Invest in Photonics invites firms seeking funding to submit applications
Invest in Photonics, a two-day international business-partnering convention focused exclusively on photonics venture-capital investment, has opened registration for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) seeking funding. Interested candidates are invited to submit an application to present an "elevator pitch" to a panel of international investors at the event, which takes place October 9 and 10, 2014 in Bordeaux, France.
Invest in Photonics represents a global industry currently estimated at U.S. $480 billion (source: SPIE Market Update Photonics West 2014 presentation). The convention brings together top industry analysts, private investors and financial institutions, SMEs seeking funding, OEMs, and end users.
SMEs looking for seed funding, development, and later-stage funding have until June 15, 2014 to submit their applications (http://www.invest-in-photonics.com). Funding is used to further research and development, develop sales and marketing, enter a market, and/or solidify business networks of emerging photonics companies. Invest in Photonics has helped photonics companies raise more than US $119 million (87 million Euros) in funding since the biennial event began in 2008.
The committee will aim to select 20 candidates targeting any of the five industrial market themes that will be the focus of this fourth biennial event: the life sciences, consumer electronics, advanced manufacturing (3D printing), the environment and energy efficiency, aerospace, and transport. Selected candidates will be individually coached on the projects they pitch to the panel of international investors.
A place for photonics SMEs, VCs to meet
“The VC world has taken a very abrupt turn towards software, mobile, the internet, and selected areas in the life sciences,” says Giorgio Anania, chairman of Invest in Photonics. “Overall, this means a drastic reduction of investment in hardware. With fewer funds being invested in materials-science-based companies, it is increasingly more competitive and difficult for photonics companies to raise money. This means photonics companies seeking to raise funds must use every opportunity to grab the attention of investors to pitch their projects in the most attractive way."
To be eligible to apply, a company’s activity must be associated with the field of photonics. As photonics is pervasive, the scope for inclusion is wide. So, it includes companies addressing major societal challenges facing Europe -- in particular for healthcare, the aging society, food safety, security and energy efficiency -- with solutions that rely on photonics technologies. It covers core optics and photonics component manufacturers and photonics-enabled product manufacturers.
Other important criteria for selection include demonstrating a unique value proposition that shows venture capitalists the company’s ability to penetrate a market. Selected companies should also demonstrate their ability to outperform competition based on unique differentiation.
The Invest in Photonics organizing committee and members of the selection committee will sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) with the companies selected.