Camden Hosts "Waterfront Ventures" on May 25: An Inaugural Conference for Startups, Entrepreneurs

CAMDEN, N.J. - May 20, 2016 - PRLog -- Entrepreneurs, small businesses and startups will have the opportunity to learn what it takes to succeed from industry experts, network with their colleagues and pitch their ideas, "Shark Tank-style," to potential funders at Waterfront Ventures, the region's first premier startup conference.  This inaugural conference will be held Wednesday, May 25 from 5:00 to 10:30 p.m. at the Waterfront Technology Center in Camden.

The goal of Waterfront Ventures is to create an environment for early-stage startups and entrepreneurs to learn more about the "startup scene" in the tri-state area and get connected with the already thriving and ever-expanding community right in their own backyard.

"The startup community in our region, particularly South Jersey, has been expanding rapidly in recent years.  As this growth continues, entrepreneurs and small business owners need access to additional resources and support - they have been doing it on their own for far too long," said Kai Tran, Waterfront Ventures' founder and event planner.  "We see this conference as a great way to give them the networking and opportunities they need to succeed.  It is a perfect first step in working to create a culture for small businesses to take root and thrive in Camden and the greater community."

The conference begins with networking at 5:00 p.m., followed by the keynote address and special presentations by featured speakers on the fundraising process from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.  Following the presentations, those qualified entrepreneurs who registered in advance for the pitch competition will each have 10 minutes to sell their innovative startup/business ideas to a panel of judges, in front of the rest of the event attendees. After the pitch, judges will question each presenter and provide feedback on their ideas.

The keynote address will be delivered by Nick Bayer, the respected and accomplished founder and CEO of Saxbys Coffee.  Joining Bayer on stage will be the conferences' featured speakers, a variety of locally and nationally recognized industry leaders:

Chad Stender, entrepreneur and director of operations for SeventySix Capital in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania;

George D. Pelose, vice president of Keiretsu Forum Mid-Atlantic, part of the Keiretsu global angel investor network of more than 2,500 accredited investors across 46 chapters; and

Damon Pennington, a strategic businessman, entrepreneur, business and land developer, and president and CEO of ATS Group, LLC, an aerospace and defense contractor headquartered in Camden.

This event is open to the public - general admission tickets are $35 in advance, or $45 at the door.  College and high school students can attend free.  Vendor tables are available for $350.  Waterfront Technology Center is located at 200 Federal Street, Camden, New Jersey.

Waterfront Ventures is made possible through generous sponsorships provided by a variety of local businesses and organizations, including: Benjamin's Desk; Burlington County Chamber of Commerce; Camden CoLab; Dino Enterprise, LLC; Dovas Law P.C.; Gloucester County Chamber of Commerce; Hopeworks 'N Camden; Ignit0r; New Jersey Tech Council; RippleLocal; Saxbys Coffee; South Jersey Business Alliance; Swordfish Communications; Venturef0rth; Viral Ideas; and Waytek.

To register for the event and pre-qualify for the pitching session, go to http://waterfrontventures.co.  For more information and formal application to participate in the pitch competition, e-mail support@weardino.com