Jun. 9–VENTURE CAPITAL: Do you have an innovative start-up business that needs some outside investment to help it really take off?
The Central Florida Innovation Corp. is sponsoring a “capital raising conference” that could hook you up with an investor who has both the money you need and the willingness to take a risk on a promising investment.
CFIC’s seventh annual venture-capital conference, scheduled for Sept. 25 in Orlando, is aimed at bringing such investors offering so-called “first round” venture capital together with small companies that promise fast growth.
The conference is limited to Florida-based companies that can project annual revenue of $25 million within five years. Also, the company should have had at least $250,000 in previous investment or cash flow, says CFIC spokeswoman Christa Santos.
The investment minimum is designed to screen out people who have not already made a commitment to the business. “We don’t want it to be a hobby,” Santos said.
The conference is scheduled for Sept. 25 at the Omni Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando, but CFIC wants applications from prospective presenters by Friday.
The five-page application is brief, and can be completed in 30 minutes but must include a full business plan.
To reach CFIC, a nonprofit corporation started with state and local government money and supported by private sector contributions, call 407-277-5411.
HISPANIC FUND: The nonprofit Hispanic Business Initiative Fund got a $270,000 appropriation from the state in this year’s legislative session, down from $450,000 last year.
However, Linda Landman-Gonzalez, chairwoman of the Orlando chapter, said the group is “very satisfied” with the amount in light of all the cuts to the state budget this year. State support for the fund, which helps Hispanics learn to start and run their own businesses, was in doubt late in the recent legislative session.
— Barry Flynn
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(c) 2003. Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.
