UM Growth Capital Event Open To Applications From Companies
ANN ARBOR -- The Michigan Growth Capital Symposium has announced the call for presenting companies for the 32nd annual Midwest equity event. Being held May 21-22, 2013, at the Marriott Resort in Ypsilanti, the Symposium is the premier Midwest networking event for leaders in venture capital investment to connect with emerging growth companies actively searching for partners and funding.
Early applications are due Tuesday, Feb. 26 and the final deadline is Thursday, March 7.
More than 400 entrepreneurs, researchers, investment professionals and business executives are expected to attend and nearly 100 regional and top national venture capital firms will be represented. The two-day event will host dozens of luminary speakers as well as showcase the most promising of early to later stage Midwest, high growth companies seeking institutional investment within the next 12 months of $500,000 to tens of millions in funding. Since the Growth Capital Symposium's inception in 1980, the event has helped more than 800 companies raise funding and has forged countless valuable relationships that continue to foster growth in the region's startup community.
Dayton, Ohio-based Commuter Advertising presented at the 2012 Symposium, and Founder Katie Hill found the Symposium to be especially impactful for companies based in the Midwest. "We don't have quite as large of a venture community as other areas across the United States," she said. "It's a great way to let the investors in the marketplace know what kind of opportunities are here in our region. If we want to keep innovation growing in the Midwest, these kinds of formats and opportunities are critical in keeping us competitive with other parts of the country."
Selected companies will be invited to deliver a 10-minute pitch on their companies at the Symposium and will have the opportunity to participate in the company showcase with dedicated exhibit space throughout both days of the event. In addition, a dedicated team of coaches from the Michigan Small Business and Technology Development Center (MI-SBTDC) as well the greater Michigan community of venture capitalists and entrepreneurs will provide coaching and assist companies with their presentations.
The final deadline for application submissions is Thursday, March 7. For more information or to submit an application, visit www.MichiganGCS.com. Selected companies will be notified by early April.
