I Just got this in from the folks over at Kickstand. If you've been working on that business plan, now's the time to pitch it (10 times) and get some great feedback.

Start-up Speed Dating, a twice yearly event sponsored by Kickstand, is a valuable learning experience for entrepreneurs. Learning ‘how’ to sell your idea, product and business will enable you to succeed in your endeavors.

WHAT IS START-UP SPEED DATING?

Following a competitive selection process, as many as 10 entrepreneurs will be chosen to participate in this educational and inspirational exercise. If your company is selected, you’ll present your pitch for 5 minutes to 10 individual investors/entrepreneurs followed by 5 minutes of feedback. You will repeat the process 10 times until you have presented to all investors. Speed Dating will allow you to receive real time feedback on your presentation and the quality of your pitch from qualified investors.

Though the executive summary is used as criteria in company selection, the investor panel will not directly evaluate this document. They will only be evaluating the verbal “pitch” offered by companies. In addition, this is not an official fund-raising forum; instead, it is a chance for companies to practice and improve the way they share their business ideas and goals with others.

The application deadline is Monday, November 3, 2008.

If you are selected, you will pitch your company during START-UP SPEED DATING on Tuesday, November 11, 2008. The top 3 presenters will then present at the regular Kickstand meeting on Thursday, November 13.

PepperShock Media Productions is donating production time for a one minute video valued at $1,000 to the winning company. The video can be used for: a pitch for investors, or a trade show loop, or a training video, or a testimonial video, or.............

Sound like fun? Go to www.kickstand.org to submit your application and get started on the process.

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