The Venture Capital Investment Competition Wants You!

You have heard me extol the virtues of the Venture Capital Investment Competition here and here. Now is your chance to participate at their national finals! Excerpts from a letter from organizer Patrick Vernon:


Brad,

As a former participant, you know the value of VCIC to presenting entrepreneurs, but did you know that 40% of the entrepreneurs selected to present at the Finals go on to raise an average of $9M in venture capital. See successful ventures here.


This is a rare free opportunity to present a venture to VCs from around the United States as a part of the prestigious Venture Capital Investment Competition. Now in its 11th year, the VCIC finals is the culmination of 40 events around the world in which top MBA students are competing to be the best VC. If selected, a venture will be one of four entrepreneurs at the event joining 20 VCs who will act as judges.

WHAT: 11th Annual VCIC
WHERE: Chapel Hill, NC
WHEN: Friday and Saturday, April 18-19

If interested, click here for more information and to apply online. It is free to apply and participate, but don't delay!

Thank you!
Patrick
---------------
Patrick Vernon
Associate Director and Adjunct Lecturer
UNC's Kenan-Flagler Business School

Updated List of Ithaca Startups

Ithaca continues to have a growing amount of entrepreneurial startup activity. With Cornell's massive research budget, and the draw of a great lifestyle, it is really no surprise that a new breed of startup is finding a comfortable home here. In preparation for the upcoming entrepreneurship symposium at Cornell, here is my current list:

Achronix
Adirondack Packaging
Advion
BinOptics
Biophyzica
Buzz In Media
CherryPharm
Comet Action Sports
DataPoint Labs
DNANO
e2e Materials
FiberShield
Finger Lakes Aquaculture
Gene Network Sciences
GeneWeave Biosciences (formerly Phagenetics)
Gorges Websites
Hybrid Silica Technologies
Illuminaria
International Climbing Machines
Kexter
Kionix
Mezmeriz
MiTeGen
North Sea Resins
Novasterilis
Novomer
Predict Systems, who power Additune
Primet
ReMarkable Paint
Rheonix
Scrimple
SkillsBazaar
Technizzel
Terrenew
Tetragenetics
The College Freeway
Veratag
Vybion
WePlace
Widetronix

I am sure I am leaving off somebody, but 40 active entrepreneurial companies is a pretty good start!

Cheering Big Red or Looking Ahead?

The Cornell Big Red basketball team is playing in the NCAA tournament for the first time in 20 years. The game is on this Thursday at 5pm ET. Which is also the same time as this month's Finger Lakes Entrepreneurs' Forum meeting. Decisions, decisions!


Post Positions or Acquisitions?
This month's topic is "Acquiring a Company - from the Acquirer's Point of View". I'd like to say I am looking so far down the path for Mezmeriz that I'm thinking about a time when the company might get acquired, but I really want to see the game. I've not yet decided, but if you see me sneak out the back of the room, you'll know where I went.

Go Big Red!

Addendum: It looks like I am not the only one in the lovely hamlet of Ithaca that has Big Red Basketball on the brain. The Finger Lakes Entrepreneur's Forum has been postponed to next Thursday. Now, let's hope the Big Red do so well this weekend that they have to cancel that meeting as well!!

Start Smart

The SmartStart Venture Forum in Rochester on May 13 & 14th is a great way for New York companies seeking venture capital to meet a whole lot of folks all at once. It is part of New York State's ongoing effort to promote entrepreneurial companies.


Hey VC, come see!
The venture folks like it because the venture forum acts as a screener for the truly zany, and the entrepreneurs like it because they get a lot of exposure quickly.

If you have a viable, venture-fundable technology company, this is a great opportunity. To learn more and apply to present, click here.