Apply to pitch your company to the most active investors in the
Midwest at the annual Wisconsin
Early Stage Symposium, being held Nov. 4-5 at Madison’s Monona Terrace. Many companies have
cited their presentations at the conference as a key factor for getting funding
and growing their business.

All applicants will be eligible
for a discounted conference registration rate of $169.

Companies selected for the
Wisconsin Angel Network track presentations will also receive a complimentary
individual Wisconsin Innovation Network membership for one year (a $100 value). Team members
of these companies will be eligible to attend the conference at a special team
rate.

Company applications are due no later
than 5 p.m. Monday, Sept. 28, 2015.

 

There are two separate presentation
levels at the Early Stage Symposium: the Wisconsin Angel Network Investors’ Track and the Elevator
Pitch
Olympics*.

Wisconsin Angel Network Investors’
Track – Wednesday, Nov. 4:

The WAN
tracks
will feature about 20 companies from the Midwest representing an array
of industries, including biotechnology, medical device, health care,
advanced manufacturing, information technology and mobile application sectors.

Companies selected for the WAN tracks will
have many opportunities to interest investors: a seven-minute presentation,
networking receptions, an executive summary published in the investor-only
program and an opportunity to exhibit where investors may speak directly to
presenting companies. Companies selected for the
WAN tracks are also invited to participate in a preconference practice session
with a group of mentors.

Elevator
Pitch Olympics – Thursday, Nov. 5:

Companies selected for the Elevator Pitch Olympics,
a crowd favorite, will have the opportunity to give a 90-second pitch in front
of conference attendees and a panel of six to eight investors. The investors
will score the presenter on a scale of 1 to 5, focusing on whether the pitch was compelling enough to arrange a follow-up meeting, and will
offer immediate feedback.

About 15 companies will be selected for the Elevator Pitch Olympics. In past years, these have been
companies seeking a smaller investment round or planning to do so within the
next year.

*Applicants not
selected for the WAN tracks will automatically be considered for the Elevator
Pitch Olympics, unless indicated otherwise. 

 

Here’s how to apply for the 2015 Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium

Step 1 – Register for the full conference:
A representative from the company
must register to attend the full conference in order to be considered by our
steering committee for a presentation slot. Online registration will open in
early September at www.wisearlystage.com. Applicants are eligible for the “WAN Investors’ Track
Applicant” discounted rate of $169. There are no registration refunds after 5 p.m. Monday, Sept. 28, 2015.

 

Step 2 – Submit application:

* All applications must be received no later than 5 p.m. Monday, Sept. 28

Please submit your
application through Gust.com. Gust is a secure global platform endorsed by leading angel and venture
capital associations and powers more than 1,000 investment organizations in 80+
countries. Click here for instructions and the link to get started. Please confirm submission when finalized by emailing Bram
Daelemans at bram@wisconsinangelnetwork.com. Questions on the application process? Please call Bram at 608-442-7557.

*Applicants not
selected for the WAN tracks will automatically be considered for the Elevator
Pitch Olympics, unless indicated otherwise.  

 

To apply for the Elevator Pitch Olympics ONLY (not the WAN Investors’ Tracks):

To apply
for the Elevator Pitch Olympics, submit a 250-word idea abstract to Bram Daelemans at bram@wisconsinangelnetwork.com. Submissions over 250 words will not be
considered. Your 250-word idea abstract must include:


  • Product or Service Description: describe the nature of the
    product or service you plan to sell.
  • Customer Definition, Their Needs – Your Solution: Define your market by answering
    these questions about your customers: What is the problem your technology or
    product will solve? Who has the problem? Who would be an early user of your
    product?
  • Market Description, Size and Sales Strategy: Further define the market by
    answering this question: How do you size and segment the market to which your
    technology or product will be sold? Segmenting the market means that you
    identify the specific portion of the market that contains those buyers that
    have the problem your product or service is targeted to solve. You will also
    describe how you will go about marketing, selling and distributing your product
    or service.
  • Competition: Explain why your product or service is better than alternatives.
    Describe possible competitors.