Calling All Companies



Arkansas Venture Forum looks for promising companies

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (July 28, 2008) " Are you a part of promising company that is seeking capital or do you know someone who is? If the answer is “Yes,” then you will want to make plans to get their name(s) to the Arkansas Venture Forum (AVF) by August 29, 2008, according to Dextera, Inc. Principal and AVF Conference Chairman Grey Williams. The selection process for outstanding companies with abundant potential is underway as the sixth annual AVF Conference, scheduled for November 18 and 19, 2008, draws nearer.

One of the principal purposes of the annual conference is to showcase a group of enterprises with the potential to make a positive impact within the state of Arkansas and considered by the selection committee to have a compelling business model worthy of being awarded conference presenter time. Finalists will be announced on September 23, 2008. The finalists will be assigned pre-arranged mentor teams who will work with the management team of each company to further hone company presentations for the investor pitch. And, best of all, there is no cost to the presenting companies.

The companies selected as presenters for the Venture Conference will gain more than exposure for their products or services. "Having the opportunity to work with the professionals involved in preparing the Presenting Companies presentation is a very valuable experience," Fund for Arkansas' Future Executive Director and AVF Volunteer Jeff Stinson explained. "Some of the State's finest business executives volunteer to guide and assist the 'up and coming' companies, in order to give them the optimal chance to showcase their companies."

  1. Submit an executive summary to the AVF by August 29, 2008;
  2. AVF Presenting Companies Committee notifies finalists of their selection;
  3. Selected Presenting Companies work with a team of business professionals who will assist in refining the company's presentation; and,
  4. Company makes a 20-minute presentation on the company during the AVF Conference.

Companies wishing to submit an application to present at the Conference are requested to go to http://www.arkansasventureforum.com and download the 2008 Arkansas Venture Conference executive summary guidelines. Follow the guidelines and submit your executive summary to Jonathan Jacobs at jjacobs@arcapital.com before August 29, 2008.

The goal of the Arkansas Venture Conference is to bring key resources together to help advance promising new Arkansas companies. The conference especially provides a centralized and resource rich opportunity for Arkansas's aspiring rural and urban entrepreneurs to meet other successful entrepreneurs, angel investors and a wide range of professionals with knowledge of how to match good ideas with development capital. Also, conference participants will have access to groundbreaking research, emerging technologies information and leaders of high-growth companies in Arkansas.