The Takeoff: 2024 Northwest Florida Pitch Day

Space Florida, TechFarms Capital, and the Florida Institute for Human & Machine Cognition (IHMC) are pleased to announce The Takeoff: 2024 Northwest Florida Pitch Day to be held at IHMC in Pensacola, Florida on Wednesday, December 11^th, 2024 from 12:30 pm – 6:30 pm.

The Takeoff: 2024 Northwest Florida Pitch Day will highlight 3 industry leading researchers from IHMC presenting on their groundbreaking technology in addition to 3 leading edge early-stage companies to be chosen by a selection committee. The selected companies will receive a financial award for their participation and the opportunity to present to an audience of potential investors with a specific interest in your target industry sector. In addition, Deep Work Capital, the Investment Manager for the Florida Opportunity Fund (FOF) will also be a key participant at this year’s event. Established in 2008 with an initial capital appropriation of $29.5 million from the state of Florida, the FOF has leveraged funds from federal sources, to create an investment program of over $150 million to provide venture capital to emerging Florida companies.

Your company was pre-selected to receive an invitation to apply. Please find the application below which is due November 4, 2024 by 5 pm CDT/6 pm EST. To be considered, all questions must be answered. The top 3 selected companies will be notified by November 15th and are required to have a representative attend the December 11th event. Each representative must deliver a 15-minute presentation followed by a 5-minute Q&A session.

For any questions, please see contact information below.

Company Application Contact:
Melissa Stoker
Business Development Manager, Space Florida
MStoker@spaceflorida.gov

Name of CompanyLocation of Company HeadquartersName of CEO/FounderWhat is your background, and why did you start the company?Have you had any prior exits as a founder? If so, please describe.Email Address of CEO/FounderPhone Number of CEO/FounderCompany WebsiteI acknowledge that if my company is chosen to present at the December 11, 2024 Showcase Event , I will adhere to the guidelines and standards set forth by Space Florida. Please type yes.
I understand that invitations to present to the Selection Committee as a finalist for the December 11, 2024 Showcase Event are not guaranteed and agree to abide by the final decisions of the judging panel. Please type yes.

If selected as a finalist, I will be able to pitch my company at the December 11, 2024 Showcase Event. Please type yes.

Please email Melissa Stoker mstoker@spaceflorida.gov with the subject "The Takeoff - Company Name" the following:
‍
1. Pitch Deck: Include Team Information, Total Addressable Market, Technology and Any IP, Traction including Customer Revenue and High-Level Financial Overview, and Terms if Raising Funds
2. Company logo
3. CEO/Founder Headshot

I confirm I have emailed the requirements stated above

Thank you! Your submission has been received!

Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

About Space Florida: Space Florida is where leading aerospace companies get everything they need to see their new ideas take off. As that state’s aerospace finance and development authority, Space Florida brings a mix of unrivaled experience, unmatched financial tools, and unbeatable location to the table by providing critical business financing opportunities for the aerospace industry, managing infrastructure investment in the state’s spaceport system, and facilitating research and development, workforce, education, and investment programs. Visit www.spaceflorida.gov for more information.

‍About IHMC: IHMC is a not-for-profit research institute of the Florida University System and is affiliated with several Florida universities. Created at the University of West Florida, with a main campus in historic downtown Pensacola and a branch campus in Ocala. Researchers at IHMC pioneer technologies aimed at leveraging and extending human capabilities. Their research falls into three broad categories: Machine Learning and Artificial intelligence; Robotics and Exoskeletons; and Healthspan, Resilience, and Performance. Find more information at IHMC.

‍About TechFarms Capital: TechFarms Capital invests in early-stage tech startups in the Southeast United States. Based in Northwest Florida, Fund I was established to professionalize access to seed-stage capital required by an increasing number of tech startups. https://www.techfarmscapital.com/