Ask Slashdot: How Do You Sell an Algorithm To Venture Capitalists?

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!"

Comments

That all depends

[ctime]

Know your audience, that's for sure. As far as how much detail to let them in on, send me the copy of the details and I'll get back to you.

Re:Just give it to them.

[fuzzyfuzzyfungus]

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!"

[flandre]

It'll sell really fast if you include those features.

Re:Tell them

[Anonymous Coward]

Math sort of works for everyone the same way.

Clearly you weren't in my high school algebra class.

Rule 34

[fermion]

Are you telling me you can't acquire 80's pr0n, run it through this algorithm, and then make a bundle reselling it. Recent reports say this is more profitable that Netflix and prime. This should give enough funding to do whatever else is wanted.

Re:Tell them

[Jeremiah Cornelius]

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...

Re:Tell them

[houghi]

First post and the thread can be closed. Congratulations.