Brush up on your elevator pitch

by Jaime Pfeffer

May 7th, 2008 in Careers, Events, Resources, Talent

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Wanna brush up on your elevator pitch? Then I’ve got just the event for you.

It’s called “Entrepreneurial Improv: The Battle of the Elevator Pitch”, and takes place next week, right after the Michigan Growth Capital Symposium.

An offbeat, slightly outrageous event that highlights how successful entrepreneurs need to think on their feet, the elevator pitch battle is a great way to relax and have fun with Michigan’s venture community. The event is sponsored by New Enterprise Forum (NEF), a not-for-profit organization founded in 1986 to help entrepreneurs in Michigan prosper and grow.

During the program, NEF will put four entrepreneurs in front of a judging panel and give them an imaginary company to pitch, with little time to prepare. This year’s pitch competitors include:

Roger Newton, Co-Discoverer of Lipitor and Founder of Esperion; Ron Reed, who raised $18M for Fullscope and is now a VC at Seneca Partners; Rich Sheridan, Master Orator and CEO of Menlo Innovations; and Dick Beedon, Winner and Defending Champion of last year’s NEF Elevator Pitch Battle and Founder/Managing Director of MacBeedon Partners. The judging panel for the event will include Pete Farner of TGap Ventures, Mina Sooch of Apjohn Ventures, and Michael Cole of the Bank of Ann Arbor & Ann Arbor Angels.

Registration and networking begin at 5:00 p.m. The program starts at 5:45 p.m. There is no cost for NEF members. The cost is $20 for non-members and $5 for students.

One of Detroit's biggest cheerleaders, Jaime Pfeffer moved to the Motor City from suburban Detroit five years ago. She started a blog, Girl in the D, in September 2004 to promote the positive aspects of Detroit and hasn't stopped touting Motown's good side since. Jaime left corporate America in 2007 to pursue her first love, writing.