Smack My Pitch Up

Iterating on the value proposition/pitch for my product POLLY has been more difficult than I imagined. It needs to be clear, direct, appealing, succinct. It shouldn’t sound phony, cliché, tired. When you look at something for so long and iterate so many times, cynicism creeps up constantly, making you think everything you write sounds phony. Moving words around helps. Enlisting the help of friends, colleagues and teachers gets you ever so closer. The bottom line is an effective pitch can breathe life into a product or idea.

A few weeks ago we listened to the original pitch that the founder of Gimlet Media, Alex Blumberg gives to Silicon Valley billionaire Chris Sacca. It is an infamously botched attempt, and we get to experience firsthand how Blumberg gets schooled by Sacca. It’s a humbling experience. Well, last week came word that Spotify was buying the Gimlet Media for more than $200 million. So all’s well that ends well.

Anyway back to POLLY.

Two early versions that are very long-winded and ineffective:

• Low voter turnout amongst Millennials is constantly blamed as a major factor in the chaotic state of politics in America. There are numerous products aimed at this demographic focusing more on voting and elections rather than the root of the problem, general civic illiteracy in America. POLLY is a civics knowledge companion that provides an early critical intervention for the next generation of voters, high schoolers, in developing an understanding of why voting matters via an interactive and relatable app.
• POLLY is a civics education app for high school students who are almost of voting age but are not equipped with an understanding of civics that they can personally connect with. Unlike other products that presume young voters have mainly logistical issues on route to the voting booth, POLLY tackles the root of the problem, a lack of understanding of why voting matters.

Some recent iterations:

• POLLY activates a greater comprehension of civics for the next generation of voters through an interactive platform that examines issues that matter most to young citizens.
• POLLY cultivates a strong civics foundation for the next generation of voters through a deeper understanding of relevant issues told through a familiar interactive platform.
• POLLY cultivates a strong civics foundation for the next generation of voters through a rewarding interactive platform. Users will gain a personal perspective on the most relevant hot topic issues that matter most to them and be empowered to engage civically.
• Focusing on civic literacy from an interactive issues-based perspective, POLLY cultivates a strong foundation for the next generation of voters via a familiar and rewarding digital platform.
• Empowering the next generation of voters through a rewarding digital platform, POLLY builds a strong foundation of civic literacy, focusing on the issues and central figures in politics rather than the logistical concerns most political apps are concerned with.
• POLLY cultivates a strong civics foundation for the next generation of voters, utilizing an engaging interactive platform in exploring a deeper understanding of relevant issues as seen from multiple vantage points.
• Building a strong foundation in civics by diving into the most relevant issues, POLLY utilizes a rewarding interactive platform in empowering the next generation of voters to engage civically.
• No civics, no civilization- Polly will prove that the digital age can connect students to real information on issues that matter.
• No one would expect a teenager to suddenly drive without lessons and a permit. Yet we expect young people to vote without basic civic literacy. POLLY cultivates a strong civics foundation for the next generation of voters, utilizing a familiar interactive platform in exploring a deeper understanding of relevant issues as seen from multiple perspectives.

I welcome any feedback on these pitches. They are a continuously evolving work in progress much like my thesis itself.