CrowdFunding Made Simple, a crowdfunding educational and events platform, today announced plans for the first national conference endorsed by the Crowdfunding Professional Association (CfPA). Held at the University of Utah Guest House and Conference Center on May 31^st and June 1^st from 9 am to 5 pm MDST, and in partnership with the The Soho Loft (TSL), the CrowdFunding Made Simple conference will allow entrepreneurs, business owners, professional service providers and investors to obtain a deeper understanding of crowdfunding directly from some of the industry leaders behind this groundbreaking business platform. With the historic Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act signed into law on April 5th, a legal framework for equity-based “crowdfund investing” has been established and the potential for a much larger and expanded global crowdfunding community has been unleashed.

“We are pleased to bring to Utah a group of innovators that have ignited crowdfunding both as an Internet-based platform and now potentially as an equity-based investment model,” said Richard Swart, co-founder of CrowdFunding Made Simple, director of strategic programs at Grow America Insights and executive committee member of the Crowdfunding Professional Association. “While much has been achieved in crowdfunding to date, most entrepreneurs and investors across the country are not yet familiar with it. We look forward to providing a summit for education and interaction on this vital new capital creation concept right here in one of the entrepreneurship capitals of America.”

Speakers include Brian Meece, founder and CEO of RocketHub.com, one of the world’s top three crowdfunding platforms; Jason Best, co-author of the CrowdFund Investing Framework in the JOBS Act and founder of Startup Exemption; Carl Esposti, founder of Crowdsourcing.org and leader of the CAPS Accreditation Program for crowdfunding platforms; Douglas S. Ellenhoff, one of America’s top securities law experts from Ellenhoff, Grossman & Schole, amongst others; Alan E. Hall, a founding sponsor of the Crowdfunding Professional Association and founder of Grow America SpringBoard and Mercato Partners.

“Understanding the implications and applications of crowdfunding is critical for entrepreneurs and investors because of the ability to vet ideas, create new markets and gain access to new investors,” said Bryan Ritchie, Director of the Technology Commercialization Office at the University of Utah. “We look forward to hosting and sponsoring the first crowdfunding conference in Utah and believe it will provide significant insights for our vibrant entrepreneurial community. Participants will interact with the early adopters and innovators leading this groundbreaking legislation and fund raising platform.”

“Starting a business is never easy, which is why I feel strongly about participating in and sponsoring this cutting-edge conference on crowdfund investing,” said Alan Hall, a founding sponsor of the Crowdfunding Professional Association and founder of Grow America SpringBoard and Mercato Partners. “Entrepreneurs, investors, private equity, lawyers, accountants, marketing professionals – all of them will benefit and be interested in accessing the latest developments on this historic and timely new business model. I also firmly believe crowdfunding has the potential to bring hundreds of thousands of additional entrepreneurs and investors into the vital process of creating the companies and jobs that our economy so desperately needs.”

Registration for the conference begins today at www.CrowdFundingMadeSimple.com. Participants will also receive discounted access to a complete copy of the most comprehensive Crowdfunding Industry Report based on data from more than 170 crowdfunding platforms (CFPs) and other sources.

Grow America, Inc. (www.growam.com), a national company with a mission to support, encourage and strengthen entrepreneurs in local economies, today announced the appointment of two of its leaders, Berkeley Geddes, CEO of Grow America Insight, and Richard Swart, Director of Strategic Programs, to key roles in the professional and regulatory associations focused on facilitating a vibrant, credible and growing global crowdfunding community.

Berkeley Geddes has been elected chair of the Crowdfunding Professional Association (CfPA) Executive Committee and Governance Board, which represents the voice of the crowdfunding industry and will provide advocacy, research and education for investors and entrepreneurs. Grow America’s Richard Swart has been named to the organizing committee of CfPA and also will serve as a member of the Crowdfund Intermediary Regulatory Advocates (CfIRA) leadership group, which is focused exclusively on channeling industry expertise to support the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), and other affected governmental and quasi-governmental entities, including state regulators, in the establishment of crowdfunding regulation, standards and best practices.

CfPA will bring education and resources to entrepreneurs interested in using crowdfunding to grow their businesses when equity-based crowdfunding becomes legal in 2013 as a result of the recently signed Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act.

Grow America is provider of the Grow America Springboard™ program launched by Founder Alan E. Hall with the help of regional Utah partners. Springboard is providing $1,000,000 in cash awards and resources over the course of three Utah events in 2012 and a state championship in January 2013.

“The issue of crowdfunding is essential as it pertains to the creation of early-stage ventures,” said Hall. “We welcome this exciting development, but we also see the need to be actively involved in ensuring the new funding mechanisms operate properly and safely for all involved.”

About Grow America

Grow America aligns the partners, mentors and capital that entrepreneurs need to create and grow tomorrow’s successful companies. As an organization, Grow America has five components: competitions, e-commerce tools, curriculum and educational tools, community support, and charitable giving. For additional resources, connect to @GrowAmerica and @AskAlanEHall.

PR Contacts:

Snapp Conner PR

Jeremy Kartchner

(801) 703-4092

Jeremy@snappconner.com

Funding Universe is hosting their popular SpeedPitch event on July 7, 2010 wherein you can pitch your new business to 20 to 30 investors for free. Free! (They used to charge for this event.)

I participated in a SpeedPitch last year and not only enjoyed the time meeting and getting feedback from investors, but found that I was able to better refine my company pitch and the experience was well worth the effort.

SpeedPitch is an opportunity to pitch dozens of active and engaged investors. The format is simple & personal. You’ll sit at a table with just 3-4 investors whom you’ll pitch to and converse with. After rotating through 10 tables of investors a catered lunch will be served over a final 30 minutes of networking.

July 7, 2010
11:30 am – 1:30 pm
Salt Lake Community College — Miller Business Innovation Center
Karen Gail Miller Conference Center
9750 South 300 West
Sandy, UT
map

Prizes

• The winner gets a plaque! (… and $5,800 of services from our sponsors):
• NOWAdvisors: 12 hours of financial & accounting services = $1,800 value
• FundingUniverse: startup services = $2,500 value
• Amazon: web services = $500 value
• CLI: legal services = $1,000 value

Funding Universe will host their regular Speedpitching event on August 5th. Here are the details:

• Wednesday August 5
• 11:00 am – 1:30 pm
• Miller Business Innovation Center
  9690 South 300 West
  Sandy, Utah 84070

You’ll get to meet, network with, and pitch to dozens of active and engaged investors. The format is simple & personal. You’ll sit at a table of just 3-4 investors whom you’ll pitch to and converse with. After rotating through 10 tables of investors a catered lunch will be served over a final 30 minutes of networking.

Here’s a short video from Funding Universe explaining the event.

Click here to view the embedded video.

If you are not familiar with SpeedPitch, it is an investor event where startups and growing businesses have an opportunity to meet and pitch a group of local independent investors. The event is very worthwhile and will get you in front of more people in a couple of hours than you could otherwise get to in a year of effort. It’s also a great opportunity to get feedback on your idea from the people who fund successful companies.

The SpeedPitch event will be held on Friday April 29 from 11:00 am – 1:30 pm at Noah’s in South Jordan (322 W. 11000 S. South Jordan, UT 84095).

The week of November 17-23 the state of Utah joins more than 100 countries and organizations representing millions of entrepreneurs to celebrate Global Entrepreneurship Week.

With “Unleashing Ideas” as the big-picture theme, those who recognize entrepreneurs as change agents for our economy join together to inspire, connect, mentor and engage as we collectively roll up our sleeves to develop the next-generation of high-growth entrepreneurs. The statewide celebration includes campus and Chamber of Commerce dialogues as well as other activities, with the culmination being the all-day Unleashing Ideas: Igniting High-Growth Entrepreneurship in Utah, concurrent entrepreneur and angel investment conference, followed by an evening “Business Ignitor” social.

On Thursday, November 20th, join the best and brightest business minds in the state to share implementable business practices, as well as opportunities for mentoring and exchange between investors and entrepreneurs—both master entrepreneurs and newer entrepreneurs alike. The conference lineup is both state-inclusive in coverage and world-class in quality, echoing the truly global nature of the week.

For more information on Global Entrepreneurship Week, check out: http://growutahventures.com/entrepreneursummit.asp

Event Sponsors include Utah Valley companies. Here’s the list:

• Grow America
• Grow Utah Ventures
• Johnson & Company–The Virtual Agency(TM)
• Snapp Conner PR
• USTAR
• Zions Bank
• Adnews
• Funding Universe
• MountainWest Capital Network
• RoxyCross
• Utah Technology Council
• Utah Valley University
• Wayne Brown Institute

Early Bird Special Deadline October 17th at midnight: Get $100 off by registering before midnight on Friday!

SpeedPitching | November 6 | Miller Free Enterprise Center | 9690 South 300 West | Sandy

Pitching Application Deadline: October 30th at midnight:

What: SpeedPitching Luncheon
Who: Entrepreneurs who are seeking investment capital and angel investors looking to invest in outstanding companies.
When: Thursday November 6th, 2008
Where:Miller Free Enterprise Center
SLCC Sandy Campus, room 203
9690 South 300 West
Sandy, Utah (Building closest to I15)
Time: 11 – 1:30 pm | Lunch is included free
Cost: Pitching requires a $25 application fee & $500 presentation fee if selected and free to investors

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

How it Works…

Pitching Companies:
Funding Universe will select up to 10 companies to present at the SpeedPitch event. At the event the ten companies pitch to investors for 7 minutes. This process is repeated ten times as the entrepreneurs rotate through ten tables to pitch at. The entrepreneurs are able to pitch to 30-40 investors in just over an hour. This speeds up the fundraising process for any company looking for funding.

Want to see how the event works? Funding Universe has posted a SpeedPitch Video.

Pitching companies must pay a $25 application fee and an additional $500 if they are selected to present.
If you have questions about pitching call 801.391.1522

Selecting the Winning Presenters: After all of the presentations a winning presenter will be announced based on the amount of investor interest and feedback rating. The winner will receive $500 of service from Stoel Rives, our title sponsor.

Event Benefits:
•    2 hours of personalized coaching/feedback on how to pitch to angel investors
•    Access to dozens of active investors
•    Efficient use of time and limited resources for bootstrapping entrepreneurs
•    Networking opportunities with investors, service providers, and other entrepreneurs
•    Valuable feedback from investors emailed to you after the event

Click Here to RSVP, Register, or get more information.

LivePitch is a business luncheon hosted by Funding Universe wherein you have the opportunity to rub shoulders with local entrepreneurs and investors. Funding Universe selects up to five applicants to pitch their business opportunity to a panel of experts, and the attendees of the luncheon. Presenters have four minutes to make their pitch, and are offered feedback. Pitching companies must pay a $25 application fee and an additional $50 if they are selected to present.

Anyone can RSVP as an attendee, and there is an audience participation element; Audience members receive $100 of play “Monopoly” money to “invest” in their favorite company pitch. After all of the presentations, the audience will place their monopoly cash into the bowl of their favorite LivePitch presentation.

After all of the presentations, 2 winning presenters will be announced based on the amount of “monopoly cash” that is “invested” (one by the panel of expert investors and the other by the audience).

Note that this is a ‘LivePitch’ event, and not a SpeedPitching Luncheon. LivePitch is not a fund raising event. Please do not apply to pitch or attend with the expectation that investment offers will be a natural or immediate outflow of this event.

SpeedPitch, on the other hand, is targeted toward connecting entrepreneurs and investors.

Details:

• What: LivePitch & Networking Event
• Who: Entrepreneurs, angel investors, venture capitalists & service providers
• When: Tuesday September 30, 2008
• Where: Novell OSTC
  building A, rooms 6 & 7
  1800 Novell Place
  Provo, Utah 84606
  (Westside of campus)
• Time: 12 noon – 1:30 pm | Lunch is included free
• Cost: Attendance is Free. Pitching requires a $25 application fee & $50 presentation fee if selected