News release from The Launch Place
The Launch Place and the Angel Capital Association (ACA)’s Angel University are partnering to bring together angel investors and entrepreneurs to learn, share and network. This two-day event offers a unique experience for both angel investors and entrepreneurs that will be filled with immersive learning and networking. Attendees will begin the two-day event with ACA Angel University and conclude with a fast-paced pitch competition where winners will walk away with $15,000 to move their ventures forward.
ACA Angel University will offer two courses valuable to both angel investors and entrepreneurs—Angel Exit Strategy and Valuation. This is the first time these two courses are being taught with angels and entrepreneurs learning together. Angels learn how to value startup companies and how to harvest the value of their investments helping their companies generate successful exits. Entrepreneurs gain a better understanding of how angels think leading to stronger partnerships.
The Big Launch Challenge, a competition targeting the best startups in the country, is a unique opportunity to see 10 leading startups as they compete for $15,000 in prize money. Over the past 8 years of hosting this competition, The Launch Place has awarded $159,000 to 14 companies. The Launch Place strives to foster an environment for new and serial entrepreneurs in which they can raise capital and have access to support services they need to take their products and/or solutions into the marketplace.
“The goal of the Big Launch Challenge is to provide early-stage startups the opportunity to pitch their ideas to investors, and for The Launch Place Pre-Seed and Seed Fund to generate deal flow,” says The Launch Place President and CEO, Eva Doss. “Every year it is a different experience, with different business ideas and founding teams. We are very excited to host the competition in person again and to hear the thought-provoking pitches.”
The two-day event will begin on October 13th in the afternoon with ACA Angel University and end with the Big Launch Challenge starting at 1:00pm on Thursday, October 14th. Companies interested in participating in the Big Launch Challenge must complete an application. Applications can be found at http://www.thelaunchplace.org/big-launch-challenge. The deadline to apply is August 16, 2021. Registration to attend these events will open later.
About The Launch Place (TLP):
The Launch Place provides new and early-stage business support services and pre-seed and seed investments for technology startups in Virginia and North Carolina. As a venture development organization with the purpose to plan, fund, launch and grow businesses, TLP helps companies to get started, or to expand their operations by providing business consulting services, office space, and by investing in them through its investment funds. thelaunchplace.org
About the Angel Capital Association (ACA):
The Angel Capital Association (ACA) is the professional association of angel investors across North America and offers education, best practices, data, public policy advocacy, and significant benefits and resources to its membership of more than 14,000 accredited investors, who invest individually or through its 250+ angel groups, accredited platforms, and family offices. Visit http://www.angelcapitalassociation.org or at @ACAAngelCapital
