Northwest Entrepreneur Network Early Stage Investment Forum

7th Annual
Early-Stage Investment Forum
April 19, 2007

The Source for What's Next

ESIF07 rocked as a crowd of more than 250, including 100 accredited investors, gathered to see 33 companies pitch. John Browne, ESIF Chair kicked off the day with a packed house as investors chose which sessions to attend, aided by “choosing sheets” and thumbnail sketches from session moderators. Activity was high at all the exhibit booths as entrepreneurs showcased products from the Rolls Royce of coffeepots (Coffee Equipment Company) to earth friendly textiles (Oeco Textiles). At lunch Geoge Erb, Editor of The Puget Sound Business Journal, introduced two top entrepreneurial high school students: Peter Crabtree from Poulsbo, who runs CBCChocolates, and Nikki Arun, a senior from Redmond who proposed a website devoted to sports for the Indian market.

Investor interest in the companies was high and participants like the new track format and the diversity of companies. “ESIF made it easy for me to look at a lot of companies at once – the most per square inch I have seen. I have to use my investment dollars wisely and this way I could compare and contrast all in one day” said Charles Higgins of Bricolage Ventures.

Entrepreneurs got traction as well. “I was very surprised at the number of investors I was able to connect with at the event, including investors who I would not have reached otherwise,” said Jordan Mitchell, CEO of Others OnLine, a social networking startup.

The event continued into the evening, long after the pitches were over, as investors and entrepreneurs stayed to network at the reception.

We are proud of our 33 ESIF2007 presenting companies.

Many thanks to our ESIF sponsors:

Platinum:
Davis Wright Tremaine, LLP; Puget Sound Business Journal; Gold: Orrick; Perkins Coie

Silver:
Citigroup; Crimson Audio, Dorsey & Whitney LLP; Ernst & Young; Fluke Venture Partners; Moss-Adams, LLP; OVP Venture Partners; Silicon Valley Bank; Microsoft; Square 1 Bank; Stanislaw-Ashbaugh, LLP; Summit Law Group; VCFO; Trinity; Williams Helde Marketing Communications; Crimson Audio; Trinity; and Rockey Hill & Knowlton.

Photos of ESIF 2007

Early-Stage Investment Forum 2007 Coverage Report
Prepared by Rockey Hill & Knowlton

Summary of Coverage from April 16-April 23, 2007

Get ready to pitch your business plan, John Cook’s Venture Blog via the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 4.16.07
Reality show follows Kirkland startup, John Cook’s Venture Blog via the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 4.19.07
Ten tips for angel investors, Brier Dudley’s Blog via the Seattle Times, 4.19.07
Venture Capital: Young chocolatier wows crowd at investors forum, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 4.20.07
Another look at ESIF startups, John Cook’s Venture Blog via the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 4.20.07
Are you on TechCrunch?, John Cook’s Venture Blog via the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 4.23.07
Getting down to nuts & bolts, Seattle Times, 4.23.07
VC investments in state up 20% in first quarter, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 4.23.07