Phase II – NEXT!

NEXT! is an intensive 3-day in-Canada program developed for companies who successfully complete Stage I (Ready?) and are selected by the Canada-San Diego Commercialization Advisory Group (The Advisory Group).  This stage of the initial Western Canada pilot will occur during an “invitation-only” track at the Banff Venture Forum, September 30 – October 3, 2009. 

NEXT! works with the entrepreneur to outline key elements of partnership creation in the San Diego area: “Mistakes that kill a deal”, “Defining your product & IP”, “Your Customer & Competition”, “Valuation & Financial Plan”, “Management, Boards, and Advisors”, “Mock Final Pitches”, etc.  The Advisory Group, using pre-determined selection criteria, will select those companies that will advance to Stage III (LEAPFROG – Mentor Support).

The Advisory Group members from San Diego and investor community throughout Western Canada during the pilot will work together to deliver the Stage II NEXT! Program. The program will consist of the following elements, concluding with “selection day” on the final day.

Phase II – NEXT! – Selection Phase

Wednesday, September 30, 2009 (Day One)

09:00 – 09:30        Opening Remarks

09:30 – 10:30         10 Mistakes That Kill a Deal

10:30 – 11:30         Elements of a Successful Pitch

11:30 – 12:40         Presentation & Critique of Current Pitches

12:40 – 13:40         Working Lunch to Refine Pitch

13:40 – 14:40         Defining Your Product, Your Market, & IP

14:40 – 15:10         Breakout – Refine Pitch

15:10 – 16:10        Your Customer & Competition (Defining your SWOT)

16:10 – 16:40         Breakout – Refine Pitch

16:40 – 17:50         Presentation & Critique of Current Pitches

17:50 – 18:10         Day One Wrap

Thursday, October 1, 2009 (Day Two – First Day of Banff Venture Forum – BVF Program in Italics)

09:10 – 09:30         Opening Remarks (Banff Venture Forum)

09:30 – 10:30         Joint Panel: Meet The Investors (Banff Venture Forum)

10:30 – 10:45         Delegates Move to Presentation Theatres (Banff Venture Forum)

10:45 – 11:45     Company Presentations (Banff Venture Forum - IT, Lifesciences, Energy Tracks)

12:00 – 12:45     Special Guest Speaker Timothy Draper, Founder & Managing Director – Draper Fisher Jurvetson (Banff Venture Forum)

12:45 – 1:00 LEAP! Canada Delegates Move to Session Room

01:00 – 01:15             Intro & Remarks

01:15 – 02:45        Valuation

02:45 – 03:15         Breakout – Refine Pitch

03:15 – 04:15         Financial Plan & Executive Summary

04:15 – 05:15         Breakout - Refine Pitch

Friday, October 2, 2009 (Day Three – Final Day of Banff Venture Forum – BVF Program in Italics)

08:00 – 09:00         Management, Boards, & Advisors

09:00 – 10:00         Breakout – Refine Pitch

10:00 – 11:00         The Exit

11:00 – 12:15         Breakout – Refine Pitch

12:15 – 1:15 Networking Lunch (Banff Venture Forum)

01:15 – 02:00     Lunch Keynote Speaker - Jon Gelsey, Director, Acquisitions and Investments – Microsoft (Banff Venture Forum)

02:00 – 02:15     Delegates Move from Dining Hall to Presentation Theatres (Banff Venture Forum)

02:15 – 03:00     Banff Venture Forum Stream Specific Panel Sessions (Banff Venture Forum)

03:00 – 03:30         Coffee & Networking Break (Banff Venture Forum)

03:30 – 03:35         Sponsor Introduction (Banff Venture Forum)

03:35 – 04:35     Joint Panel  Session “Liquidity & Alternative Financing Strategies for Adverse Times” (Banff Venture Forum)

05:00 – 06:00         Reception (Banff Venture Forum)

06:00 – 07:15         Dinner Served (Banff Venture Forum)

07:15 – 08:15     Conference Keynote Address, Steven Woods, Site Director - Google Canada (Banff Venture Forum)

08:15 – 08:30     Presenting Company Awards & Closing Remarks (Banff Venture Forum)

Saturday, October 3, 2009 (Day Four)

08:00 – 11:00        Pitches to Mock Angel Panel

11:00 - 12:00         Voting & Wrap-Up