North Bay Growth & Innovation Forum

North Bay Growth & Innovation Forum is a program created by the city of Santa Rosa and the Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce. The goal of this program is to enable the creation and growth of new businesses in the Santa Rosa, California area through education, mentoring and exposure to capital sources. Sometimes called “speed-dating for investors and entrepreneurs,”^{[citation needed]} the program also attempts to match angel or venture capital investors with aspiring entrepreneurs and/or existing businesses from start-up to mid-size. Since early 2008 the event has also tried to reach out to second stage entrepreneurial companies that are trying to grow and create jobs in a very difficult economy. At each forum there are a number of roundtables that companies can choose from depending on their needs. Topics are as varied as alternative fund raising, developing business plans and how best to leverage social media.

The NBGIF series has won regional, statewide and national awards^{[citation needed]}, strong recognition for a program that began in 2006.

History of NBGIF

In 2006, realizing that the best strategy for business growth was to encourage “home grown” companies, the City and Chamber partnered on beta-testing the Venture Communities model created by Golden Capital Network, producing the first Forum in October 2006. Three subsequent events were produced with Golden Capital’s assistance, and in the fall of 2008, the City and Chamber left the Golden Capital Network nest and transformed the Venture Communities model into the North Bay Growth & Innovation Forum as it is today.

Event format

Since late 2008, Forum events have included:

• Rapid Roundtables: An opportunity to learn from experts on topics such as “Due Diligence & Negotiating the Deal,” “From Bootstrapping to Big Banks – Alternative Finance,” and “Best Practices in Internet Marketing – Leveraging SEO, Email and Social Networking;”
• Expert speakers on entrepreneurism, emerging market trends, taking advantage of a down economy and a review of the local entrepreneurial market;
• Poster exhibition from presenting entrepreneurs and selected local companies; and
• Company investment pitches to an investor panel.

Expert panelists at each event award "Best in Show" to the most promising presenting companies. Past "Best in Show" winners have included Seasons Studios, Mosaic Assist, True2Life Apparel and Aethos Technologies.

Awards

• 2007 Honorable Mention – Economic Development Programs; International Economic Development Council
• 2008 Award of Merit for Economic Development Programs; California Association for Local Economic Development (CALED)
• 2009 The “Light Bulb” Went On, Innovative/Entrepreneurial Spirit; North Bay Leadership Council^{[citation needed]}

Past participating companies

Over 70 companies have participated in the program and received more than $25 million in funding as a result. A few notable companies:

•Aeres Motors •Autonet •Barefoot Motors •BarspaceTV •Construction Exchange •Displaire (now Pix2O) •Mas Wine Company •Red Condor •Rotofactory •Smart Motion •VIDA Products •Wave Track

Expert coaching and mentoring

NBGIF provides access to experts at no charge prior to each event to assist companies in strengthening their business plans and their presentation skills. One-on-one and group training and coaching are provided to qualified participants well in advance of the Forum, ensuring that the participants are well prepared to present their businesses in front of a panel of prospective investors. Participants and the audience get the benefit of real-time feedback from experienced entrepreneurs and investors.

References

• The Art of the Pitch
• Aethos Technology Readies for Growth
• Early, Midstage Firms Have Chance to Pitch to Experts, Investors
• Growth Forum to Bring Together Companies, Experts
• Innovation Forum to Focus on Strategies for Down Times
• Pitching a Startup
• The Matchmakers
• Santa Rosa Draws Venture Conference
• Santa Rosa Venture Forum Gains Momentum
• Official City of Santa Rosa North Bay Growth & Innovation Forum Website

External links

• City of Santa Rosa
• Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce
• www.srcity.org
• www.northbaycouncil.org
• 2008 awards excellence program
• www.iedconline.org