Nearly 60 early stage companies applied for one of two chances to present to potential investors at the Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium, to be held Nov. 10-11 at Madison’s Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center.
The annual conference, which has existed under different names for more than 20 years, will feature the sixth annual “Elevator Pitch Olympics” for companies in a seed financing stage and the third annual Wisconsin Angel Network Early Stage presentation track for companies seeking angel investments beginning in the $500,000 range. About three-dozen companies will be selected to present in one track or the other.
Company applications for the Early Stage Symposium were received in five major sectors: information technology and Internet services, biotechnology, medical devices, advanced manufacturing and “cleantech.”
“We will select a strong line-up of companies that will merit the attention of investors and others who attend this year’s conference,” said Tom Still, president of the Wisconsin Technology Council. The Tech Council produces the conference and manages the Wisconsin Angel Network.
During the 2009 Early Stage Symposium, more than 50 investors from five states heard presentations from about three-dozen companies. This year, eight of the conference panel discussions will feature investors from around the nation. They will give their perspectives on the current capital market and what investors look for.
Selected companies for the 2010 Early Stage Symposium, to be announced soon by the conference steering committee, will make presentations in one of two tracks:
• Companies actively seeking angel financing will present Wednesday, Nov. 10, during the Wisconsin Angel Network investment track. Presentations will be limited to seven minutes with up to three minutes of questions from investors from across the “I-Q Corridor” region of the Upper Midwest.
• The Elevator Pitch Olympics on Thursday, Nov. 11 will allow entrepreneurs to make 90-second presentations to a panel of investors. The term describes a pitch that’s short enough to be given during an elevator ride. Just as in the real Olympics, investor judges hold up their scores and give points ranging from 1 to 5 in the categories of “quality of presentation” and “business fundability.” Immediately afterwards, presenters will get constructive feedback from the judges – all seasoned investors.
The symposium will also feature nationally known speakers and panelists to be announced in coming weeks, the “First Look Forum” for pre-commercial, campus-based discoveries and a luncheon honoring Wisconsin’s winners of SBIR and STTR grants. Participants in the angel and “Elevator Pitch” tracks will also be eligible to take part in presentation training seminars.
The Early Stage Symposium is produced by the Wisconsin Technology Council and its partners and sponsors. To register, review sponsorship opportunities and learn more, go to: www.wisconsintechnologycouncil.com/events/earlystage/.
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