The Innovation Institute welcomes Matt Bootman, CEO of Crystalplex Corporation to the blog.
Last year, Shuo Li stepped out of Dr. Kevin Chen’s lab donning a blazer and tie, not the everyday outfit for an electrical and computer engineering graduate student. Shuo and two other colleagues, Aidong Yan and Ran Zou, had created their team called “Airborne Laser” just six weeks earlier and were on their way to the final pitches of the Randall Family Big Idea Competition, an experience-based learning opportunity open to all Pitt students. What they did not expect was that they would reach the final round of the competition and end the night on stage clutching a giant check made out for $15,000.
Mentoring at Pitt can be a rewarding experience both for the faculty/student entrepreneur and for the mentor who plays an often transformative role in helping translate a potentially world-changing idea or research discovery into a product or service that makes a difference in people's lives.
When your pitch is all said and done and you’ve successfully navigated the Q&A portion, what is it that investors talk about after you leave the room? Often times, angel investors will break out into what’s known as a “mind-share” meaning they discuss what they like vs. what they didn’t like about your startup or innovation. We asked angel investor John J. Jacobs from the Pittsburgh chapter of the Keiretsu Forum and Pitt School of Law alumnus, the top questions that come up after they hear your pitch.