# Tips pitching to giants as an undiscovered inventor in a new field **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 19, 2019, 9:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-pitching-to-giants-as-an-undiscovered-inventor-in-a-new-field/828040 "2019-01-19T09:16:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2019, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-pitching-to-giants-as-an-undiscovered-inventor-in-a-new-field/828040/61 "2019-01-20T18:29:08Z")
There is something called a minimal viable product that you should research. If you are pitching to VCs, you need to either have a prior history of sellable ideas OR you need to demonstrate a working prototype. The point people are trying to get across to you is that people won’t pay for vision. They want a tangible product. You also need a business plan and a concrete ask. Business plans are a lot of work, but they demonstrate that you understand your industry and your market, as well as exactly what you need to get started. They should include a timeline, such as 6 months to beta product, 18 months to full launch. You remind me very much of people who approach authors and say “I’ve got a great idea. You write and we’ll split the proceeds.” The idea is FAR from the hardest part of the process. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2019, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-pitching-to-giants-as-an-undiscovered-inventor-in-a-new-field/828040/62 "2019-01-20T18:49:35Z")
I’m my experience people who actually **are** ‘all that’, have zero patience for those loudly proclaiming themselves to be ‘all that’! Also, most people who really are ‘all that’ find others beating a path to them, not themselves, fighting to get inside the tent. Few things are as off putting to gatekeepers as persons arrogant enough to believe they deserve a seat at the table solely on their opinion of themselves. It’s sure not gonna be easy, wishing you Good Luck! ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2019, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-pitching-to-giants-as-an-undiscovered-inventor-in-a-new-field/828040/63 "2019-01-20T19:00:39Z")
> [@squish7](#): > > This doesn’t 100% have to to take the form of me declaring my own company; Now I’m seeing Michael Scott walking into the middle of a room and saying “_I declare my own **companyyyyy** _!” > [@](#): > > What if I have, let’s say, blueprints for an XR glove-controller, something physical that fits right in with the spirit of patenting. Do you have the specific electronics that control it and the imbeded sensors, down to circuit diagrams and part numbers? Because if you don’t have that, you ain’t got shit. > [@](#): > > It’s like they refrain: a 100% perfect simulation of reality would be indistinguishable from reality itself. XR is our gateway to the Matrix. Too bad we are a very, very, very long way from that, then. Humans have more than two senses. ([We also have more than five](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=862571).) ---
**Author:** ![lingyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@lingyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lingyi)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2019, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-pitching-to-giants-as-an-undiscovered-inventor-in-a-new-field/828040/64 "2019-01-20T19:26:10Z")
@Squish7 If you haven’t already, I highly suggest you do a patent search for some of your ideas. Just because it hasn’t been implemented yet doesn’t mean that someone else hasn’t already thought of and patented it yet. Particularly Intellectual Property patents as this is one of the things you’ll be asked about if you pitch your idea to someone. ---
**Author:** ![Walton\_Firm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/45deac/32.png) [@Walton\_Firm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walton_Firm)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2019, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-pitching-to-giants-as-an-undiscovered-inventor-in-a-new-field/828040/65 "2019-01-20T19:31:22Z")
> [@squish7](#): > > Fine, if you think I put my skillset/mindset in an egotistical manner, then I’m open to suggestion on how to rephrase things in a non-narcissistic manner. I’m listening, really; how would you suggest I put the skillset/mindset/braintype of creating extremely new things and significantly changing the way things are done. Should I use the term “disruptive technology”? Is that okay or do you think that also sounds arrogant? I’m afraid there isn’t really a non-narcissistic-sounding way to claim that you have world-bending levels of creative abilities, without giving a single example of you actually demonstrating those abilities. (You seem to be very worried about being criticized for “link spamming”, but surely a _single_ good example of your prior work would have been OK?) But you could have tried something like this: > [@](#): > > I am a smart and creative person, but I have ADD and a bunch of other psychological quirks which make it difficult for me to hold down a regular nine-to-five job or to work my way up the ladder at a regular large corporation. I do, however, believe that my creativity and ability to think outside the box would be very valuable under the right circumstances. > > In particular, I have been thinking a lot about the emerging field of XR. I am very excited about this field and have a lot of ideas on what could be done with this new technology. I would love an opportunity to pitch those ideas to somebody who might know how to get me a role in getting them implemented, but I don’t currently have any contacts in that field. > > I am 39 years old and have done a variety of other things in the past; most notable and relevant is [insert two or three sentences describing your work on the parkour thing here]. However, so far I have not yet achieved much in the way of very notable accomplishments in this or any other field. [Here](http://www.example.com) is an example of what I consider my most impressive work so far. > > What would be a good way for someone with my particular combination of quirks and strong points, to get in contact with people working in this field and to get a chance to work on implementing my ideas? In this example, I’m still allowing you to claim an above-average level of intelligence and creativity, but I’ve removed all mentions of world-bending, industry-redefining levels of genius, since there’s just no way to be taken seriously as a pseudonymous message board poster with such a claim if you don’t have the track record to back it up. I’ve also included a couple of relevant details which you omitted from your OP and which we had to draw out of you in subsequent posts. I also made the question more open-ended, not specifically asking how to pitch your ideas to the giants in the field, but simply describing the situation and asking for advice on where to go from that starting point. Yes, that means that you’ll get a lot of advice on how to start at the bottom of the ladder, while you believe yourself to be the kind of person who would make a great CEO but isn’t suitable for entry-level or mid-level positions. Sorry, but getting hired straight into a CEO position is just not going to happen – or at least, if you _were_ the kind of vanishingly rare genius who has a shot at making that happen, you wouldn’t be asking for career advice from random strangers on a message board. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2019, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-pitching-to-giants-as-an-undiscovered-inventor-in-a-new-field/828040/66 "2019-01-20T19:46:38Z")
> [@squish7](#): > > People in physics and mathematics have won nobel-prizes for algorithms and formulas; something doesn’t have to be a working prototype to be valuable and influential. Let’s analyse why you can win prizes in those fields. Yes, a mathematician can produce a rigorous proof showing a discovery in mathematics. Maths is entirely like that - but almost every other field isn’t. A physicist can propose a theory, but it needs evidence to be accepted. (Sometimes the theory is only proven decades later when technology allows this.) As I understand it, you have interesting ideas for software. Well you need to have written something that works in order to interest businessmen into paying for it. Have you got such a program? In case you’re interested, I’m a professional chess coach and have had chess columns in national newspapers. It was quite hard to prove I’m qualified for all this (since my ability is all in my head, so to speak.) I first achieved a high rating at chess, then started coaching colleagues in my chess club. Gradually I picked up more pupils. Eventually I passed an exam to qualify as a National Chess Coach. As for the writing, I began with articles in the local paper. It helped that I was well-known by my National Chess Federation, who were able to recommend me when the newspapers were looking for a chess columnist. My point is that I could prove to other people what I was capable of - and you need to do the same. Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![Ramira](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ramira/32/344_2.png) [@Ramira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ramira)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2019, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-pitching-to-giants-as-an-undiscovered-inventor-in-a-new-field/828040/67 "2019-01-20T19:48:13Z")
for this > [@squish7](#): > > You could opt for a positive attitude with a similar line of thinking; instead of saying I’m obsessed You are getting feedback as to how you come across in repeated communication. It is not up to the audience to change the perception. Arguing with those making the observations, ziod, myself others only reinforces the impression. > [@](#): > > Maybe there are things you’re not being rational about, and you need to work on your communication with others. I am sure there are. but I am not trying to find ways to pitch a certain idea here. > [@](#): > > You think that accusations I don’t work hard aren’t hurtful personal attacks? No such statement was made or even implied. I have no idea if you work hard or not - and I have not commented on this. Critical observatoin on the not successful communication style and poor responses to modest critical feedback are not personal attacks, they are observations that the impression left is not positive relative to your stated objectives. > [@](#): > > We can BOTH say “Well we’re not communciating well, let’s understand each other better” This is a lesson for you - if you wish to attract the positive attention and engagement from the parties you say you wish to get in touch with drop the idea they have any interest or any obligation to “understand you” better. There is no obligation for a dialogue, so you should address the first-impression and understand you need to meet their interest, not yours. You give the strong impression you do not truly understand that. The 2014 thread is an example again where the response to critical clarification and challenge to your conception was met by argumentiveness and personalization of the feedback. This leaves a negative impression. > [@](#): > > your defamation of me to innocentize and superioritize yourself. I note that I make no claims about myself - it is instructive that you have created this interpretation for yourself. I would suggest it is not a positive approach to interpret a critical feedback or observation as the other person defaming you and making themselves superior (although it can be guessed it is an internal sentiment), and will not gain you success in convincing others to engage with you over the longer term. > [@](#): > > to accept the reality that you’re engaging in discussion/interaction with someone who has a very different braintype than you do; In the context of trying to obtain interest and support for your project, it is fully 100% your obligation to communicate successfully, not the audience’s to understand or care about any ‘different brain type’ you may have. This is not to be mean to you - it is the reality. No one controlling the money will give any fucks about your personal arguments and explanations - if you truly wish to take a lesson, it is understanding you need to learn to make a clear, very rapidly understandable presentation that meets their needs and in their methods of analysis and accept that feedbacks in the process of the partnering or the fund raising will not often be made in a friendly-coaching attitude. ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2019, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-pitching-to-giants-as-an-undiscovered-inventor-in-a-new-field/828040/68 "2019-01-20T19:54:12Z")
Another piece of advice- you’ll need to grow a much thicker skin. You have called out several posts as “defaming” you, when that clearly isn’t the case. You asked for advice and are bristling if it’s not flattering in tone. Ramira gave her perspective as someone involved in investment- and even though it was not attacking you in any way, you declared it to be defamatory. You may see yourself as an industry disrupting, world bending super creative genius- but we have only your words to go by, and you told us you can’t handle drudge work, you have no credentials or successes to point to, and you excel in coming up with exciting ideas but… No successes or work history to point indicates you can’t (or don’t) follow through on your exciting, enticing notions. Noting that isn’t defamatory, nor is explaining certain red flags to investors -even if you personally find it insulting, it’s nowhere near defamation. Throwing around words like that, or dismissing “prior art” in the context of patents, is simply going to make investors run away. ---
**Author:** ![Macca26](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/13edae/32.png) [@Macca26](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Macca26)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2019, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-pitching-to-giants-as-an-undiscovered-inventor-in-a-new-field/828040/69 "2019-01-20T20:25:52Z")
As a person working my ass off completing projects and still going unnoticed, because that’s how the world actually works, I’m having a grand laugh at **squish7** ’s delusions. Dude, get some medication. You’ve admitted you have crippling ADHD, and it absolutely shows. You don’t seem to have finished a thing in your life, and think that if you throw enough things at the wall, that’ll eventually make up for it. It won’t, and it never will. You’re flaky, you’re delusional, you’re narcissistic, and you’re lazy (though some of these can be fixed by properly balancing your brain chemistry, so it’s not really an inherent “you” thing). Come back once you’ve poured some of your money into fixing your brain. It’s time to come to grips with the fact that no matter how unfair you think the world is or you think “should” work a different way, it doesn’t, and you’re going to have to shape yourself to the world rather than the other way around. That’s simply a fact. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2019, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-pitching-to-giants-as-an-undiscovered-inventor-in-a-new-field/828040/70 "2019-01-20T20:42:41Z")
OP, are you diagnosed bi-polar? I think you are in a manic state at the moment. People like this often have grand and magnificent ideas that are clearly delusions to people with brain chemistry in the normal range. IMHO, only. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2019, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-pitching-to-giants-as-an-undiscovered-inventor-in-a-new-field/828040/71 "2019-01-20T22:18:16Z")
> [@squish7](#): > > (snip)Why do people on SD unfairly project grandeur onto me when I talk about having a radically creative mindset? If you think there’s a purely neutral, factual way to relay my type of braintype/skillset that isn’t going to insult and offend you, say so now or forever hold your peace. I don’t think the same way other people do; my brain is extremely atypical chemically. (Can I say “extremely atypical”?) Squishes 1 through 6 would like a word with you about your radically creative mindset. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2019, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-pitching-to-giants-as-an-undiscovered-inventor-in-a-new-field/828040/72 "2019-01-21T00:14:26Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > OP, are you diagnosed bi-polar? I think you are in a manic state at the moment. People like this often have grand and magnificent ideas that are clearly delusions to people with brain chemistry in the normal range. IMHO, only. **squish7** has said he’s schizoaffective. Mania and delusions are symptoms of schizoaffective disorder: > [@National Alliance on Mental Illness](#): > > Schizoaffective disorder is a chronic mental health condition characterized primarily by symptoms of schizophrenia, such as hallucinations or delusions, and symptoms of a mood disorder, such as mania and depression. ---
**Author:** ![Ace309](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ace309/32/1050_2.png) [@Ace309](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ace309)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2019, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-pitching-to-giants-as-an-undiscovered-inventor-in-a-new-field/828040/73 "2019-01-21T00:34:43Z")
> [@squish7](#): > > Thanks for answering! My next post will be about my past work; maybe that will be more productive. Looking forward to this. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2019, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-pitching-to-giants-as-an-undiscovered-inventor-in-a-new-field/828040/74 "2019-01-21T00:41:48Z")
> [@squish7](#): > > First, thank you for your advice/thoughts. About patenting: what more exactly are you saying I shouldn’t try to patent? XR software? What if I have, let’s say, blueprints for an XR glove-controller, something physical that fits right in with the spirit of patenting. Do you think even in that case, I shouldn’t pursue patenting? What about a gray area like mathematical algorithms that deal with physical movement? That’s a tricky area. Hardware might require a patent. If you try to patent what is basically an algorithm the patent attorney will write it up as applied to a specific piece of hardware - which could be a computer. There are two problems. First, it is hard to determine that your algorithmic patent has been violated. Second, it is very expensive to fight a patent battle, and you will be probably going against a big company with patent attorneys on staff. And unless you’ve built your business into something big, the rewards you get, even if you win, aren’t going to be worth the fight. So most people use trade secrets, not patents. Of course, consult a patent attorney if you are still interested. A word of warning. The first thing anyone doing hardware design is told is to not look at the patent database to see if your invention might be violating a patent. It seems that knowingly violating a patent is much worse than unknowingly doing so, thus ignorance is bliss. The good news is that unless you are very successful no company is going to want to waste money suing you, though you might get threatened. I think that’s good news, at least. ---
**Author:** ![squish7](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squish7/32/104_2.png) [@squish7](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squish7)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2019, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-pitching-to-giants-as-an-undiscovered-inventor-in-a-new-field/828040/75 "2019-01-21T01:17:27Z")
I’m humbled by Walter’s rewrite of me, thank you, I will study it and consider shifting more toward that tone when I speak of myself. That said, the rest of this post addresses some of the negativity being directed at me… One thing I suggest a lot of you question is your religious holding to the history-squashed fallacy that you’re correct or moral or sane because you’re in a large group. People with 1% of your world-knowledge understand this basic principle, yet you allow it to run rabid through all your thinking processes. That you have nothing to learn from someone who you decide is beneath you is a kindergarten mathematical error. It’s the absolute and total epitome of arrogance; the nemesis of humility. It’s a disastrous irony that you have all this wisdom–which I do study constantly and continuously learn from–and yet not anywhere near enough to give you the tiniest hint of humility, at least not in this situation. (Of course, I’m not talking about the whole board.) Let’s say you’re in the right and I’m the disobedient, stubborn, delusional, mentally disabled, relatively useless delinquent you love making me out to be so much. Consider the following paradox: it’s a cliche refrain amongst the highest levels of successful entrepreneurship, that pessimism from friends and colleagues and the world in general, even from extremely knowledgeable people, had to be ignored in order to succeed. You need to respect how tricky a position it is for me to have to sift out the unhealthy cynicism in your attitudes–that professionals _ **above you** _ so to speak tell me I need to ignore–to get at the loads of _good_ advice you have to offer. …thought for the evening. I asked a moderator if I could post a full thread on my projects; it was a mixed answer. I’ll have a solution soon. I’ll say a big early thank you now to anyone who examines such for whatever purpose they do so… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2019, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-pitching-to-giants-as-an-undiscovered-inventor-in-a-new-field/828040/76 "2019-01-21T01:32:15Z")
Did you ask if you could link to a project in this thread, instead of starting a new one? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2019, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-pitching-to-giants-as-an-undiscovered-inventor-in-a-new-field/828040/77 "2019-01-21T01:33:05Z")
> [@raventhief](#): > > Another piece of advice- you’ll need to grow a much thicker skin. You have called out several posts as “defaming” you, when that clearly isn’t the case. You asked for advice and are bristling if it’s not flattering in tone. Ramira gave her perspective as someone involved in investment- and even though it was not attacking you in any way, you declared it to be defamatory. This bears repeating. If you really intend to pursue creative projects, you’re going to hear rejection from many, many people, no matter how good you think your ideas are. Nor how much time and effort you’ve spent in developing your projects. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2019, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-pitching-to-giants-as-an-undiscovered-inventor-in-a-new-field/828040/78 "2019-01-21T01:50:52Z")
> [@squish7](#): > > Consider the following paradox: it’s a cliche refrain amongst the highest levels of successful entrepreneurship, that pessimism from friends and colleagues and the world in general, even from extremely knowledgeable people, had to be ignored in order to succeed. [Carl Sagan has a famous quote about that](http://wiki.c2.com/?TheyLaughedAtEinstein). ---
**Author:** ![squish7](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squish7/32/104_2.png) [@squish7](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squish7)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2019, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-pitching-to-giants-as-an-undiscovered-inventor-in-a-new-field/828040/79 "2019-01-21T01:56:27Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > (snip) I think you are in a manic state at the moment. (snip) You absolutely I completely agree have cause to _suspect_ this, but there’s a critical difference between someone who says they can write a symphony in a day and has no ability to (delusion), and someone who actually can do it (reality). _Both_ can involve mania, but the latter is the fruitful kind. (It’s sad that so much negativity is directed at atypical brain chemistry when so much of it is time-tested to be of extreme use/benefit to society _under the right circumstances_, but that’s a topic for another thread.) I know I’ve never presented any proof I’m the fruitful kind of creativity; I’ll post my work soon, sorry for the delay!! ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2019, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-pitching-to-giants-as-an-undiscovered-inventor-in-a-new-field/828040/80 "2019-01-21T02:08:22Z")
> [@squish7](#): > > I think I may dedicate the rest of my life’s work to the newborn fields of Augmented Reality (AR) and Mixed Reality (MR), although the details of these fields aren’t vital to this thread. I hear RR is going to be big. Real big. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-pitching-to-giants-as-an-undiscovered-inventor-in-a-new-field/828040.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-pitching-to-giants-as-an-undiscovered-inventor-in-a-new-field/828040.md?page=5)