If you're tired of working on the same mind-numbing projects, this presentation will who you how you can present projects to get them approved within your current company.

1. How to Pitch Projects
&
Get them Funded
Femgineer Forum
#femgineerforum
...
Sponsored by: Upstart
February 26, 2014
Poornima Vijayashanker
poornima@femgineer.com
@poornima
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2. Format
Brief talk on strategies to help you level-up
• Breakout session to practice strategies
• Presentations to get feedback
•
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3. Agenda
Why is it important to pitch your idea?
• Where do find resources?
• How do you pitch an idea?
• Breakout session
•
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4. My story: I got tired maintaining code...
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5. We’re not going to focus on:
Negotiating for a raise.
Funding from investors.
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6. “I’m stuck working on a mindnumbing project...”
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7. 7

8. “But I’m probably going to get
rejected...”
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9. Why YOU Should Pitch Projects
1. You become the owner!
2. Fast-track to getting promoting!
3. It’s an important ingredient for being considered
“senior” level employee.
4. Because that’s what employers want!
9

10. Product
based
projects
Events
Training
or
Conferences
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11. Assumed Constraints
1. You feel like you are stuck on current work.
2. Your idea will get rejected.
3. You don’t have the resources you need: time, a
team, a budget.
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12. Give up...
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13. Wasted Energy
1.Worrying about getting rejected.
2.Worrying about being perfect.
3.Worrying about the outcomes.
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14. How much time is that in total?!
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15. What if you spent that time coming up
with strategies to get approved?
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16. Start by thinking about how to
incentivize and motivate others.
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17. ?
This is not about ASKing for permission.
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18. This is about presenting an opportunity
that is mutually beneficial.
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19. Leverage
Risk
Ask
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20. What happens when you just ASK?
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21. REJECTED
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22. Do you know why?
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23. RISK
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24. Have to warm people up...
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25. Bite-Sized Sales...
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26. ASK for time.
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27. ASK for feedback.
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28. ASK for objections.
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29. Understand the levels of approval.
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30. LEVERAGE
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31. Need to find alignment.
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32. Need to a clear plan in place with
benefits that translate back to the
boss AND bottom-line.
$$$
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33. Huh?!
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34. State current problem.
How BIG is the current problem?
(time, $, quality)
What is the proposed solution?
How will it be rolled-out?
What is the ROI?
Answer objections.
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35. When can we get started?!
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36. We’ve changed our mind...
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37. State current problem.
How BIG is the current problem?
(time, $, quality)
What is the proposed solution?
How will it be rolled-out?
What is the ROI?
Answer objections.
37

38. Review
Why is it important to pitch your idea?
• Where do find resources?
• How do you pitch an idea?
• Breakout session
•
38

39. Next Forum!
Gumroad
March 13, 2014
Visit meetup.com/femgineers
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40. Want to host a forum at your company?
Contact: justin@femgineer.com
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41. New Courses for Spring 2014!
Confident Communicator
Web Product Development
Lean Product Development
Visit femgineer.com/learn
Mentoring
Visit femgineer.com/mentoring
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42. Get our book!
How to Transform Your Ideas into
Software Products
https://gumroad.com/l/transform-ideas-into-products
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43. Q&A
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44. Breakout Session!
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45. BREAK OUT SESSION
KEY OBJECTIVE(S)
AGENDA
Get comfortable
identifying coming up
with your list of needs,
expressing it, gauging
culture, and the
opportunity.
30 minutes Get into groups of ~5 people.
1. Introduce yourself to the group.
2. Go through handout
3. Group exercise
4. Individual exercise
5. Present & receive feedback
DELIVERABLE
Short presentation
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