In the spotlight

There was no mistake this morning and afternoon at the Innovation Center what was about to happen. Teams conversed and pitched to each other in preparation of the unveiling event this evening. The morning had been set aside for the Manos team to listen and critique the teams’ introductions. Julia Sullivan, Edward Avila, David Lopez, Carla Lopez, and Sylvia Flores provided constructive comments and advice.

As the afternoon rolled by, teams pulled others over to their table to listen and critique. We were all ready and willing to help each other succeed this evening.

It wasn’t just about helping out another team. I noticed that as I suggested different wording, I was learning how to change the way I construct my own pitches and the way I describe things. One team I listened to started with a minor negative connotation, potentially promoting the competition instead of their company. We worked through a change that made the product sound amazing. Because it wasn’t my own content, I wasn’t emotionally connected but still gained the experience and knowledge of how to form concise and constructive statements. It is a good mental exercise to practice.

The rest of the afternoon was filled with preparing press releases and promoting our company for the evening.

One of the things to remember before a big night like this is to relax. With all the excitement of over 200 people coming to see and talk with our teams, it can quickly become overwhelming at the same time as unbelievably gratifying. It was important to step back and enjoy the moment. Others will take photos. Others will tweet. Others will do what you used to do as an audience member.

Now you’re the one on the stage. The one in the spotlight. You are the one with the goods others are interested in. It is hard to describe the feeling. Personally, this is still a dream that all this has come together. That a simple 24 hour hackathon project, an cohesive team of three people who care about education, a product that is being used in classrooms around the world, that classrooms are becoming more efficient, that students are being helped in ways that I never got to be helped, and that we are now part of an amazing group of talent, has to be a dream. I have always said that patience brings reward, and here it is.

Our teams arrived at Google in the evening and met the remaining team members who have tighter schedules that prevent them from travelling to the Innovation Center everyday. It was really exciting to see everyone that is part of the program and the strong bond we all have to each other, in just a short time.

We did a final rehearsal before the guests started to arrive.

After the rehearsal, we went out to where the food was located and it was like night and day. People were talking to one another, excited about the program and what it aims to achieve. For our teams, it was non-stop networking. My team made a lot of connections and met quite a few teachers who asked if we supported other languages yet. It is yet another validation that we have a product that is really needed in the schools.

The official program began with Mary Grove talking about the Google for Entrepreneurs program and how it is supporting entrepreneurs around the world.

Co-founders David Lopez, Sylvia Flores and Edward Avila were introduced and talked about the importance of the Manos Accelerator and why they created this program to support Latino and female co-founders, a group of talented people who can succeed if given the chance.

John Lyman, Mary Grove, and Edward Avila sat down for a fireside chat and brought home the reason this program is so important to our diversity.

It was time to announce the seven teams, the moment many of us have waited for for some time. They are:

Blyve

BoomZip

HemHeist

Hostspot

intersante

Qritiqr

sleek-geek

David Lopez finished the event reminding everyone to come back November 20th when the teams graduate.

A group picture of the teams.

Afterwards, even more people came up and introduced themselves to us and offered their support. Quite a few of them are interested in Read With Me and getting it into the school. It is unbelievable how supportive this community is and we can’t wait to follow up.