LEXINGTON, KY - Here's what can happen when you make it known that your city wants to attract and accommodate talented, skilled individuals (also known as "creatives") to find ways to breathe new life into the local economy: 5 Across.
The event, Wednesday, Feb. 17 at Awesome, Inc., 348 East Main Street, is designed to bring into the same room entrepreneurs with startup ideas and investors looking for something interesting and promising to support.
The inspiration of Wes Keltner at Lexington's TAO Agency and a collaboration of the Lexington Venture Club and Awesome, Inc., each 5 Across session will feature presentations from five local entrepreneurs who will be pitching their idea to a panel of judges. Each team is limited to five minutes in which to present no more than five slides. The event begins at 5 p.m. and the winning pitch receives $500.
"There's definitely a movement happening in Lexington right now focusing on startups, especially within the tech/creative sectors," Keltner said. "Parallel to this movement is the lack of a relaxed funding alternative for these startups." The difference here, noted Keltner, is who will be listening. "The LVC has been a staple in our community for quite some time relative to finding investors and it excites me to no end to find out they are involved with 5 Across. I feel that their long lineage of support and investing connections, mixed with the fast paced, youthful approach of the 5 Across team is the exact formula this city has been missing."
For more info contact Brian Raney at brian@awesomeinc.org. Those interested in signing up for a pitch can register at http://www.5acrossmeeting.eventbrite.com.