Friday, November 9th marked the seventh semi-annual RAISE (Retention and Advanced Investment for the Southeast at Emory) Forum, hosted at Emory Goizueta Business School. With more than 50 startup applicants and 33 attending investors, RAISE saw its largest turnout since its founding four years ago.
 
Beyond the record number of individuals involved, RAISE hosted its most diverse array of companies—from technology and healthcare to textile and financial services. The leaders of these startups came from varying backgrounds and brought great professionalism and passion to the elite event.
 
After a vigorous interview and selection process, eight finalist companies presented to a room of potential investors in hopes to secure anywhere from $1 to $5 million in funding. SmartPM, brrr, MYOLYN, Leap Credit, Modjoul, Sudu, Ark Labs and Dune Medicalall pitched their solutions and plans for future strategic growth.
 
Roughly one in four presenting companies go into funding through the Forum’s efforts, with Demand-Driven Technologies the latest triumph. Erik Bush, Co-Founder and CEO, received $750,000 in funding from AIM Group after presenting at RAISE—marking his second funding success as a result of the event.
 
“We made valuable connections through the RAISE Forum, including investors and valuable employees for our company,” said Bush. “The presence of investors and students at the RAISE Forum played a critical role in both the funding of our Series Seed round as well as the convertible note funding we’re closing this fall.”
 
Thrilled to be the catalyst in investor/startup funding matches, RAISE plans to host their eighth semi-annual event in Spring 2019.