Guidelines

Some class lectures are devoted to your team presenting on a topic relevant to your progress on the project.

Two or three members of the team should present each time, and the team members assigned to present should be rotated so that each members presents at least once during the year. (For the end-of-semester pitch to your client, however, use your best presenters.)

All team members join the presenter up front for the Q&A period.

Unless otherwise specified, your total time is 15 minutes: 10 min of you (no more) and 5 min of discussion. Time keeping will be strict.

Arrive at the class early to load your slides onto the classroom computer, or to test your laptop (e.g. that movies will run). At the conclusion of the session, delete your presentation from the classroom computer as it contains confidential information.

Team presentations are closed-door. If your client is interested in hearing your presentation, arrange to deliver it to them at some other time.

Tips on Presenting

Applies to all in-class presentations:

1. Two or three members of the team should present each time, and the team members assigned to present should be rotated so that each team member presents at least once during the year. For the end-of-semester pitch to your client, however, use your best presenters.

2. All team members join the presenter up front for the Q&A period.

3. Arrive at the class early to load your slides onto the classroom computer, or to test your laptop, or to test the internet connection if using online slides. For example, test that movies will run and that you can read the small font when sitting in the last row.

4. At the conclusion of the class, delete your presentation from the classroom computer as it contains confidential information.

5. Team presentations are closed-door. If your client is interested in hearing your presentation, arrange to deliver it to them at some other time.

Assignments

Pre-Project Planning (Fall)

10 min presentation followed by 5 min discussion; total slot is 15 min

See pre-project planning assignment for content

Condensed Mid-Project Review (Fall)

10 min presentation followed by 5 min discussion; total slot is 15 min

Deliver a condensed version of your mid-project review that will be given to the client the following week. This is a chance to fine-tune your client presentation, and a chance for the other teams to catch up on what you have been doing all semester. Use the question and comment session to fine-tune your presentation. The best way to approach this assignment is to create an almost-complete draft of your full 30-minute mid-project review presentation, and then pull 9 or 10 key slides to use for the condensed version. The most important messages to deliver are (1) your understanding of the opportunity and the problem to be solved, (2) the real customer needs based on your research, (3) possible concepts that meet the need and (4) the path ahead.

Lessons Learned (Spring)

10 min presentations followed by 5 min discussion; total slot is 15 min

A 5-slide, presentation. Slide #1 has your team name, a brief description of the project and mission, and a rendering of your product. Slide #2 has a succinct summary of the feedback you received from the client during and after your fall semester project review, and how you have responded to that feedback. Slide #3 has a plan of action for the next 4 weeks. Slide #4 has details on your plans for interviewing customers to get reactions to your concepts and to get reactions to your prototypes (see customer feedback report assignments) Slide #5 has specifics on the May deliverables, including what form the final prototype will take.

Alpha Prototype Demo (Spring)

10 min presentations followed by 5 min discussion; total slot is 15 min

Demonstrate and explain your alpha prototype. An "alpha prototype" is the early, working prototype version of your product. It can be rough, but should be of sufficient quality that it can be used to show a working product to customers and your client for reaction. The expectation is that by this point in the project, you are past the design freeze and well on your way to implementing the prototype product. Attempt to have your alpha prototype be as polished as possible as you are well past the low-resolution (hot glue and found materials) prototyping stage.

In some cases you may want to show a video of your prototype to supplement the in-class demo. Open the demo with your elevator pitch that should clearly explain the who, what and why. Then show your working prototype. Focus on what it does rather than how it does what it does. Please omit descriptions of the opportunity or progress on your project.

Show no more that three slides. The focus should be on the demo, not on the presentation. Use the slides to explain the technology behind your prototype. The first slide might have a concise statement of project objectives, perhaps with an appropriate graphic. The second (and third if necessary) slides might have concept renderings or other images needed to understand how the product works. Or, show the product animation you made.

Make this a pitch for your product so feel free to add a bit of "wow" factor -- so long as you don't use flash and smoke to hide that your prototype really doesn't work. In other words, the better the prototype, the more permission you have to add a little zip. "Prototype" means whatever you have at this time but must be some form of working hardware. In other words, you must show more than concepts and models.

Suggestion: Open your presentation with your 2-sentence elevator story.

Hint: Do not open your demo with an apology about how it is not like the real thing or how you wish it had x.

Hint: Get into the classroom the day before and do a dress rehearsal, with at least one team member sitting in the back row to check that you can be seen and heard. Also a good way to ensure you know how to use the classroom technology.

Business Plan (Spring)

10 min presentations followed by 5 min discussion; total slot is 15 min

Present a tight synopsis of the value proposition for your project, and your business plan, hitting, at a top level, all of the buckets that comprise an effective plan. For organization you can, but are not required, to use the categories in the Business Model Canvas as a guide. Whatever template you have clearly state who the product is for (customer segment), what customer need is being met or customer problem is being solved by your product, and why that need or problem is important (value proposition), what is revenue stream the product will generate (revenue stream), what is the cost-of-goods-sold or other costs associated with the product (cost structure), and what funding and timeline is required between now and product launch. Conclude with a statement on whether the team believes this is a viable business opportunity.

Condensed Final Project Review (Spring)

10 min presentations followed by 10 min discussion; total slot is 20 min.

Deliver a condensed version of your final project review that will be given to the client. See notes under end-of-fall condensed presentation. You have just 10 minutes, so highlights only. That leaves plenty of time to get feedback from your peers in the audience.

Other presentations may be required. Consult the schedule and deliverables for info.