The producers of the Wisconsin Early Stage Symposium are looking for cutting-edge companies from Wisconsin and the upper Midwest to present to investors at the Nov. 13-14 conference at Madison’s Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center.
The annual conference gives selected companies the opportunity to make presentations and meet with investors. For many firms, participation in the conference has been a key factor for significant business growth.
The deadline to apply to present is Monday, Oct. 1, at 5 p.m.
Like the 2011 conference, this year’s conference is open to early stage companies representing an array of industries: biotechnology, biofuels and products, “cleantech,” advanced manufacturing, information technology, nanotechnology and business services. There are two separate presentation levels at the Early Stage Symposium: The Wisconsin Angel Network Investors’ Track and the Elevator Pitch Olympics.
Companies selected for the WAN track will have many opportunities to interest investors: networking receptions; a seven-minute presentation, an executive summary published in the investor-only program, and an exhibit area where investors may speak directly to presenting companies. Investors representing millions of dollars in investment capital attend this event.
Companies selected for the Elevator Pitch Olympics, a crowd favorite, will have the opportunity to give a 90-second pitch to a panel of six to eight investors and receive immediate feedback. 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.
About 20 early stage companies seeking capital will be selected to make seven-minute presentations to investors in the Wisconsin Angel Network track. These company presentations will take place on the afternoon of Tuesday, Nov. 13.
About 15 companies will be selected for the Elevator Pitch Olympics. The Elevator Pitch Olympics will take place Wednesday, Nov. 14.
Companies pay no fee to apply or to present. However, companies must first register to attend the full conference in order to be considered by our steering committee for a presentation slot. Register at http://www.wisearlystage.com/.
