Startup Pitch Competition: Three founders compete for $25K | E1999

Jason and Kelly kick off the show (0s)

• Jason Calacanis and Kelly Schreier discuss Founder University, a program designed to help founders launch startups. (1m48s)
• Schreier outlines the key attributes of successful applicants, emphasizing a preference for teams with technical expertise (developers, designers, growth hackers) and a strong work ethic demonstrated through tangible product development. (3m25s)
• The hosts introduce the episode's format: three startup pitches, each with a two-minute time limit, to secure potential investment. (4m27s)

Eric Gilbert-Williams pitches The Public Bored (4m32s)

• Eric, the CEO and co-founder of The Public Bored, presented his business idea: a platform that simplifies the process of displaying content on digital billboards. (4m54s)
• The Public Bored's business model involves offering one free display spot to attract users and then generating revenue through upgrades and a variable take rate based on the revenue generated for billboard owners. (5m24s)
• Eric envisions The Public Bored expanding beyond traditional billboards to encompass any digital signage, including those found in elevators, vehicles, and other locations. (9m12s)

Fidelity Private Shares - Visit Mention our podcast and receive 20% off your first-year paid subscription. (10m24s)

• Cap table management and due diligence can be overwhelming for founders. (10m26s)
• Managing investors should be easy, and Fidelity Private Shares can help. (10m33s)
• Equity management and fundraising should not be a founder's full-time job. (10m40s)
• Fidelity Private Shares offers a trusted solution for managing cap tables and data rooms. (10m44s)
• The platform provides faster and more accurate 409a valuations. (10m50s)
• It allows for sophisticated scenario modeling, which many founders overlook. (10m56s)
• Founders can use the platform to understand pro forma cap tables and potential outcomes of acquisitions. (11m1s)
• The platform automates funding rounds to ensure they go smoothly and professionally. (11m8s)
• Fidelity Private Shares offers a collaborative platform with excellent support. (11m14s)
• The platform includes a star community for access to exclusive events for founders and VCs. (11m18s)
• Mentioning the podcast when visiting Fidelity Private Shares' website provides a 20% discount on the first-year paid subscription. (11m31s)

Matt Schwed pitches Speed AI (11m38s)

• Speed AI is an app that generates personalized training schedules and coaching for runners, guiding them from marathon registration to the finish line. (11m51s)
• The app considers the runner's fitness background, wearable data, and provides training adjustments based on factors like sleep quality. (12m7s)
• Speed AI offers three product tiers: a $88.99/month training plan, a $29.99/month training and coaching option, and a $59.99/month package including training, coaching, and a monthly subscription box with nutrition products. (12m52s)

Joe Tannorella pitches PodEngine (15m50s)

• PodEngine is a podcast audio intelligence platform that uses AI to help businesses grow revenue through podcasting. (15m58s)
• PodEngine analyzes thousands of podcast episodes daily to identify relevant podcast guests, sponsorship opportunities, and brand mentions for its users. (16m24s)
• PodEngine is currently iterating on its platform, developing features such as a guest booking workflow, media monitoring solutions, and a podcast search engine. (16m58s)

Google Cloud - Accelerate your startup journey with the Google for Startups Cloud Program. Apply (23m33s)

• Google for Startups Cloud Program is offering $200,000 in Google Cloud credits to startups. (24m8s)
• AI startups can receive up to $350,000 in Google Cloud credits. (24m12s)
• More information about the Google for Startups Cloud Program is available at startups.com/twist. (24m43s)

Ranking the three companies (25m3s)

• Speed AI is ranked as potentially facing the most challenges due to the large size of the running market and the competitive consumer landscape. (25m34s)
• Pot Engine is ranked as having the highest likelihood of generating a substantial return on investment due to the escalating popularity of podcasting and the lucrative nature of data-driven businesses. (25m49s)
• Public Board is ranked as having significant potential due to its disruption of a conventional industry, its capacity to expand its customer base, and its diverse range of applications. (26m13s)

Founders' experiences and learning outcomes at Founder University (29m12s)

• Matt, with an engineering background, found value in learning the business aspects of a startup, such as accounting, company structuring, cap table setup, and streamlining founder tasks. (29m20s)
• Joe valued the community aspect of Founder University, highlighting the benefits of connecting with like-minded founders for support, collaboration, and potential customer acquisition. (29m57s)
• Eric's key takeaway was a deeper understanding of his Total Addressable Market (TAM), particularly through a bottom-up approach, which helped him identify his ideal customer profile and refine his go-to-market strategy. (30m13s)

Runway - Sign up at to get your first 2 months free. (31m47s)

• Runway is a financial planning software that simplifies financial management for businesses. (31m51s)
• Runway integrates with over 650 tools, including accounting, HR, and CRM software, to provide a comprehensive view of a business's finances. (32m10s)
• The software offers features such as headcount planning, scenario analysis, real-time charting, and customizable investor reports. (32m23s)

Q&A (33m18s)

• A question was asked about the most important metric to track six months from now. The response emphasized understanding customers deeply and having a few highly satisfied customers rather than many indifferent ones. (33m19s)
• The importance of having a notable "lighthouse" customer was highlighted, as it can significantly boost credibility and traction. (34m29s)
• Another question focused on marketing and go-to-market strategy for a data-centric product. The response suggested sending targeted reports and screenshots to the right people to generate interest and engagement. (35m17s)
• The strategy of identifying and contacting the right individuals through platforms like LinkedIn, Lead IQ, or Crunchbase was recommended. (36m21s)
• The concept of "land and expand" was discussed, where initial users are encouraged to use the product extensively, and then upselling them to multi-seat licenses based on their usage patterns. (37m36s)
• A question about successful growth strategies for consumer apps was addressed. Examples like Fitbod, Steezy, and Calm.com were given, emphasizing the importance of creating a product that users find essential and share with others. (37m57s)
• Hiring people who are passionate about the product's domain was advised, as they are more likely to contribute significantly to product-market fit. (38m32s)
• The significance of net promoter score and built-in virality in the product was discussed, where users naturally promote the product to others, enhancing growth. (39m59s)
• The concept of multiplayer mode was mentioned as a way to increase virality, where users can invite friends to join and use the product together. (40m20s)
• The financial benefits of virality were explained, showing how acquiring customers who invite others can turn a net loss into a net gain. (40m57s)