GAIN Fast Pitch Event & Investor Mixer

Announcing GAIN's Fast Pitch Event!

An elevator pitch is a brief, concise telling of your company’s story in a short enough time that even the investors with a really short attention span will hear you out. An effective elevator pitch isn’t about talking fast or being good at winging it on the spot – its about taking time in advance to carefully craft a very concise statement with the most important facts about your business and practicing the delivery. Many investors consider this the most important step in evaluating an investment opportunity. They believe that if an entrepreneur can’t describe a business in a compelling way in 2 minutes or less, then they haven’t thought it through well enough. This event (and this application) is intended to make sure you are ready to go with your Elevator Pitch when opportunity presents itself!
For more info on elevator pitches we recommend you take a look at www.elevatorpitchessentials.com or www.businessknowhow.com/money/elevator.htm .

How the Fast Pitch event works:
The event works kind of like speed dating: there will be tables with investors, successful entrepreneurs and other valuable contacts – the “catchers”. They will be pre-screened and attending based on our invitation. All will be prepared to hear your pitch, ask a few questions and offer a few comments. In each instance you will have 5 minutes to introduce yourself, deliver your pitch, answer 1 or 2 questions and get 1-2 bits of feedback. Each catcher may also make notes to share with you later if you like.
Many of the catchers will be attending to look for prospective investments; all will be interested in helping you improve. You should treat each as a potential make-or-break contact for you and your business.

Just like a baseball game, there will be 9 innings. Unlike baseball, they will be short. After each 5 minute session you will move to a new table and catcher (or catchers). There will be a “7th inning stretch” with a short break to grab a drink or take a bio break. After the 9 innings (about an hour) there will be a casual cocktail hour where you can connect further with interested catchers and mingle with your fellow pitchers. We’ll have some appetizers and drinks during that time.
The event is intended for entrepreneurs who expect to need future investment for their ventures and who have innovation-based businesses.

We will select between 9 and 18 entrepreneurs, primarily based on your written elevator pitch (250 words maximum). The pitch should describe the problem that needs to be solved and your solution to the problem and how it will make money.

Why should I participate?:
• To refine your pitch,
• To possibly get insight from other smart people that might improve not just your pitch, but your actual business idea.
• To meet possible funding sources. We have several confirmed venture capital and angel investors attending including: Inflexion Partners, Emergent Growth Fund, Synogen, Harbert Ventures, Intersouth Partners, Energent Ventures, Springboard Capital and others.
• To meet other valuable and helpful contacts. Among your catchers will be entrepreneurs that have successfully raised capital, built companies and sold companies. Also included will be other valuable resources like attorneys and accountants that specialize in start-ups and tech businesses.

How do I participate?

Application deadline has passed. Participants will be notified of selection.

What if I just want to meet fellow entrepreneurs or Investors, but not pitch?

The invitation-only Fast Pitch portion of this event should complete by 6:15pm and the venue will open for full entrepreneur & investor mixer. The mixer is expected to go until 7pm, possibly later.