(1) Expectations – We hope teams apply their time and creativity to appreciating the implications of emerging technologies, in general, and identifying an interesting business opportunity, in particular. Since we want this exercise to be bounded in scope, we suggest you follow a simple and uniform presentation format and spend your time largely on the substantive content. In the remaining two weeks before the presentation slides are due, we suggest 4-6 hours per person specifically on the project, i.e. beyond your class readings and informal discussions. This might entail 1+ hours thinking on your own; 1-2 hours brainstorming with team and settling on topic; 1+ hour library/web research to gather supporting data; 1-2 hours with team integrating and analyzing data, and putting together slides.

(2) Business Brief Format – Much like an Executive Summary of a full Business Plan, your Business Briefs should summarize at least What, Why, How, Who, Who Else, and How Much about your particular technology venture proposal. This suggests – but does not require – slides covering your Business Concept, Market Opportunity, Technology Solution, Team, Competitive Advantages, Financials, and any compelling Extras.

(3) Business Concept – State WHAT your business will do. Start with a compelling company name and summary Elevator Speech, crystallizing your whole proposal in the first 30-60 seconds of your presentation, perhaps using a key graphic or illustration. Outline your overall business model, that is, how and to what degree customers value your technology and/or unique combination of services or products. Help your listener pigeonhole your proposal by choosing the general industry category best describing your company: e.g. Computer Hardware, PC Peripheral, Computing Services, Molecular Modeling, MEMS Components, NEMS Fabrication Equipment

(4) Market Opportunity – Who is the principal customer and what is their problem? State WHY the venture is worth the effort, what problems do customers have, how many of them are there, and how much are they willing to pay for what you've got. Provide data for trends. Ideally, you have evidence people want what you propose.

(5) Technology Solution – What product or service do you offer? State HOW you propose to solve the problem customers face. Quantify performance benefits, current state of development, and work still to be done. Clarify intellectual property (IP) status, e.g. patents-pending, licensing status. Describe how things work at a high level; avoid too much detail.

(6) Team – Provide a mini-bio of each team member. State WHO is involved or who you would like to be involved in the company.

Generic Format: Name, MIT/HBS connection (e.g. MBA 2001, Materials Science PhD 2001), and a phrase on each person’s background (e.g. formerly with XYZ sexy startup, key inventor of core technology, built or ran such-and-such organization, expert in PDQ useful domain).

(7) Competitive Advantages – WHO ELSE are your competitors and why are you better? State risk factors, identify some direct and remote competitors, and spotlight particular things you have – or will build – to your advantage.

(8) Financials – What are the essential numbers? State HOW MUCH you seek and aspire to return: the number of people you need, how long and much investment, timing of essential expenditures, revenues, and profitability. State key assumptions.

(9) Extras – Anything else to dramatically bolster your case, e.g. references to journal articles on your technology or on the problem you are addressing. Alternatively, list key milestones, most substantial risks, and/or URLs for relevant additional details.