Present like Steve Jobs

TechZulu: SoCal Heads to SXSWi | 2012 Panel Picking Guide

Its that time again!  The race to get your SXSWi panel to as many votes as possible so that you will be selected to present at the coming 2012 SXSW.  For those who may be living under a rock and have no idea what SXSWi is, its five days of presentations and panel discussions from some of the biggest thought leaders in Interactive digital media space.
 

TechZulu is helping the Southern California tech community out by listing all the great panels.  Give them a quick look over and the ones you believe would be the best to see give them a vote.  Simply click on the title of the panel you like and you will be taken to their SXSWi panel picker page.  If you do not see your panel listed and are from SoCal let TechZulu know in the comments below and they’ll get it listed.

Get your votes in quick because it all ends on Friday, September 2^nd!

How to pitch a VC aka "Startup Viagra"

How to Pitch a VC (aka "Startup Viagra")

View more presentations from Dave McClure

Countdown to 2days2fund

Welcome to 2days2fund - The countdown has begun!

To celebrate our launch we are giving away a whopping $2,500 worth of mobile apps goodies. If this is your first time on the site you should go and register now before we close the doors on this contest. Its a sweepstakes competition so its easy to win, all you need to do is register.

For an additional entry into the draw simply tweet the following:

I just entered a mobile apps contest over at http://2d2f.me to win $2,500 worth of goodies #2d2f

Mobile Application Developers (Pitchers)

We are going to help you get your application idea funded so you can develop it. We’re going to help you find awesome, amazing people who will get involved with your project, who will invest money and time in your idea, share your vision and help you get your product to market. These “Believer’s” will not only financially support your project but they will also help your app stand out from the crowd once it goes on sale. But the best bit is that you get to keep 100% of the ownership and rights to your mobile app.

Rachid Sefrioui among the Panelists

2days2fund - a Mobile Apps crowdfunding conference

Rachid Sefrioui will be joining other technology experts and noted speakers during the 2-day Mobile Apps conference, 2days2fund. 

The event will gather:  

* 24 pitchers of new mobile apps to showcase their concept to a public of users, geeks and investors

* this is simultaneously done online

* all attendees get the chance to support the project(s) of their choice at exclusive terms

* all projects go public afterwards

The event's target-audience consists of mobile developers, mobile users, and an expert panel of up to 5 technology experts, angels and VC's and online entrepreneurs. 

The geographical focus is BE/NL/UK and US.

It will be held on Tuesday 12th July

He wins! The most versatile Public Speaker of the Modern Era

Barack Obama has proven time and again that he is capable of changing footing in a public speech, even when it is in front of a tough, professional audience. In this Public Speech in front of the White House's Washington Correspondents dinner, he moves from host, to self-deprecating humor, to jabs at his upcoming presidential contenders, to being humble by thanking troops, by having compassion for the Southern devasted areas, and by recognizing the value of the press in advancing democracy's freedom.

 

This is what I call having an inate skill to public speaking. But is it? In fact, Barack Obama does have a certain ease in publicly speaking, but more importantly he's made thousands of speeches, and that is what gave him this easy flow between a jovial pace and a serious mood.

Hats off, Mr. President! You are the ultimate example for all of us, public speakers.

Tech founders, Overcome your fear of public speaking (ask Mark Zuckerberg at President Obama's live townhall at Facebook HQs)

A great American comedian said that, during a funeral, most people prefer to be in the casket than reading the eulogy before the audience. Statistics show that up to 75% of people suffer from social phobia such as fear of public speaking.

The majority of tech founders with whom I work confirm this fear. It was confirmed by Mark Zuckerberg's stage fright at yesterday's townhall meeting with President Obama at the Facebook Headquarters.

Whether a presentation to an audience of ten or a hundred, public speaking can be scary to founders, who are otherwise extremely competent. However, there are certain steps that the founders can take to feel at ease during a presentation.

Stage fright is a natural reaction that can be tamed before and during your presentation. Convinced that what you say is interesting and relevant, it must tell you that the public needs you to get an understanding of the subject matter.

The use of notes may also help calm your nerves. They give you confidence and the feeling of having a safety net because you can always take a glance to keep you on track, especially if you pause for questions or give examples. However, they must be short and focused - to remind you to address key points.

The biggest traitor to nerves is to talk too fast. The solution is to take breaks. The best oratorical style, from the public's perspective, is to speak at a normal speed, but with lots of breaks. If you do so effectively, the breaks seem unbearably long for you, but the public does not even notice them.

Once you've practiced and mastered the breaks you need to work on eye contact. You can greatly reduce the effect of a large audience on edge if you look at people in the audience one person at a time while talking.

Finally, and most importantly, do not be afraid to be yourself. Smile, keep eye contact and give yourself the feeling of being in a conversation and you will feel more relaxed.

Many founders are perhaps not born orators, but that does not mean they cannot become good presenters. Remember, the audience is on your side, and controlling your nerves in the short term will help you make presentations that are natural and professional.