Press Releases
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December 3, 1997 |
Contact: Suzanne Cantando |
CED Launches STREAK Forum Program
Mentoring/Venture Program Now Accepting ApplicationsDec. 3, 1997, Research Triangle Park, N.C. --. The Council for Entrepreneurial Development (CED) has launched the STREAK Program, an intensive mentoring/critiquing/investment forum program created to assist early-stage entrepreneurial companies in developing business strategies as well as gaining access to funding.
Each month, two entrepreneurial companies will be invited to present their company or business idea to a panel of professionals with extensive experience (in entrepreneurial companies) in a one-hour, closed-door meeting. Each panel will typically consist of an accountant, corporate attorney, venture capitalist and seasoned entrepreneur, each of whom will have a background in the presenting company's industry. During the meeting, the panel will review and critique the presenting entrepreneur's business plan, business idea and presentation. In addition, each company that participates in a monthly meeting is paired with a mentor with experience in the company's industry.
Companies for the closed-door STREAK meetings are chosen through a selective application process. CED is currently accepting applications for the STREAK monthly meetings. Deadlines for applications are the 25th of each month. Contact Suzanne Cantando at 919-544-4642, ext. 101, or email suzanne@cednc.org to apply.
Several companies will be selected from the closed-door monthly meetings to present at a quarterly STREAK luncheon, where they will have the opportunity to present their businesses to a broad audience of entrepreneurs and investors. The first STREAK luncheon will be held January 29, 1998 at the Sheraton Imperial in RTP. Contact Suzanne Cantando at 919-544-4642, ext. 101 to register.
"We find that with the extremely early-stage companies, the window of opportunity is likely to be very narrow," said Monica Doss, executive director of CED. "These companies have great potential, but their access to capital and experience in obtaining funding is very limited. The quarterly luncheons offer promising companies a better opportunity to get the word out about their potential as well as their funding needs."
"The STREAK program assists the companies in preparing to obtain appropriate funding for their needs," Doss continued. "In the process, they learn more about growing their business."
About CED
The Council for Entrepreneurial Development, located at the CED Entrepreneurship Center in Research Triangle Park, NC, was formed in 1984 to stimulate the creation and growth of high-impact companies in the greater Research Triangle region. CED provides education, mentoring and capital formation resources to new and existing high-growth entrepreneurs. CED sponsors annual conferences, seminars, workshops and monthly programs on entrepreneurial management and finance. CED also offers the FastTrac entrepreneurial training program, youth programs and other outreach programs.
CED is a private, non-profit organization and is the largest entrepreneurial support organization in the nation with more than 3,000 members representing 1000 entrepreneurial companies, financiers and professional firms.
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