Innovation Expo accepting applications for pitch and grow, other sessions

CORALVILLE - During the third annual Innovation Expo Oct. 23, businesses will be able to pitch their ideas to a panel of experts.

The businesses participating in the Pitch and Grow session will be from Cedar Rapids, Iowa City and other cities across the state, said Christie Remley, marketing director of the Entrepreneurial Development Center, a co-host of the 2013 Expo. Attendees will be able to vote with play money for their favorite company.

At the end of the pitch session, a winner will be selected. The winning company then will get to present its business plan at the end of the Iowa Seed and Venture forum in the afternoon.

The Pitch and Grow session will be 8 a.m. to noon, followed by a networking lunch noon to 1 p.m., then by the Iowa Seed and Venture forum until 4:30 p.m.

During the Seed and Venture forum, nine entrepreneurs, with more developed companies, will pitch their business ideas, Remley said.

A mini-trade show, which will feature 50 to 60 entrepreneurs at any stage, will run until 7:30 p.m., she said.

"Some of them are truly inventors, coming straight out of their garages or basements, some of them are start-ups, early on in their ventures as businesses, some of them are mature businesses that have been around 20, 30 years and maybe have a new innovative idea," Remley said.

The University of Iowa also will have staff and student spin-off businesses on display.

The deadline for businesses to apply for the Pitch and Grow and other sessions is Oct. 1. Applications can be found at http://InnovationExpo2013.eventbrite.com.

"We host the event in the Creative Corridor to put a spotlight on the innovation that is happening here in the Corridor and to showcase, celebrate the innovation and then to provide a venue for the entrepreneurs, inventors, start-ups to connect with the business resources," she said.

The Innovation Expo is open to members of the public, including entrepreneurs, business and community leaders as well as other business resources, Remley said.