The competing entrepreneurs were there…and the panel of vc’s and angels were waiting for them. The twice year Elevator Pitch Olympics & Expo was held at the Marriott Hanover in Whippany on May 29th which serves to showcase entrepreneurs seeking funding from around the tri-state area and give them an opportunity to see where their venture stacks up against each other in front of venture capitalists and angel investors–while vying for a lessening amount of investor dollars in a tough economy.
Carbon Nanoprobes emerged the winner among the approximate 35 pitching entrepreneurs. Participating entrepreneurs’ short pitches are judged on a combination of presentation quality and venture fundability by an investor panel. Brian Ruby made the most compelling case for funding, for his venture Carbon Nanoprobes, an emerging nanotech solutions provider that enables the acceleration of research and development through use of its molecular imaging technology. This years Olympics drew in a broad range of pitching entrepreneurs from TimeoutTV, a venture optimizing airport real estate through tamper proof video screens in restrooms and other areas to Twin Hens, a food company specializing in frozen pot pie entrees to a high technology ventures such as iSpeech’s text to speech software and Carbon Nanoprobes.
Judging panelists included:
- Thatcher Bell, Principal, DFJ Gotham Ventures
- Matt Bieber, Senior Associate, Originate Ventures
- Conrad Everhard, Esq. Shareholder, Greenberg Traurig LLP
- Paul Lewis, Angel Investor, Partner, Lewis LLC
- Jeanne Sullivan, General Partner, StarVest Partners, LP
The Venture Association’s next Expo is scheduled for late October 2009. More information: www.VANJ.com
