The VenturePitch SWFL series is part of the Tamiami Angel Funds’ e.co initiative to build a strong entrepreneurial ecosystem from Sarasota to Naples. Modeled after the popular Shark Tank television show, entrepreneurs make a brief pitch to seasoned investors on stage in front of an audience. More information here.
1010 NE 2nd Ave
Miami, FL 33132
USA
Most high growth start-ups are fueled by capital – product development, staffing, go-to market. There are many avenues for raising capital and an increasing number of unique investment models available for entrepreneurs to pursue.
Listen to a panel discussion featuring 4 professional investors in early stage businesses. Hear what models they use to invest in, support, and help grow the companies they work with. What financing models and structures are available to entrepreneurs? What criteria to does each investor look for in transaction? What are the best ways to engage with sources of outside capital?
Seating will be limited to 70, so please register early to reserve your spot. Agenda as follows:
- 6-7pm: Networking
- 7-8:30pm: Panel discussion/program
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- 7-8pm: Moderator questions for the panel
- 8-8:30pm: Q&A from the audience
- 8:30-9pm: Networking
Panelist Moderator
Andrew Heitner
Andrew Heitner is founder and director of Alcon Partners, a buy-side advisory firm that assists Private Equity firms and corporate M&A departments source and evaluate acquisition opportunities, with offices in Miami, Boston, and Vermont. He also owns Alcon Technology Consulting, Inc., a telecommunications firm based in Boston. Read more here.
Panelists
Germån Montoya
Germán Montoya is a Co-founder and Chief Strategy & Creative Officer at Rokk3r Labs, where he oversees global business development strategy and new venture creation. Read more here.
Melissa Krinzman
Melissa Krinzman is the Managing Partner of Krillion Ventures, a $50 million early stage venture capital firm that actively invests in early stage technology companies solving problems in healthcare, financial services, and real estate. Read more here
Thomas “Tigre” Wenrich
Tigre recently joined The LAB Miami as CEO and is launching LAB. Ventures, a “venture builder” that aims to create game-changing new businesses in partnership with the region’s best entrepreneurial talent and leading corporations. Read more here.
Jeff
Toewe
Jeff Toewe joined AthenianVenture Partners, an established venture capital firm that specializes in early stage Information Technology, Digital Health and Healthcare investing, in 2015 and serves on the firm’s investment team, focusing on Information Technology investments. Read more here.
Are you interested in becoming a sponsor for this event?
Click here to find out how.
About the MIT Enterprise Forum of South Florida (MITEF):
MITEF is a volunteer non-profit organization whose mission is to provide educational programs and services that promote and strengthen innovation the intersection of business and technology throughout the tri-county area of Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach.
Interested in getting involved with the MIT Enterprise Forum? We are expanding our 2017 volunteer committees.Check out the available positions today.
Rollins Venture Plan Competition Rules & Guidelines
The Rollins Venture Plan Competition provides members of the Central Florida community an opportunity to take an idea for a new product or business and develop a plan to introduce it to the marketplace. New ventures are defined as seed, start-ups, buyouts, the expansion of established enterprises, or site-specific franchises. Participating teams are encouraged to create and present a plan that clearly illustrates creativity and potential for success.
Key Dates:
Wednesday, January 18, 2017 – Application Goes Live
The submission form and instructions can be accessed at: https://app.reviewr.com/s1/site/Rollins-College-2017
Monday, February 6, 2017, 11:59 p.m. – Submission Deadline
All submission materials must be received by the deadline in order for teams to participate in the competition. No extensions will be given. A panel of qualified judges will evaluate the submissions and select the semi-finalists. Up to 16 teams will be selected to move on to the Semi-final Round.
Friday, February 24, 2017 – Semi-Finalists Announced
The semi-finalists will be announced to all participants by email by no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, February 24.
W-Th, March 1-2, 2017 – Semi-Finalists Dry Run
The semi-finalists will have an opportunity to present to Rollins entrepreneurship faculty and 1st round judges to receive feedback on their presentations in a consequence free environment in advance of the semi-finals.
Tuesday, March 7, 2017, 11:59 p.m. – Slide Decks Due
Semi-finalists are required to submit their slide decks that will be used in the semi-final round of the competition. Subsequent changes may be made by finalists after the semi-final round.
Wednesday, March 15, 2017, 12:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. – Semi-Final Round
Presentations of no more than 8 minutes will be made by the semi-finalist teams to a qualified panel of judges. Up to 5 minutes of questions by the judges will be asked to each team. The judges will determine the 4 teams that will move on to the Final Round of competition. Finalists will be notified following the deliberation of the judges, immediately following the semi-final presentations.
Thursday, March 30, 2016, 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. – Final Round
The 4 teams chosen for the finals will present again to a new panel of qualified judges. The judges will determine the winners of the competition. Winners will be notified following the deliberation of the judges, immediately after the final presentations.
Eligibility Requirements:
- The competition is open to ventures headquartered in Central Florida, including the following counties: Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Polk, Lake, Volusia, and Brevard.
- Revenues generated by the proposed venture must not have exceeded $100,000 over the life of the venture as of December 31, 2016.
- The proposed venture must not have raised more than $100,000 in debt or equity financing from any source other than founding team members as of December 31, 2016. Teams must clearly disclose the amounts and sources of all capital raised in their entries.
- Submissions and presentations must be the original work of the competition teams.
Judging:
The judges for the live, semi-final and final rounds of the competition will be comprised of experienced entrepreneurs and investors in the business community. While each judge has his/her own idea about what constitutes a great opportunity for a new venture, there are some criteria that all judges will take into account:
- Product or Service: description of product or service, features and benefits, pricing, current stage of development and intellectual property if any
- Market Opportunity: size of market opportunity, competitive analysis, needs identification and gaps identified in current product and service offerings in the market
- Go to Market Strategy: clearly outlined sales and marketing strategy
- Management Team: backgrounds of key individuals, ability to execute strategy, personnel gaps and organizational structure
- Financials: presented in summary form, easy to understand, consistent with plan, well researched and thought through
- Use of Capital: what would the use of funds be if $50,000 were given to the company today
Prizes:
Finalists will all receive cash prizes. Prize amounts will be announced prior to the competition.
Prize distribution in 2016 was as follows:
- 1st $25,000
- 2nd $15,000
- 3rd $7,500
- 4th $2,500
Through a partnership with venVelo, a Winter Park-based, early-stage venture capital firm, the winner of the Rollins Venture Plan Competition is automatically offered an additional $25,000 equity investment to go along with their $25,000 in prize money.
Prize Money Distribution:
Prior to the competition, participants must elect how they prefer all prize money won to be distributed, whether to a business entity associated with the competing venture concept or to the individual participants on the team. If to individuals, it must also be specified if the prize money is to be distributed evenly among the participants on the team or divided up in some other way by percentage of total prize money won. If the total prize money awarded to a team is in excess of $10,000, the prize money must be distributed to a business entity associated with the competing concept. If no such business entity exists, the team must form an entity associated with the competing concept in order to receive the prize money.
Please direct all questions to: Gabrielle Feulner gfeulner@rollins.edu
2017 FLORIDA EARLY STAGE CAPITAL CONFERENCE
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Join the Florida Venture Forum for the 10th Annual Florida Early Stage Capital Conference and the 7th Annual Statewide Collegiate Business Plan Competition on May 19, 2017. The Forum will be hosting at the Omni ChampionsGate Resort in Orlando, Florida. Listen to pitches from some of the most dynamic Florida based early stage companies and network with investors.
The 10th Annual Florida Early Stage Capital Conference is one of the largest gatherings of angel and early stage investors in the Southeast, and features panel discussions, speakers, and presentations by some of Florida’s fastest growing private companies. Also, hear from students representing the top universities throughout the state as they compete to win the 2017 Statewide Collegiate Business Plan Competition.
In addition to the opportunity to present before an audience of active equity investors, presenting companies meeting designated criteria will compete for the Accelerating Innovation (AI) Award, offered by Space Florida. The AI Award offers cash prizes totaling $150,000 ($75,000 for the Winner, $50,000 for Second Place and $25,000 for Third Place) to eligible Florida companies and out-of-state companies seeking to relocate or establish a presence in Florida. Presenter applications will be reviewed and companies chosen by a selection committee made up of active angel and early stage equity investors.
To view the Prize Eligibility Criteria, click here.
The Florida Early Stage Capital Conference highlights early stage investment opportunities throughout the State of Florida. Past Presenters have attracted more than $55 Million in funding!
THE FINAL PRESENTER APPLICATION DEADLINE IS APRIL 18, 2017. Early submissions are welcomed and encouraged.
THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO REACH THE NEXT LEVEL OF EXPANSION!
- Network and Pitch to Potential Investors
- Learn From Experienced Service Providers
- Connect With Other Successful Entrepreneurs
- Showcase Your Company
- Opportunity to Win Prize Money
Founder’s Talk: Manny Vivar of Host Dime
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Monday, April 3, 2017
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Canvs Co-working space
101 S. Garland Ave (1st floor of the Old Church Street Exchange), Orlando, FL (map)
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Manny Vivar is the Founder of HostDime and currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer and President of Global Operations. Since 2003, he has been instrumental in the company’s success both nationally and internationally. Manny grew HostDime from a $100 personal investment to one of the most reputable global data center companies in the world. His passion for cutting-edge cloud technology, and determination to create a global company, has made HostDime what it is today.
Along the way, he has created one of the most unique teams in this industry. Manny is an aviation enthusiast having earned his FAA Commercial Pilot’s license while pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Aeronautical Science at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University from 1999-2003. He also currently serves on the Orlando, Inc. (Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce) Board of Directors.
His extensive technical and leadership skills pave the way for the company’s ambitions to reach $100 million in revenue, and be the most customer-centric data center infrastructure company in the world. In his free time, Manny enjoys playing basketball and soccer and spending time with his wife and three kids.
A CELEBRATION OF INNOVATION
A Celebration of Innovation Startup Showcase, April 4, 2017
The University of Florida ranks among the nation’s leaders at transferring world-class research to partners who turn these discoveries into commercial products that make the world a better place. If you are an investor, entrepreneur or other interested party who has the resources needed to partner with us, we hope you will join us at A Celebration of Innovation, UF’s eleventh annual startup showcase.
A Celebration of Innovationis a unique opportunity to see startup companies commercializing the latest life science, medical device, and cutting-edge technologies generated as a result of the more than $700 million in research conducted annually at UF. Those interested in licensing, commercializing, investing or otherwise becoming involved with getting new discoveries to the marketplace will want to mark their calendars to attend.
You can find the latest information on panelists and presenting companies on the agenda page.
When: April 4, 2017; Startup Showcase is 12 pm to 5 pm. Inventor Recognition Ceremony and Reception follows from 5 pm to 7 pm.
Where: Hilton University of Florida Hotel and Conference Center, 1714 SW 34th St., 352-371-3600, 1-800-HILTONS
Rooms at the Hilton start at $144/night through March 4.
Please contact the hotel directly for reservations, and make sure you mention the showcase.
For registration and logistics information, please contact the University of Florida Conference Department, 352 392-1701.
For meeting content, please contact UF Tech Connect® Coordinator Kathy Sohar, 352-846-1840.
Founder’s Talk: Andres Aranguibel from HotSwitch
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Monday, April 10, 2017
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Canvs Co-working space
101 S. Garland Ave (1st floor of the Old Church Street Exchange), Orlando, FL (map)
- In the Exchange Building.
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Unlike our typical founder’s talks where we hear from founders post-success, we decided to bring in a startup founder who previously went through Starter Studio and is still hustling.
First up we have Andres Aranguibel from Starter Studio class 4 who built HotSwitch with this cofounders Ravel and Leonardo. HotSwitch is a live chat app for TV lovers to connect with other fans. (Check it out at http://hotswit.ch). After Starter Studio Andres attended the Alchemist Accelerator in San Francisco.
Originally a motion and brand designer, Andres fell in love with interaction design while studying Emerging Media at UCF. He’s been involved in the design process at brands like Google, and AAA, and led local design groups like GDSA at UCF.
Come hear about his startup journey, and what he’s learned along the way.
| TECH Talk | |
Date: Tuesday, April 11, 2017 The April Diary of an Entrepreneur program, “Instructions Not Included,” will be presented by Joy Randels, CEO of Citizinvestor and board chairman of Technova Florida. Randels has built her presentation around the following concept: “Start by doing what is necessary, then do what’s possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible.” She will discuss the concepts of Coordination, Cooperation, Teamwork, Convergence and, above all, Communication to achieve groundbreaking success, with Passion, Persistence and the right People.  Randels launched the first of 15 ventures at age 18, and after nine successful acquisitions and two IPOs she exercises her passion for building high-value, scalable businesses as the founder and CEO of New Market Partners. Since founding New Market Partners in 2004 she has worked with more than 800 startups helping them build scalable businesses. Currently CEO of Citizinvestor, the industry-leading civic engagement and crowdfunding platform, she continues to empower citizens to create positive change in their communities. Presented by Tampa Bay Innovation Center, TECH Talk is the area’s premier networking and educational event developed specifically to meet the interest of the local entrepreneurial community. There is no fee to attend, but space is limited. Advance registration is suggested at Eventbrite. Additional information is available by contacting 727-547-7340 or info@tbinnovates.com. Tampa Bay Innovation Center, through TEC Garage, offers a number of programs geared toward entrepreneurs, innovators, investors and others interested in the growth of thelocal technology community. | |
| There is no fee to attend, but registration is requested.
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DESCRIPTION
The inaugural New Venture Expo is the culmination of work of the Lowth Entrepreneurship Center students and program participants. Graduate students in the M.S. in entrepreneurship program, as well as senior undergraduate students majoring in entrepreneurship, will present business concepts that were developed at the start of this academic year. Their concepts will be judged alongside Spartan Incubator and Accelerator program participants, many of whom have already committed hundreds of hours to their new ventures.
The students’ business concepts will compete in the following business and superlative categories:
- Tech, Online and Application
- Retail and Product
- Healthcare and Services
- Food and Beverage, Hospitality and Entertainment
Winners in each of the categories will be selected by experts in each field. Experts will include Lowth Center advisory board members, entrepreneurs- and experts-in-residence, UT faculty members and other community stakeholders in the Tampa Bay entrepreneurial ecosystem.
For event updates visit the Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/events/179218849251840/!
