⚡ THE PITCH DECK PROBLEM

In this focused case study from "Under the Hood: Automotive Storytelling," host Stéphane Lagresle reveals what happened when Stef Balkowiec, Co-Founder of GraphDome and former Managing Director at Cosworth Electronics, put his company presentation through the Evergreen process. This shows how strategic feedback transforms technology-focused decks into positioning-driven narratives that actually land with decision-makers.

🎯 KEY INSIGHTS

The Trust Trap: Why Credibility Can't Be an Afterthought

Most founders bury their strongest asset—experience—at the end of their decks. Stef and his co-founder have 60 years of combined expertise that should have opened his presentation, not closed it. Learn why trust must be established in the first 90 seconds, not earned after 20 slides.

From Features to Feelings: The Transformation Question

Stef discovered that his original deck answered "what does GraphDome do?" when decision-makers needed to know "how will I be better off?" The breakthrough came from one question: "How are they going to feel?" This single insight triggered a complete rebuild.

Your Deck Is the Output, Not the Input

Stef spent a full week reconstructing his presentation after gaining positioning clarity. The result? Technology moved to the appendix, the story led with human impact, and every slide answered: Why do we exist? Why should you care? What makes us different?

💡 PRACTICAL TAKEAWAYS

• Audit your first three slides today: If they don't establish credibility, articulate customer pain, or promise transformation, you're leading with the wrong story
• Apply the Evergreen three-step process: (1) Live presentation to target persona, (2) In-depth analysis on feedback board, (3) Strategic repositioning session.
• Test the "feel" versus "feature" ratio: For every technical capability you mention, articulate one emotional or business outcome your audience will experience
• Seek outside feedback before investor meetings: Founders can't see their own blind spots after internal iterations—strategic critique reveals gaps you've stopped noticing

🌟 ABOUT YOUR GUIDE

Stef Balkowiec brings over 30 years of experience at the intersection of motorsport technology and automotive innovation. As former Managing Director of Cosworth Electronics, he helped pioneer software-defined vehicle approaches in high-performance racing environments. Now as Co-Founder of GraphDome, he's scaling real-time digital twin technology for manufacturing productivity. His journey from technology-first pitch decks to positioning-driven narratives exemplifies the transformation every technical founder must make to succeed.

Is your foundation solid?

This episode strips away the theory and shows you exactly what positioning-first storytelling looks like in practice. Hear the actual clips from Stef's Evergreen journey, understand the framework behind the transformation, and walk away with actions you can take Monday morning.

Want to go deeper? Listen to the full 45-minute conversation for the complete behind-the-scenes journey, including Stef's naming process and strategic positioning decisions.

#UnderTheHood #AutomotiveStorytelling #Evergreen #Positioning #PitchDeck #FounderJourney

"Under the Hood: Automotive Storytelling" – Where technology meets narrative, and mobility's future is told through visionary voices.

"Under the Hood: Automotive Storytelling" uncovers the human narratives driving innovation in an industry that impacts lives worldwide. Hosted by Stéphane Lagresle, this podcast explores how the power of storytelling ultimately connects technology to humans.