SD Sport Innovators (SDSI), Outdoor Retailer, the premier outdoor product tradeshow, and sponsor Grow Utah, have reported that FundSource OR, the invitation only investor event, provided exposure for six emerging companies in the Outdoor industry to over twenty five investors.
“FundSource OR was a great opportunity for Arena Sciences to present itself to a group of investors in a friendly setting,” said Dr. Rupak Doshi, founder of Arena Sciences. “The Q&A session and follow-up discussions were highly fruitful to understand the various strategies that the investors had in mind for funding innovative sports products. The opportunity to visit the massive Outdoor Retailer trade show was a wonderful addition to the event, as it presented an inspiring picture of where every startup company eventually dreams of being.”
Over 25 activeinvestors, with an interest in the sports and active lifestyle (SAL) industry heard investment pitches from six high-quality, emerging SAL companies, all which had been vetted and either graduated SDSI’s business accelerator program, Springboard, or were a past winners of Grow Utah’s Concept to Company competition. Each company presented their business opportunity in a five-minute quick pitch format to potential investors and strategic partners with the intention of securing follow on meetings.
“FundSource OR staged the day before Outdoor Retailer opened in Salt Lake City and was a great way to launch this new concept at the show. The program provides a venue to gather the growing numbers of venture capital and angel investment firms, financial community already coming to OR to find and fund innovative brands, and delivers a platform for entrepreneurs and small companies looking for funding sources to take their business to the next level. This is a great way to provides a new service and builds excitement around outdoor industry innovation,” said Kenji Haroutunian, Group Show Director for Outdoor Retailer. “I am really pleased to hear that several companies that presented at FundSource have already gotten follow up and potential funding for their next phase of development.”
Presenting companies included:
Arena Sciences(SDSI Springboard) www.arenasciences.com
Bike Fast Rack (Grow Utah Concept to Company Winner) www.BikeFastRack.com
Char Poles (Grow Utah Concept to Company Winner) www.CharPoles.com
GrassAds(SDSI Springboard) www.grassads.com
Lunatec, Inc. (SDSI Springboard) www.lunatecgear.com
ZOIC (SDSI Springboard) www.zoic.com
Stay tuned for information on FundSource OR Winter Market, which will be held in January 2015. If you are an active investor in the SAL industry and are interested in more information about any of the companies who presented at Summer Marker or you would like to know more about FundSource OR Winter Market, please contact SDSI’s Executive Director, Lisa Freedman.
