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May 10, 2012, The Reunion Resort in Orlando, Florida Click Here to Register
On May 10, 2012, the Florida Venture Forum will host its Fifth Annual Early Stage Venture Capital Conference at the Reunion Resort in Orlando, Florida. The Florida Venture Forum is now calling for outstanding private companies from the state of Florida to apply to be presenters at the Conference. The Florida Venture Forum is Florida’s premier organization focused on assisting entrepreneurs of emerging companies as they develop their businesses and raise capital.
The principle purpose of the Annual Conference is to showcase approximately 10-12 early stage, high growth private companies before a national audience of venture capitalists, angel investors, private equity investors and investment bankers. These entrepreneurial companies should have talented management teams, proprietary technology, high growth potential and should be currently seeking early stage funding.
The Conference will also showcase Florida’s best collegiate business plan competitors for the morning session. For details please click on the Collegiate Business Plan Competition icon. The required Executive Summary format (Presenter Application) is available (see left side of this website page and click on Presenter Application). The Conference Agenda with presentation times and speaker schedules will be announced shortly.
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At iStart Jax, we are committed to continuously fostering our ever-growing team of startup entrepreneurs. One of the many ways we do this is by conducting a series of popular Just-In-Time workshops. The topics for these workshops were determined from the feedback we received from teams during our flagship event, Jacksonville Startup Weekend.
Harnessing the power of Social Media, our first event, drew a sizeable crowd and proved to be an extremely interactive workshop. Attendants were given a crash course on the different social media platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube and more. Discussions centered on how business-building tactics can be utilized through social media to attract and retain qualified customers. We are now in an exciting space where traditional modes of communication are being replaced by social media. The workshop helped answer how entrepreneurs can leverage these new “two-way” channels to engage directly with their customers and drive better business results.
Intellectual Property: What Startups and Idea Generators should know, the second in our series, aimed 
at helping startups understand what intellectual property means in this day of collaboration and innovation. Tim Gillis, shareholder with Akerman Senterfitt, walked attendants through the main components of intellectual property (copyrights, patents, trademarks, trade secrets). With amusing case studies and insightful tips, Gillis showed attendants what pitfalls they can avoid when it comes to protecting their Intellectual property, along with great practical tips.
These workshops speak to our core desire/objective to create programs and events that help accelerate the growth of a startup community in Northeast Florida. By leveraging relationships with community leaders, iStart Jax is able to make sure startups and entrepreneurs get access to relevant information and programs like these. We are grateful to our community and our partners for making these workshops so successful.
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This is an information provided by Technological Research and Development Authority (TRDA)
The Igniting Innovation (i2) Capital Acceleration Program, is offered by the Technological Research and Development Authority (TRDA) with support from Space Florida. It consists of three months of intense mentoring that kicks off with a one-day boot camp, and culminates with a day of presentations to a panel of investors that will provide honest feedback on your business. The i2 Mentor Network is a statewide network of “been there, done that” technology entrepreneurs that have founded and raised capital for their own companies. Our mentors have collectively raised over $300 million for their own companies, and will work with you to prepare your company (team, financial statements, business plan, sales/marketing strategy and much more) for the capital raising process. The i2 team has a network of angels, venture capitalists and pre-seed funding resources within our i2 Ventures Network to accelerate the connection of great companies to Florida’s investment community.
Two mentoring sessions will be held in 2012 — one began in January and the next session begins in April 2012. The most promising companies from each i2 Accelerator session will be invited to participate in the annual Igniting Innovation Showcase, which will be held in September 2012. The i2 showcase attracts investors, mentors and industry partners from all over the country, and has a $100,000 grant award for the most promising presenting company. The winning company will be selected by attending venture capitalists based on revenue growth potential within five years and the ability to create a return for investors.
What are the Benefits of Participating in the i2 Program?
Fast Track selection opportunity for i2 Showcase and the $100,000 grant competition
Immediate, honest feedback on your business plan, and its potential attractiveness to angels, venture capitalists or other sources of capital Accelerated path to the i2 Ventures Network (angels, venture capital firms, gap funding sources) Ongoing access to a deep, statewide network of experienced “been there, done that” mentors that have walked in your shoes and raised capital for their own companies Quick-drop education on best practices for business plan development, financial modeling, market strategies and closing your first customers Access to a statewide network of critical business service providers at reduced rates Usage of the TRDA Innovation Center for workspace, meetings and classrooms
What are the Criteria to Participate in the i2 Program?
Florida-based technology companies with the following criteria are eligible for the i2 Accelerator:
Headquartered in Florida with at least 80% of employees also in Florida
Potential for rapid revenue growth within five years
Relevant technical expertise on team for product strategy
In one of the following sectors – Internet/Media/Mobile Apps, Cleantech, Biotech/Medical Devices, Gaming/Simulation, Defense/Aerospace, Software/IT and telecommunications.
What is the Cost to Participate?
There is no cost to apply to the i2 Accelerator program. If your company is selected to participate, there is a $750 fee to participate in the three month session (payable in monthly increments of $250). This fee includes the kickoff boot camp, all mentoring sessions, and access to the TRDA facilities for workspace and meetings, and participation in the final investor presentation day. We also will provide three months of limited post-session support (maximum of five hours/month) for i2 Accelerator graduate companies that have met stated growth milestones are are ready to actively pursue capital. There are no additional costs for post session investor introductions for companies that are ready to meet with investors, nor is there a fee to participate in the i2 Annual Showcase if your company is selected to present.
How Do I Apply?
Simply fill out the online application located at www.i2florida.com/how-to-apply.
If you are selected for the April 2012 session, a mandatory one-day kickoff boot camp will be held at the TRDA Business Innovation Center in Melbourne, Florida on April 12, 2012. Applications for the April session are due by April 2nd, 2012 and selections will be announced no later than April 6, 2012.
Questions?
Contact Brenda McMillan at
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Pictures from Jacksonville Startup Weekend
Click here for the event day pictures set
WJCT Segment on Jacksonville Startup Weekend
On March 8th 2012, WJCT's Hometown show televised the Startup Weekend. If you missed it, to watch the segment, Click Here.
