Entrepreneurs who want to compete for capital in the Arkansas Venture Forum Conference Nov. 18-19 in Little Rock must submit applications by Aug. 29, organizers said Tuesday.
The conference will showcase a group of high-potential enterprises considered by the selection committee to have a compelling business model. Finalists, who will be allowed to present at the conference, will be announced on Sept. 23.
The finalists will be assigned mentor teams who will work with the management team of each company to hone presentations for the investor pitch. There is no cost to the presenting companies.
"Having the opportunity to work with the professionals involved in preparing the presenting companies presentation is a very valuable experience," Fund for Arkansas’ Future Executive Director and AVF volunteer Jeff Stinson said. "Some of the state’s finest business executives volunteer to guide and assist the ‘up and coming’ companies in order to give them the optimal chance to showcase their companies."
Get more on the Arkansas Venture Forum Conference, including how to submit an application, at InnovateArkansas.org.
Hundreds are expected to attend the sixth annual conference, organizers said, which will allow entrepreneurs to meet other successful entrepreneurs, angel investors and a range of professionals who know how to match good ideas with development capital. Past conferences have drawn interest from surrounding states, including venture capital firms and angel investors representing more than $500 million in capital.
The forum was formed in 2001 by Arkansas business leaders to grow entrepreneurial resources like venture capital and angel investing and to create high-value jobs.
This year’s conference chairman is Grey Williams, a Dextera Inc. principal. Its lead and founding sponsor for the sixth year will be the Arkansas Capital Corp. Group. AVF is managed by the Arkansas Economic Acceleration Corporation, a non-profit affiliate of the Arkansas Capital Corp. Group.
To submit an application, go to https://www.arkansasventureforum.com. Follow the guidelines and submit your executive summary to Jonathan Jacobs at jjacobs@arcapital.com.
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