Nana VFX Blog: 01/2011

Now,it`s time to come back to SPB stages2

Stage 2: Prepare and Pitch a Graduate Business Start-up Proposal

Following your research, you are required to develop and pitch your commercial idea for a graduate business start-up. You are expected to work individually but you are allowed to work in teams of two providing you have approval from the module tutor. Your idea must be approved by the tutor/s at the beginning of Stage 2.

You will prepare a business case that will support the commercialisation of your ideas. This will involve producing a written start-up business plan plus marketing and promotional materials for your company or product. Guidance notes on business planning and marketing materials will be made available and discussed during the relevant practical sessions. The layout and the scope of the business plan and marketing materials will be determined in close consultation with the module tutors during the practical sessions. You will be required to hand-in all relevant materials for assessment including your written business plan and marketing materials.

The final stage of the project involves pitching your completed proposal to a panel including your tutors and an external panel member. Imagine you are a recent graduate pitching for business start-up funding. During this presentation you should be in a position to defend your proposals from a business and creative perspective. Your peers will observe all presentations.

All of your development work for this stage and a digital copy of your final pitch must be stored on your DEVELOPMENT BLOG.

Deadlines and Submission

1 Business Plan, Marketing and Promotional Materials (Oasis, 18^th April 12pm)

This should include all relevant material that you might expect to find in a business plan for a start-up business such as information about you, your business idea, unique selling point [USP], potential market, and identified competition, potential sources of funding, a start-up budget and marketing plan. Templates and/or examples will be provided, but you are also expected to identify examples of good practice for yourself.

You will also have opportunity to produce a set of marketing materials appropriate to your intended sector. This may contain business cards, flyer and a company web presence in the form of a BLOG or web holding page for your business or product. Consider the overall branding of your company or product. The scope of this will be determined in consultation with your tutors.

You must create an individual DEVELOPMENT BLOG as part of this submission and this must include all of your development work.

For this element of the project, you are expected to work as an individual. You are allowed to work in teams of two but you must get this approved by the module leader to make sure that each student produces the appropriate amount of work.

2 Presenting Your Company (week beginning 2nd May and 9^th May)

The final presentation will take the form of a pitch during which you will be expected to present your company or product idea. This stage should be considered to be your entry in to the BBC television show format Dragon’s Den. You should treat your presentation as a pitch for funding during which you should be prepared to answer questions about your business proposition and it’s potential for success.

You will be required to upload your presentation visual aids and the development work onto your DEVELOPMENT Blog.

Assessment Criteria and Weighting

Part 2:

Written Business Plan, Marketing and Promotional Materials

All written work should be word processed and presented in an appropriate, professional manner. Your business should demonstrate an understanding of the market and competition and how your product or business will successfully fit into this marketplace. The content of the business plan is important, but you must also consider the presentation. The marketing and promotional materials should be appropriate to your market as well as being creative and distinctive. You should present the final promotional materials in a professional manner, including your development work too.

All of your development work should be contained in a Research Blog.

Part 3:

Presenting Your Company

Your pitch should be clear, concise and should also attract the panel to want to invest in or support your company or product idea. You should aim to make your pitch as interesting as possible whilst retaining a high level of professionalism and enthusiasm. You will have 10 minutes [including questions] to deliver your final pitch and you should use a technique that allows you to present to a large audience with clarity. You will be required to submit your presentation visual aids and the development work to show how the visual aids and your script etc. were developed.

A digital copy of your pitch should be uploaded to your development blog.