A3: EmoTech Pitch

When I worked with a startup elearning company last year, our CEO and founder repeatedly brought the idea of developing a mental-health focused app to the table. Although I was excited about such a product, my colleagues and I were unsure of what direction to take with it or how to monetize it. I think you have succeeded tremendously in doing so! I actually really like the fact that you included a financial ask in your elevator pitch. I think it shows that you know exactly what you are looking for, and I feel as though many investors will respond to this up-front approach. Your team's credentials are highly impressive, and you made sure to emphasize that fact, and you did a great job of providing a comprehensive overview of your product.

Thank you for your comments and suggestions. Lane, I agree that GoAnimate is not the most appropriate platform given the audience I am targeting. I'm familiar with it though as a video maker and was hesitant to branch out given the scope of the project. Caleb, I envision caregivers managing the device for younger children and sharing the data with them. I'm also toying with the thought that multiple children can use one biosensor wristband. As I state in the pitch, I'm not concerned about making money on the devices... rather I want to capitalize on subscription fees. The option to share wristbands among students (particularly those at lower risk) would be more appealing to schools (reduce adoption costs); however, I'm not sure how we could prevent customers from also sharing accounts. Do you think this would be an issue? It would violate privacy regulations and take away from the true capabilities of the app, so perhaps that in itself is enough of a deterrence??? tariqrbutt, looking back, I wish that I would have included a few hypothetical partners to give my concept more traction. I made up the ENGAGE social-emotional learning curriculum for the purpose of my pitch but if I pursue this, I would perhaps consider partnering with MindUp or Zones of Regulation.

I wasn't appointed to your venture, but I found it very applicable for my classroom. I have some students that would benefit greatly from this. Just watching your elevator pitch, I felt the confident narration and music made for a high quality presentation. I think I would suggest not using GoAnimate to make it stronger - perhaps a person on camera would better for me personally. Good job!

REVIEW: In my role as an EVA, I would most definitely go ahead and back EmoTech. The presentation was comprehensive and compelling. While the general concept it isn’t entirely unique, the pitch appropriately mentions competitors and distinguishes EmoTech. As an investor, the part that leapt out at me was how the app “connects physiological indicators to emotions.” As an EVA with classroom experience, this personally appeals to me because I have helped countless students navigate the maze of confusing physical indicators and emotions. This demonstrates that EmoTech is not simply a helpful wearable, but is also capable of teaching life skills and helping students independently cope with unique struggles. A question I have revolves around the device it syncs with. With younger students in mind, is a 10 year old expected to carry this device with them everywhere? Is it possible for younger children to successfully utilize the wearable even though it might not be specifically designed for them? I can’t help but think that when schools start seeing the success of EmoTech, they will want to see it utilized by increasingly younger students. I appreciated the transparency of the presentation by highlighting some challenges. As a potential investor this is helpful, because I may already be in a position to provide some solutions. Thinking specifically of a manufacturer for the wearable. If I have $1 million to invest, there is a chance that I may have some existing relationships with tech manufacturers.

REVIEW - This venture appealed to me as soon as I finished watching the elevator pitch. The venture pitch only increased my appetite for learning more. Your presentation explains the problem and solution in clear and relatable terms. You use qualitative and quantitative arguments, as well as a mini case study to explain the merits of your solution. This helped me clearly visualize how your solution could be used and the potential benefits. The problem is well identified in terms of the numbers of learners who require emotional support. The wearable solution is a great way to address this need. I only had two reservations to jumping right in to say "I invest". (1) Although this is still an emerging market, you do have some competition in this area - Spire for instance. This is a tech heavy area and you will need a large investment to develop the technology. I would like to see greater elaboration on a plan for tech development and how you plan on differentiating yourself from the competition. (2) Health apps - mental, emotional or physical are a reputation game. Endorsements and partnerships with trusted names help you establish your name. I would like to see greater elaboration on a plan for these partnerships and endorsements. After you have satisfied these two reservations I am in. Great job!!!

REVIEW: EmoTech app This is a brilliant idea. Your pitch was well done and enthusiastic. I really liked how you pitched yourself as founder and your background as an educator with much experience in working with students who struggle with Anxiety. You seem very authentic, something an EVA looks for. You laid out the problem, with research and provided both data and a human face “Brodie” to the information. I love how the app connects physiology to emotion and adapts to the user and provides “real time “ data interpretation and strategies to use. Foe students with lower cognitive skills or those who are “exploding” first, there will need to be scaffolds but this app rides on the “wearables” technology trend that is so big right now. I would like to try it, TOMORROW!! I think your venture is well thought out and I recommend invest!

FEEDBACK: Your product idea is absolutely BRILLLIANT!! I agree that "Health Wearables" is a market that is expanding like crazy and the product you are proposing is very viable. You do a great job of identifying the problem and benefits of this app. With such a strong elevator pitch, I was surprised that you started your Venture Pitch by immediately identifying the goal of how much money you were trying to raise. My concern is that it might brush people away before you have a chance to "hook" them on your great product. However, you certainly make up for it as the pitch continues. WAY TO GO! I would order a BUNCH of these!

FEEDBACK: Great work, Jacyln! I think the pitch is particularly relevant now, as people become more familiar and comfortable with wearable tech, whether FitBit or others. Although many people seem to give up on the fitness-related wearable tech that they’ve bought, I think that EmoTech is potentially more viable since it addresses a completely different need. I think the Venture Pitch does well providing contextual details about time and place to define the mental health situations and trends that the venture intends to address.

REVIEW: This seems like a well thought-out venture. The Plan outlined various levels of development and the increasing need for funding. Marketing will be key as you have competitors but this is a rapidly growing field. In some of these projects it is hard to tell if you already have a team in place or the team is fictional? Regardless, you seem to have most of the bases covered except you may need a business or finance manager with such a high investment product. If I had a million dollars, I would invest! Couple typos on the larger presentation (Leah: psychology; and Competitive Position slide: #3 - meaningful). Good luck on this venture!

This is a really great idea and I'm sure that the technology to make it is not far off, if not already possible. When the "Problem" heading was up in your venture pitch the information was going by too quickly for me to catch, so I might slow that down or take some information out if pitching to real investors. You also might want to stress the preventative properties of the product. If it alerts the child after they've already lost it, it might result in a lot of smashed iWatches, so it would need to warn the child before they get in too deep. There are also some of us who associate "Emo" with a type of music and a subculture, but probably not enough to really matter.