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The Seed Forum process consists of 4 elements: Nomination, selection, a training session (the pitch training camp) and the investor matchmaking forum. The scope of the Seed Form process is to secure a highest possible level of the company presentations in the investor matchmaking forums so that the companies are investor ready when presenting to investors. The rationale of the process is to reduce the risk of investment in companies in the early stage.
Seed Forum is a global market place for born global companies and investors. Seed Forums are organized on a local and international level bringing companies from one region or country to interact with investors in another region or country. The mission of Seed Forum is to create an international market place for seed and venture capital without national and regional boarders.
The Seed Forum process refers to the standardized steps that a born global company follows from being nominated, selected and trained for investor-readiness to finally present in a Seed Forum investor match-making forum. There is no success fee involved.
NOMINATION
Nomination is the first step in the process where a nominator has identified a potential born global company for participation in the process. A Nominator typically looks for innovative edge, market- and internationalization potential and if it is the right timing to present to investors. A Seed Forum nominator is a person who has been defined by Seed Forum International Foundation or a Seed Forum national not-for-profit foundation as a key-person with information about born global companies. Nominators are individuals within incubators, science parks, various business network, regional development offices, venture funds etc The only requirement for the company is to fill in the Seed Forum Business Summary formula in English (DOWNLOAD HERE) or in the respective local langue of the company (the Seed Forum Business Summary currently also exists in Norwegian, Swedish and Russian). Other documents such as business plans, power point presentations etc. will not be accepted and will be deleted immediately if received. A company that has previously been nominated but not selected and also companies that have previously participated in the Seed Forum process does not need to be re-nominated. A company that would like to participate may also directly file a Business Summary formula, and Seed Forum will then assist in finding a nominator that may nominate the company.
SELECTION
The Seed Forum selection panel evaluates the Business Summary formulas from the nominated born global companies and has the mandate to select companies to the Seed Forum Process. The selection panel consists of investors and individuals with close access to capital within the Seed Forum Global Investor Network. Companies are selected with reference to if the company has a potential for internationalization in the respective market, and if it is the right timing to present to investors. A selected Company will shortly after being selected receive a confirmation from Seed Forum with an invitation to participate in one of the Seed Forum obligatory pitch training camps. A company that has previously presented in a Seed Forum International investor forum may be subject to selection to present in further Seed Forum International investor matchmaking orums by the internal Seed Forum back-office selection committee.
TRAINING SESSION
The intensive and obligatory Pitch Training Camp which is a one and a half day program including lectures and coaching. Most lectures are held by external professionals and covers topics like "Documents in the investment process", "How to work with a corporate finance partner", "Preparation for Due Diligence", "Negotiation techniques", "Exit strategies", "How to protect your competitive edge" etc. The training includes coaching in presentation techniques, information about business cultures and investor markets in the various countries where companies are presenting to investors. The Seed forum pitch trainings camps are currently referred to as a program within various national innovation systems to create competence for start-up companies of investor readiness.
INVESTOR MATCHMAKING FORUM
The Seed Forum investor matchmaking forums are an efficient half-day forum from morning until lunch with 5-9 born global company presentations. The companies will firstly present a 30 seconds power pitch followed by maximum 3 key-note speeches. Thereafter the companies will present their 7 minute investor presentation and following questions from the investors followed by a networking lunch. The investor matchmaking forums are followed by a 2 hours evening reception starting at 6 pm the same day. After the evening reception there is also in most destinations a networking session for even further mingling. The evening before the investor matchmaking forum the companies must participate in a the hours obligatory last minute brief and audition starting at 6 pm, and in the morning from 9-11 am the day after the forum also in obligatory round-up session. The International and local Seed Forum investor forum processes are all following the same model. All Seed Forum investor matchmaking forums are hosted in prestigious venues.
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