Trout Tank Pitch Accelerator
Trout Tank Pitch Accelerator is a seven-week program that is focused on highlighting entrepreneurs and businesses in Colorado. In this class, you will:
Learn what lenders are looking for
Get your financials ready for prime time
Create a pitch deck
Sharpen your pitch skills with one-on-one coaching from Professional Communicators
Build connections with fellow entrepreneurs, lenders, investors, decision-makers and key stakeholders within the Colorado Business community
Trout Tank Pitch Accelerator will help you build, hone and present your pitch, giving you the confidence and tools to help take your business or startup to the next level!
The top five pitches have the chance to win $1,500 at our Trout Tank Pitch Event!
Important Dates
Sessions begin: Tuesday January 9, 2024 from 4-7 p.m.
Final Pitch Event: February 20, 2024
Questions
Contact Christopher Goetz at
christopher.goetz@denversbdc.org
Investment
Standard Trout Tank Fee:
$500
Early Bird Registration (Apply Before May 11): $395
Trout Tank Retake Fee:
$250
Leading Edge Fall 2023 Graduate Fee: $250
Space is limited!
How it works
- Fill out an application telling us about you and your product and submit a one-minute video introducing yourself
- Up to 15 companies will be chosen to participate by our selection committee
- Participants will go through 2 full-day sessionsincluding pitch practice, expert panels, and interactive group work in the Trout Tank CPG Pitch Accelerator
- Prior to Denver Startup Week, participants will deliver a five-minute pitch to our panel. The panel will select companies to pitch at Denver Startup Week in front of an audience of 100+ investors, industry experts and business leaders.
- One pitch winner will be selected at Denver Startup Week and will be awarded with a price package, but all participants will have an opportunity at the event to share their product and company with those in attendance!
Week 1: Customer Data & Customer Acquisition | May 18, 2023 | 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
- Characterize customer segments and profiles
- Determine target customers
- Create marketing and customer acquisition plan
- Create customer journey and an outreach strategy
Instructors
Lauren Seegmiller: Reference Librarian, Denver Public Library
The Denver Public Library has many sophisticated resources, both electronic and in print, to help entrepreneurs start and grow their business. Lauren will help to find quantitative numbers and statistics to give credibility to your business or marketing plan.
Kris Hefley: Marketing Program Director and Associate Professor, Johnson & Wales University and President, PresentFutures Group
Kris is a marketing consultant with the SBDC and has over 30 years of marketing experience with his own marketing consultancy working with client/companies such as General Motors, BMW Motorcycles, Pepsi, Vail Resorts, HUD and the State of Alaska. Hefley has also taught college level marketing and sales for 19 years at Johnson & Wales University, Regis University, and for numerous sales executive associations in the United States.
Week 2: Financial Modeling | May 25, 2023 | 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
- Understand basics of operational finance.
- Understand Income statements, Balance sheets and Profit/Loss statements.
- Create a Financial Model and Cash Flow Forecast for funding ask.
- Determine Financial Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
- Strategize around financial partnerships.
- Connect business decisions to your financial model (staffing, purchasing, etc.).
- Understand how and when to iterate with financial model.
Instructor
Mark Ahern: Founder and Advisor, AMP Business Consulting, LLC
Mark empowers business owners to make more informed decisions by gaining a deeper understanding of the financial side of their business, measuring and monitoring performance, and forecasting cash flow. Mark is the founder of Amp Business Consulting, LLC, an advisory and fractional CFO firm dedicated to providing affordable advisory services to create an equitable business landscape. He spent over a decade in financial services with firms such as First Midwest Bank, GE Capital, and most recently Wells Fargo. In his time as a credit analyst and commercial banker, Mark worked with businesses of all sizes and industries. Mark earned his MBA from DePaul University and is proficient in Spanish. In addition to consulting, Mark teaches finance part-time at Regis University.
Week 3: RVC Pitch Academy | June 1, 2023 | 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
- Preparing a business for a deal
- Designing a deck
- Delivering the pitch
- Communicating the value for venture funding
- Balancing pitching a product vs. pitching a company
- Raising equity vs. convertible debt
- Communicating risks that don’t raise red flags
- Understanding investor psychology
Instructor
Kevin Kudra: Director of Operations, Rockies Venture Club
Kevin is a CSU grad and an action oriented self-starter trained in finance with the ability to analyze complex, high quantity, and contradictory information to solve problems and optimize work processes with a focus on continuous improvement, executing project tasks efficiently, and identifying margin improvement opportunities.
Week 4: Pitching Your Idea | Storytelling Pt. 1 | June 8, 2023 | 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
- Understand the components of impactful storytelling.
- Prepare engaging calls-to-action and funding ask.
- Identify the most relevant components of the businesses story.
- Outline an effective pitch for your venture
Instructors
Terry Rubin is a seasoned communication expert who has spent his career helping individuals perfect their message and presentation skills. Since 2011, Terry has provided independent consulting to a range of individuals and companies looking to elevate their preparation for major presentations, interviews, and other public speaking engagements. Terry’s experience includes nearly two decades as an award-winning producer with the PBS Newshour. Throughout his career, Terry worked with on-air talent to enhance their communication techniques. For 17 years, Terry also coached and directed a nationally ranked Speech and Debate program where his students competed in events judged on public speaking, poise, and presentation. Most importantly, they learned valuable skills that led to successful careers in business, law, academia, communications, and marketing.
Kurt MacDonald is an award-winning teacher and experienced content creator. His graduate degree in Behavioral Neuroscience provides unique insight into the psychological and physiological processes that underlie speaking, stress, and information transfer. He utilizes his understanding of human attention, memory, and persuasion to design content that is engaging, effective, and moves audiences. Kurt also has a long history of public speaking, spanning 25 years of his academic and professional career. Kurt delivered the Most Outstanding Graduate address at the University of Colorado, Boulder, was a commencement speaker at Kent Denver School, was a mainstage presenter at Scholar Search Conference, was an invited speaker at the Summit Advocates for Gifted Education, and presented at IgniteSTEM Columbia. Kurt also co-founded and directed a nationally-recognized debate program, helping his students develop arguments, execute strategies, and deliver persuasive speeches across the country.
Week 5: Pitching Your Idea | Storytelling Pt. 2 | June 15, 2023 | 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
- Refine and Practice Final Pitch
Instructors
Terry Rubin is a seasoned communication expert who has spent his career helping individuals perfect their message and presentation skills. Since 2011, Terry has provided independent consulting to a range of individuals and companies looking to elevate their preparation for major presentations, interviews, and other public speaking engagements. Terry’s experience includes nearly two decades as an award-winning producer with the PBS Newshour. Throughout his career, Terry worked with on-air talent to enhance their communication techniques. For 17 years, Terry also coached and directed a nationally ranked Speech and Debate program where his students competed in events judged on public speaking, poise, and presentation. Most importantly, they learned valuable skills that led to successful careers in business, law, academia, communications, and marketing.
Kurt MacDonald is an award-winning teacher and experienced content creator. His graduate degree in Behavioral Neuroscience provides unique insight into the psychological and physiological processes that underlie speaking, stress, and information transfer. He utilizes his understanding of human attention, memory, and persuasion to design content that is engaging, effective, and moves audiences. Kurt also has a long history of public speaking, spanning 25 years of his academic and professional career. Kurt delivered the Most Outstanding Graduate address at the University of Colorado, Boulder, was a commencement speaker at Kent Denver School, was a mainstage presenter at Scholar Search Conference, was an invited speaker at the Summit Advocates for Gifted Education, and presented at IgniteSTEM Columbia. Kurt also co-founded and directed a nationally-recognized debate program, helping his students develop arguments, execute strategies, and deliver persuasive speeches across the country.
Week 6: Finalists One-on-Ones | June 22, 2023 | 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
- Each finalist will get a 90-minute one-on-one session to perfect their pitch.
Week 7: Final Pitch Event | June 29, 2023 | 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
- Invite friends and family and be ready to sell, sell, sell yourself!
- All participants get a table to market their businesses prior to the Final Pitch Event
- The top 5 students will give a final pitch to our assembled audience who will choose a winner.
- Grand Prize – $1500
Trout Tank FAQs
We, along with our partners, have designed Trout Tank to educate and integrate entrepreneurs into the business community and serve as a platform to connect them with funding sources and connections they need to be successful.
- Two three-hour sessions including pitch practice, expert panels and interactive group work
- Get paired with a rockstar mentor
- Complete a pitch deck with expert help
- Multiple pitching opportunities in a supportive space
- Instant feedback and coaching
- Face to face meetings with lenders and investors
- Access to a powerful alumni network of over 100 past Trout Tank companies
- VIP attendance to the Trout Tank Pitch Event with a demo booth for extra exposure
- Private public speaking class and coaching
Throughout Trout Tank: Pitch Accelerator, you will be able to sharpen your pitching skills, gain exposure and build connections with lenders, investors, decision-makers and key stakeholders within the Colorado business and investing community.
We welcome all companies—from beginning stage startups to existing businesses looking to expand.
Yes, both founders and co-founders are welcome to apply.
Yes, you are eligible, as long as you have a specific financial ask.
Yes, as long as you meet all the requirements, and are able to attend all trainings and events in person.
Absolutely! Assuming you still meet all of the criteria, you are welcome to go through the program as many times as you would like.
Yes, you are both welcome to do so, but that is not recommended.
Only key leadership roles are able to pitch (ex. Founder, Co-Founder, CEO, President, etc.).
Following the final auditions, the top 3-5 companies are chosen to pitch at the Trout Tank: Final Event. Those not chosen will be given booth space to demo their product during networking.
The judging panel is made up of key partners and business leaders within the Denver region.
The event is open to the public, but we invite lenders, investors and business leaders to attend.
No problem! That’s what this process is for.
In Partnership With
