Shark Tank But Make It A Sauna (Also No Money)
Hey there! 👋
The world is awash with cookie-cutter happy hours in a too-loud bar. This is a pitch event in a sauna at Chris Tolles' house in West Cambridge. Come hang!
What? 🧖
Please join for the world's first ever* climate startup pitch competition in Chris Tolles' sauna. The sauna holds four people. Three will be climate investors. One will be a founder making their case for a world-changing climate startup.
Everybody else (you?!?!?) will be chilling in the yard next to the sauna. There will likely be a campfire and snacks and drinks. It will be chill and fun and casual. There's no money to win. There will be a dope mystery prize.
Each founder will first get a warm-up practice pitch (2 mins, no notes) to attendees in the yard. Then it's into the sauna! For another 2 min pitch. We'll run this on a "rolling basis" of practice pitch --> sauna pitch. Every ~3 pitches the investors will swap out of the sauna. You know, for safety.
Every time a founder leaves the sauna we will cheer for them ecstatically.
The sauna (and plunge tub!) are available to regular attendees in between pitches! So make sure you bring a bathing suit or similar. It's easiest if you wear it to the event, but there will be fully private changing facilities inside Chris' house if you need.
Who? 👪
You! Please.
We've gotten early commitments from some amazing Boston-area climate VCs and experienced founders like Christina #1 (Lowercarbon), Christina #2 (Timescale), Ryan (AccelR8), Teddy (First Star), Will (Resolute Methane), and Dan (Activate).
These folks will be judges among others to be confirmed, and founders who are pitching and general attendees alike will sign up here via Luma.
We'll prioritize climate investors and founders for the attendee list, but anyone is welcome. The yard is only so big so there will be an attendance cap and a waiting list. There are three ways to attend:
As a founder making a pitch,
As an investor judging pitches, joining your colleagues named above, and
As a founder, investor, or something else just attending for fun. This will be most of the group, tbc!
The Luma RSVP interface will ask you what kind of attendee you are. The overwhelming majority of attendees won't be pitching or judging, so if that's your interest, sounds great! You'll just be enjoying yourselves at a lovely yard party.
When? 🗓️
We'll get started at 7PM on Tues, May 5 and go as long as party vibes persist. The pitches will prob happen ~8-9PM.
Where? 🗺️
Chris lives in West Cambridge near Fresh Pond. It's an easy Uber or you can take the bus direct from Harvard Sq. The address will be shared once you're approved to attend. There's free street parking which technically requires a parking pass but it's rarely enforced.
There will be bathrooms inside the house for changing, but if possible I'd put on your bathing suit prior to reduce the demand on the bathroom.
* unconfirmed
By registering for this event, you agree to share your registration information with the organizers of Boston Climate Week.