Investors: start freeing up your capital. Entrepreneurs: start sharpening your pitches. It’s only 71 days until StartupLounge Savannah, one of the area’s hottest events for those in the fast-paced world of launching businesses and bringing dreams to life.
Burgeoning companies such as Evoca, BowerBags, CREATOMbuilder, PushtoScreen, Aetho, Hopptu, and dozens of other entrepreneurs have all participated in StartupLounge. This event played a key role in the launching of these local and growing names.
The sixth annual StartupLounge Savannah will take place on the evening of Thursday, Oct. 9. Potential investors and entrepreneurs alike are welcome to apply today through Sept. 18 for entrepreneurs and through Oct. 2 for investors at http://www.thecreativecoast.org/programs/startuplounge/.
StartupLounge Savannah is a partnership with the Atlanta based nonprofit StartupLounge, which creates a relaxed environment for pre-screened and selected entrepreneurs and investors to meet and build relationships.
Unlike other networking events where sales reps find fresh prospects and new businesses find alternative service providers, StartupLounge Savannah is strictly for accredited angel investors and bona fide entrepreneurs with unique ideas or businesses that offer the potential for fast growth.
If you have not launched your business yet, no worries — boot strappers and holders of idea napkins are welcome to apply as well!
As for investors, the SEC defines an accredited angel investor as someone who earns more than $200,000 a year for three years or someone who has net worth in excess of $1 million. If you are not an accredited investor but you are serious about engaging with
entrepreneurs even through crowd funding, as a mentor or through equity funding, please apply to attend StartupLounge as an investor.
The Creative Coast partners with Georgia Tech affiliated Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC) to make the event a success. Last year, more than 70 pre-selected investors and entrepreneurs networked in a relaxed atmosphere, and a number of funding deals were initiated.
This year, we’re bumping up the activities to make Startup Lounge 2014 an even bigger success.
The Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) came up with the idea to expand the one-evening event into an entire Investor Weekend, and two great supporters, SCAD and Savannah Economic Development Authority (SEDA), immediately came to the table as sponsors and resources.
This trio’s enthusiasm for the “capital meets creator” concept is making it even easier to bring angel investors and early stage venture capitalists to Savannah for an extended visit.
As with the past five years, entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to submit their ideas, an overview of the stage of business development and some personal background that will be reviewed by a panel for consideration.
There are plenty of new enhancements to this year’s event. In addition to the meet and mingle portion of Startup Lounge, the selected entrepreneurs will also be able to bring samples of their product or conduct “show and tell” demonstrations.
Each entrepreneur will have a designated “hot spot” so investors can be sure to not only find and speak with the investment that interests him/her most but also get a sense of who else they may want to get to know.
More importantly, all entrepreneurs, regardless of whether you get invited to participate in StartupLounge, are encouraged to attend an Investor Readiness Workshop conducted by ATDC and ASAP (Ariel Southeast Angel Partners) beginning Aug. 28 at the Creators’ Foundry.
All StartupLounge applicants who complete the three-part course may be eligible to attend two additional investor events — an invitation-only pitch day on Oct. 10 (part of the Investor Weekend attended by Atlanta angel investors and early stage venture capitalists); and a Geekend 2014 session to be held Nov. 13-15.
The clock is ticking. Your deadline is approaching. Will your idea make StartupLounge Savannah in 2014? You’ll never know unless you apply.
Bea Wray is the executive director of The Creative Coast, a not-for-profit organization that promotes the creative and entrepreneurial community within the region. Bea can be reached at 912-447-8457 or bea@thecreativecoast.org
By Bea Wray