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’ll learn what lenders are looking for, get your financials ready, create a pitch deck, sharpen your pitch skills, build connections with fellow entrepreneurs and get the chance to win a $500 grand prize!
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!
Important Dates
Registration Closes: Feb. 22, 2023
Pitch Accelerator Sessions begin
Feb. 22 and end April 5
Questions
Contact Christopher Goetz at
christopher.goetz@denversbdc.org
Investment
Standard Trout Tank Fee:
$500
Early Bird Registration (Apply Before Feb. 15): $395
Trout Tank Retake Fee:
$250
How it works
Week 1: Customer Data & Customer Acquisition | February 22, 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
Jay Ballenberger: Business Reference Collection Specialist, Denver Public Library
The Denver Public Library has many sophisticated resources, both electronic and in print, to help entrepreneurs start and grow their business. Jay will help to find quantitative numbers and statistics to give credibility to your business or marketing plan.
Tracey Felicidade Jones: Founder and CEO, Trace Brand Building
Trace Brand Building’s fearless leader and founder, Tracey has been around the FMCG and pharma block several times in her 20-years’ experience in sales and marketing. She’s held prestigious positions such as Customer Manager at Tiger Brands and Category Marketing Manager at Nestle Professional before starting her own agency.
Week 2: Financial Modeling | March 1, 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, 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.
Week 3: Fundraising | March 8, 2023 | 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
- Understand a variety of fundraising strategies.
- Assess the spectrum of potential funding sources and identify ideal sources for the business.
- Identify potential funding sources to meet your financial and impact goals.
- Create a fundraising plan.
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: Creating Partnerships | March 15, 2023 | 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
- Understand what strategic partnerships will be needed to create success for the business
- Identify the benefits and challenges associated with each partnership
- Learn how to build partnerships and create a partnership plan
Instructor
China Califf – Executive Director, Denver Metro Small Business Development Center & Vice President of Small Business Development, Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce
As the Executive Director of the Denver Metro Small Business Development Center and Vice President of Small Business Development at the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, China Califf oversees the team’s efforts to provide educational programming, one-on-one free consulting, and virtual resources to Colorado entrepreneurs. Prior to being named director of the Denver Metro SBDC in 2020, Califf spent 17 years at Colorado Lending Source, where she led branding and marketing strategies, worked with Colorado’s Congressional Delegation, and oversaw operations for the organization. Colorado Lending Source has been a key partner of the Denver Metro SBDC for the last two decades. Both organizations are committed to fostering a healthy economy by supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs. Ongoing partnerships between the organizations include Trout Tank Pitch Accelerator, LEADING EDGE, SBDC Day, and countless educational panels and event collaborations. In 2021, the Denver Business Journal added Califf to its list of Outstanding Women in Business.
China enjoys the opportunity to engage closely with Denver’s business community and see the direct impact her team has on the lives of families, entrepreneurs, and small business owners.
Week 5: Pitching Your Idea | Storytelling Pt. 1 | March 22, 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 6: Pitching Your Idea | Storytelling Pt. 2 | March 29, 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 7: Final Pitch Event | April 5, 2023 | 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
- Invite friends and family and be ready to sell, sell, sell yourself!
- Students will give a final pitch to our assembled audience who will choose a winner.
- Grand Prize – $500
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
