big is this problem?
How will your solution make money?
What do you want help with?
That’s a LOT to cram into 5 minutes. There is an art to pitching. There must be. I still have a lot to learn.
And then your (potential) investors get to ask questions. They usually set aside 10 minutes for this.
That 15 minutes has to work really hard.
We find out next week whether we’ve been successful. 🤞
I’ve signed up for a presenter’s course called Speaker’s Circle with the incredible Bonita Nuttall. For two key reasons.
I’m delivering a talk at the ARCA Credit Summit in November. I’m really looking forward to that.
Pitching. We’re a start-up and I’ll be doing a lot of pitching. Arguably, every conversation I have with someone when I’m discussing Scores4All is a pitch. So best I get really good at it.
And I’ve booked a little trip for Kate (my younger daughter) who loves DnD and wants to be a software developer, and me. We’re heading to Nelson to see Code Breakers: Women in Games. I love that these sorts of things exist now. I love that our kids get to see what kind of options are available to them as careers. When I listen to her describe the worlds and magics she creates as a DnD DM, it’s clear she is highly creative.
And I have about 5 weeks before my first 1000m swim of the season. Best I get into a pool and do some swimming!
Kia kaha,