Startup Speakers is a public speaking group by entrepreneurs, for entrepreneurs.

The ability to communicate effectively is critical to starting and running a business, and it’s also a skill that can be improved with a little effort and practice. It’s fun once you get used to it, and being able to speak confidently in public opens the door to many opportunities. You too can be a brilliant, persuasive speaker if you work to improve your skills and receive the right feedback and coaching.

The idea is simple:

  1. The Startup Speakers group is free and meets each Tuesday at 6pm in San Francisco. The specific location is being nailed down now.
  2. Each week, some members give a prepared speech, others evaluate those talks, and the group will do some sort of improvisational exercise (e.g. Q&A)
  3. This is not a pitch group — it is designed to improve your speaking abilities in a sustainable way. But your ability to pitch will definitely improve if you participate.
  4. Guests can attend any meeting as long as they email in advance to make sure there is room: info (at) startupspeakers.org
  5. Members can give talks and receive coaching and evaluations for their speeches. The organizers of Startup Speakers will invite interested guests to join as members as room allows.
  6. The group is a cooperative, managed and run by it’s members.

The Startup Speakers group will meet weekly in San Francisco after work to improve our public speaking skills, then go out for dinner and beer. Our first meeting is slated for late April, 2010. We’re still finalizing our meeting space — if you are interested please send an email to dmarks (at) gmail.com and I’ll keep you in the loop.

Who are you and why are you doing this?

My name is David Marks, and I’m an entrepreneur in San Francisco. I’ve been on the founding team at a few startups, and I got my start as a software developer. I sucked at speaking in public. Even asking a question in a conference raised my heart rate.

Now, a few years later, I love the opportunity to speak in public. I have lost count of how many times I’ve pitched, presented, moderated, or been interviewed by journalists or analysts and I really enjoy this part of my job. What triggered the change? I decided to improve my speaking skills, joined a public speaking group, and learned some basic techniques. It wasn’t hard — anyone can do it with a little effort.

I hope I can help other entrepreneurs become amazing speakers, grow their companies, and have fun in the process.

Are you an entrepreneur interested in attending our first meeting later this month (April 2010)?

Great. Fill out this form and I’ll keep you in the loop on the meeting location and plans.

Best,

-David

info (at) startupspeakers.org

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