Submission deadline is November 1st.
Are you a startup looking to jumpstart your business? Need to connect with thought leaders in the scholarly communications industry? We want to hear from you!
NFAIS is seeking four information industry startup companies — somewhere between "garage" stage and Round B funding stage — to enter our annual competition and pitch their ideas and business models to a panel of expert judges during the 2019 NFAIS Annual Conference in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, February 13 – 15, 2019. Riffing off the popular Shark Tank television show, startups will be given 5 to 8 minutes to pitch and demonstrate their idea to a panel of highly respected judges, then field questions from judges and audience members.
Why Participate
This is your opportunity not only to pitch but demonstrate your ground-breaking products or services!
· Get your company and/or product in front of nearly 200 senior level executives from representing publishers, learned societies, government agencies, and funders from around the world
· Receive feedback from a panel of industry experts who are well-positioned to evaluate potential contribution to the scholarly or research community
· Gain complimentary access to all three days of the conference
The winner of the competition receives:
· An opportunity to broaden your reach through an NFAIS Lunch & Learn or Webinar following the conference—showcasing your company and the products and services you offer!
· A plaque from NFAIS engraved with your company name
· An industry-wide press release from NFAIS announcing your company as the winner
How to Participate
If this sounds like a good opportunity for you, or if you can recommend a startup that would be a good fit for this competition, contact Nancy Blair-DeLeon, NFAIS Program Development Director at [log in to unmask] – We want to hear from you!
When reaching out, include the following information—and we will let you know if you have made the cut!
· Describe how this meets a market need
· Provide a brief explanation of functionality
· Provide summary of business model
· Tell us why your model has the potential for growth
· Provide background information on your company
Deadline is November 1st – don’t delay!