Startups FAQs
We hope the following FAQ answers all your questions. If you have additional questions, please don’t hesitate to Contact Us.
FAQs
Who is eligible to participate?
Please read over our criteria – Under Rules and Requirements.
What are the prizes?
There are no prizes.
Participating in the Startup Symposium offers startups one the biggest opportunities to raise capital.
- Exposures to investors, investor groups and VCs from across the nation
- Exposures could lead to significant investments for your company as it has been the case with previous events
- Attend invaluable education webinars and workshops
Startup Symposium provides startups and founders with invaluable exposure to investors across the nation. Several companies in previous events have received millions of dollars largely due to their participation and exposure to our investor network consisting of angels, angel groups, VCs, family offices and other funds. Additionally, this Symposium provides invaluable webinars with topics ranging from finance, legal, marketing/sales, pitch deck, and much more.
Is this a business plan competition where companies are awarded prizes?
No. this is not a business plan competition; rather, it is a showcase to connect highly fundable startups and investors for possible due diligence and investment.
Am I guaranteed funding if I participate in Startup Symposium?
No. As with all investor introductions, their decision to invest is subject to your company matching their screen (stage, industry, geography, etc) and subsequent due diligence and negotiation by and between both parties. The Startup Symposium provides exposure to help startups present to investors.
Am I required to accept investment offers resulting from participating in Startup Symposium?
No. As with all investor offers, your decision to accept an investment is subject to the investor matching your screen (stage, industry, geography, ability to offer more than funding, etc) and subsequent due diligence and negotiation by and between both parties.
What can I do if I don't receive interest from investors?
Your first step, should you receive no investment offer, is to ask investors for feedback and adjust accordingly. You can get additional help from your network.
Further, Pismo Venture has an advisory arm available help startups with their startup needs and prepare them to be investable. We help derisk the investment opportunity for investors by increasing the likelihood of success and minimizing the risk of failure. Please visit us at https://pismoventures.com or email us at pvinfo@pismoventures.com.
What type of investors will be attending?
Angels, Angel Groups, Venture Capitalists, and Family Offices. The following is a list of potential investors that are independent or may belong to one or more of the following investor groups, angel groups, VCs or family offices. These investors have participated previously and may or may not participate in each Startup Symposium event. Further, there may be additional investors and investor groups that have not been added to the above lists.
Do startups need to share their pitch in advance?
Yes. You will receive instructions on how to apply. The application will require you to answer few questions, upload your pitch deck, and a short video describing your product or service – not a pitch video.
Will I be able to get feedback on my pitch deck and presentation delivery skills in advance of the event?
Yes.
We offer this as an optional service that you can purchase at the bottom of this page: https://lifescience.startupsymposium.com/registration/
You will receive information on how to take advantage of this optional service.
Further, Pismo Venture has an advisory arm available help startups with their startup needs and prepare them to be investable. We help derisk the investment opportunity for investors by increasing the likelihood of success and minimizing the risk of failure. Please visit us at https://pismoventures.com or email us at pvinfo@pismoventures.com.
Will investors be able to review my pitch deck in advance?
All investors will be given the opportunity and access to review all applications and pitch decks, but it is up to them to review or not.
Are there limitations on the amount of previous capital raised or revenue generated?
No, any business that fits our terms will be allowed to participate, regardless of revenue status.
Will investors be signing Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDA) in order to see the pitch decks and presentations?
No, investors will not be signing NDAs. We encourage startups to present only non-confidential/non-proprietary information.
If I register to participate, may I withdraw from the competition later on? At what point am I fully committed in the competition?
After registration, filling out your application, and submitting the startup questionnnaire, your submission will be considered and decisions will be made. Only 10 (maybe up to 12 max) participants will be chosen to present to investors on event day.