Application deadline looming for LifeSciTN “Venture Forum”
(EDITOR’S NOTE: The following was submitted by Life Science Tennessee.)
Applications for the second annual LifeSciTN Venture Forum are due at 8 p.m. on Monday, August 19. Venture Forum participants will pitch in front of life science investors and attendees of the LifeSciTN Annual Conference in Nashville in October.
The first of its kind, the forum is specifically designed to support emerging companies in Tennessee’s life sciences industry which includes the following sectors: pharmaceutical, medical device, research, biofuels and biologistics.
This year’s competition is sponsored by iStart, a business competition platform powered by the Kauffman Foundation. Interested applicants should submit applications at the LifeSciTN iStart site.
Venture Forum participants will compete for a host of in-kind start-up business services from professional services firms with expertise in the life sciences.
This year the Venture Forum has partnered with the Global South Summit and the Global Food and Health Innovation Challenge (GFHI). The Challenge is a competitive investment opportunity to identify breakthrough prototypes, technologies or early-stage ventures that hold promise for transformative impact on health and food and are scalable business enterprises. The GHFI is offering a $1 million investment opportunity. Life science start-ups are encouraged to apply for both the LifeSciTN Venture Forum and the GFHI Challenge. The five companies chosen to participate in the LifeSciTN Venture Forum will receive special consideration in the GFHI Challenge. For more details, go to http://dqesmjwtwvpqd.cloudfront.net/assets/docs/51cb1a3f54b70912d000000b.pdf.
The LifeSciTN Venture Forum pairs participants with mentors who will help them to review their company fundamentals and refine pitches which will help prepare them for both the Venture Forum and GFHI.
To learn more about the competition including eligibility requirements, judging criteria and how to apply, go to http://lifesciencetn.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=72.
