Kyyba Xcelerator, Bodman PLC, and TiE Detroit will launch Pitch Club, a mentoring and funding series held across Michigan, at SPARK in Ann Arbor on Wednesday, Sept. 27. Aimed at connecting the various ecosystems and smart zones throughout Michigan, each event will educate, inspire and provide networking opportunities and valuable experiences for being investable.
Ten monthly events will be hosted on Wednesdays throughout the year in Michigan cities including: Ann Arbor, Detroit, Lansing, and Grand Rapids. Currently, announced meeting dates include October 18, as well as January 24, 2018, at TechTown in Detroit, and November 29 at SPARK.
Hosted by Bodman Law Firm Partner Michael Melfi, who also is the founder of “Be Investable,” Pitch Club will provide entrepreneurs, especially those in the early stage, the opportunity to learn from seasoned entrepreneurs and investors. As part of the process, three chosen participants will have the opportunity to practice their pitch and discuss their business plan with funding experts, giving them a better understanding of the mindset of an investor.
The program also will feature a guest keynote that will speak about topics related to starting a company, technology trends and opportunities for entrepreneurs.
“Pitch Club provides a tremendous opportunity for cross-pollination and increased deal flow across Michigan, something that currently is not at the level it should be. This program will be very valuable for both the startup entrepreneurs and investors and will hopefully create a meaningful dialogue, as well as a technological and economic impact for the entire region,” said Tel Ganesan, managing director, Kyyba Xcelerator. “In order to make this initiative even more successful, I encourage seasoned entrepreneurs in each of these areas to join us by serving as a mentor.”
For this initiative, Kyyba Xcelerator and Bodman PLC are partnering with other established incubators and accelerators across Michigan, including TechTown Detroit and Ann Arbor SPARK.
“From the elevator pitch to the public pitch to the investor pitch, the more successful entrepreneurs are pitching, the more integral this will become to their success. We are pleased to partner with Kyyba Xcelerator to help entrepreneurs to gain exposure, insights and support that will help them truly move the needle,” said Paul Riser, director of Technology-Based Entrepreneurship at TechTown Detroit.
“Access to investors and the opportunities to pitch without having to travel are signs of a healthy startup ecosystem,” said Paul Krutko, president and CEO of Ann Arbor SPARK. “We are excited to have the Ann Arbor region included in Pitch Club; this new avenue for connecting startups and potential funders is a terrific addition to the existing ways entrepreneurs are able to attract capital as well as the investors already interested in what’s happening here.”
The select pool of the companies chosen to pitch at the monthly Pitch Club events will be provided investment opportunities in the form of presenting to the investment team of Kyyba Xcelerator and TiE Detroit Angels during their quarterly Angels meeting. Investment opportunities will range from $25,000 to $100,000. TiE Detroit Angels funded companies, if qualifications are met, also could have the chance to present to the TiE Global Angel Alliance (TGAA), a global platform for funding that exposes startups to a broader investment pool and opportunities to raise additional funds much larger than any single TiE Chapter or local Angel Group. TGAA recently invested $395,000 in Zeto, and $450,000 for Hemex Health from the TiE Global network.
A startup seeking to present at Pitch Club must complete an application form. Applicants can apply, view the event schedule and learn about prizes and benefits at www.kyybaxcelerator.com/the-best-part.php or by contacting Sarah Myrand at sarahm@kyybaxcelerator.com.
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