Step by Step

Hi All, I just wanted to say a quick thank you for all of your encouraging and thoughtful comments. I have enjoyed very much learning with all of you, and hope to do so again in the near future. I would have posted earlier, but I just got back from a school trip to the Grand Canyon. It has been a busy Spring Break to say the least. Thank you again, and all the best for the rest of your courses! Scott

Feedback: What a fabulous idea, Scott! Starting with your elevator pitch, you had me with the Moby track. You grabbed my attention immediately with your name, logo and pain point. If districts wish to get more folks on board with technology, your idea needs to be part of the process. Non-techies often look at the first step as being way too daunting and will not want to alter approaches. Your software provides a bridge between old and new; we need more of these types of bridges, most definitely. The only thing I think your elevator pitch is missing “the ask” and I think we are supposed to introduce ourselves and credentials; both easy fixes! I also like how your EP funnels us towards your website at the end. I found that your video that demonstrates the program was helpful for me to truly understand the software’s potential. I think that the only bit I would add, would be a few more details to the potential of having this data sorted. Your site mentions e-portfolios, but are there other benefits that non-techies would be attracted to? Since there are a few e-portfolio programs out there, what would be the benefit to using the Step By Step program? I am completely with you when you mention not having the entrepreneurial gene… Sorting out the business side of your plan would need some time and energy. Adding a CFO to your team, to compensate for your lack of business savvy (no insult intended here!), would cover some bases, possibly. Overall, I think you checked almost, if not all, of the Venture Pitch boxes AND the spirit of your idea is fabulous!!! User-friendly, bridge-building platforms are critically important in educational technology. PS. I was just marking in the ferry line-up yesterday; your image made me giggle. I am all about blending old school with new school. I am nearing the end of MET, and I still need my pad of paper!!! 😊

Something that scans and organizes, where has it been all my life! I agree with Robert that there are some similar products available in the greater sphere, but I feel that this app features options that are well-geared to the everyday teacher who wants flexibility and better organization. One question I have that is not shared is security. Would you product offer hosting on your own servers or will it be on third party? As well, for freemium members, how will their data be used? In some cases, I could see some people worried about security while at the same time not wanting to pay (some teachers are cheap). As well, if students were to use it, would it conform to privacy standards, or is there a recommended minimum age for it? Thanks, and great work.

Review: Scott, as a teacher I want this software! As I worked my way though the content you created to pitch it, it was clear you have done your homework. First off, you made it very clear that this is a real need. Teachers are busy and resistant to change (more than most people I know – probably because they are afraid of wasting their precious time). What I like about your solution to the problem is that it seems simple enough that even those non-tech savvy teachers could figure it out (Tag, Scan, Drag and Drop). Out of the whole thing this was my favorite line: “The greatest technological benefit for a teacher comes from whatever can be the most helpful, while requiring the least amount of time to learn and operate.” I don’t think anything truer about teaching life has ever been said. If you can convince them it is easy and will help them, you can get mass teachers to sign up. Connected to that idea you made it clear why you are better than the alternatives. They are all or nothing – a complete revolution and dependence on tech to make the system work. You on the other hand position yourself as the middle man, the transition for many hesitant adopters. Your market of Late majority and laggard puts you up in numbers for potential compared to the innovations seeking early adopters. I think free versions of software allow people to jump in with out feeling pain, and once the love it they are willing to pay for more features (so basically free advertising). As an investor I like that you are already looking to future advancements in software (online sharing with parents). Finally I like that the ask has a plan – we know what you are going to use it for. My only concern or thing I’d like to hear more about is details about the return – who much will I see back and how quick. Other than that. Great Work! Recommendation: It’s a go for me. Great plan, nice demo of how it will work, it is a real need and could easily be implemented in the technological environment of most schools. If I had a cool Million sitting around it would be coming your way.

Hi Scott. Where can I sign up!! (as investor, that is). You've outlined a compelling value proposition in Step-by-Step with well articulated problem and solution identification. Also, provided a product demo. And, you've outlined the team and skills/talent mix and fit, given thought and explanation to the competitive landscape, pricing and path to profit. This is not your first rodeo!! I liked the information and flow, and have a clear understanding of the venture. Though, I would like to have more information beyond just the competitors, and specifically, more detail into Step-by-Step's differentiators. Anytime Google is in the same space, the plan has to consider what an exit might look like (with Google, for instance), otherwise the venture is at risk of becoming irrelevant. However, given that one of the team members is from Google, I suspect these points have been discussed. You identify the why, why, how. The only negative I see is the executive summary style of presentation versus succinct presentation of critical points, bulleted where necessary. This could be a stylistic thing but I know from experience, for instance at Banff Venture Forum, they are ruthless with keeping time on the clock, and if you exceed the time limit (10 mins), too bad, so sad! You are abruptly called off the presentation forum. In any case, this isn't BVF, and I like this opportunity! With thanks.