|
What is the SoundingBoard?
The "SoundingBoard" program provides aspiring entrepreneurs the opportunity to receive coaching from seasoned entrepreneurs or assistance providers as they prepare their business/strategic plan. The entrepreneur then has the opportunity to present the plan during a Greater Cincinnati Venture Association luncheon to a panel of subject matter experts who will provide feedback on the plan. The subject matter experts include: angels, seed capital funds, venture capitalists, accountants, lawyers, intellectual property specialists, seasoned entrepreneurs, business assistance providers, management and marketing specialists, university entrepreneurship specialists and representatives from pillar companies. The entrepreneurs are given the opportunity to network with the panelists and audience after the presentations.
During the 2005 – 2006 Greater Cincinnati Venture Association season, the SoundingBoard will be held in September, December, and April. At each of these sessions, up to 3 business plans will be presented.
Each company presentation lasts 10 minutes followed by 10-15 minutes of questions & answers. As part of each business plan review, SoundingBoard provides insight and guidance on the plan. Participants receive feedback from the SoundingBoard Panel and the audience via feedback sheets.
How does an Entrepreneur benefit?
The SoundingBoard is important to start-up entrepreneurs because it introduces them to a variety of early stage funding sources and provides real-time, useful, substantive feedback to make their business plans investment worthy. Benefits to entrepreneurs are as follows:
- Coaching
- Presentation Practice
- High Level Feedback
- Access to Subject Matter Experts
- Networking
- Access to Potential Capital Sources
SoundingBoard Works
Since its start in December, 2001, SoundingBoard has provided an "Entrepreneur-Focused" forum for Greater Cincinnati's finest entrepreneurs.
As for capital attraction, numerous SoundingBoard companies have benefited from the constructive feedback received from the Program and have bettered their companies / presentations to the point where capital offers have been received from early stage capital sources.
Not only are the presentations a highlight at SoundingBoard, but the networking is outstanding. As part of the Greater Cincinnati Venture Association, SoundingBoard presenters have the opportunity to network with early stage capitalists, angel investors, subject matter experts, entrepreneurs, and business assistance intermediaries.
2005 - 2006 SoundingBoard Important Dates
April 19, 2006 SoundingBoard - Please submit application by March 23, 2006.
SoundingBoard Application – Click Here
For more information, please contact one of the following:
Patrick Longo of HCBC at longo@hcdc.com,
Carol Frankenstein of Bio/Start at cfranken@biostart.org, or
Dorothy Air of University of Cincinnati at airdh@uc.edu.
SoundingBoard is proudly sponsored by :
|
