Startupfest 2014 - "The human species connects virtually trillions of times a day. We’re rushing to colonize a second, online world, one we share with colleagues, family, friends, and complete strangers. Yet this inexorable move to digital connectivity hasn’t removed our very real need to connect face-to-face. We travel around the globe to share a meal; we fly across a continent to cement a business relationship with a handshake. We take in conference speakers at events rather than on the screens of our computers. Industries have recognized this. Proponents of teleworking are calling their employees back to the office, realizing that there’s simply no substitute for physical presence. What does this mean for startups? In this break-out session building on her keynote talk, join Margaret Dawson and look at why the killer app for our digital era may just be human contact."

1. Margaret Dawson
@seattledawson
Why Digital Handshakes
will never replace the
Real Thing

2. Human Contact is the Killer App

3. Online is just inherent

4. We respond to digital signals

5. Then why are you here?

6. No app can truly replace
human interaction

7. What does that mean for
your startup?

8. What are human signals?

9. When do you need
human signals?

10. Networking

11. Product validation

12. Manufacturing

13. Partnerships
is there trust?

14. Banking

15. Investors

16. Hiring

17. Employee relations

18. Customer
support When email and
FAQs are not
enough

19. Product Walk Throughs
Watching folks use your product at every stage and with
new features is painful but awesome

20. Customer & Partner Councils
Analytics & surveys only tell you so much

21. Board Meetings
Need to share the pain & successes

22. Analysts & Press

23. Demand
Generation

24. M&A
Many,
many in
person
meetings.

26. It’s hard
It’s scary
It makes you
vulnerable

28. Practice

29. Test it on friendlies

30. Don’t stop after “no”

31. Be Agile !

32. Wear the right clothes

33. Smile

34. Hire someone to do it

35. Be you!

36. Thank You
margaretd@rivaliq.com
@seattledawson