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.
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:
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.
Here are SoundingBoard's results:
SoundingBoard 2001 to 2008
Number of Presenting Companies – 101
Number of Presenting Companies Funded – 29
Funding Amount – $13,950,000 and growing
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.
Presentation Assistance, Access to Capital, and Networking are the 3 main components that make SoundingBoard an effective tool for entrepreneurs.
For more information or to apply, please contact one of the following:
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