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The MSC Pre Seed Stage 2, Presentation

In my previous post, I mentioned that I have a presentation for the MSC Pre Seed Program.

The outcome was bad. I can safely say that we’re only 30% qualified for it, probably lower, considering the way they ganged on us.

I started my presentation as soon as the time keeper said go. We were only given 10 MINUTES to present everything. Our idea was big, an advertisement network like Google Ads + NuffNang and many likes of it. Throughout our presentation, these evaluators rarely looked me in the eye. It must be a dreadful day for them to sit and listen to others, but it was hell to me, I needed their attention more than anything else. 10 minutes je pon susah sgt ke?

The guy kept asking about our business model. (If you listen closely to what I presented, you know what I mean). Being the kinder me, I went through the same thing over. Listen lah, susah sgt ke?

I’m lost on the first page. I don’t expect this from MSC. NuffNang’s Timothy appeared twice in TechCentral (TheStar), once in Asiaweek and once in Times. Do they even read these articles? Do they even read blogs? Do they see the NuffNang or GoogleAds logo on almost every blog in Malaysia? Sila banyakkan membaca.

What is so compelling about your site? What makes you think you can attract people like me? Look, I said its for ADVERTISERS and WEB PUBLISHER, not for some lost web tourist. I’ve also mentioned in my SALES & MARKETING PLAN how to convert a client and attract a publisher.

If advertiser wants to get some ad space, they could use TheStar online. That is by far the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. What more, from MSC. First, TheStar advertisement is expensive and ONLY on one site. Whereas on our network, your ads will appear on many site. Of course I didn’t have the chance to explain that, that guy kept interrupting me.

If I were an advertiser, I should just contact the site owner and not you. Hello? Do you buy your fish from the fisherman or the supermarket? Please, do some thinking before stating anything.

You should actually pitch this idea to other businesses before hand. Dude, it’s called PRE-SEED, in Malay menyemai benih. Which in layman terms, PLANNING STAGE. You should’ve called it SEEDING Program if you want me to pitch before I engage with MSC.

I don’t foresee this to be a formidable and feasible business. Yeah, $51 Billion was spent in year 2007 globally, $37 Billion was spent in the first half of ’08, how do you not see this as a formidable business? Even if I were to capture, 0.0001% of that market share, isn’t that a huge cake (roughly $510k)?

I could just hire an SEO expert to raise my Google PageRank. Do you even know what GPR, Alexa Ranking, Technorati rank is? I don’t expect any layman to understand this, but MSC should. Negligence is the essence of vanity!

We like young entrepreneur, but you are too optimistic. You’re basically telling us off right? It’s ok. I see this as a challenge in life. It’ll be dreadful to be in your shoes, mid 30’s, holding on to your first job, less imaginative, less business sense, don’t really read, having problems to think before asking and lack of Vitamin B Complex (to help concentrate and focus). I’ll stick to being optimistic.

I did ask others of their project, mainly knowledge portals (wikipedia), Social Networking (facebook), SMS Gateways (Vierling), Online Press (Online news paper?), Tracking Device (GPS like?) and some electronic measuring tools. Oh well, good luck to you guys.

I would like to thank Iwani for her hints, it was helpful to know these nerds know nuts about web technology.

MSC people, if you came across this entry, I’d suggest to subscribe TechCrunch, eMarketer and CNET business. Also read TechCentral and other business magazines. PC Magazine doesn’t cut it anymore.

ps : I don’t care what you want to leave on my comment, just don’t be fucking rude.

pss : MSC people, seriously get the right people to be your evaluators. Presently, less imaginative. I don’t need people to gang-banged me, I just want them to listen and make the right call. Comments are unnecessary and should be refrained at all cost. 10 minutes is not enough to tell anything.

psss : I’ve edited this 3-4 times to lessen the negative energy. It’s now down to 20%, previously 98%… terkangkang and super offended la if MSC bace.

pssss : It’s been a while since I expressed my business POV.

By NoktahHitam

I am web developer, who's main concern is to save the trees. Nonetheless

48 replies on “The MSC Pre Seed Stage 2, Presentation”

*scan thru* *yawns* yeah, plis lah MSC ppl, listen to NH.. kena tembak nnt bru tau ➡

ps- let them have a piece of their own medicine.

pps- i dont quite understand half the post to be frank 😳

ppps- gnyte NH!

laila’s last blog post..hey Dr, remember me?

wahh sungguh awal cik simpan kira sampai ke ofis.

NH, nothing much to say, just good luck, ok.
be cool! :up:

it is hard to talk to bodoh sombong people. i think the guy do no even understand 10% of your presentation content judging from the questions he posed.

“If advertiser wants to get some ad space, they could use TheStar online. ”

I am totally with you bro, seriously how he end up in MSC again??? TheStar online is just one website, and it it farking expensive, for big companies, probably they have no problem splurging the money, how about start up companies? And he should know by now, many are boycotting TheStar, especially online community for the obvious reason.

The only downside (things to improve) if to advertise on many sites, those sites need to be good enough to attract the correct and targeted market. Just like NN and Adv, there are many sites promoting the ads, but the penetration to the correct market maybe not really that great. But this is something which is easily overcome/implemented in the business model. 🙂

“If I were an advertiser, I should just contact the site owner and not you.”

LOL! Jobstreet.com is still around and making tons on profit, so why people go to Jobstreet.com or any job agencies, instead of going knocking on every door of the companies they want to apply??

Sudahlah bodoh, then pekak. Bikin sakit hati man~!!!

ps: Vitamin B complex is good :up:

NN and Adv barrier overcome with the proposed business model, tapi, NN & Adv pon dorg tak kenal. So camne nak explain in 10 minutes?

Glad to know at least some people do understand though its just a brief vent of anger.

Bong, pergi apply keje kt MSC.

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Uiks.. nanti aku dikerumuni makhluk asing -dumb and retarded, I may end up become one of them 🙄 🙄 They really have no idea what is NN and Adv? And they work for MSC… 😡 😡

Eh, you just came back from Putrajaya? Amacam?

“If I were an advertiser, I should just contact the site owner and not you. ”

this question was a really, really stupid one.

“If advertiser wants to get some ad space, they could use TheStar online.”
this, too.

aiyo. *faints*

but this one…
“We like young entrepreneur, but you are too optimistic.”

OMFG! I hate these kind of people. I hate it. It’s like telling a kid who wants to be a successful bussinessman that he’s better off being a fisherman like his dad. I don’t know what to say, but I just can’t stand the people who have this kind of mindset. sebab orang macam ni lah, negara tak maju.

I can see why you were fucking mad. i hope that you are cool now. 😉

Aisyah’s last blog post..Tingkap Kaca

Yo eddie, Relax pal. We did our best already on the presentation day. Just pray that god might open up their minds and see the reality of the business plan. They might have misjudge us. [Effort + Tawakal + Prayer = Success]
:up: 😉

U know what I thk of msc? Ppl w 3rd class mentality but nak 1st class results. Based on wht I observed bg thr

salam bro..aku rase mamat msc tu mmg tak paham pape n just being such ignorance..
ape la susah sgt for 10 minutes listen to the ideas n then baru la nk tanye or argue on ur business plan..at least paham even they are not interested..
Nways bro,keep the good work n be optimistic!

tell you what, mamat dkt msc tu mmg mcm haram sket. time kami present die bukan pay attention pun. so in the end, tanye benda yg sama balik. how to understand the real idea.

betul tu linie, this fella mmg mcm ni la. They think that they are good enough. eh, hye how are you? long time no news huh? you are more mature now I guess. 🙂

Baru tahu camni rupanya perangai orang yang interview kat MSC. Aku yang membaca ni pun jadi geram, apatah lagi orang yang merasainya, huhu..

Apa-apa pun bro, harap cepat tenang.. ^_^

I feel how you feel, I went to a technopreneuer fund and its nerve wrecking to have 17 evaluators in front of you. They ask silly questions like …wah, you berani ya, seorang perempuan datang sendiri? But anyways I went ahead with my presentation and they shot me down right away saying that I have develop the project and do not need the fund anyways. Hello I develop phase 1, at least there is something to show and its working. Well anyways I did not get it and really wondering what all these technofund for if they did not take a chance to rreally understand what the project is all about? As a techpreneur in mind and spirit, keep it up, one day we will be laughing our way to the bank. 👿

Perhaps, you should re-apply again. Thats what I did, just reapplied again and had a better committee. The 1st time I applied, it was also rough, no one to wish u good afternoon, just said ” You have 10 mins, go now” Then halfway rang the bell, “5 more mins”, then “Times-up” You can go!

I came out cursing and mumbling. Similar to your case, we had to repeat a lot of things and there was this guy who didnt understand anything and kept asking “irrelevant”questions, they dont look at you, they dont want 2 talk 2 u, they dont want 2 shake your hand. Dont expect it!
Went back and 1 week later, COMPLETE REJECT! @ Least u got another chance!
Thought about it, reapplied again. Results- err…tell u later hehe…

Here are some tips.
1. U need to pitch the idea to a REAL customer. Get video responses of the customer or a written agreement that they ll look @ ur solution. Then bring it up during the interview
2. MARKETING IS THE KEY! Be firm with your pricing, and your market. E.g. Average revenue per ad, per click, per view etc.
3. PRACTICE! REHEARSE 10 mins sharp sharp. Its enough! Overseas VC=5 mins. ELEVATOR SPEECH! Read the back of the application. If software, the requirement is:-
a. Uniqueness
b. Global marketability
4. Consult someone in the ad industry about your idea. Tell the committee, you have gotten a POSITIVE response from the advertising industry.
5. 5 slides,
1st slide Current Prob
2nd slide Solution
3rd slide Sales Strategy
4th Slide Revenue model
5th Slide What you need

Hope these tips help. Otherwise, drop by my blog and leave a comment, will gladly help. Cheers

p.s the answer 2 the advertiser can go directly 2 site owner is:- yes they can, but its just one site, wouldnt it be better if they go through me and I ll distribute it to 100 sites?

So much frustration here… I was asked this question for my interviews: “Since you got such great ideas, why aren’t your competitors are doing it?” I stunt there and unable to answer this question. However, i believe most of the evaluators are not IT geeks. you will have to present to them in their language. same goes to VC’s. VC’s does not know what you are doing. they don’t know websites nor IT. they just want fact and figures that your proposal worth the value to invest.

chhor’s last blog post..Basic Tips and Guidelines for applying ICT Funding in Malaysia

NH bro,

I really feel for you man. Yes, I can imagine that they weren’t even half bothered with your project or that it may have been slipped in onto their desk at the very last minute (read: 5 minutes before presentation). Chances are, they might have forgotten all about you before you came in through that door with your team?

The saddest thing I have to concur with is the fact that they of all people should at least ask some RELATED questions. Forget sensible, they are trained to ask some of the most ridiculous questions to discourage you yes… but at least, please be related to the topic at hand. It’s completely rubbish I tell you.

Imagine a person standing next to you while you are eating your lunch; a plate filled with rice and veggies “Eating rice ah?” How the hell are you supposed to respond to that? “Erm, I’m eating a combo meal?”

Naivety doesn’t even come close to describing what these officers are like, and I am very sorry to hear that you had to go through all that. It’s like they were tearing down your fort in some online game without even trying to go through you first, or letting you shoot some bullets back. Clearly it got one-sided from the beginning.

Even I would have at least some tact to continue with the presentation and turn you down some weeks later after “reviewing” your work properly. Guess their “busy” schedule doesn’t allow for them to do so.

Whatever it is… hang tough man. S**t happens, but I guess the only thing we can do is pick ourselves up and head into another room for another round of verbal abuse. Heh~

Cheers.

thanks!

But you know, after all this. It wont really stop me from trying again. I will get this is right no matter how many times it’ll take me. Most probably, I’m going to get Venture capitalist for this project but I’m still looking at other options.

These people.. I guess they really dont have the luxury of time to go through the technicalities. All they care is whether this will be profitable or not. I guess I dont have the right formula to fish for attention that day. My fault really.

The keyword here is, TRY AGAIN. At least I tried and failed rather than fail to try.

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