Podium Star — A pitch event that actually prepares startups for success
TechCrunch Disrupt. Web Summit PITCH. Slush 100. Demo Days. Pitch events are a great way to learn more about the latest up-and-coming startups, but far too many lack a certain level of excitement and practicality.
Presenters often drone on in monotone, expecting the audience to understand the lexicon of a PhD in artificial intelligence. And while many judges are knowledgeable and capable, it’s difficult to effectively judge a startup’s entire business in just five minutes.
So then, what could pitch events do differently?
First, let’s remind ourselves what the purpose of a pitch is. It’s not just to talk about your startup.
You give a pitch to entertain, motivate, and persuade your audience to take some kind of action.
That ‘action’ could range from downloading an app to directly investing in your startup. And it all starts by captivating the audience with a great story. In fact, the performance of a pitch is more important than most startups realize. Most investors will tell you that they invest in good teams with bold visions, not in singular technologies or ideas. So if a team can’t convince a few judges, how will they convince a whole market to buy their product or service?
Enter Podium Star — a monthly pitch competition that focuses on the whole performance, including storytelling and delivery skills. After startups pitch, judges from marketing and investment backgrounds give practical feedback on how to improve. So the next time they’re in a room full of investors, they’re better prepared for a successful outcome.
Podium Star comes from PowerPT, a legend in the presentation business. For two decades, PowerPT has been helping organizations like Samsung, Hyundai, and even the PyeongChang Olympics present their messages to the world. Now they’re extending that support to startups with global aspirations.
Last week, Podium Star hosted its first event with Techstars — another organization that puts great emphasis on storytelling and delivery skills when pitching. Joining the panel of judges were representatives from Techstars, Kakao Ventures, G3 Partners, and Rakuten.
Eight promising startups performed to a crowd of over one hundred at Google Campus Seoul. The first four to pitch were DamoGO, Cube, CK Materials Lab, and Elastic Live. (Spoiler Alert: DamaGO won the audience choice award).
The next to go were GomiLabs, Motov, IM Technology, and Reached. After each pitch, the judges gave advice on how to improve their story, flow, and delivery.
At the end, each startup was given a score from the judges and audience. The winning pitch went to Elastic Live, an all-in-one platform for live broadcasting. In addition to winning a bottle of champagne, Elastic Live secured a spot at Seoul Pitch Day, where they’ll pitch to an even larger crowd of investors and corporates.
Podium Star will be held monthly, with the next event being held on May 15 at 3:30pm in Seoul Startup Hub. Interested in pitching or being a partner? Contact startups@powerpt.co.kr.
