INDIANAPOLIS, July 10, 2014 – The Innovation Showcase 2014 attracted nearly 850 attendees for the sixth annual event for entrepreneurs, investors and community supporters. The daylong event at the Dallara IndyCar Factory included investor education sessions presented by VisionTech Partners and IU Kelley School of Business, pitches and exhibits by Midwest-area startups, a keynote address by sport psychologist Dr. Rob. Bell, and a panel discussion focused on current investing trends.
The Innovation Showcase investor panel selected Cearna Aesthetics as the winner of the largest ever prize package, which included $128,000 in investment and professional services. Cearna, a Chicago-based company, took home top honors by convincing investors of the market potential of their patented formula for reducing bruising, swelling, and pain related to cosmetic surgical procedures and common bruise-producing injuries.
The event was emceed by Inside Indiana Business creator and host Gerry Dick and included opening remarks by Indiana’s Lieutenant Governor Sue Ellspermann.
The featured attraction for the day was the pitch competition where 74 exhibiting companies were given 60 seconds each to convince investors in the audience that their companies are worthy of investment.
The stakes for this year’s competition were high, with the companies pitching for a prize package of $128,000 in investment and professional services including:
Workspace from Launch Fishers
Public Relations from BLASTmedia
Web Development from Foxio
Tax, CPA & Accounting services from Lehman’s Terms
Web Marketing from DK New Media
Venture Coaching from DeveloperTown
Branding from The Momentum Group
Custom Forms Software from Formstack (2 team plans, $6K value)
Legal Services from Faegre Baker Daniels
Presentation Coaching from Scientifically Speaking
Strategic Planning Services from ReachMore
Product Management Services from InnovateMap
Video Production from Neal Moore New Media
HR Services by Tilson HR
Herman Miller Aeron Chairs from OfficeWorks
The prize package also included $52,000 in investment via a convertible note from Indy-based investors Elevate Ventures, VisionTech Partners and HALO Investors Group.
About The Innovation Showcase
From its humble beginnings in 2009 at The Purdue Technology Center of Indianapolis, The Innovation Showcase has grown to become Indiana’s premier event for fundable companies to connect with capital sources. Originally created by the Venture Club of Indiana in 2009, The Innovation Showcase was enhanced with the addition of Verge in 2011 and VisionTech Partners in 2014, and now is known as the place to connect with the entrepreneurial energy in Indiana.
Innovation Showcase sponsors include: Purdue Foundry, Indiana University, Barnes & Thornburg LLP; Elevate Ventures, TechPoint; BioCrossroad,; IEDC, Halo Capital Group; Tilson HR, ISBDC, Launch Fishers; Launch Indiana, Venture Club of Indiana, Verge, and VisionTech Partners. More information at: www.theinnovationshowcase.com
About Cearna Aesthetics
Founded in 2010 by Dr. Josephine Polich, Cearna is engaged in the research, development and commercialization of surgery and trauma recovery products. Our mission is to help people recover from trauma more quickly by reducing bruising, swelling and pain.