Billionaire investor Tim Draper listened to startup founders’ pitches in an ice bath. Draper, an early investor in companies like Tesla, Skype, and Twitch, said he took 52 startup pitches in 52 minutes in an ice bath that was kept at about 4°C.
The event was held as part of the Draper University program. According to Draper, the goal was to see how entrepreneurs think under stress and how clearly they can present their ideas. He said, “the most memorable founders are the ones who continue to present their ideas under any circumstances.”
Among those who presented in the ice bath was Azerbaijani entrepreneur and co-founder of the illumicell AI startup Ceyla Sadiqova. She said that during the ice bath, attention is focused only on the main message and superfluous thoughts disappear.
According to Sadiqova, during normal presentations, people think in parallel about speech, body language, and investor reaction. In the ice bath, the main goal is only to get the point across and stay calm. She noted that this experience helped to make the presentation more focused and clear.
While some attendees’ lips turned blue during the presentation, Draper believes the format showcases entrepreneurs’ ability to make decisions under pressure. He added that some of the startups he’s listened to in the ice bath have already caught his attention.
Ice baths and other “longevity” trends have become a hot topic in Silicon Valley in recent years. Many tech executives say the techniques boost energy, reduce stress, and boost productivity.
