July 7, 2014
Last weekend we released several tweets with tips on what startup founders could do or expect, and get the most out of a shot at talking to parents and kids at an AlligatorZone. These are based on observations and lessons learned in our inaugural session last month. There’s an incredible amount of learning going on as we start running AlligatorZone sessions. Our goal is to develop a set of guidelines and best practices as we continue down this path of bringing startups in front of families and kids for a community interaction of symbiotic enjoyment and benefit. Here’s a listing of the recent flurry of tweets.
- Expect surprises. Last session a 6th grader asks “What analytics do you capture?”
- Linger for 1on1 chats post-session & get more ideas
- Talk little, then ask crowd for ideas and #listen
- It’s a chance to nudge a #mom to be a #mompreneur
- It’s an opportunity to inspire a kid or teenager
- You’re seen as a contributor to the local economy
- Silly dance video > Showing mugshot slide
- Wouldn’t hurt to offer families a tour of your lab
- Relax, Smile. Audience is out to help, not judge you
- Yr next employee/intern/distributor maybe in audience
- Traits that help — humility, vulnerability, patience
- Present to be likeable & the community reciprocates
- Don’t assume kids/teens learned tech concept in school
- When kids/teens ask questions, repeat for all to hear
- Avoid words ‘business model’; say Here’s how I make $
- Between real demo and deck, prefer demo
- Between demo & product, prefer audience trying product
- It’s teaching time; show kids how you solve a problem
- Learn from NYC street performers near EllisIslandFerry
- If it’s a physical product, bring samples
- Kids, teens are your future consumers; they’re always right!
- Practice in front of kids, not mirror.
- Explainer videos can’t convey #founder‘s passion
- When audience gives ideas, ask if they’d like to be kept posted
- When #teens in audience suggest a new market, consider hiring them as #interns
- Kids seeking dad’s iphone means you stopped #storytelling
- Slideshow can’t replace power of conversation
- If kids get it, #angel #investors will.
- Avoid saying “raised #seed money” or explain.
- Avoid responding to kid’s question with another question.
- Avoid words like #ideation.
Follow us on http://www.twitter.com/AlligatorZone for the latest. Bookmark and sign up at http://AlligatorZone.eventbrite.com to reserve spots and to learn of new startups in your neighborhood. If you wish to suggest a startup, send an email to events at siliconglades dot com.
Hope to see you at the Bloomingdale Regional Library in Valrico Florida this Saturday at 10:15 a.m. We plan to be showcasing startups every 2nd Saturday of each month at the Bloomingdale Regional Public Library in Valrico, Florida. Look for us also in Jan Platt Library, in the near future. We’ll also be in Sunnyvale Public Library on August 23, 2014 at 3 p.m. Bring your children, nieces and nephews, parents and grand parents, and make it a community gathering to bring robust common-sense to startup founders, sharing perspectives that may never have occurred to them.
