20 Startups Are Ready to Pitch for Prizes and Investment Capital at the 11th Annual Innovation Showcase

[caption id="attachment_1402" width="200"] Ben Pidgeon, VisionTech[/caption]

Among my responsibilities as executive director of VisionTech Angels is screening startup companies. Each year, my committee members and I review more than 400 companies seeking investor dollars, selecting about 12 to pitch to our angel investors. It is, by design, a grueling process. I mention this because the Venture Club of Indiana took the same rigorous path for selecting the pitch companies for this year’s Innovation Showcase. Venture Club President Aaron Gillum and Pitch Competition Chair Travis Stegemoller took the “Road to the Showcase,” personally traveling to nine cities across Indiana to find the best of the best to pitch at the Showcase on August 22. My hat’s off to you both plus all of the folks who put on the local pitch competitions. Now, read on for details on the Innovation Showcase Pitch Competition!

[caption id="attachment_1758" width="200"] Aaron Gillum, President, Venture Club of Indiana[/caption] The Venture Club of Indiana likes to say we have Indiana’s largest pitch competition, but this year it’s also among the most carefully curated. With the help of local sponsors in nine Indiana cities, we met many enthusiastic entrepreneurs who pitched a wide range of high tech and socially conscious solutions. Choosing the 20 we believed to be the most investor ready to participate in The Innovation Showcase was tough! Here are the 2019 pitch companies: Evansville HeliponixSafekeepingFort Wayne Bukal Beverage Co.Cool Corp, Inc.Greater Lafayette AdranosAmplified SciencesRogo AG, LLCIndianapolis AfterSchool HQAtlas EnergyAway ZonesPinpoint PharmaPlan ForwardMuncie TudrWhat’s Up 24/7New Albany Moxie GirlTotal MindcareNorthwest Indiana FlykeArtSouth Bend Frost Control SystemsSIMBA ChainTerre Haute Zoro, Inc.Here’s What You Need to Know About the Pitch Competition Showcase pitch companies are competing for $20,000 in cash plus in-kind prizes. Equally important, they’re competing for the attention of the VCs, angel investors and individual investors in the audience. We’re looking for a big crowd. Have you purchased your tickets yet? Get them here. We kickoff the Innovation Showcase with registration at 11 a.m. followed by lunch. After welcoming remarks by Venture Club President Aaron Gillum, we get down to business with great speakers, the Expo Hall, and the pitches. See the complete Showcase schedule here.There are two pitch sessions, one at 2 p.m. and the second at 3:30. With Emcee Dr. Don Kuratko of the IU Kelley School of Business cheering them on, each startup will have three minutes to make their case to the judges. The scores will then be tallied and the judges will huddle before announcing the winners at 5:30. The day ends on a high note with the VIP Reception and Expo Hall from 5:45 – 7:30p.m. Showcase attendees and entrepreneurs have plenty of time to connect for one-on-one discussions and networking. The Venture Club of Indiana extends special thanks for our 2019 Innovation Showcase sponsors, without whom this event would not be possible. Elevate VenturesAllosBarnes & ThornburgDeftly Creative50 South CapitalInnovation ConnectorKatz Sapper & MillerLux-WritesNovel CoworkingOntario SystemsPurdue FoundryPurdue VenturesSignature BankVisionTech Angels When You Leave the RoomFind more information on The Innovation Showcase here. Purchase tickets here.