"BNC Startup” is a training ground for entrepreneurs to practice their pitch, receive high-level feedback, and make valuable business connections.  Two startups pitch to an audience of angel investors, venture capitalists, entrepreneurs, and senior-level executives.  Presentations are followed by an interview with a local entrepreneur or investor who has been very successful.       

If you are a startup and want to pitch, contact David Carman at: 312-943-6376 or dcarman@BNChicago.com

Presenters: 

1.      Lightweight Structures (http://www.lwstructures.com/) has developed a revolutionary new lightweight composite framing system (Forteco) for commercial and residential buildings that saves time and money while creating a safe and healthy place to live and work.  The company has forged a strategic partnership with Germantown Iron & Steel Corp. in Wisconsin.  To date 6 small projects have been completed.  Currently, the company is bidding on several commercial projects totaling over 25MM. 

2.      Swingbyte (http://www.swingbyte.com/) is a motion analysis company that empowers athletes and sports enthusiasts to improve faster through real-time mobile capture. Their initial consumer product is for avid golfers and will be introduced this spring. Swingbyte utilizes a lightweight sensor to wirelessly transmit a 3-D rendering of your golf swing along with valuable data and analysis to your smartphone or tablet.  Swingbyte placed 3rd in  Booth's 2011 New Venture Challenge (http://research.chicagobooth.edu/nvc/index.aspx) and subsequently won the Clique Studios competition (http://www.cliquepromo.com/) and walked away with the $100,000 prize in marketing services.  

Interview: 

Kevin Willer is the new head of the Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center (CEC).  He leads their efforts (http://www.chicagolandec.org/) to identify Chicago’s most promising entrepreneurs and help them build high-growth, sustainable companies.  In 2000, Kevin co-founded and began to grow Google’s Chicago office to more than 400 professionals.  Prior to Google, he held sales and business development positions at CMGI and U.S. Robotics.         

Details:

Date:  Wednesday, January 18, 2012 

Time:  5:30 – 8 p.m.  

Location:  Perkins Coie, 131 S. Dearborn, Suite 1600  

Admission price:  $20 online, $30 at the door.  (Price includes appetizers & drinks.)

Registration link:  http://jan2012bncstartup.eventbrite.com      

(Online registration ends at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, January 18, 2011.  Price does not include registration fee.)

Evening Agenda:

5:30 – 6:00 p.m.  Registration & Open Networking

6:00 – 6:30 p.m.  2 companies pitch their ideas

6:30 - 7:00 p.m.  Interview

7:00 – 8:00 p.m.  Open Networking

"BNC Startup” is hosted by the law firm of Perkins Coie (www.perkinscoie.com).  Perkins Coie represents great companies across a wide range of industries and stages of growth from startups to Fortune 100 corporations. 

For more information about BNC, visit our website at: www.BNChicago.com

To learn about the BNC Venture Capital Group, go to: www.BNChicago.com/VC

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