If you look up online the expression, "dog and pony show" you'll find a number of very different definitions, many of them negative. In this case we want to choose this more positive one: " a well-planned or elaborately orchestrated event, presentation, etc. intended to influence, impress, or gain support, as for a business proposal."

Each person should talk for between two and three minutes have three to five slides (go for a total of ten slides) to back themself up. Try to divide up the tasks. For example one person can focus on marketing, the other on finance and the third could give an overview of the product.

First form a partnership with two or three other students.  You and your partner(s) have started up a new company which has been relatively successful.   Now, after about 18 months in business it's time expand your business.  To do this you're going to make a presentation to a group of investors ("angels" or venture capitalists) with the goal of getting them to invest in your company. 

Working together with your team put together a short PowerPoint presentation for convincing a group of investors to invest in your imaginary new product. Remember this is a 'pitch', that is, "an attempt to win business from a customer, especially a sales presentation". Don't worry too much about your product or service. It can be anything imaginary, and you can make wild claims about what it is or can do.

Your presentation should be in total about four minutes per person long and should include as many points as possible which can be found by following these links:

business plan:

Business plan presentation and pitching

How to write a business plan in 6 minutes - template

templates:

Powerpoint Template for Venture Capital Pitch

here are some further links for particular ideas about financials and marketing including templates

And this link will take you to a real Silicon Valley entrepreneur and venture capitalist, Guy Kawasaki, who gives advice on a ten slide presentation for venture capitalists.

Practice tips on presenting skills can be found here.

Remember, you're not just giving a list of facts, but you're trying to convince investors to invest in your company.

Be ready to practice you presentation next class meeting in separate groups.Final power point presentations don't need to be finished, but you should have some of the slides at least sketched out on paper. We'll start presenting to the whole class the following week.