Press release

10Fold’s Media SharkTank Event Takes a Giant Step Forward in Helping Protect the San Francisco Bay – Record Number of Attendees Fueled Substantially Higher Donation for Baykeeper

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Sponsored by Businesswire

10Fold Communications announced today that it has committed its largest-ever donation to Baykeeper, a charity dedicated to keeping San Francisco Bay clean and safe for all its inhabitants. For the past nine years, 10Fold has sponsored Media SharkTank, with the help of distinguished business and broadcast journalists covering technology. This year, 10Fold welcomed Business Wire as a sponsor to further increase the value of the event to its participants. The exceptional quality of the media attending this year resulted in substantially more executive presentations, and that resulted in a $25,000 donation to Baykeeper (a pre-requirement for executives pitching the media at this event).

Fourteen business and broadcast media participated in Media SharkTank on October 24, including: Associated Press, Axios, Barron’s, Bloomberg, Crunchbase News, CBS News, CNET, Fast Company, Forbes, KTVU-FOX, NBC Bay Area, New York Times, TechCrunch and the Wall Street Journal.

10Fold congratulates the following executives who scored highest in presentations to the media:

– First Place: Mary Writz, Vice President of Product Management, ForgeRock

– Second Place: Alexander García-Tobar, CEO, Valimail

– Third Place: Dave Burton, Vice President of Marketing, Guardicore

“Media SharkTank presents an incredible opportunity to test your message in a personal setting and get very direct feedback from the top journalists in the industry,” said Mary Writz, Vice President of Product Management, ForgeRock. “I was encouraged to really think about the audience and the importance of crisply defining what our company does so the reporters can understand it and, in turn, explain it to their audience. It was a great experience, and I received valuable tips.”

Held in the historic Palace Hotel in San Francisco, Media SharkTank offered presenters and guests a delicious buffet and the opportunity to interact with Silvi Alcivar of the Poetry Store and with the Tap Snap Photo Booth. More importantly, the presenters experienced an invaluable opportunity to network with the most distinguished business and broadcast journalists shaping opinions about technology.

Pro Tips from the Business and Broadcast Journalists this Year

Media SharkTank allows the media to provide constructive commentary to the presenters. First, start by clearly articulating what your company does. A revelation by the media judges was that technology executives tend to have two modes of describing their company: the first, an extremely detailed technical description that laypersons cannot likely understand; and the second, a 50,000-foot view that is too general. The media judges recommended to the presenters that they invest time in explaining what their company does and how the company is different from its competitors.

Second, it’s important to weave a personal narrative into your pitch, and to explain why the executives and founding team are so passionate about solving a particular business problem – and draw a line of sight to a greater global issue or trend.

Third, keep your story very simple with customer examples or analogies that make it relevant to business press readers, many of whom are not well versed in B2B infrastructure technology.

To understand more about what the media and the executives presenting learned from the event, watch this short video.

“We’re grateful that 10Fold and the tech industry have supported Baykeeper with proceeds from this unique event for nine years,” said Sejal Choksi-Chugh, Baykeeper Executive Director. “Their generous support has made a big impact on our mission to protect the Bay from pollution and keep all its inhabitants – including 11 types of sharks – healthy and safe.”

“10Fold is honored to support such a deserving charity and to host these distinguished journalists at our ninth annual Media SharkTank,” said Susan Thomas, CEO, 10Fold Communications. “Media SharkTank allows tech innovators and executives to test their messaging and build relationships with journalists who may help shape the future of their companies.”

About 10Fold Communications

10Fold is a leading North American integrated communications agency designed to create thought leadership and build brand value. Our agency is headquartered in San Francisco, with regional offices in Walnut Creek, San Diego and Capistrano Beach, California; Austin, Texas; and Denver, Colorado. Our award-winning, highly specialized account teams consist of public relations veterans, broadcasters and former journalists who have been recognized nationally for media and analyst relations, written and video content, messaging, social media, and paid digital services.