Major Investors To Attend FashInvest Speed Dating Event

June 11, 2012 - PRLog -- WILMINGTON, DE (June 11, 2012) –The 2nd annual FashInvest Speed Dating event will take place in New York City on June 21, focusing on emerging businesses in Fashion Tech, Fashion, Branded Goods and Retail. This event gives a handful of lucky entrepreneurs the chance to go on the most important ‘first date’ of their careers.

Only the most competitive applicants will be chosen to participate and entrepreneurs interested in pitching to investors must send in an application by June 15. Hosted and sponsored by Duane Morris LLP, founding sponsor of FashInvest, the selected companies will go on 3-minute ‘dates’, pitching their business to world-renowned investors.

“We have been committed to FashInvest’s mission from the beginning, and look forward to meeting the next generation of emerging companies in fashion, technology and retail,” commented George Nemphos, Principal of Duane Morris LLP.

Top investors in the Mid-Atlantic region are attending in hopes of finding their next big investment. Leading the way are FirstMark Capital, Marty Staff Associates and Blazer Ventures as part of this stellar investment group.

“We are looking for the leaders of tomorrow, companies who approach their market with incredible product and creative new business models,” says participating investor, Lawrence Lenihan, Founder and Managing Director of FirstMark Capital.

Last year, the event was a success featuring over 50 start-ups. This year, FashInvest looks toward making this event more beneficial for emerging businesses and investors, alike.

Marty Staff, President of Marty Staff Associates, LLC, stated “I have a rule to meet one new person with an idea or business opportunity every day. I attend FashInvest because in one day I can see 30 new ideas! It’s new ideas on steroids and there’s nothing else like it!”

The following is a partial list of investors and industry executives attending FashInvest:
- Tom Montgomery (Allegro Capital)
- Gillian Munson (Allen & Co.)
- Mike Kelly and Christine Tate (ARC Angel Fund)
- Yolanda Wardowski (Avalon Group)
- Jay Gardner (Ben Elias Industries Corporation)
- Michael Wolf (Blazer Ventures)
- Marion Schouten and Suzanne Obenshain (Castanea Partners)
- Lawrence Lenihan (FirstMark Capital)
- Corey Galloway (Legacy Growth Partners)
- Michael Wu (Long Island Angels)
- Denise Seegal (Magaschoni)
- Marty Staff (Marty Staff Associates)
- Elijah Duckworth - Schachter (Point One Percent)
- Jon Flint (Polaris Ventures)
- Sylvia Kuyel (StarVest Partners)
- Steven Alan (Steven Alan)
- Apar Kothari (RueLaLa)

“FashInvest is a great opportunity for fashion entrepreneurs to connect to leading investors that know not just technology, but the fashion industry as well,” says participating investor Michael Wolf, Principal of Blazer Ventures.

There is an optional Pitch Workshop from 2:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. where entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to rehearse their pitches for a handful of the investors. Financiers will advise them on how to refine their pitches and make them the most impactful. Entrepreneurs participating in the optional Pitch Workshop will also have exclusive access to the investors from 5:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

The Speed Dating event will be held from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Duane Morris, 1540 Broadway (between 45th and 46th Streets). For more information, visit conference.fashinvest.com or fashinvest.com.

About FashInvest
FashInvest was established to create a community of key participants with the goal to foster the development of emerging growth companies within the Fashion, Fashion Tech, Retail and Branded Goods sectors. FashInvest has established one of the most respected business platforms committed to company growth and formation within these markets. For more information, visit www.fashinvest.com.

About Duane Morris A leading global law firm of more than 700 attorneys in 23 offices, Duane Morris offers innovative solutions to the legal and business challenges presented by today's evolving international markets. Clients in the fashion, retail and luxury goods industries call on Duane Morris for our extensive experience at the intersection of fashion, business and finance. Our long history in the private equity and venture capital markets helps us guide clients through the complexities of starting a company and bringing a product to market. Duane Morris is proud to be a founding sponsor of FashInvest. For more information, visit www.duanemorris.com.

Media Contact: Camille Currie, PowerImage Public Relations | camillecurrie@powerimagepr.com