Venture Fair Workshop – Friday, January 25, 2008

You must be registered for The Women’s Congress to participate in the Venture Fair Workshop
Register to attend the Women's Congress today!
Conference program – only $199 (access to the finance sessions, Expo and Venture Fair Workshop)
Or, Expo only – FREE (Expo and Venture Fair Workshop)

If you are a women entrepreneur seeking funding for your business, then you need to attend the Conference program and Venture Fair Workshop.  The Women’s Congress provides critical and detailed finance sessions for all levels of funding so entrepreneurs can be prepared to secure the funding they need to grow their business.  Selected entrepreneurs will have an opportunity to present to angel and vc participants at the Venture Fair Workshop.  The presentations will be critiqued by the investors in the audience and there will be time to meet one-on-one with the investors in attendance.  All entrepreneurs are encouraged to attend the workshop to hear the presentations and feedback.

There is no fee to register for the Venture Fair Workshop.  All entrepreneurs that register for the Venture Fair Workshop will be provided with an area for a poster display featuring their company and networking time before and after the presentations to meet with interested investors.

Several local venture/angel capital organizations will support the event.  Gold Coast Venture Capital Association (www.gcvca.org), the Florida Angel Network, and their alliance partners will coordinate the review and selection of presenting companies on behalf of The Women’s Congress.

 

Schedule
Deadline for submissions:              January 11, 2008
Presenters Notified:                      January 18, 2008
Venture Fair Presentations:          January 25, 2008, 11:15am – 1:15pm

Submission Process / Requirements

1. Entrepreneurs must be registered attendees of The Women’s Congress to be eligible to apply for the Venture Fair Workshop(either Conference or Expo). 
2. Select the Venture Fair Workshop registration option – it is free to participate or attend
3. Companies must be majority (51%) or wholly owned by women.
4. Companies must be majority (51%) or wholly owned by women to present.
5. Submit your application to present (see link below or the link on your registration confirmation).  All applications will be reviewed by our committee of angel and vc partners.

To submit your application to present at the Venture Fair Workshop, click here.

Make plans to attend these finance sessions and the Venture Fair Workshop along with additional business growth strategy sessions offered both days:

Conference Program Finance sessions:

Equity Financing
Diane Bowers, Executive Director, Florida Angel Network
Kemila Velan, Senior Correspondent, Ethical Markets Media, LLC
Jane Teague, Executive Director, The Enterprise Development Corp. of South Florida

This panel will detail how accredited investors (friends, family, and angel) are excellent sources to fund your business, what they get out of it, and how to structure the Regulation D early round.  The next round to be discussed is the Venture Capital level.  Lastly, a hybrid financing method known as Convertible Debt will be explored. Other topics discussed will address valuation methods for your company, the executive summary and proforma, as well as presentation techniques under 5 minutes.  A lively Q & A session will follow.

Debt Financing
This panel will delve more deeply into securing loans for businesses and options to improve your cash flow.  Hear from financial institution experts as well as from women who have secured debt funding for their business, and learn where they are today.  Topics include SBA sources, investment banking loans, asset based lending, traditional and non-traditional sources, factoring, and how to match funding needs with the right debt product. Q & A session to follow.

Venture Fair Workshop Program (January 25, 11:15am – 1:15pm)

1. Following ‘opening remarks’ and a brief talk, the presentations will begin. 
2. Up to five entrepreneurs will be selected to present for 8 minutes
3. Feedback will be provided after each presentation from investors participating
4. ‘Closing remarks’ will follow the presentations.
5. PowerPoint slides will be permitted but limited to 10 slides.  They will be pre-loaded prior to program.
6. Post-event – within the 120 minute event duration – the entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to field Q&A from the investors and field follow-up inquiries in the presentation room and outside of the room at the poster presentation area.

Poster Presentation Specifications

1. Poster size:  20” x 30” recommended (Elmer's® White Foam Boards®, available at any business supply store, is one brand that works well)
2. Poster boards must include the following information:
1. Your business category (technology, consumer goods, web 2.0, biofuels, etc.),
2. A brief description of what you do (50 words or less),
3. What is unique about your problem or solution,
4. What is the status of the company (i.e. first year, pre-profit),
5. What funding are you seeking? (i.e. $1 million in equity financing)
6. Location, owners, year founded,
7. Contact information
3. We recommend that you bring business cards with you and put on your easel with the poster board or have a business card holder on your board.

Questions?  Please call the Florida Angel Network at 954-653-1075 if you have submission questions or if you are an interested investor who would like to participate.