FIU Americas Venture Capital Conference to showcase innovative ventures

Posted by × 10/04/2011 at 12:54 pm

Cutting-edge ventures from Latin America and South Florida will vie for more than $50,000 in awards, and recognition from leading investors, at Florida International University’s 2011 Americas Venture Capital Conference (AVCC), Nov. 16-17,  at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables.

FIU’s Eugenio Pino and Family Global Entrepreneurship Center and College of Business Administration will host the second annual conference, “Latin America: Building on Success.”

“The investment community has come to view the AVCC as a one-stop showcase for cutting edge ventures in Latin America and South Florida,” said AVCC founder and co-chair Irma Becerra-Fernandez. “This year, we will reach even deeper into the venture development community and the private equity process.”

Recognized in its first year for generating over $40 million in investments and fostering a unique transnational investment and networking environment, the AVCC has expanded its outreach and programming for the 2011 conference. In addition to showcasing its accomplished Top Global Innovative Ventures, for the first time this year the AVCC will present a group of Top Global Emerging Ventures. These are companies of potential interest to investors looking for exciting early-stage opportunities.

All AVCC presenting companies will be eligible for two new “People’s Choice” awards, which will be selected through pre-conference Facebook voting.

The Top Global Innovative Ventures will each make ten-minute presentations to investors at the conference’s headline event. Top Global Emerging Ventures will make two-minute pitches at the same forum.

Presenting ventures include companies in agriculture and water quality; biotechnology, pharmaceutical and health; consumer products; energy and green technologies; entertainment; information, communication and web technologies; natural resources; and education.

2011 Top Global Innovative Ventures:

Top Global Innovative Ventures are eligible to receive the following awards:

Tres Mares Innovation Prize: A cash award in the amount of $10,000 and an artistic rendition of innovation by a leading world artist valued at $5,000.

FedEx Access to Global Markets Prize: $10,000 in-kind services, for its commitment to global trade.

CP Capital Inflection Venture Prize: $10,000 in investment banking services.

CP Capital “People’s Choice Award”: $10,000 in investment banking services for a company that causes ripple effects of influence on people, industries and business around them.

Founders Network Prize: The four prize winning companies will each be awarded a complimentary year membership to the Founders Network, with a total value of over $2,000.

2011 Top Global Emerging Ventures:

Top Global Emerging Ventures are eligible to receive the following awards:

C+VOX’s Wave Maker Prize: $5,000 in strategic communications consulting for a company that causes ripple effects of influence on people, industries and business around them.

Founders Network Prize: One winning company will be awarded one complimentary year membership to the Founders Network.

The conference registration fee is $499 before October 15, 2011. Conference registration includes: admission to panels, keynotes, presentations, meals, networking breaks, and receptions. For more information, click here or contact the Pino Center at entrepreneurship@fiu.edu.

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