Interview with David Narr – Corporate Coach at GENILEM
David Narr is a corporate coach at GENILEM, where he gives startups innovative advice. Read in the interview what his tips for young entrepreneurs are.
1. Since when are you working for GENILEM? Where you born with the ability to be a professional coach?
I have been working for with GENILEM for 4 years. No, I do not really think this is an ability you are born with. It can be learned through experience and specific techniques. But the empathy and sociability – key characteristics in my field – people are normally born with.
2. You are supporting the semi-finalists of the Swiss Startups Awards by helping them prepare their “pitch”. Can you explain the concept and importance of pitching?
To hold a great pitch is an art and can really make the difference in such a competition. In my experience, even if the jury had doughts when reading the business plan, the jury can reevaluate your project after a great pitch.
The aim of pitching to share the passion for one’s project, prove the credibility of the project and show that there is a market for the product or service. It’s all about convincing that the project vision is marketable.
3. What was the biggest challenge you faced in your career up till now?
To start my own company: This was a very enriching experience, especially making it become a great success story. In particular it was a challenge to start a company with a conceptual innovation and not a technological innovation. We needed a lot of persuasion skills to win our customers confidence.
4. Which methods do you work with to provide your consulting services?
We ask lots of questions so that the start-up presenter starts rethinking their speech and way of presenting. The goal is to prevent them from resting on their laurels.
We use various tools that we provide the project teams with, but we try to keep each pitch as unique and independent as possible.
5. What advice would you give our start-ups to be well prepared?
Make a good plan and practice the presentation so that it can be presented as natural as possible. Reading off a paper during the presentation is a sign that you do not know your stuff. Most importantly have fun!
