Global Midwest Alliance
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Driving Innovation and Growth
2015 Polsinelli Innovation Competition
PROGRAM SPONSORED BY
Global Midwest Alliance is pleased to invite you to participate in the 7th annual Polsinelli Innovation Competition, taking place during the Corporate Venturing program on November 12, 2015. The Polsinelli Innovation Competition focuses on the Midwest's excellence in technology innovation, products and services.
The companies featured in this competition are developing products and services which:
- Improve resource utilization
- Promote the productive and responsible use of natural resources
- Reduce negative ecological impact
- Provide superior performance at lower costs
Submissions will be judged by a panel of experts representing regional universities, venture capitalists and business executives. All finalists will receive recognition through conference print materials and the event website, and will be eligible to attend the November 12 Corporate Venturing program and Polsinelli Innovation Competition Awards program free of charge. Additional finalists’ representatives will also be eligible to attend at a reduced registration rate.
The top five competition finalists will receive coaching from a qualified competition judge and have the opportunity to compete, presenting their technologies during the program to an audience of early stage investors, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and financiers, and corporate R&D and business development executives. The top three finalists will be selected and receive cash prizes during the November 12 showcase. In addition to a cash prize, the competition winner receives $10,000 in free legal services from Polsinelli.
We look forward to receiving your application this year.
The Polsinelli Innovation Competition was created to help emerging and venture ready companies gain visibility and make connections. The competition will provide a showcase for developers of new technologies that offer competitive returns for investors and customers while providing solutions to global challenges.
Past Innovation Competition winners and finalists have gone on to compete and win in national and international competitions, received access to funding, gained beneficial partners for growth and won new business opportunities. We are proud that many of our past finalists are currently doing business on a global scale.
Competition entries may include, but are not limited to, products, services and technologies in the areas of:
- Renewable and alternative energy
- Infrastructure and community
- Food and agriculture
- Manufacturing and industrial
- Water
- Logistics and sustainable distribution
ENTRY INFORMATION
Criteria
- Applicants must be focused on products, services and technologies that improve the resource utilization in the areas of renewable and alternative energy, infrastructure and community, food and agriculture, manufacturing, water products, logistics and sustainable distribution
- Applicants should have a sound business plan
- Ideally, applicants will have completed an initial or angel round of funding
- Companies presenting and/or sponsoring the November 12 Corporate Venturing program are not eligible to participate
Application
- To apply, please visit the Polsinelli Innovation Competition. Applications must be received no later than September 18, 2015 (11:59 p.m. CST).
- Finalists will be notified of acceptance by October 15, 2015.
- There is no cost to apply or present at the November 12 program.
- The competition judging panel reserves the right to disqualify submissions not adhering to the application requirements or to request resubmission in the event that application criteria are not met.
- International applicants located outside of the USA will have the option to submit a video presentation instead of attending in person. These finalists will be notified and will need to arrange to submit their video prior to November 6, 2015.
For those finalists selected among the top five to present their company at the seminar, a presentation length of eight minutes will be strictly enforced. PowerPoint slides are allowed, with a six-slide maximum. Slides MUST be submitted no later than November 6, 2015. Presenters will have the opportunity to respond to audience questions following the presentations.
Schedule
The Polsinelli Innovation Competition and Corporate Venturing program will be held on November 12, 2015 at the Five Star Amenity Center, 161 North Clark Street, 12th Floor, Chicago, IL 60601. Additional information on the program will be available to all entrants. For additional information on competition sponsors, please access the links below.
About Our Sponsor
Polsinelli
Polsinelli is an Am Law 100 firm with 750 attorneys in 18 offices, serving corporations, institutions, entrepreneurs and individuals nationally. Ranked in the top five percent of law firms for client service and top five percent of firms for innovating new and valuable services*, the firm has risen more than 100 spots in Am Law’s annual firm ranking over the past six years. Polsinelli attorneys provide practical legal counsel infused with business insight, and focus on health care, financial services, real estate, life sciences and technology, and business litigation. Polsinelli attorneys have depth of experience in 100 service areas and 70 industries. The firm can be found online at www.polsinelli.com. Polsinelli PC. In California, Polsinelli LLP. *BTI Client Service A-Team 2015 and BTI Brand Elite 2015.
L to R: Adam Weiss, Polsinelli; Piero Salvo, GAME Consultants; John Slagter, Mackinac; Susan Sprentall, SurClean; Winner Deepinder Singh, 75F; Claire Tramm, Effortless Energy; and Tony Nasharr, Polsinelli.
Video Highlights
See more highlights from the 2014 Polsinelli Innovation Competition
2014 Finalist Presentations:
2014 Interviews
