entrepreneur's perspective: identifying opportunities & telling big stories
DESCRIPTION
Here are some tactics to identifying opportunities & tell big stories. Presentation given to TiE Atlanta's TYE (TiE Young Entrepreneurs) 2014 cohort. Learn what's an entrepreneur, the characteristics of an innovator, how to identify BIG opportunities and some tips on storytelling. The talk covers the process successful innovators take and how different people approach the path to innovation.TRANSCRIPT
OPPORTUNITIES & BIG STORIESKurt Uhlir
ENTREPRENEUR'S PERSPECTIVE:
CEO & Co-founder, Sideqik
September 28, 2014
Who is an Entrepreneur?
ENTREPRENEURone who organizes, manages, and assumes the risks of a business or enterprise
@KurtUhlir
Who is an Entrepreneur?
ENTREPRENEURone who organizes, manages, and assumes the risks of a business or enterprise
@KurtUhlir
Who is an Entrepreneur?
ENTREPRENEURone who organizes, manages, and assumes the risks of a business or enterprise
@KurtUhlir
Who is an Entrepreneur?
ENTREPRENEURone who organizes, manages, and assumes the risks of a business or enterprise
@KurtUhlir
Can Everyone be an Entrepreneur?
No!
CAN EVERYONE BE AN ENTREPRENEUR?
No!
IS BEING AN ENTREPRENEUR THE ONLY PATH TO SUCCESS?
@KurtUhlir
Kurt’s versionWho is an Innovator?
A person that has an insatiable need to 1) figure things out 2) put things in order 3) step out when no one else will 4) desire to serve others and help them grow to their potential
INNOVATOR
STORYTELLER NEEDY
UNIQUE
SMART
EFFICIENT
PERSISTENT
ELASTIC
NIMBLE
TALENTED@KurtUhlir
Exercise: 30 Circles
When we say GO! Transform each circle into something recognizable, such as a ball, a planet, bike wheels, etc
YOU HAVE A SHEET WITH 30 CIRCLES
It’s OK to draw outside the lines
The goal: transform all 30 circles in FOUR minutes
@KurtUhlir
Exercise: 30 Circles Examples
Exercise: 30 Circles
IF < 30, WHY?Not clear about the rules
Could the circles be combined?
How different should they be?
Not a fan of deadlines
Couldn’t draw fast enough
Not sure how much you wanted to get into this
@KurtUhlir
Path to Innovation
Connect all dots with 4 lines without lifting pen/pencil.
THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX!
@KurtUhlir
Path to Innovation
Connect all dots with 4 lines without lifting pen/pencil.
THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX!
@KurtUhlir
Path to Innovation
Path to Innovation
PATH A PATH B
@KurtUhlir
Path to Innovation
INNOVATION IS A PROCESS
EXPERIMENTS
ASSOCIATION
NETWORKING
RISKOBSERVATION
QUESTIONING
@KurtUhlir
FINDING AN OPPORTUNITYWhat’s causing people pain?
Gaps, pains & impossibilitiesIDENTIFY
Define the opportunity as narrowly & specifically as possible
NARROW
Talk to those that will use it, pay for it & could stop it
FIND STAKEHOLDERS
@KurtUhlir
FINDING AN OPPORTUNITYIs it big enough?
Phase 1? Phase 2?
Total Addressable Market?
FINDING AN OPPORTUNITYAssessing the opportunity fit?
Campaign
Mobile
Sales
NEEDED
DEFENDABLE
POSSIBLE
@KurtUhlir
Finding an opportunity
MOST STARTUPS FAIL
GOOD IDEAS ARE NOT ENOUGH
@KurtUhlir
Business plan, investor pitch and marketing strategy
WHO CARES ABOUT YOUR STORY?
STORYTELLING
HOW WILL THIS IMPACT YOUR CUSTOMERS STORY?
WHAT’S YOUR STORY ARC?
WHAT QUESTIONS WILL THEY HAVE?@KurtUhlir
The story will lead you
YOUR AUDIENCE
STORYTELLING: SPREADING THE WORD
ADVERTISING
MARKETING PARTNERSHIPS
@KurtUhlir
The story will lead you
PAINT A BIG PICTURE
STORYTELLING: MARKETING TIPS
SHOW SHORT-TERM BENEFITS
BE ABLE TO ANSWER HOW A CROSS-PROMOTION COULD HELP MARKETING PARTNERS
KISS PRINCIPLE
@KurtUhlir
You are better together
DEFINE INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITIES
TEAM: CULTURE TIPS
HELP OTHERS
REMEMBER THAT CREATIVE TENSION IS NORMAL AND HEALTHY
LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO ENCOURAGE
ENDURE & EXECUTE
@KurtUhlir
Summary
INNOVATION IS A PROCESS
TELL A GOOD STORY
If you were sleeping - just remember the following.
THINK BIG
YOU CAN DO THIS
FAIL OFTEN & FAIL FAST
@KurtUhlir
@KurtUhlir
sideqik.com/blog
EtherealInnovations.com