The 2021 Midwest Venture Showcase returns April 27-28 to highlight industry trends, insights, and growing Midwest companies seeking venture capital investments. The virtual event will be presented by the University of Michigan Ross School of Business in Ann Arbor.
The Midwest Growth Capital Symposium (MGCS) and InvestMidwest have united for a second year to present 70 ventures to an audience of top-tier investors, entrepreneurs, researchers, and business executives at the virtual event.
The Midwest Venture Showcase was launched in 2020 as a response to the pandemic. It introduces an expanded network of investors to Midwest growth companies in an online forum to continue facilitating investment during the country’s travel restrictions.
Last year’s virtual event attracted more than 600 attendees that were focused on meeting the Midwest companies seeking seed stage, Series A, and Series B funding. More than 200 investors from across the U.S. attended.
“Continuing the Midwest Venture Showcase is in the best interests of both the investors and the high growth companies in our region,” says Phyllis Ellison, executive director of InvestMidwest. “The 2020 event was very successful, even with the quick pivot that both InvestMidwest and MGCS made to move the event online. The 2020 companies represented 15 states, including Michigan, Missouri, Iowa, Ohio, Illinois, Texas, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Colorado, Minnesota, and Oklahoma.”
The virtual event boasts more than 40 tech transfer spinouts from major research universities across the Midwest that are seeking pre-seed and seed funding. This year’s program will feature Michigan State University, Ohio State University, Purdue University, University of Louisville, University of Michigan, University of Minnesota, Wayne State University, Western Michigan University, and others to be announced.
Applications for this year are now live on the InvestMidwest and MGCS websites. New ventures in the agriculture/food, life sciences, medical device, and technology industries that are seeking $500,000 or more in equity investments with a high growth projection over the next five years are encouraged to apply. The deadline for applications is Feb. 2.
For more information on applying, attending, or sponsoring the showcase, please visit MGCS or email Emily Zaycosky (MGCS), or visit InvestMidwest or email Phyllis Ellison (InvestMidwest).
The Midwest Venture Showcase will provide easy access to companies’ executive summaries and video pitches and connect early-stage companies, angel investors, venture capitalists, technology transfer professionals, and leading entrepreneurs.
“While we are beginning to see the true impact of COVID-19 on the startup investment arena, we know that it is vital for companies to continue to seek funding, and investors are still actively deploying capital in promising technologies,” says David Brophy, founder and director of MGCS. “Investors are interested in building relationships with quality startups, whether they are investing immediately or later.”
The MGCS is the original university-based venture investment fair. First started in 1980, the event is the largest Midwest venture fair that brings together venture capital investors, angel investors, high-growth companies, university tech transfer officers, and research faculty.
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 food and agriculture tracks.
