Capital Presenters

Call For Entries

VentureNet is an excellent fund-raising platform for Southern California companies that develop and commercialize software and related information technologies and which have the potential to create superior shareholder value. The past six VentureNet conferences have cumulatively helped presenting companies raise over $75 million.

The audience at past VentureNet conferences has included all venture capital firms in Southern California, numerous venture capital firms from Northern California and elsewhere in the country, angel groups, individual angel investors, and investment bankers. We have also attracted the most influential opinion-leaders in Southern California's technology industry, including accounting firms, law firms, banks and executive recruiters.

Companies seeking capital can participate in VentureNet as capital presenters, exhibitors or regular conference attendees.

The process to be a capital presenter starts with an online application. The deadline for submitting applications is August 15, 2002. We will notify you of our decision no later than August 20th.

We will consider ventures from start-ups to later-stage operating companies. The business plan review committee that selects the 12 presenting companies consists prominent investors and software industry professionals. (Review Commitee)

The finalists will be selected on the basis of believable explanations of the company's (a) target customers, (b) the target customers' pain and how well the company's products and services cure the pain, (c) competitive advantage, (d) management team, (e) potential growth rate and size, (f) financial model including the company's stage and the amount of capital being raised, and (g) opportunity to create superior shareholder value.

Prior to the conference the companies will be coached intensively to refine their business plans and presentations by the selection committee and other professionals.

The 12 presenting companies will be divided into four groups (rounds) and each company assigned a 10-minute time slot to make its presentation.

Following each round of capital presentations, a panel of investors comments on the presentations they just witnessed, offering the presenters and audience valuable, first-hand feedback on what works and what doesn't when pitching to investors. Panelists also offer their opinions on specific market segments, business models or value statements to illustrate the current status of raising money from private equity investors, and specifically comment on how the presenters can better pitch their businesses, including areas like overall presentation (aesthetics, presenter ability, pace, etc.), which was the "strongest" or most compelling presentation, which was the "weakest" or least compelling presentation, major information missed, common mistakes, and which was the best presentation in the round.

The objective of the panels is to rate the quality and viability of the capital presentations, not to rate, praise or lampoon the actual business ideas presented. The panelists are requested not to offer their opinion on whether or not they would fund a specific business as presented to avoid prejudicing investors in the audience.

The 12 presenting companies and the next best eight companies are also be invited to exhibit at the conference's Entrepreneur's Showcase. The conference's format includes extensive networking time, which is conducted in and near the exhibits area. We also rent a limited number of exhibit spaces on a first-come-first-serve basis to companies other than the 20 best applicants. Exhibit information.

Submit your application and business plan online.