NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Life Science Tennessee (LifeSciTN) announced today a call for applications for the third annual Venture Forum to be held during the 2014 LifeSciTN Annual Conference and Venture Forum at the Downtown Doubletree Hotel in Nashville, October 20-22. The conference and forum bring together industry experts, scientists, entrepreneurs, investors and other stakeholders during the event.
This one-of-a-kind pitch competition for Tennessee’s emerging life science companies is specifically designed to offer exposure, networking, investment opportunities and valuable feedback to early stage companies from across life science industry sectors.
“This third Venture Forum is an exciting opportunity for emerging life science companies in the Southeast to experience Life Science Tennessee’s support of emerging companies in action,” said Dr. Sam Lynch, Chairman of Lynch Biologics and the Life Science Tennessee Board. Lynch is the founder and former president and CEO of BioMimetic Therapeutics, which he led from founding to IPO to ultimate sale of the company.
“Presenting companies will receive an unprecedented opportunity for exposure and feedback from highly experienced and skilled life science investors and executives, and gain access to a variety of services that can facilitate the growth of their companies. The mentors, judges, sponsors and supporters with which the participating companies will interact are all members of the vibrant life science ecosystem that is thriving in Tennessee,” said Lynch.
For the first time this year, the Venture Forum winner is guaranteed an opportunity to present at the Southeast Bio Investor and Partnering Forum (SEBio), a regional forum for life science companies and investors that regularly attracts more than 100 private equity investors.
The full list of prizes includes:
- $5,000 cash prize courtesy of Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis, LLP
- Development and production of a five-minute pitch video courtesy of Benchfly, a science video production platform designed by research and video experts
- An opportunity to have a company video showcased during the opening reception of the regional Southeast Bio Investor & Partnering Forum in Atlanta, November 11 (SEBio)
- Two complimentary registrations to LaunchTN’s Southland, summer of 2015
- Start-up corporate legal package, courtesy of Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis, LLP
- Full day of strategic planning, financial analysis, and/or business valuation consulting courtesy of Kraft Analytics
- Preclinical development map courtesy of TriMetis, valued at $5,000
Interested companies are asked to submit an application. One month prior to the pitch day, those selected to present will be paired with a mentor who will offer advice on refining their business models and perfecting their pitch presentations. Presenting companies will pitch in front of the Life Science Tennessee Annual Conference and Venture Forum audience in Nashville, October 21. Representatives of the four TNInvestcos, venture capital firms that regularly invest in the life sciences, will serve on the judges’ panel. In addition to the Q&A panel during the session, companies will be given one-on-one time with investors for additional feedback. Investment decisions are made independently from the Venture Forum selection and judging process.
The application window is open July 28 through September 8, 2014.
To be eligible for the competition, companies must be incorporated and based in Tennessee, or willing to do so. Companies may have received prior seed funding, but no series A venture capital financing. Strong candidates will demonstrate:
- a clearly defined understanding of a market need and how the innovation addresses the need;
- a clear plan for developing the innovation into a commercial proposition, including any regulatory pathways; and
- a plan of overall risk reduction and marker assessments that are specific to the innovation.
A total of five companies will be chosen to present at the conference in October.
Important Dates
July 28 Application window opens
September 8 Application window
closes
September 22 Participants announced and paired with mentors
October
21 Pitch Presentations at the Life Science Tennessee Conference and
Venture Forum
For more information on the Venture Forum, contact Sally Anderson Parker at 615-242-8856 or sanderson@lifesciencetn.org.
For more information on the LifeSciTN Annual Conference and Venture Forum click here.
To apply to the Venture Forum click here.
About Life Science Tennessee:
Life Science Tennessee is a statewide, non-profit, member organization representing all organizations involved in the life sciences in Tennessee, from leading research institutions to early stage companies, to international Fortune 500 medical device and pharmaceutical businesses to advisors for the industry. Together with our stakeholders and policy makers, we diligently work to create a greater understanding of, and support for, the life sciences thereby helping to create an environment in which this industry can flourish in Tennessee. LifeSciTN members and life sciences companies are located in all nine geographical regions of Tennessee and include industry subsectors: biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, diagnostics, agricultural biosciences, research and educational institutions, clinical research organizations and other related activities.
