Enterprise Forum Hosting 'How's Your Elevator Pitch?' Faceoff for Regional Entrepreneurs

PITTSBURGH, Nov. 11, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Ten brave entrepreneurs, each with a business startup story to tell, will attempt to persuade potential investors -- in front of a live audience -- to fund their young companies at next week's annual How's Your Elevator Pitch faceoff (November 17, 2010).

The event will be hosted by the Enterprise Forum (www.enterpriseforumpittsburgh.com); Western Pennsylvania's only networking organization for entrepreneurs and those who support them, as part of the group's ongoing series of business development education programs.

The goal of the entrepreneurs: to convince potential investors, a panel of early-stage business specialists and an audience of other young (and not-so-young) innovators that they have a compelling vision and winning strategic game plan for their nascent companies.

And to do so in no more than one minute.

"The elevator pitch is crucial to an early-stage entrepreneur on the prowl for funding.  It's their chance -- perhaps the only chance -- to tell potential investors about the vision and why the world is waiting for it," said Chris Heck, a vice president, private banking, at Fifth Third Bank who also is the Enterprise Forum's chair.

"It takes guts to stand up in front of a room full of strangers and tell your story," Heck said. "We thank the entrepreneurs who are willing to share their ambitions with us."

Presenting companies will include: Black locus , BlenderHouse, Career Imp, Chroknow, Cloudfab, Insight, Market Data I Save, Kore Innovations, Learn Bop, metronome Labs, No Wait, SDC Nutrition and Stat Easy / Ress Q.

A panel of business startup specialists -- including attorneys David Gurwin (Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney) and John Rodney (Thorp Reed & Armstrong), along with senior representatives from the Idea Foundry, Daedalus and Innovation Works -- will critique each pitch. Audience feedback will be encouraged.

All Enterprise Forums events are open to business people, students and others with an interest in issues facing entrepreneurs. Working media may request a free media pass.

Visit www.enterpriseforumpittsburgh.com for more information.

SOURCE Enterprise Forum