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CONNECTpreneur Holiday Networking and Pitch Extravaganza
The Big Idea CONNECTpreneur Holiday Networking & Pitch Extravaganza - IN PERSON at Valo Park Conference Center in Tysons Corner, VA
When and where
Date and time
Location
Valo Park Conference Center & Refraction 7950 Jones Branch Dr McLean, VA 22102
Map and directions
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Refund Policy
About this event
The Big Idea CONNECTpreneur Holiday Networking & Pitch Extravaganza!
December 13, 2022
Hosted by CONNECTpreneur and Refraction, The Big Idea CONNECTpreneur Holiday and Pitch Extravaganza will be the best business networking event of the Season.
Come out and CELEBRATE innovation, get INSPIRED, and MAKE DEALS at this fun, high-energy evening of entrepreneurship and early stage investing!
Featuring incomparable CEO and Investor Networking, plus 10 promising early stage companies!
Full house of investors, entrepreneurs, CEOs, CXOs, and business leaders!
This will be our 50th consecutive SOLD OUT in-person event with over 11,000 attendees over the last 11 years.
Over 70% of previous attendees surveyed say that CONNECTpreneur is the "Number One" tech and investor event in the Mid-Atlantic region.
This UNIQUE EVENT is like NONE OTHER in our region, because of the high quality of our attendees, speakers and presenters. The networking is unprecedented!
Program Highlights:
- The region's top business leaders, CEOs & Founders, private investors, angels & VCs
- ROCKET PITCH SHOWCASE of promising Emerging tech companies
- 20+ EXHIBITORS including leading VC firms and angel groups, as well as presenting companies and sponsors
- Heavy NETWORKING sessions
- Music provided by the Hally Shoenberg Trio, one of the nation's top jazz ensembles
- Appetizers, beer and wine, and other refreshments
- After Party celebration with desserts and refreshments after the main event
CONNECTpreneur is a bi-monthly networking mashup, which has been attended by over 12,000 business leaders over the past 11 years.
All attendees MUST BE pre-registered due to venue capacity. Attendance is capped at 400 attendees. We expect another SOLD OUT crowd, so there will be NO on-site registration.
For more information on previous CONNECTpreneur events, presenters, speakers, etc. or to download program books from our previous events, please visit our website at connectpreneur.org.
Please "Like" us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Connectpreneur
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @connectpreneur
And visit our Website at connectpreneur.org
For info on SPONSORSHIP, please email us at sponsors@opus8.com
If you want to be considered as a PRESENTER/EXHIBITOR, please email srallison@opus8.com
DATE: Tuesday, December 13, 2022
AGENDA:
5:00 - 6:30 pm - REGISTRATION / NETWORKING - Valo Park Atrium
6:30 - 6:50 pm - WELCOME REMARKS - Valo Park Auditorium
TIEN WONG, Founder and Host, CONNECTpreneur
ESTHER LEE, President and CEO, REFRACTION
VICTOR HOSKINS, President and CEO, Fairfax County Economic Development Authority
JENNIFER TAYLOR, CEO, Northern Virginia Technology Council
6:50 - 7:40 pm - COMPANY SHOWCASE / ROCKET PITCH - Valo Park Auditorium
Companies will be introduced by:
ANTHONY MILLIN, Founder and Chair, NEXT, Powered by Shulman Rogers; Venture Partner, Third Sphere
LING ZHANG, Managing Director, FORVIS
PRESENTING COMPANIES:
Aged Diagnostics
Atero
Givio
Orion Biotechnology
PainScript
Privacy Vaults Online (PRIVO)
Solas AI
Alexanders Grace
7:40 - 8:45 pm - EXPO AND NETWORKING - Valo Park Atrium
Wine & Cheese Reception in the Atrium featuring the music of the Halley Shoenberg Trio
8:45 - 10:30pm - AFTER PARTY - Refraction, 8th Floor
PREVIOUS INVESTOR PARTICIPANTS (partial list):
Revolution Ventures, Carlyle Group, Kinetic Ventures, Sterling Partners, Core Capital, Grotech, UPDATA, Novak Biddle, New Atlantic Ventures, Edison Ventures, SWaN & Legend Venture Partners, Venturehouse, Boulder Ventures, TDF Funds, Ballast Point Ventures, Multiplier Capital, Saratoga Investment Corp., Maryland Venture Fund, New Markets Venture Partners, True Ventures, 500 Startups, Amplifier Venture Partners, DFW Capital Partners, Farragut Capital, NextGen Angels, CIT GAP Funds, TEDCO, BluVenture Investors, Leeds Novamark, 1776, Private Access Network, CAV Angels, K Street Capital, Select Venture Partners, RLMcCall Capital, ID Private Equity, Cranbrook Capital, Baltimore Angels, Pennington Partners, Acceleprise, Blue Marlin Partners, US Boston Capital, VentureCross Partners, Berman Enterprises, Dingman Angels, Neuberger & Co. Ventures, McLean Capital, Angel Venture Forum, Brilliant Keypoint Investments, Paras Ventures, NextSteps Capital, Noblestar Capital, Hercules Technology Growth Capital, Grindstone Partners, Exhilirator, New Vantage Group, New Dominion Angels, National Capital Companies, Enhanced Capital, MTECH Ventures, Mosaic Capital, Opus8, Blue Heron Capital, Duncaster Investments, Private Capital Network, Next-Stage Development Group, Lancaster Angel Network, Decisive Investment Group, Harrell Partners, Ruxton Ventures, MD Center for Entrepreneurship, Fortify Ventures, Conscious Venture Labs, and Keiretsu Forum.
EVENT PARTNERS
Fairfax County Economic Development Authority
Refraction
Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce
Northern Virginia Technology Council
FORVIS
StellaPop
NEXT, powered by Shulman Rogers
Bank of America
New York Life
AEG - Association for Enterprise Growth
Baltimore Angels
Startup Grind
Keiretsu Forum
Founder Institute
Dingman Center Angels
Georgetown Entrepreneurship Initiative
Institute for Excellence in Sales
Wharton DC Innovation Summit
Maryland Tech Council Venture Mentoring Services
Mason Enterprise Center at GMU
Center for Advancing Innovation
Ryan & Wetmore
National Association of Business Owners & Entrepreneurs
TESTIMONIALS and MEDIA
PRESS: http://connectpreneur.org/press
"No B.S. that was the best biz networking event I have ever been to."
Darren Womer
CEO, National Capital Companies
"CONNECTpreneur is the region's leading event for bringing together people who will drive our economy forward."
Lyles Carr
Senior Vice President, The McCormick Group
"Not every investor and startup meeting in town is worthwhile. I would run through walls to get to yours though."
Joe Kessler
CEO, Next Stage Development Group
"You pulled off a great conference. I really enjoyed it. Thanks for inviting me!!"
John Backus
Managing Partner, New Atlantic Ventures and PROOF.VC
"Thank you again for the invitation to CONNECTpreneur. It is so incredible to watch the Forum become THE entrepreneurship/investor forum in the Washington, DC metro area, and maybe the entire Mid-atlantic region."
Dennis Defensor
Senior VP, Worldwide Sales, OROCK Technologies
"What a great conference...There was a distinct energy and enthusiasm at your meeting, unlike the usual droll meetings like this. So well done."
John Holaday,
CEO, QRx Pharma
"One of the best events I have ever sponsored!"
Mark Ellenbogen
Partner, BDO
"Great event this week! Great speakers, atmosphere and people! Reminded me of the good ole days!"
Tom Kohn
Professor, American University; Founder, Transactis
"It was amazing. Best event I have ever attended!"
Jill Chodorov, Angel Investor
"I thought you put on a terrific event. I was really impressed with the caliber of people and the format of the event."
Jim Van Eperen, Angel Investor
Director, Raffa Insurance Services
"That was one of the best VC conferences I can remember attending. It had all the positive energy of the boom years, without the unbridled reckless exuberance."
Jim Long
Founder, VentureCross Partners
"Bravo! Great program."
Tony Cord
Partner and Managing Director, Newport Board Group
"It was first class....well done!"
Chad MacDonald
CEO, Connected Services
"Amazing how many high-level people you had..."
Wade Tetsuka
CEO, US Transactions Corp.
"It was very successful! A good combination of networking time, information, and presentation of deal opportunities. The interview approach worked well I thought, and the room was certainly full."
George Harrop
Managing Director, CapitalSource
"It was a really good crowd of operators and investors…rare for these so-called 'forums.'"
David Giannini
Chairman and CEO, CirrusWorks
"Event was great. Quality attendees, good energy – contacts – content."
Bud Morrissette
CEO, Interstate Group Holdings
"it was an outstanding event! Thank you for having us be part of CONNECTpreneur...I feel like I've experienced the best of breed in networking and relationship groups. Nicely done."
Jack Quarles
Co-Author, Same Side Selling
"I thought the event yesterday at Marymount University was absolutely outstanding! The attendance was fantastic and the content was extraordinary. Thank you for curating such a great event. The Vice Chair of the Arlington County Board was extraordinarily impressed. Thank you so much for allowing us to be part of it and we look forward to the event."
Victor Hoskins
President & CEO, Fairfax County Economic Development Authority
FAQs
What are my transportation/parking options for getting to and from the event?
You can park in the South or West parking garages (see map here). If you park in the South garage, take the elevator to L level to the lobby and follow CONNECTpreneur signs. If you park in the West garage, take the elevator to P2, cross the walkway to the building, and follow signs. If you have any issues, please call Amanda at (571) 565-9104.
How can I contact the organizer with any questions?
You can e-mail CONNECTpreneur Community Manager Skylar Rallison at srallison@opus8.com.
What's the refund policy?
All sales are final and there are no refunds. Any cancellations received before December 1st, 2022 may be credited towards a future CONNECTpreneur Forum.
Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event?
No. Once you register on Eventbrite, you are good to go! We will send you a couple of confirmation email s in the days leading up to the event.
Can I update my registration information?
Yes
Is my registration fee or ticket transferable?
The “Service Provider” ticket is fully transferable. The Investor/Entrepreneur/CEO ticket is transferable only to another investor, founder or CEO. It is not transferable to a service provider.
How can I apply to present?
If you have a promising early stage company that is raising capital or wanting to make a product announcement, please contact presenters@opus8.com. We have a Committee review process for prospective presenting companies.