(I wrote this piece for the course I am assistant-teaching, Mobile Applications and Entrepreneurship, at UC Berkeley.  While it’s not advanced, it was good for the class at the time.  I figure I’ll post it here so if people look for some help with a software demo, they’ll find it.  This is intended for demoing mobile apps – so you may have to alter what’s here to make it relevant to you.)

Structuring Your Demo
‘Simplify, Simplify, Simplify.’
-       Henry David Thoreau
Before you begin, ask yourself the fundamental question – “What am I trying to accomplish with this demo?”  In your case, you’ll be trying to demo a prototype of a service to a venture capitalist in an effort to attract investment.  Notice I said ‘service’ and not ‘application.’

This is not a code review or an opportunity to show off every feature you’ve built.  (People often approach software demos like this – an attempt to show off the number of features in the product like some sort of incredibly boring show-and-tell.  This is unnecessary, and boring.  Products are dynamic things – show me the value, don’t show me the code.)

You’re trying to show off the fundamental value proposition of your application and show how it is delivered, not how hard you tried.  I would even say that your goal is to construct the most exciting, shortest demo that still conveys the value of your service.

So how does one structure a good demo?

One way is to start by thinking about how you’d demo a service that everyone uses, like facebook.  (Now that facebook has so much functionality, this is made a little bit harder, but think about what the core value is: adding friends and being able to share with them.)

a)      Set it up appropriately ( ‘Imagine that you meet someone while you’re out during your first few weeks in a new town.  How do you keep in touch with that person easily?’)

b)      Show where your service fits in. (‘Now, with Facebook, you can keep in touch with that person; share with them; and communicate with them.  Facebook helps you connect and share people with the people in your life. Here’s how.’)

c)      Show the core functionality of the service.  If you had five words to describe it, what would they be?  Show that. (‘Now, let’s add Jennifer as a friend. I simply click ‘add,’ and then a request is sent to her.  Now that she’s added me, I can write on her wall.’)

d)      Quickly get back to the overall value proposition, and keep going with your presentation.

Giving a Great Demo
Much like getting to Carnegie Hall, the key is practice, practice, practice.  Giving a demo is a performance skill, and practice is key.  Aside from practice, here are some other quick tips:

a)      Always have a back-up, if not two.  This will stop you from worrying, which will make your demo more effective.  Additionally, when things go wrong, you’ll look smart, resourceful, and prepared.

Things go wrong with astonishing frequency, especially when someone important is watching.  Always have another way to do your demo.  If you have a mobile app on an emulator, and then you should also have a pre-recorded video of the app and the app on an actual phone, for when something goes wrong.

b)      Practice, Practice, Practice.  Be able to give your demo perfectly, five times in a row.  Keep practicing until you get there.  If you really want to be on it, invite someone to interrupt you while you do your demo, and practice answering questions while you make progress.

c)      Remember the tone of your voice and your body language are just as important (if not more) than the words you say.  Communications theory suggests that something like 10% of your communicated meaning comes from your words, while like 30% comes from your vocal tonality, and 60% comes from your body language.  If you really want to become a master presenter, film yourself, and correct all those little body language and vocal tone habits.

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