Course Coach

Laura. Your Elevator Pitch was great. You managed to keep it to one minute (a challenge for many of us, including myself) so congratulations on that, but you also provided plenty of information and made me want to learn more about your product! There was a great tie-in between the graphics from your elevator pitch video and using them on the different sections of you site, that was a great touch! Also, you really laid out the product and the different phases which was quite appealing as an investor. The only question that I have is that I am not sure exactly who you are pitching to. It seems as though it is more for end users such as teachers, but I cannot be sure. Overall a very engaging and well-laid out pitch! I would totally use this product and invest in it!

REVIEW: You did an excellent job with your pitch Laura. For me you really covered the power points that I'd like to see as a VC viewing an elevator pitch. It was easy to like and relate to. Starting with the problem first was exactly what I was looking for to get me hooked. The only way you could have made that portion a tiny bit stronger is the ordering/sequencing of some of the slides. Really I have only minor suggestions that make your pitch something that I’d buy into immediately. First, I would frame the issues as "Problem" rather than "need" (as you did on your full pitch) followed by the solution. This was quite powerful on the website you created (yes your pitch intrigued me enough to review the longer pitch which was great). The figure you included could easily follow the first problem slide to really drive this point home and grab attention. Everything that follows then for me is icing on the cake. The only other way this could be made stronger or more authoritative would be to hear your voice speaking confidently about the main points as they pass, so I can get a sense of your knowledge and expertise. This was very much apparent in your approach regardless. Terrific job. The only last piece of feedback I can give is that I don’t see an ask amount or funding stages plan (although I did see your revenue model and market phases). I’d want to know how much your ask is, so I could decide how much to invest! ;)

Feedback: I really like the idea of your product and can definitely see how it would solve a problem in the online learning community. It could act as extra insurance that the students complete the course. Would it be offered automatically to each student who registers for the course in the districts that have adopted your product? Perhaps the cost would be included in the online registration fees. Thoughts to ponder. Your pitch intrigued me enough that I would want to learn more about how the product works.

REVIEW: Hi Laura! I thought your elevator pitch was interesting and informative, and made me want to learn more about your product. In addition, I thought your venture pitch was broken down well; you outlined the pain point for the product, explained how your product would meet that need, and how you will expand your product - all in a niche industry of learning analytics that hasn't been explored yet. RECOMMENDATION: If I were a VC in the field of educational technology, I would definitely set up a meeting with you to learn more about your financial model; if it works for both parties, I would invest.

Feedback: Hi Laura, this is a really great idea. I think you've presented your idea well and have offered a product that could be easily used by many institutions/school districts. One thing that I would like to see is a price point for your subscriptions. You mentioned a tiered subscription, but how much are they? As many schools will already be paying quite a bit of money for their already standing online courses, how much more will they pay for your product? However if your subscription is reasonable enough for you to profit and for them to ensure that their investment in your product ensures more retention rates then the cost will balance out.

REVIEW – This was a great idea and well presented. The elevator pitch was a video and was appropriate. It showed the market and the plan to expand in phases. It also introduced the team of experts working on the project. It introduced the concept of Course Coach and got me interested in the product. It explained the problem and how Course Coach would fix it, but I was not exactly sure what the product was based on the elevator pitch. When I went to the Venture Pitch, this was much more evident as I could see that it is an online platform that assists students and instructors. I liked how the venture pitch was broken down into parts so that I could see the details of the problem solution, team, market and revenue model. The question I had was how would this be presented to students? What about those students who do not have smart phones or wish not to participate be dealt with? Is this something that could be easily replicated in the institutions or as a part of the online learning platform (for example Blackboard)? Overall I think it is a great idea and I would invest!

FEEDBACK : Hi Laura, I am particularly resonated with the pain points you are solving, that supports online learners to prevent dropping out. Your service working on the existing LMS is a good idea. I would like to know the price settings and provision of the revenue model are, and how you will survive in the big market. I think the service like Course Coach is definitely needed and your point of view is excellent!

FEEDBACK: Hi Laura, Great job with the elevator pitch! You started out with the “need”, and the “how”, and these provided a clear focus on your product right from the beginning. It was good that you outlined the issues with the completion rates of online course - this is a realistic problem faced by many online teachers. The only suggestion would be to perhaps provide more details on what exactly is Course Coach - is it an APP, a platform, and how will it be used? I really liked how you outlined the market opportunitie, market size, and your team members towards the end of the elevator pitch. These are important factors for investors to consider. Overall, great work! : ) Tiffany Tseng

FEEDBACK: I enjoyed your use of charts and visuals to make your pitch. I think your idea adds tremendous value but it would need to be flushed out a bit more in detail for it to go past the idea stage. Excellent job overall.

Feedback: Nice elevator pitch Laura, your video clearly explains the problem and looks great. As an investor, I would like to see or hear some details about what the venture is looking for to move forward; what does it take to get involved? Overall, Course Coach is a excellent idea and your pitch works.