Pitch Pit and Showcase Presentation: somaLYNC

Showcase Presentation

somaLYNC is a global platform designed to connect companies, physicians, and patients to address the critical issue of patient non-adherence, which costs companies an estimated $528 billion annually in easing physician workflow burdens and improving patient outcomes. Cole Confer, somaLYNC’s CEO, has a Bachelor’s degree in Physiology from Michigan State University and an MBA from the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business. With over 20 years of experience in Biotech, Pharma, and Medtech, Cole has worked at some of the industry’s top companies such as Pfizer, Boston Scientific, and Medtronic, focused on developing global markets, establishing innovative business models and inorganic partnerships. Cole and his fellow co-founders created somaLYNC to address the problems they faced daily in the industry.

Pitch Pit Competition

Selected entrepreneurs will each give a four-minute pitch of their business plan to a panel of investor judges in a “Shark Tank” format. PowerPoint slides are not permitted. Think of it as the proverbial “elevator speech.”

After all of the pitches are completed, the judges will give detailed feedback. At the end of the evening, the person with the highest score will receive the opportunity to receive a Business Readiness Assessment coaching session with New Enterprise Forum coaches. Interested in pitching your own idea? Apply here!

Participants

Mohamed Hagras, Co-Founder of Rasta

Marcedes-Antoniya Preston, CEO of Celer Energy

Madhav Aggarwal, Co-Founder and CEO of BRCĒ

Judges

Justin Anderson, Managing Director at Solidea Capital. For the past 17 years, Justin has been an investor and advisor in early-stage high growth companies, helping grow Solidea’s portfolio of early-stage investments to over 50 innovative and diverse companies, with a focus of supporting innovation between the coasts. Justin is deeply involved as an investor and senior advisor in several technology startups across verticals including Fintech, Sports, Travel, and Life Sciences as well as his role as consultant, advising senior management in several Fortune 500 clients. Justin is an expert in startup financing and capital strategy especially for high-growth, early-stage companies.

Kelly LaPierre, Co-Founder and Partner at Venture Catalysts. Kelly runs her own strategic consultancy around startup ecosystem development, accelerator programming and corporate innovation and works with various organizations supporting startups across Michigan. Additionally she is a Partner and Co-founder of Venture Catalysts, a nonprofit focused on building an inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem in Detroit through programs and events like Detroit Startup Week (10,000+ attendees), AfroTech (largest black tech conference), and Backstage Capital Accelerator (investing in underrepresented, or rather underestimated, founders). Most recently Kelly was the Head of Founder Network and Operations for Tenney 110, a portfolio of adjacent businesses and venture studio within American Family Insurance.

Networking

Come join us in person to enjoy food and drink and conversation with members of the local startup community.