“I am an early stage venture capitalist,” Burke notes, “passionate about growing businesses from concept to profitable enterprise.” His firm focuses on young startups in seed stage and Series A rounds. "The startup community is the only bright light in the US economy and is responsible for any current job growth. So I personally dedicate my time and resources to building startup companies and I embrace the opportunity to promote entrepreneurship at Geekend in November.”
Burke will host “Pitch Circus,” a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for select entrepreneurs to present their projects to all Geekend attendees as well as guest venture capitalists on Friday, November 14. The audience is invited to watch and participate in the sometimes precarious balancing act between entrepreneur and investor. Teams and individuals will have the chance to present and defend their concepts for the possibility of capital investment. The grand prize is a guaranteed spot in Creative Coast’s new Creators' Foundry BIZlab in Savannah, an accelerator program for promising startups.
Projects at all levels of completion are welcome to apply for a spot in the Pitch Circus. For consideration, an application for StartupLounge must be completed by September 18, www.thecreativecoast.org/programs/startuplounge.
Burke founded True Ventures in 2005 with a simple vision: create a new kind of venture capital firm that focuses on supporting the earliest stage founders. “Our collective experience has taught us that the most important ingredient to a startup’s success is the entrepreneur.”
With about $600 million under management, True Ventures currently has approximately 125 companies in its portfolio with a focus on software, media and commerce. It made some of the first investments in companies like Fitbit for fitness training, StockTwits, a social media site for investors, and the 3D printer Makerbot.
Registration to Geekend is $225, including access to speakers and workshops, lunches and admission to all receptions. For more information and registration, log ontowww.geek-end.com.
About The Creative Coast
The Creative Coast is a non-profit organization that exists to nurture the members of the Savannah community engaged in creative or innovative endeavors and to cultivate an environment in which they can thrive.
Technology news on Global TechWire, reporting the business of life sciences and innovation. Published by Innovative Public Relations, Inc., a Research Triangle, North Carolina based publicity and branding consultancy. David Menzies, President. www.innovativepublicrelations.com.
