InvestMidwest 2013 Extends Application Deadline

It's a well-known problem in the startup world: there are always too many ideas and not enough investors.  How can entrepreneurs improve their chances of getting funded in the year 2013?  What will it take?  Blood, sweat and tears?  A miracle?

Perhaps not.  Because this year, the 2013 InvestMidwest Venture Capital Forum aims to provide access to capital for emerging, privately held companies and to promote greater entrepreneurship, business growth and expansion in the Midwest region.

InvestMidwest will take place on April 3-4 at Westin Kansas City (Crown Center).  The event will include 3 industry tracks including life sciences, IT/general business and food/ag/bioenergy.  There will be 10-minute presentations from 40-45 emerging business as well as an opportunity for individual meetings.

InvestMidwest recently extended its application deadline to January 18, 2013 so startups have over a week to submit their businesses.

Learn more about InvestMidwest and submit your own startup at www.investmidwestforum.com.

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LiveOn (Among Other Startups) Head to St. Louis for InvestMidwest

What do you get when you put 300 attendees, 60 venture capital companies and 44 startup organizations under one roof in St. Louis, Missouri?  You get an entrepreneur's dream; you get InvestMidwest.

InvestMidwest showcases 44 companies representing 10 states across the flyover region in three different industry tracks including life sciences, technology and clean energy/sustainability.  This venture capital conference has helped to generate over $850 million of investments in the past 12 years.

One company in particular is looking forward to the InvestMidwest opportunity.  The startup has been making a splash in the entrepreneurial world with appearances and nominations at SXSW and at during the Think Big Field Trip to Silicon Valley.  The startup, known as LiveOn, is hoping to make an even bigger impact at InvestMidwest today.

"We are looking forward to attending the InvestMidwest Forum as an opportunity to meet potential investors as well as to mingle with other entrepreneurs," said Jonathan Whistman, founder of LiveOn.  "The Midwest continues to be an interesting place to build a business and these types of forums always help with creating a platform to connect like-minded people."

LiveOn hopes to take what they learned during the Think Big Field Trip and implement pitching strategies at the InvestMidwest Forum.

"We just recently returned from a trip to Silicon Valley to participate in a two startup showcases.  One was put on by Silicon Valley Bank and the other by Kansas City's Think Big Partners.  It will be interesting to see the differences in the investment environment from the coast to here in the Midwest," said Whistman.

All startups presenting at InvestMidwest must be located within the center corridor of the United States.  These companies must be seeking $1 million to $20 million in funding and must have revenue projections of $20 million within the first five years.

InvestMidwest will take place on April 4-5, 2012 at the Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark in St. Louis, Missouri.  To learn more, please visit https://www.investmidwestforum.com/.

Follow me! @AllisonThinkBig

Co-Founder of Think Big Partners Sits in on Helzberg Entrepreneurial Mentoring Program Panel

Helzberg is one of those names that you hear quite often in Kansas City.  After all, the company was founded here in 1915...and it has clearly stuck around.  And because of Helzberg Diamond's stellar Midwest reputation, community involvement, and entrepreneurial spirit, Think Big Partners loves connecting with the Helzberg business.

The founding of the Helzberg Entrepreneurial Mentoring Program (HEMP) was inspired by Barnett Helzberg, Jr.'s mentoring relationship with Ewing Kauffman.  The program matches seasoned, successful entrepreneur mentors with less-experienced entrepreneur mentees. This week, with the help of other Kansas City entrepreneurial organizations, HEMP is featuring an educational series for those entrepreneurs looking to enhance their startup knowledge.

On Thursday, October 27, 2011, HEMP is featuring How to Present Your Business to Investors Workshop from 3:00-5:00 PM.  At the event, mentees are invited to network with other entrepreneurs and sit in on a presentation and panel with some of Kansas City's brightest and most experienced serial entrepreneurs. 

Panelists include Bill Love (BioStar Systems), Christine Walsh (InvestMidwest), Joel Wiggins (Enterprise Center of Johnson County) and our own Herb Sih of Think Big Partners. 

Giving the "perfect pitch" is one of the most important parts of an entrepreneurial venture.  Just getting in front of investors is a huge step, for that matter.  So when an entrepreneur presents to an investor, it's important that they get it right...the first time.  Which is the exact reason why HEMP has established this series--to help entrepreneurs succeed in Kansas City and beyond.  After all, the strength of our city could come from the development of new small businesses.  Let's start by mentoring some of the up-and-comers in the Kansas City area.

The Financing Growth Series Part 3 workshop (How to Present Your Business to Investors) starts at 3:00 on October 27 and will run until 5:00 PM.  Want to become a HEMP mentee or mentor and start getting involved in events just like this one?  Check out the HEMP website and apply for the mentoring program!

Written by Allison Way
@AllisonThinkBig

InvestMidwest: Bringing Silicon Valley Expectations to the Midwest

Silicon Prairie News.  Think Big Partners.  KCHub.  The Chamber of Commerce. 

All of these organizations are doing their part to improve entrepreneurship and increase the number of startups and small businesses in the Midwest.  In the effort to bring a Silicon Valley-atmosphere to Kansas City, Omaha and all midwestern cities in between, we have seen a vast number of entrepreneurial initatives.  But among the many informative blogs, business events, educational seminars, ribbon cuttings, and entrepreneurial competitions, one event may stand out more than the rest. 

InvestMidwest.

What is InvestMidwest?  In short, it's the opportunity that all entrepreneurs dream of. 

The 2011 InvestMidwest will showcase 45 companies representing 9 states from the Midwest.  The conference will have three company tracks presenting concurrently: life sciences, technology and alternative energy/cleantech.  With 300+ attendees including investors from the top venture capital firms in the Midwest, the conference has helped to generate over $400 million in investments in 11 years!

With an opening reception, a breakfast program, company presentations, and forum luncheon, InvestMidwest is a day jam-packed with energy.  Taking place on March 31st at the Overland Park Convention Center (Ballroom B), InvestMidwest will also feature its honorary speakers, Henry W. Bloch and Ken Conklin. 

Learn more about InvestMidwest and get involved today!

Thanks to everyone involved in InvestMidwest for getting out there and thinking big! 

Written by Allison Way.  Allison is a writer for Think Big Partners, Kansas City's early-stage business incubator and startup accelerator.  To read more of Allison's work, check out the Kansas City Entrepreneurship Examiner as well as her articles on Helium, BrooWaha and eZine.  Follow Allison! @AllisonThinkBig

InvestMidwest: Start Chasing Your American Dream with the Top Venture Capital Firms in the Midwest!



InvestMidwest is an opportunity for Kansas
City entrepreneurs to receive funding
and achieve their American Dream.


There’s no need to travel to the East or West Coast to connect with top venture capital firms. In fact, you need to look no further than Kansas City, Missouri. InvestMidwest is the venture conference of the Midwest for entrepreneurs and startup companies located within the center corridor of the United States.

The 12th annual InvestMidwest conference provides entrepreneurs the opportunity to pitch their business ideas with ten minute PowerPoint presentations to some of the top venture capital firms in the Midwest including venture capitalists, private investors and corporate investors.  The conference will showcase companies in three different industry tracks including life sciences, technology/general business and cleantech/alternative energy. With business pitches given to over 250 attendees, InvestMidwest is an effective way to receive potential capital funding from respected and experienced firms.

“It’s our goal to find the best companies in the Midwest to showcase for our investor audience,” says Christine Walsh, executive director of InvestMidwest.  “This is a venture-fundable opportunity that is an obvious need in the Missouri-Kansas market.”

With over $400 million in investment in 11 years, InvestMidwest is every entrepreneur’s dream. And it’s not too late to apply for this once-a-year opportunity. Applications are being accepted December 1st through January 7th. All companies will be contacted by February 11th regarding their acceptance. In order to apply for InvestMidwest, companies must meet the following criteria:
• Located within the center corridor of the United States
• Seeking $1M to $20M in funding
• Revenue projections of $20M within five years (with the exception of life sciences companies)

“InvestMidwest allows companies to stay here instead of heading off to the coasts for capital raising opportunities,” says Walsh.  “We very much appreciate the support of the Midwest community—especially in Kansas City.  Their support means the world to us.”

InvestMidwest provides access to capital for emerging, privately held companies and to promote greater entrepreneurship, business growth and expansion in the Midwest. Is your company looking for an exceptional business opportunity? InvestMidwest may be it!

InvestMidwest will take place March 30-31st in Kansas City. To learn more about the event, visit the InvestMidwest website or contact Christine Walsh at cwalsh@stlrcga.org or 314-444-1151.

Written by Allison Way. Allison is a writer and videographer for Think Big Partners and bizperc, two of Kansas City’s newest entrepreneurial resources. To read more of Allison’s work, check out the Kansas City Entrepreneurship Examiner.