Center for Innovative Technology (CIT)

Richmond, Va. – Sept. 21, 2020 – The Center for Innovative Technology (CIT) today announced the participation of Investment Directors, Jennifer O’Daniel and Marco Rubin, as selection committee members for Forefront 2020’s Startup Showcase. Forefront, scheduled to take place virtually from Sept. 22-23, will bring together leading capital sources and industry changemakers who are committed to advancing efforts that build inclusive and diverse entrepreneurial ecosystems.
 
Forefront's review and selection process is an independent process led by MAVA Investor Members. O’Daniel and Rubin took part in selecting the 35 competitive startups to participate in this year’s Startup Showcase on the first day of the event.
 
When: Tuesday, September 22, 2020 from 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM ET
Where: For more information about the virtual event, please click here.

What: Forefront 2020 Startup Showcase
Ultimately, 35 competitively selected startups will take the virtual stage to present in front of professional investors and corporate partners. Showcase Companies represent the strength of commercial enterprises being built across D.C. and the greater National Capital Region and beyond. These startups stood out for the following characteristics:
 

• Company – ability to describe what makes them different as well as what problem they are solving
• Customer Validation – ability to accurately say where they are in their lifecycle
• Customer Traction – ability to describe who is paying them for their product or service
• Competition / Market – ability to share with the committee what they know about the market and why they believe their company can scale
• Team – ability to describe why their team is most equipped to tackle this problem and drive this solution

Who: CIT Investment Directors

• Jennifer ODaniel | Investment Director
• Marco Rubin, Senior Investment Director, CIT GAP Funds

Weithman will join other panel members to discuss innovative approaches to gain access to capital
 
Richmond, Va. – June 16, 2020 – The Center for Innovative Technology (CIT) today announced that CIT GAP Funds Managing Director, Tom Weithman, will participate as a speaker during InBIA’s 2020 International Conference on Business Incubation (ICBI34). For more than three decades, ICBI has brought together champions for entrepreneurship around the globe to form connections, share ideas and resources, and reinvigorate professional perspectives. The panel discussion, which will be hosted virtually as part of the full online event, will focus on innovative approaches to gain access to capital.
 
Weithman will join fellow speakers Judy Mahan, Director of Economic Development at Cal Poly Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship; Anne Lufkin-Riaño, U.S. Regional Manager at Kiva; and Mysty Rusk, Director at The Brink SBDC. For more information on this year’s conference, visit inbia.org/icbi34.
 
When: Tuesday, June 23, 2020 from 4:15 PM to 5:00 PM ET
 
Where: To register for the virtual event, please click here.
 
What: Innovative Approaches to Access Capital
With the right approaches, startups and other early-stage companies can access a much deeper pool of capital that was previously unavailable to them. During this panel discussion, experienced investors and experts in entrepreneurship will share insights on the many different, innovative approaches to accessing capital, as well as best practices for pursuing funding. Weithman brings his perspective on CIT GAP Funds’ investment strategy and outcomes, as well as the applicability and portability of CIT’s model for other state and regional ecosystems.
 
Who: Tom Weithman, Managing Director, CIT GAP Funds
As architect and leader of CIT GAP Funds, Tom has established himself as one of the nation's foremost experts on quasi-public fund formation, early stage investment, accelerator development and the contribution of "catalytic capital" to innovation, commercialization and economic development. Under his leadership, CIT GAP Funds has placed more than 200 equity investments in emerging tech, life science and clean tech companies, leveraging more a billion of private capital onto CIT GAP Funds portfolio company balance sheets. CIT GAP Funds has been acknowledged by Entrepreneur Magazine, CB Insights and the Association for Corporate Growth as one of the nation's leading early stage venture funds.

​http://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2020/06/04/2043887/0/en/CIT-Investment-Director-Marco-Rubin-Co-Hosts-New-Podcast-Series-for-Entrepreneurs.html

“Women and veteran entrepreneurs are bringing key products and services to market in the Commonwealth, all while paving the way for a new generation of female leadership in a variety of industries,” said Jennifer O’Daniel, Investment Director at CIT GAP Funds. “I am grateful for the opportunity to judge the Virginia Women Veterans Summit pitch competition and look forward to exploring new ways CIT can continue to support women veterans through our Virginia Founders Fund.”

This is now a virtual event | Press Release Here