3rd Annual Fast Pitch Contest Applications due April 13!

Calling all entrepreneurs: Speed-dating for Startups!!!

Selected start-ups will compete in a speed-dating style event where the entrepreneurs ('Pitchers') have 3 minutes to pitch their business idea to specially recruited investors, mentors or service providers (the 'Catchers'). The Catchers will vote on the best Pitcher, who will take home the coveted Fast Pitch Bat.

Here's how it works: there will be 9 innings (baseball, get it?). Each inning lasts 5 minutes. You'll have 2-3 minutes (max) to give you elevator pitch to a table of 1-3 Catchers and then 2-3 minutes for discussion. The Catchers will then provide feedback on your pitch, allowing you to fine tune it as you go through the event. The can also ask questions, offer business advice or make a date to learn more. Afterwards the winners will be announced at the Hampton Inn.

The event is intended to be fun, but also very useful from a business perspective. It may lead to an investment, a customer or a critical bit of advice.

Applications are now being accepted for being a 'pitcher' at the Fast Pitch contest scheduled from 5-7 pm on Thursday, April 19, at the Hampton Inn downtown Gainesville.

Apply online today!

Every company must pay a base application fee of $20, which includes entry for one company representative, or Pitcher. Companies must pay $10 for each additional Pitcher.

To attend the event, entry is $5 for GAIN stakeholders and $10 for non-stakeholders.

Pay Online!

Food and drinks will be provided.

Don't delay--get your application in soon!!

Tags: Fast, Pitch, elevator, prizes, speech

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Permalink Reply by Sven W. Hanson on April 3, 2012 at 11:33am

Cris- I missed the prior FastPitch event. What is the format? Are the "pitches" open to "spectators" or are they closed? -Sven

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Permalink Reply by Cris Johnsrud on April 3, 2012 at 11:50am

Sven, You are most welcome to come and be a spectator or even serve as a "catcher!" More info coming in the next few days re catchers. Cheers! Cris

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Permalink Reply by Sven W. Hanson on April 13, 2012 at 3:33pm

Cris- Let me know if you need "catchers"...happy to do it. -Sven

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Permalink Reply by Tom Burke on April 11, 2012 at 2:50pm

Hi - Once submitting the application, where do you make payment? There was a link, but when I submitted the application earlylast week, the payment link was not working. How do I make payment? And when do you know if you are selected? Need a bit of advance notice so I can update the others that wanted to come with me.

Thanks - Tom

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Permalink Reply by Cris Johnsrud on April 13, 2012 at 10:45am

Tom,

Please try to make your payment again--I think we've fixed it. If not, simply bring your payment to us at the door. I'll send out an email with further information early next week. Cris

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Permalink Reply by Tom Burke on April 13, 2012 at 3:55pm

Hi Cris. Thanks for your reply post.

I just resubmitted on the application page again hoping it would take me to a confirmation page with the payment link, but no link there. Maybe a good idea just to post the payment link on the article for others also. Can you please provide the link to make the payment, and I will try to make payment again. If it does not work, then I will pay at the door as you instructed.

Also, I have not heard back since the submittted application. Is everyone that submitted an application simply accepted, and just to show up, and gets to pitch?

Please advise.

Thanks,

Tom Burke