Due to COVID-19, the Midwest Growth Capital Symposium has partnered with the InvestMidwest Venture Capital Forum to present the virtual 2020 Midwest Venture Showcase on May 5. It will highlight Midwest companies seeking early-stage funding and offer an opportunity to connect with founders, angel investors, and venture capitalists.
The Midwest Growth Capital Symposium was scheduled for May 12-13 at the Ann Arbor Marriott Ypsilanti at Eagle Crest in Ypsilanti Township.
Registrants for the online event will have access to:
- 60-70 high-growth companies in the life sciences, health care, tech, agriculture, and energy sectors;
- Profile, executive summary, and video presentations of each company;
- Profiles of 30-40 up-and-coming venture-ready companies from the Big 10’s Tech Transfer offices; and
- A network of registered companies, angel investors, venture capitalists, technology transfer professionals, and leading entrepreneurs.
“Our objective, unchanged in our 40-year history, is to facilitate the flow of funding to entrepreneurial companies,” says David Brophy, professor of finance and founding director of the Midwest Growth Capital Symposium. “While the impact of the coronavirus has led many early stage investors to focus on their current portfolio, they remain open to reviewing investment pitches. Through our 2020 Midwest Venture Showcase, we are continuing to provide a link between curated participating companies and nationwide sources of seed and growth capital, fostering valuable connections.”
The partnership between the Midwest Growth Capital Symposium and InvestMidwest increases the number of companies in the showcase, further connecting the entrepreneurial community. The event will also feature 12 companies from the Capital Innovators tech accelerator’s recent cohort.
“In our current climate, it’s even more important that early-stage companies have a direct line of communication to angel investors, venture capitalists, and leading entrepreneurs,” says Phyllis Ellison, executive director of InvestMidwest. “Partnering with MGCS allows us to work together to facilitate more connections and ensure we maintain the momentum of investment in the Midwest, even when we cannot gather in person.”
Sponsors of the two organizations have provided guidance and support as the 2020 event transitioned from a live event to an online platform. More information regarding attendance or sponsorship can be found here or by emailing Mary Nickson at mnickson@umich.edu or Ellison at pellison@cortexstl.com.
Registration is $100 per attendee.
The Midwest Growth Capital Symposium was first held in 1980 and brings together venture capital investors, angel investors, companies, university tech transfer officers, and research faculty. It is presented by the Center for Venture Capital and Private Equity Finance and the Zell Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business in Ann Arbor.
The InvestMidwest Venture Capital Forum brings together high growth companies from across the Midwest that are seeking $1 million or more in equity investments in life science, tech, and agriculture, food, and energy tracks. It has been held for 20 years and was scheduled for April 22-23 in Missouri.
