Event provides entrepreneurs with critical link to investors
Some of the most promising emerging companies in the life sciences, technology and food/agriculture/bioenergy industries were showcased at the 17th annual InvestMidwest Venture Capital Forum. Held today at the Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark in downtown St. Louis, the 2016 InvestMidwest Venture Capital Forum featured 45 entrepreneurial growth companies whose representatives have spent the past several months preparing to share their business plans with an audience of the nation’s top venture capitalists, corporate and private investors, and investment bankers.
“We received over 140 applications from companies that have developed products and services that address many of the global issues making recent headlines, so there was much excitement to hear from the selected presenters heading into this year’s event,” said Chris Walsh, executive director of InvestMidwest, whose mission is to provide access to equity capital for emerging, privately held companies seeking venture funds from $1 million to $20 million.
Since its first forum in St. Louis in May 2000, InvestMidwest has helped generate over $1 billion in investments and acquisitions for innovative growth companies. Because InvestMidwest is such a concentrated opportunity to meet with venture investors, many consider it the Midwest’s premier annual venture capital forum.
More geographically diverse than ever before, this year’s selected presenters hailed from 15 states, and one is based in Europe. States represented include Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Wisconsin. The applicants were reviewed by a panel of experts, and the companies were selected based on their value, proposition, products/services, financial summaries, management teams and marketing strategies and opportunities.
Among this year’s presenters are companies developing new drugs and medical devices that could dramatically impact the healthcare industry; businesses developing ways to improve food quality, connect farmers, safely increase crop yields and prevent and manage diseases affecting our food supply; and firms that are advancing technology to connect businesses, improve healthcare management and further mobile phone capabilities.
Examples of this year’s presenting firms include St. Louis-based Sparo Labs, which has developed Wing, a pocket-sized sensor and app that measures and tracks lung function with medical-grade accuracy to detect early warning signs of asthma flare-ups. The device also allows users to work with their care teams to evaluate their medication regimens. KeyAXS, located in Leawood, Kan., is transforming the property management industry through its mobile service that integrates credit pre-qualification and smart-lock hardware to deliver qualified prospects to property managers that are ready to rent. In turn, renters can utilize the smart-lock service to view properties on demand and at their convenience. St. Louis, Mo.-based NanoGuard Technologies is developing a new food sanitation technology that will reduce losses, improve safety and enhance the quality of the food that is treated.
As an additional highlight, the 2016 forum featured presentations by two renowned speakers. George Paz, Chairman and CEO of Express Scripts, was featured in the breakfast program in a question and answer session led by Jason Hall, Vice President of Entrepreneurship and Innovation with the St. Louis Regional Chamber. Dennis E. Lower kicked off the luncheon program. He has served as President and CEO of Cortex Innovation Community in midtown St. Louis since 2010 and for 12 years prior, he served as Vice President of Planning and Development for the Biomedical Research Foundation and Director of InterTech Science Park in Shreveport, La.
The 17th Annual InvestMidwest Venture Capital Forum is supported by a diverse group of public and corporate sponsors including the Kauffman Foundation, the Founding Educational Sponsor of InvestMidwest. The organizational sponsors include the St. Louis Regional Chamber, Missouri Venture Forum, Enterprise Center of Johnson County and KCSourceLink.
For more information, visit www.investmidwestforum.com or call 314.444.1151.
Contact:
Pamela Powell
314.436.9090
pam@hausergrouppr.com