Valkure

Process

The project kicked off with a detailed meeting with the CEO, where I gathered insights on investor feedback and the intended impact of our overall pitch presentation. After confirming my understanding through a project brief, I embarked on an extensive research phase, which included heuristic reviews, competitive analysis, and user research.

Competitive Review

I researched pitch presentations from similar startups, to understand the context in which investors would be experiencing our pitch deck and demo video. I also attended a workshop for investors, that outlined important things to look for in startup pitches. Here were key elements of startup pitches that stood out as most effective:

• A review of the user journey from beginning to end.

• Pain points along the user journey, and solutions the product provides.

• Images, animated gifs, and videos, wherever applicable.

• Using words like “we” and “our” rather than “they” or “their”.

• Articulating benefits and outcomes during a demo, rather than describing the features.

• If a product utilizes 3D visuals in its design, the presentation also incorporates 3D visuals.
  

User Research and Analysis

I divided user research into two categories— ‘users’ of the demo video, and users of Valkure itself. This involved determining pain points, goals, needs, user journeys, and opportunities for improvement along their user journeys. I compiled the results of this research in a presentation so we could review the findings as a team, and align priorities for the video, notably:

• After watching the video, the investor should feel inspired about Valkure’s potential, and confident that our team is capable of accomplishing our goals.

• The video should include a high-level overview of the user’s journey, an authentic portrayal of how Valkure features fit into their day-to-day workflow, and a call-to-action at the end.

• It needs to be easy for the non-technical investor to understand and remember.

My team members offered to gather examples of use cases that met those requirements, so I could move forward on the script with placeholders.

Ideation

I drafted an outline for the demo video based on what the research findings indicated would be most impactful, doing additional research to overcome roadblocks when I got stuck. I listed out biggest problems, and juxtaposed those problems with their solutions in the same sequence they would be encountered along user journey:

1. Introduction

2. Problem overview

   • First, the sheer volume of tools and data makes it difficult to quickly find and verify information.

   • Second, false positive alerts, and frequent changes, make it hard to prioritize. 

   • Third, excessive time spent communicating, means vulnerabilities go unaddressed. 

3. Solution

   • Before: manual diagramming and slow response times. Now: instant real-time 3D view of the network.

   • Before: manually reconciling data across multiple tools. Now: consolidated data alongside 3D assets.

   • Before: difficulty prioritizing and staying updated. Now: automatic prioritization based on current requirements.

   • Before: time-consuming complex written reports. Now: automated visual reporting that’s easy to act on.

4. Restate the value proposition

5. Call-to-action

We iterated on the outline, I turned it into a full script, then I used ElevenLabs to generate the voiceover recording (the most challenging part was spelling multiple variations of the name “Valkure” to get the correct pronunciation). The total length was far too long for a demo video, so we trimmed non-essential elements of the script, and I re-created the voiceover in ElevenLabs, then fine-tuned it in Adobe Audition.

To ensure the visual content was authentic, I facilitated a collaborative ideation session, where our team generated concepts and low-fidelity sketches of each solution. We then went through a selection process, asking ourselves which ideas both 1) addressed the user’s problems effectively and 2) would be most accessible for non-technical investors.

Design

I sketched out the storyboard using the ideation session sketches as a guide. I evolved the storyboard through multiple iterations, incorporating feedback from investors and in-house security and network operations experts.

Once the storyboard was approved, I collaborated with our VR developer to place camera tracks and record multiple dynamic shots of Valkure inside of Unity. I also experimented for the first time with generating After Effects scripts using ChatGPT to automate parts of the animation that would have otherwise taken a long time to do manually. I put everything together in Premiere, and iterated on rough cuts until the final version was complete, with an additional subtitle file.

The pitch deck was the last element to address. I did a usability review, then updated the deck to improve the overall experience, adjusting to meet industry standards and accessibility requirements, as well as enhance the visual design. This step was crucial to creating a cohesive experience of our pitch presentation as a whole.

Outcome

The new pitch deck and demo video propelled Valkure into the quarterfinals of the Trans-Atlantic Angel Conference, earning high praise from investors. One investor remarked that Valkure’s was one of the best pitches they had ever heard.

Reflections

The project underscored the importance of thorough research and its role in validating design decisions. My interdisciplinary background in UX design and filmmaking proved invaluable, enabling effective communication of complex technical concepts in an accessible manner. The use of generative AI in various aspects of the project, from voiceover creation to scriptwriting, not only streamlined the process but also reinforced my confidence and excitement in working within the AI domain.

Explore the Project

Watch the Valkure Demo Video, or visit the Valkure website to learn more.