Welcome! As a guest panelist for BUS 477, this page is especially for you.
Preparation
Bio and Introduction
Your time and words of wisdom mean a lot to the class. Students are very curious about your
background. I like to take up to 5 minutes to introduce our guest panelists. I would also like to share your bio on this class website. Here are the questions I like to answer:
- name, job title, employer and a bit on what you do professionally (e.g.angel investor, VC, entrepreneur, etc.)
- some of your key career accomplishments, especially as they relate to evaluating early stage technology ideas
- your academic background
- something personal to remember you by (e.g. has sailed across the Atlantic, loves to helicopter ski, has 14 children, etc.)
Please send me a short email with the key elements of your bio so I make you shine when I introduce you!
Panel Format
I aim to have 4-5 panelists. Panelists sit together at the front of the class. The student business teams go to the front of the class and present their pitch to the panel. Panelists then provide a bit of "real world" feedback to the students. Your feedback is valuable to the students as 5/15 teams that present to this panel will be nominated to present at the Ken Spencer SFU Business Plan competition for cash awards. Many of the teams enter other business plan competitons.
Students have 10 minutes for their pitch. (Including setup time.) They are given a 1 minute warning. If they go overtime, they lose grades.
Panelists have 5 minutes in total to offer feedback. I recommend each panelist offer 2-3 points of feedback and take no more than 1 minute. If panelists go overtime, I will bark.
I am hoping to have the pitches and the feedback filmed so the students can see how they look and show Mom and Dad when they are home at Christmas. Here are last years videos and a list of our panel participants.
Preparation
Panelists are selected for their professional perspective and community spirit. You are not expected to have read any executive summaries or have any idea of what the ventures are other than what you hear and see. It is assumed is that all you bring is an open mind and a willingness to help a class of budding entrepreneurs.
Your comments don't contribute to the student's presentation grade. Your ranking will encourage the the teams that are nominated to the business plan competiton finals.
I will give you $1,000,000 to invest. You can cut up to 5 checks or keep the money if you don't see anything you like. (If you don't invest anything, you can redeem your $1M for a beer after class!) I will collect your checks at the end of the day or you can email me your votes. I will post the names of the top 5 team presentations on this website.
Presentation Agenda
We have structured an agenda that assumes three (3) blocks of 5 presentations separated by 2 bio breaks. I encourage panelists and presenters to get togehter at the pub afterwards to socialize. Who knows, maybe you will want to invest in some of the ventures?
Notes and suggestions:
- The cafeteria closes at 6:00, so be sure to get coffee before the class or during break #1. I am buying!
- Please bring along a stack
of business cards and/or your company sales literature to pass out, if asked.
Class Demographics
The major project for this class is a business plan. During the first
class, students of BUS477 and ENSC201 are required to form teams of 2
business student and 4 engineering students. The technical idea must be
introduced by the engineers and be approved by their instructor.
BUS477 has 35 students. All are in their 3rd or 4th year of
undergraduate business studies. They have a good academic understanding
of the key elements of business. This elevator pitch is worth 10% and the accompanying business plan is worth 40% of their final grade.
Directions to the Class
BUS 477 is held at the main campus of Simon Fraser University on Burnaby Mountain.
SFU Campus Map
The investor forum will be in 3250 WMC (West Mall Complex).
The Business School is in the West Mall Complex (#13 on the map.) Your best bet for parking is the covered West Mall Visitor parkade (#9). The outdoor lot (#14) is also very close, but there aren't many parking spots. Room 3250 is about a 5-minute walk from either parking lot.
Please aim to be at the class 10-15 minutes beforehand.
There is a cafeteria just opposite and down one floor my class where you can pick up a
coffee or a sandwich and catch up on some work if you arrive early.
Thank you! I look forward to seeing you in class.
Ean Jackson
Instructor, BUS 477
