ANN ARBOR ? The Michigan Growth Capital Symposium turns 30 this May and the grand daddy of all elevator pitch contests announced Tuesday that companies interested in presenting can now submit applications. The application deadline is March 8.

“It’s really important that we do a good job of launching companies and getting them on a solid financial footing early on,” said Symposium Founder David J. Brophy, Director and Professor of Finance at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business. “As the region’s investment landscape continues to grow a little faster, we’ve got to loudly ring that bell so that investors from around the country know we’re here and that we have opportunities. That, of course, has been the primary purpose of the Symposium for 30 years now.”

The Symposium has traditionally focused on early-stage deals, in large part due to the region’s flow of technology from Great Lakes universities and its industrial base. But recently the Midwest has seen significant growth both in the rate of venture financing and in its organized venture community, attracting venture capitalists from around the country with interests that are further up the growth curve. In fact, the growth rate of venture financing in the Midwest has outpaced California in recent quarters, prompting the Symposium to expand its offering so companies at several stages will have the opportunity to pitch potential investors.

The opening day will feature companies seeking $500,000 to $2 million in funding and the second day will showcase companies seeking more than $2 million and follow on rounds of funding. To be considered, companies should be projecting $20 million in revenue within five years and be seeking funding in the range of $500,000 to $20 million, with preference given to those with a Midwest connection. Other criteria for consideration include: market opportunity, competitive advantages, intellectual property, financial projections and the quality and experience of the management team.

Companies selected to present will have the opportunity to deliver a 10-minute presentation to showcase their business opportunity to an audience of venture capitalists and institutional investors. Additional benefits to presenting companies include:

A four-page executive summary in the conference program

Listing of the company name and link on the event website

Investor pitch and presentation coaching

Table-top exhibit space

The final deadline for application submissions is Tues., March 8. For more information or to submit an application, click on MichiganGCS.Com

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