RISE Funding Forum

The RISE Funding Forum provides growth-stage startups an exceptional platform to pitch their business and receive real-time feedback from an eminent panel of angel and venture capital investors. The top 10 applicants will be invited to present at the Funding Forum during RISE Week Austin in mid May. Growth-stage businesses of all types and sectors are encouraged to apply.

Participants will have the opportunity to present their concepts and business plans to leading angel and venture capital investors in a 2.5-hour, round-robin presentation format. At a live pitch practice session the week prior to the Funding Forum, finalists will gain insight into how to make a great pitch and learn what investors are looking for in a business plan. Entrepreneurs will gain exceptional exposure for their growth-stage startup ventures and have the opportunity to create relationships with potential investors.

RISE was a great experience for our company. We got fantastic exposure out of the Funding Forum and several of the attendees are now angel investors in our company. I also recruited a CEO out of a contact that I made at RISE. The Funding Forum was the best format of any investor presentation I experienced during our funding round. It was a great way to establish a real two-way dialogue between investor and entrepreneur.” ~Brendan Coffey, CTO, HeatGenie

Applications are now CLOSED. Thank you for your interest in RISE!

Important Dates – Mark Your Calendar!
• Finalist Notification: TBA
• Finalists are required to attend a pitch practice event the week of May 6 – date and time TBA
• Funding Forum: Friday, May 17 – midday time and location TBA

Application Fee
RISE is an innovative nonprofit program with the mission of empowering entrepreneurs. As of this year, we no longer charge a $150 application fee for the Funding Forum, and the RISE conference remains completely free for entrepreneurs to attend.

In lieu of an application fee, we suggest a tax-deductible donation to RISE at http://www.riseglobal.org/donate Donat.ions are NOT taken into consideration in the application screening process; however, your donation will help empower our startup community through RISE programs!

Selection Criteria
The RISE application committee will judge companies on a number of startup viability metrics, including the business idea, competitive advantage, market need and opportunity, go-to-market strategy, growth and scalability strategy, and the leadership and advisory team.

Selection Details
The RISE application committee will screen and select the top 10 applicants to present at the Funding Forum. Each startup will present for 10 minutes, with 5 minutes of Q&A from the angel and venture capital investors. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain exceptional exposure in the investment community for your startup venture!