Friday, May 3^rd marks the eighth semi-annual RAISE (Retention and Advanced Investment for the Southeast at Emory) Forum, presented by Emory University’s Goizueta Business School. This invitation-only event, now accepting applications, brings together startups and investors from across the Southeast with the goal of closing the region’s funding gap at higher levels of funding.

“Our highly disciplined approach to matching investors with startups has fostered 13 successful funding stories since we began three years ago,” states RAISE Forum Founder Barry Etra. “All 13 companies are still here in the Southeast, fulfilling our goal of keeping companies local by funding them at higher levels locally.”

Call for Startups

The Forum is accepting applications from post-revenue startups based in the Southeast (Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina) seeking funding between $750 thousand and $5 million. Eight startups will be selected to present to active, accredited investors at the May event. To be considered as a presenting startup, a company must have some revenue, as well as participate in a short training afternoon which will prepare applicants for investor presentations. Applications will close Friday, March 29^th.

Roughly one in five presenting companies go into funding through the Forum’s efforts, and each remains in the Southeast. Startups in any field are encouraged to apply to present at the Forum by visiting www.raiseforum.com/entrepreneurs.

Investor and Community Support

Current investor support for the Forum comes from across the region, with investors from Alder Asset Management, BIP, VentureSouth, AIM Group, Fulcrum Equity, 11-11 Ventures and many more.

Advisory support includes a mix of the region’s most influential startup ecosystem influencers and investors, including:

• Michael Blake, Arpeggio Advisors

• Margaret Dolan, Launch Tennessee

• Bob Crutchfield, BrightEdge Ventures Fund

• Frank Dalton, Fulcrum Equity Ventures

• Eloisa Klementich, Invest Atlanta

• Ed Rieker, head of Emory Startup Launch Accelerator Program, Goizueta Business School