FIU’s Americas Venture Capital Conference draws innovative companies to Miami


Building on last year’s breakthrough success, Florida International University (FIU) will host for the second consecutive year some of Latin America’s most innovative emerging companies, thought leaders and venture capital investors at the 2011 Americas Venture Capital Conference.

The theme of this year’s conference is “Latin America: Building on Success.” The conference will take place on November 16-17 at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables. The conference is presented by FIU’s Eugenio Pino and Family Global Entrepreneurship Center, an Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation Grant recipient.

The conference offers participants a unique opportunity to network, share best practices and identify promising investment opportunities from throughout the region. For companies doing business in Latin America and South Florida, the conference provides an extraordinary opportunity to present their business plans and raise capital from venture capitalists and leading investment groups.

“In one short year, our conference established itself as the leading venue for innovative entrepreneurs and investors seeking to engage with some of the region’s leading business visionaries as well as to network, share information and identify promising investment opportunities,” said AVCC Founder and Co-Chair Irma Becerra-Fernandez, vice provost of Academic Affairs at FIU. “We are excited about what the future holds and look forward to expanding the Conference as we continue to reach out to FIU’s national and global business communities.”

To qualify as a presenter a company must conduct a significant portion of its business in Latin America, the Caribbean or South Florida. Companies must also demonstrate a proven business model with positive gross margins, a minimum viable product, and a proven market adoption as well as an established user base. Companies will also be required to have excellent management teams in place.

Companies from the following industry sectors are encouraged to apply: agriculture and water quality; biotechnology, pharmaceutical and health; consumer products;education; energy and green technologies; entertainment; information, communication and web technologies and natural resources.

“We are true believers in the FIU’s Americas Venture Capital Conference and the value and opportunity it offers to companies in Latin America,” said Carlos Saffie, Project Leader of Oncobiomed and winner of last year’s Tres Mares Innovation Prize. “I personally encourage any company in Latin America that is seeking to tell its story and attract investors and partners to participate and compete.”

Companies interested in presenting at the conference are asked to create a profile in the Global Innovative Ventures Knowledge Base by August 15, 2011. The selected companies will be given the opportunity to have a table-top display and make a short presentation to investors during the conference.

Selected companies will present their business to the attending investors while competing for the following prizes:

  • Tres Mares Innovation Prize: A cash award in the amount of $10,000 and an artistic rendition of innovation by the collective Tercerunquinto valued at $5,000.
  • FedEx Access to Global Markets Prize: $10,000 in-kind services, for its commitment to global trade.
  • CP Capital Emerging Venture Prize: $10,000 in investment banking services.
  • CP Capital Inflection Venture Prize: $10,000 in investment banking services.

“We are excited to continue building on last year’s success in creating a community of innovative entrepreneurs, investors and business leaders. This Conference will continue to grow in scope and significance, and will become increasingly important in cultivating a culture of innovation that will be key to Latin America’s continued emergence as a globally significant region,” said conference co-chair Faquiry Diaz Cala, CEO of Tres Mares Group.

“Last year’s conference helped create a new sense of community for innovative Latin American companies, and those who hope to increase their trade activities within the hemisphere,” said Guilherme Gatti, managing director, Marketing & Corporate Communications, FedEx Express Latin America & Caribbean. “We are proud to continue and expand our support for the conference, and we urge all those with an interest in global trade to attend.”

For more information about the 2011 Americas Venture Capital Conference, including registration and sponsorship opportunities, please visit: www.AmericasVCConference.com or call 305-348-7156.

Media Contact: Ellen Forman at 305-348-2232.

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