Ask Slashdot: How Do You Sell an Algorithm To Venture Capitalists? 205
dryriver writes "Dear Slashdotters, We are a two man crew who have spent almost three years developing a video processing algorithm that 'upgrades' the visual quality of digital video footage. We take video footage that is "of average quality" — think an amateur shooting on a cheap digital camcorder or on a smartphone camera — and use various mathematical tricks we have developed to make the footage look better — optically sharper, better lit, more vivid colours, improved contrast, enhanced sense of three-dimensionality and of 'being-there realism.' In about a month, we will be presenting our algorithm to some venture capitalists. We have the obligatory before-and-after video demos prepared for this, of course. But there will also be a short PowerPoint presentation where we explain our tech in some detail. Now here is our main question: What, in your opinion, should we — or indeed should we NOT — put in the PowerPoint presentation to impress a Venture Capitalist? Should we talk about how we developed the algorithm at all — what kind of R&D and testing was involved? Should we try to walk the VCs through how our algorithm works under the hood — simplified a bit for a 'non-engineer' audience of course? Or should we stick to talking about market potential, marketing strategy & money-related stuff only? If you were in our shoes — presenting a digital video-quality improvement technology to professional VCs — what would and would you not put in your PowerPoint? Any advice on this from Slashdotters with some experience would be most welcome!"
That all depends (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Just give it to them. (Score:5, Funny)
That's the way it's going to end anyway. At least this way you save time, money, hassle, and the anguish of actually thinking they give a shit about your success.
VC: "Ideas are like assholes, everybody has one and I'm going to get as much money out of selling yours as I can."
"Enhance, zoom in!" (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Tell them (Score:4, Funny)
Math sort of works for everyone the same way.
Clearly you weren't in my high school algebra class.
Rule 34 (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Tell them (Score:5, Funny)
Step one: Inscribe a pentagram on the floor around your feet, placing a 100-dollar bill at each of the 5 cardinal points.
Step two: Face the direction of the nearest cemetery and intone the words: "I offer my soul for the venture partner".
Step three: This will take care of itself...
Comment removed (Score:5, Funny)