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Unread 12-12-2014, 01:31
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Whippet Whippet is offline
MIT Class of 2020
AKA: Luis Trueba
FRC #4301 (New Tech Narcissists)
Team Role: Alumni
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
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Re: Team 5700 Help us!

This thread contains a boatload of useful tips without which my team would not have continued to exist today. You still have a month to gather funds, assuming that you have already received an extension to the fundraising deadline. That being said, my tips for your specific situation are as follows:
  1. Reach out to local banks or credit unions to get a loan. This will allow you to register and compete without needing to raise all the money at once. Your regional director may be able to help with this through your regional FIRST orginazation.
  2. Prepare a sponsor packet full of information about your team, what you do, and the benefits of sponsoring your team. Mail this out to every business you can think of, and then some.
  3. Follow up those packet mailings with a phone call. Try to arange for an in-person meeting, as it is far harder for a potential sponsor to turn one down.
  4. ENSURE THAT EVERY TEAM MEMBER IS WELL VERSED IN FIRST AND ITS BENEFITS. Ensure that they can answer virtually any question a potential sponsor coult possibly throw at them.

Finally, one thing stood out to me from your GoFundMe page was your video. I understand your desire to express your enthusiasm for the program, but the f-bomb can be a huge turn-off to many sponsors. I would edit the video so that the offending word is no longer in it, or use one of the amazing promotional videos produced by FIRST. They are a very great start for little effort on your part.

If you're having trouble getting sponsors to even respond, keep reaching out to them through as many methods as possible. If that doesn't work, keep doing it. Thay can only ignore you for so long.

EDIT: If you would like to reach out to me personally, please feel free to send me a PM by clicking on my user name or email me at lhtrueba@yahoo.com . I have been through this situation last year and I want to help your team compete as much as I possibly can.
__________________
2010: FRC 3043, Build Assistant
2011: FRC 3043, Head of Minibot subteam; FLL 12762, Team Captain
2012: FRC 3043, Electrical; FLL 12762, Team Captain; FTC 5670, Team Captain
2013: FRC 4301, Electrical, Team Co-Captain
2014: FRC 4301, Electrical/Programming, Team Co-Captain
2015: FRC 4301, Electrical/Programming, Team Captain
2016: FRC 4301, Chief Technical Officer; FTC 10860, 10861, and 11004: Mentor. Winner, Hub City Regional (3310 & 4063)

Last edited by Whippet : 12-12-2014 at 01:41. Reason: Contact Info.
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