Got the Next Big Idea for a Company? Here's Your Chance to Pitch it and Win a $10,000 Cash Grant

April 9, 2014 - PRLog -- Here’s an important message to health tech entrepreneurs frustrated by the lack of affordable lab and office space in Silicon Valley, Silicon Alley, and Williamsburg:  Look north to the land of opportunity just across the New York City border: Westchester County. Westchester is cultivating a vibrant innovation economy, fueled by global companies such as such as Regeneron Pharmaeuticals and IBM, a thriving network of small businesses, and a growing number of entrepreneurial ventures that call Westchester home. A medtech incubator and a business accelerator network are supporting the next generation of innovators, too.

To call attention to all that Westchester has to offer entrepreneurial growth companies and health tech startups, the Westchester County Association (WCA) and its economic development arm, The BLUEPRINT for Westchester, has organized HealthTech ’14: Fueling Innovation in Westchester, a groundbreaking conference to be held May 7 – 8 at the DoubleTree Hotel by Hilton in Tarrytown, New York. The conference offers unparalleled opportunities for entrepreneurs, financiers, healthcare executives and professionals, academics, and business leaders to network, learn, and gain important business intelligence that will help their ideas and businesses grow.

Day One Is Devoted to Entrepreneurs

The conference begins on Wednesday afternoon May 7^th with “Entrepreneurs’ Edge, ” a  panel discussion with national experts in startup law, banking, crowdfunding, and venture capital, who will talk about the latest news and trends for entrepreneurs, and who will be available to meet with attendees afterwards. “Entrepreneurs’ Edge” will be followed by “Pitch to the Pros,” an opportunity for companies to present their “Big Idea” to a panel of judges. The winner will receive a $10K cash grant and automatic acceptance into Westchester’s BLUEPRINT Accelerator Network -- which offers one year of rent-free private office space, complimentary professional services, and access to financing and mentoring.   “Pitch to the Pros” requires prior application online, and selected contestants will be notified before the conference begins.

Entrepreneurs’ Edge is designed to foster the developing entrepreneurial ecosystem in Westchester County, explains Marissa Brett, executive director of the BLUEPRINT for Westchester. “With tech giants like IBM and Regeneron, a growing roster of biotech companies, a brand new startup incubator at New York Medical College, and major healthcare providers like Montefiore, Memorial Sloan Kettering, and New York Presbyterian now in Westchester, we are seeing tremendous growth in the health tech sector.” she said. “Anyone wanting to start or grow a business in this industry or any other needs to look at Westchester County.”

Steve Davis, a partner in the biotech/life sciences practice at the New York City law firm of Goodwin Procter, agrees. “Startups need to look outside of Manhattan,” he notes.  “Westchester County has huge advantages—mass transit, lifestyle, proximity to international markets. Plus, Westchester is affordable.”

Who Can Apply—and How

The WCA is now taking applications for the pitch contest. Criteria are simple: Provide a business plan, financials demonstrating a minimum of six months of revenue, and a demonstration of a willingness to locate in Westchester County. Interested entrepreneurs should visit http://www.blueprintforwestchester.com/?page_id=43 for more information and application guidelines, and should and submit their applications by 8 a.m. on April 22. On April 24, the WCA will notify selected applicants who will pitch on May 7.

Selected companies will have five minutes to present their startup idea or early-stage business plan and answer any questions from a distinguished panel of judges. Be prepared to tell us (a) what problem you are trying to solve; (b) what market sector you want to enter and why; (c) who you are and why you believe you are qualified to lead this enterprise; (d) who is on your team; (e) how much capital you will need to reach the milestones you cite; (f) who or what is your competition.

The judges are: Brian Aoaeh, Partner, KEC Holdings; Dennis Goett, Principal, Sage Capital Solutions; Mark Kronenfeld, MD, Vice Chairman of Anesthesiology, Maimonides Medical Center; Jack Kopnisky, President & CEO, Sterling National Bank, Chair, BLUEPRINT Accelerator Network; Daniel Papes, Senior Executive, Westcon Group, Inc.; John Cohn, Managing Director, Diamond Capital Advisors; Stan Freimuth, CEO, Debt Resolve, Inc.; and John Ritacco, President & CEO, CMS Bank.

The judges will evaluate the pitches, and announce the winner during a two-hour cocktail and networking reception. The winner of Pitch to the Pros will receive a $10,000 grant to grow its business, plus immediate acceptance into the BLUEPRINT Accelerator Network. The first runner-up will be accepted into the Accelerator as well.

Entrepreneurs’ Edge takes place May 7 from 3:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the DoubleTree Hotel in Tarrytown, New York. The conference continues with a full day of compelling speakers and panel discussions on May 8.

Entrepreneurs: Stay for Day Two as Well!

Entrepreneurs should take advantage of special two-day pricing to learn more important business intelligence and benefit from ample networking possibilities. This groundbreaking, two-day conference features leading innovators in biotech, medtech, and health tech and more, and is attracting big-name entrepreneurs, investment bankers, venture capitalists, technologists, professionals in medicine and healthcare, business executives, real estate developers, attorneys, and academics.

Health Tech ’14: Fueling Innovation in Westchester

Tickets are: Day One only: $225; Day One and Day Two: $425. For additional information and to register, please visit http://www.healthtech2014.com

About the Westchester County Association

The Westchester County Association (www.westchester.org) is the preeminent business leadership organization serving Westchester County. The Association is committed to business advocacy, economic vitality and to providing a strong and clear voice for the interests of businesses on the regional, national and international levels. Its key objectives are promoting positive economic development in the region; fostering business development; and providing its members with access and interaction with key public and private sector individuals, agencies and organizations.