In preparation for next week's Mock Pitch Workshop, I offer a few links on how to give a venture pitch. Read and review!

Guy Kawasaki's 10/20/30 Rule of PowerPoint: http://blog.guykawasaki.com/2005/12/the_102030_rule.html

Guy Kawasaki was Apple Computer's first evangelists and is now a VC and Founder of Garage Technology Ventures.

Bill Joos's Perfecting Your Pitch: http://www.fastcompany.com/articles/archive/act_joos3.html

Bill Joos, also a partner at Garage Technology Ventures, thinks 12-14 powerpoint slides are ok. Read and decide.

Social Venture Pitch Guidelines: http://webpage.pace.edu/pace/pitch_contest/resources/social_ventures_pitch_guidelines.htm 7 Things you need to cover in your social venture presentation.

Seth Levin, VC at Mobius Capital http://sethlevine.typepad.com/vc_adventure/2005/01/putting_togethe.html

Seth reviews questions your presentation should answer.

Blue Rock Capital: 8 Issues in 8 Minutes http://www.bluerockcapital.com/docs/8_Issues_in_8_Minutes.html

This worksheet was prepared to guide young companies that get the opportunity to make formal presentations at a Venture Fair. It can also be used to prepare smaller presentations to prospective investors. Blue Rock's guidelines are for venture pitches of 5-8 minutes in duration.

Cliff Atkinson on The First Five Slides: Unlocking the Story Buried in Your Presentation

http://www.sociablemedia.com/articles_first_five.htm

Cliff's specialty is communications and his point of view is that you need to tell a story not just recite data when you present.

Dan Sapp: How to Catch a Wild VC http://www.dansappassociates.com/pdf-files/raising-vc.pdf http://www.dansappassociates.com/pdf-files/paving-the-yellow-bricks.pdf

Dan Sapp was the house coach at the Women's Technology Cluster under my tenure and he 'trained the trainers' for the first women's VC conference, Springboard 2000. Dan's message is that every communication must lead to a call to action.