Venture Programs
The Center for Economic Growth provides a suite of funding forums and services designed to cover the needs of many of our high growth-potential technology businesses. They also enable interested investors (time, money, both) to become exposed to regional early-stage companies, hear their business presentations, ask questions and get to know the entrepreneurs behind the companies.
Pre-Seed Workshop
Forum designed specifically to leverage regional research and determine the suitability for creating businesses based on these research results. Using a team-based approach and matching entrepreneurs & business starters with inventors, and then forming a team around these two with MBA students, service providers, corporate and intellectual property legal expertise, finance and sales/marketing experts, the basics of a business plan are sketched out and then tested for suitability as a start-up. Two-day workshop held at least annually and accommodating up to eight (8) idea teams.
Venture Bplan
Venture Bplan Run in collaboration with the RPI Incubator Program, this forum offers a first-look for the business community at the best and brightest early-stage growth companies in our region. Up to two businesses are presented each month in front of a panel of investment experts, followed by questions from the panelists on the business plan specifics. This forum is designed to get visibility for entrepreneurs to the region’s angel and institutional investors, business service providers, advisors, students, faculty, alumni and most of the early-stage business community. Forums are held every fourth Wednesday of the month at the RPI Alumni Center at 7:30AM.
For more information visit http://www.venturebplan.com or e-mail ceg@ceg.org.
Tech Valley Angel Network
The Tech Valley Angel Network (TVAN) is the region’s only organized angel investment network where qualified businesses present their business plans for investment opportunities. The network has been in existence since 2001, and many of the region’s active angel investors are participants in TVAN. Accredited investors meet monthly to review up to two business presentations over a dinner forum that have been vetted by a committee for appropriate stage of development and high likelihood of investment potential from the network. Fees apply to both investors and entrepreneurs.
For more information visit www.techvalleyangels.com or e-mail ceg@ceg.org.
SmartStart UNYTECH Venture Forum
This is New York State’s premier early-stage venture forum where the best companies from across the state present to the investment firms from New England to the Mid-Atlantic regions. Presented annually in the spring, companies are identified and vetted for participation in this event, and the resultant program features the state’s best venture capital investment deal flow exposure across all market segments and technologies. Additionally, university spin-off companies are also presented as the up-and-coming pipeline of promising companies representing tomorrow’s investment opportunities.
For more information visit www.smartstartvf.com or e-mail ceg@ceg.org.
