NASDAQ, Enterprise Honolulu Sponsor Entrepreneur Pitch Competition

By Sonia Isotov

Enterprise Honolulu, the Oahu Economic Development Board, invites entrepreneurs from all Hawaiian islands to participate in the 2011 Hawaii Entrepreneur Pitch Competition.

This is part of a NASDAQ-sponsored event called “Road to IPO,” that includes information on raising venture capital and how to prepare companies for an IPO.

The event features a Venture Capital Pitch Competition where three Hawaii companies will compete for the grand prize of an all expenses paid networking week in Silicon Valley where they will meet with potential investors and attend tech and venture capital-related functions (Grand Prize includes travel to Silicon Valley for two, accommodation 6 nights, pre-arranged meetings with Venture Capital investors, sessions with VC consultants and registration for VC related conferences/workshops).

The competition deadline is January 19, 2011. Applications and instructions can be found on the Enterprise Honolulu website: http://www.enterprisehonolulu.com/roadtoipo

The Road to IPO event will be held Wednesday, February 23, 2011 from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm at the Laniakea in Downtown Honolulu.

Two events will be featured under the “Road to IPO” umbrella. First, the IPO Workshop by NASDAQ where attendees learn from NASDAQ how companies position themselves to go public. Second, the 2011 Hawaii Entrepreneur Pitch Competition which will focus on “venture ready companies” or companies who are currently raising venture financing.

Entrepreneurs from every island are welcome to participate! Entrepreneurs will need to be present at the semi-final pitch round on February 16 and the final pitch round on February 23 (in conjunction with the IPO workshop).

The Road to IPO event is organized by the Hawaii Strategic Development Corporation, High-Technology Development Corporation, Enterprise Honolulu and HiBEAM.

 For questions about the event, please call (808) 521-3611 ext. 5 or email [email protected].