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Miami, April 1, 2015
[FirstName] [LastName]
[Company]
Dear [FirstName],
Congratulations!! On behalf of eMerge Americas, we’re excited to invite you to be a Startup Showcase
company and an opportunity to be further selected as a finalist in the pitch competition. Because of your
remarkable accomplishments and success to-date, you have been selected from a large pool of
applicants and you will be given the platform to spotlight your company and why you are amongst the
best. The impressive lineup for 2015 features early and later-stage startups from around the globe.
With hundreds of investors and industry innovators on the floor, the exposure alone is powerful.
As you know, eMerge Americas is a groundbreaking global technology conference which takes place in
Miami on May 1-5, 2015 and gathers the brightest minds and aims to attract leaders, investors,
entrepreneurs and innovators from across the globe to discuss the technology and innovation
transforming industries for the more than 10,000 expected attendees. With summits focused on
entrepreneurship, healthcare, media, smart cities, education, and finance, this conference is a magnet for
all tech-related industries, giving way to the exploration and discussion of the latest trends, most
pressing issues, and foremost advancements in these fields.
We are also proud to announce NASDAQ as our Presenting Startup Showcase Sponsor who will actually
be present and ring the closing stock market bell from the Startup Showcase section of the floor. This
will be telecast over CNBC and many other television outlets. Together with our media partner NBC
Universal this should provide an exciting event with major visibility to the participating companies.
What to expect in the Startup Showcase?
125 early & later stage companies have been selected and provided the exclusive opportunity to
showcase their business at the 2-day event to be held at the Miami Beach Convention Center on May 4th
and 5th. Each of the selected companies will receive 5 Startup Showcases passes and a complimentary
tabletop display at the heart of eMerge Americas expo area.
As an added benefit and recognition, you will gain access - free of charge - to an exclusive training
program designed by Venture Hive, a renowned entrepreneurship education company. The program
will consist of four virtual sessions to help you refine and prepare your materials for the eMerge
conference. In addition, on May 3rd, the day before the conference starts, you are invited and encouraged
to participate in a full-day bootcamp, complete with engaging keynote speakers, experienced mentors,
and invaluable workshops.
The Competition
Leading to the Startup Showcase and culminating on May 4th, the first day of the conference, the judges
will be engaging with the selected 125 Startup Showcase companies on the expo floor. 25 finalist
companies will be selected and invited to present their pitch to the panel of Judges on May 5th and in
front of a cheering crowd of expo participants.
10 Later Stage, 10 Early Stage and 5 University track companies will be selected as finalists and invited
to pitch before a panel of judges who will select a winner in each track. This year we have added a twist
to the judging. Our selected judges have committed to investing $10,000 each in the winning company
for a total of $100,000 cash investment into the Later Stage track winner; $50,000 cash investment into
the Early Stage track winner; and $25,000 investment into the University track winner (in this latter
case the investment will be made by Miami Innovation Fund, an early seed fund).
In order to avoid negotiations in regards to valuations, the legal vehicle for the investment by the
individual judges into the winning company will be a SAFE (Simple Agreement for Future Equity) open
source agreement developed by Y-Combinator and revised by our attorneys which will be available for
downloading at our website shortly. The discount rate for the Later Stage will be 15%, Early Stage 25%,
and University track 30%.
You are not obligated to take the investment from the judges. However, you are required to let us know
that you are opting-out as this may affect your eligibility as a finalist. We are selecting renowned judges
including successful entrepreneurs and well-known investors that provide a validation to the winning
company which goes beyond the actual monetary investment, and which will add value to any
company’s cap table. The list of judges will be published in our website, so please check often.
If you have not done so, in order to be considered for pitching, you will need to upload to your Gust
profile the typical company documents such as financials, investment deck, and executive summary. If
selected as a finalist you will need to have ready and provide us with a pitch deck, preferably in pdf
format. The pitch presentations are limited to 10 minutes for the Later Stage companies, 7 minutes for
the Early Stage and 7 minutes for the University.
The finalist companies invited to pitch may be a reflection of the criteria and interest of the judges and
not necessarily a result of ranking. Whether or not your company is selected as a finalist and invited to
pitch, each participating company is a winner. eMerge Americas provides the participating companies
an opportunity to network with the movers and shakers in the tech world who can help bring your
company to the next level of growth. We expect significant attendance during both days of the event as
well as extensive media coverag, particularly from our partners NBC Universal. Participating companies
should plan to keep their tables manned at all times, and treat all inquiries with the utmost
professionalism—you never know; anyone could be an interested investor.
We may use your application video for eMerge Americas promotional purposes. Please note that your
participation in the eMerge Americas Startup Showcase + Competition is governed by the Terms of
Service you agreed to when submitting your application into the Gust platform. You may review the
terms again at https://gust.com/tos.
Don’t hesitate to contact us at [email protected] if you have any questions.
Again, congratulations on being selected a Startup Showcase company and hoping to seeing you soon!
eMerge Americas
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Flights and Accommodations
You may make your travel arrangements as you wish. Alternatively eMerge Americas has contracted
with several travel organizations and hotels in order to obtain the best flights and accommodations for
our attendees. Please let us know if you need support in obtaining travel visas.
Conference Registration
As a Showcase company, you will be given up to 5 free Startup Showcase passes to attend eMerge
Americas. As confirmation of your attendance, you are required to register, see link below.
Startup Showcase Information Page
In order to provide up-to-date information regarding the participating Startup Showcase companies,
including scheduling, downloadable forms, and contact information, we are making a private page
available which is not navigable from the main site. We urge you to book-mark it and visit frequently.
http://emergeamericas.org/startups-showcase2015/.
Schedule and Key Dates
Day
06 Apr
12 Apr
15 Apr
15 Apr
21 Apr
03 May
Time
12:00 PM
12:00 PM
12:00 PM
12:00 PM
12:00 PM
09:30 AM
04:30 PM
07:00 PM
04 May 07:00 AM
07:00 AM
All day
01:50 PM
05:30 PM
07:00 PM
05 May All day
09:00 AM
10:00 AM
12:45 PM
05:00 PM
05:30 PM
Activity
Showcase notifications to invited companies
Showcase confirmation acceptance by invited companies
Registration deadline for invited companies
Signed releases due
Competition opt-out choice
Bootcamp registration @ Venture Hive
Closing reception @ Venture Hive
Networking event @ 1111 Lincoln Road
Registration @ Miami Beach Convention Ctr.
Table assignment & setup @ Miami Beach Convention Ctr
Startup Showcase @ Miami Beach Convention Center
Facebook startup workshop
Showcase Competition finalists announced
New World Center Party @ New World Center
Startup Showcase @ Miami Beach Convention Center
University Track finalists pitch @ Center Stage
Early Stage finalists @ Center Stage
Later Stage finalists @ Center Stage
Winners of all tracks announced
Closing remarks / Pitbull
Comment
Required
Required
Required
Optional
Optional
Optional
Optional
Required
Required
Suggested
Required
Key Links
eMerge Americas
Registration
Showcase schedule/documents/updates
Flights and Accommodations
Venture Hive
Miami Beach Convention Center
http://emergeamericas.org
http://www.cvent.com/d/krqq6w/4W
http://emergeamericas.org/startups-showcase2015/
http://emergeamericas.org/flights-and-accommodations/
http://venturehive.co
http://www.miamibeachconvention.com/
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Pitch Presentations
Please note that if your company is selected as a finalist and invited to pitch on May 5th before the panel
of judges, you will need to be prepared with a pitch deck. The format of the deck should be PDF. The
pitch presentations are limited to 10 minutes for the Later Stage companies, 7 minutes for the Early
Stage companies and 7 minutes for the University Track companies. The finalist companies will be
provided a link to upload the presentations, which must completed by 8:00PM on May 4th. Once
uploaded, no more changes will be permitted.
Startup Showcase Exhibition Hall at the Miami Beach Convention Center
As a Showcase company, you will be exhibiting in the in the Startup Showcase area of
the main Expo Hall. You will have a 30 inch round high-boy table to display collateral
and handouts. Please print a 9" x 14" maximum cardstock banner to display on a rack
that will be provided (image on right). You will also have a dedicated power supply to
display digital signage on a small monitor or tablet and complimentary Wi-Fi. Plan to
man this table at all times during the duration of the 2-day event.
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eMerge Americas:
On behalf of my company, it is with pleasure that we accept your invitation to be
amongst the best global startups and showcase my company during the coming
eMerge Americas Summit scheduled for May 1-5 in Miami.
Company Name:
CEO:
eMail Address:
Others in my party:
We plan to attend Bootcamp: YES
NO
Signature:
Date:
__________________________________________________________________________________________
On behalf of my company, it is with sadness that we decline your invitation to be
amongst the best global startups and showcase my company during the coming
eMerge Americas Summit scheduled for May 1-5 in Miami.
Company Name:
CEO:
eMail Address:
Reason:
Scheduling Conflict
I am attending other event:
Other
Signature:
Date:
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