Fire Side Chat With Paul - 9 Sept

[Ekh]

Given the Forbes interview and the AMA session, any bets whether this actually goes an hour without technical difficulties?

It didn't. They had jiggly camera, sound glitches, and one off-mike audience question (wasn't supposed to be off-mike). And nobody got that blasted coffee cup out of there while cutting away to something else. They needed at least one more camera to capture audience reaction, and they needed a tripod for the camera they did have. Amateur night -- yet again.

 

[bowers baldwin]

I thought he looked tired, out-of-shape, and a little wired

You're describing everyone I work with...

 

[WilliamH]

It didn't. They had jiggly camera, sound glitches, and one off-mike audience question (wasn't supposed to be off-mike). And nobody got that blasted coffee cup out of there while cutting away to something else. They needed at least one more camera to capture audience reaction, and they needed a tripod for the camera they did have. Amateur night -- yet again.

Interesting thing was, one of the early shots showed a camera setup on a tripod over on the side of the room Paul was on. From the angles they shot the interview at that must have been the main camera. As far as the "blasted coffee cup", maybe he's getting some kickback from Starbucks for product placement?

 

[RUCRAYZE]

I thought he looked tired, out-of-shape, and a little wired

You're describing everyone I work with...

Could it be????

 

[Rickb]

Comment: It was interesting to learn about the two "first" engines. Also, Paul has GOT to be coached on professionalism in front of the camera. That coffee cup was a disgrace, and, being white in color, (where it wasn't stained) drew attention away from Paul to the cup.

Finally, we heard once again about the mysterious "additional paths" to funding. I thought the "I don't have time to explain them" line was, to put it mildly, disingenuous (that means deliberately misleading, but not outright lying). It comes across as being coy on a matter of fundamental importance. If he can't say what they are, he should just say WHY he can't say and be done with it.

I said previously to let Paul be Paul. After watching that interview I asked myself the question, "would I give the man $30 + million dollars to manage?" I now agree that he needs coaching or he needs to hire a spokesperson. The coffee could at least be in a clean official Elio insulated coffee mug.

Fundraiser Idea: Selling Coffee while on tour and at various media events.

 

[AriLea]

I said previously to let Paul be Paul. After watching that interview I asked myself the question, "would I give the man $30 + million dollars to manage?" I now agree that he needs coaching or he needs to hire a spokesperson. The coffee could at least be in a clean official Elio insulated coffee mug.

Fundraiser Idea: Selling Coffee while on tour and at various media events.

Yes, they don't like to spend money, always been that way. Even Jerome isn't super good in a camera. They have always expected the car to sell itself, by word of mouth mostly, and it has. Get that P5 done! :-)

 

[Ekh]

I thought Paul did a great job of sounding like he really understood the capital markets, and that he really did have a long view of how Elio would succeed in the long run. I felt a lot of confidence in his vision, passion, and commitment. So I'm going to disagree with RickB about "would I give this man $30 million," etc. But I really wish he'd clean up his act on camera. It's important. Appearances are everything, and a put-together, non-slob, not too geeky appearance would instill as much confidence as anything he actually says.

 

[bowers baldwin]

Image is important, would you give these guys 290 billion??

 

[Buckeyejake]

It's the Microsoft gang. The leader is in the bottom left hand corner.

 

[Rickb]

I thought Paul did a great job of sounding like he really understood the capital markets, and that he really did have a long view of how Elio would succeed in the long run. I felt a lot of confidence in his vision, passion, and commitment. So I'm going to disagree with RickB about "would I give this man $30 million," etc. But I really wish he'd clean up his act on camera. It's important. Appearances are everything, and a put-together, non-slob, not too geeky appearance would instill as much confidence as anything he actually says.

I didn't say he didn't sound knowledgeable or didn't have the ability to manage venture capital, but rather as you say "appearances are everything" particularly to big money venture capital investors. I didn't even answer my own question.