Annual Conference
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Annual Conference
For over 15 years, ICCC has worked with and celebrated high-growth small businesses in under-resourced communities that are economic catalysts for their neighborhoods. The ICIC National Conference marks the culmination of the ICCC program year, and brings together our dynamic network of current program participants, small business alumni, and collaborators to celebrate the extraordinary entrepreneurs whose strength of character and resilience have enabled their businesses and communities to lead, survive, and thrive through the COVID-19 pandemic!
This year’s virtual conference was hosted over three half-days on December 1st, 3rd, and 8th to accommodate the unique online format and to help balance attendance with the needs of work and family. It featured relevant educational content, high-profile keynote addresses, and many networking opportunities with close to 1,000 business owners from throughout the country. Attendees left the conference with a strengthened business recovery strategy to build capacity, remain agile, and lead their business into 2021.
REFINING YOUR CAPITAL PITCH | SHARK TANK PITCHES | BUILDING CAPACITY, BUILDING NETWORK
Refining Your Capital Pitch for Long-Term Success
The conference presents a unique opportunity to continue to refine your capital pitch and access much needed capital to grow your business! Companies that have attended the conference in the past and were looking to raise capital have reported extraordinary rates of success. Of these companies, 70% went on to raise capital within the year and 82% within two years.
Capital Pitch Review Session
At the ICIC National Conference, participants had the opportunity to meet one-on-one with a capital provider and receive individual feedback on your capital pitch. This session was solely a review of your pitch deck, and no capital investment will be made.
“Gentler, Kinder” Shark Tank-style Pitches
The gentler, kinder “Shark Tank”-style pitches are a key component of the National Conference where selected business owners will pitch and receive immediate feedback from a panel of experience capital providers. No capital investment is made, however, participants will leave with key insights into refining their capital pitch. Below you can learn about the companies pitching at this year’s conference!
Jones Software Corporation – Chicago, IL
Jones Software Corporation is a Digital Social Impact Enterprise, who has developed a SaaS, Cloud based deployment, math learning software tool, iLikeMath, to help K-12 students meet or exceed grade level standards and inspire them to maximize their potential inside as well as outside of the classroom. Learn more about Jones Software here.
Mei Mei – Boston, MA
Mei Mei is a farm-centered, Chinese-American restaurant and caterer based in Boston, MA. They are known for serving creative Chinese-American food crafted from sustainable, regionally sourced ingredients, and offer dumpling classes, grocery kits, and are working to pivot during this time. Mei Mei is a nominee for the 2020 James Beard Foundation Rising Star Chef of the Year Award. Learn more about Mei Mei here.
Shaka Tea – O’ahu, HI
Shaka Tea is an award-winning tea company focused on supporting Hawai’i’s local community, and economic growth in rural areas and for small farmers. Shaka Tea was founded out of Bella’s love for her home and wanting to offer something healthy and authentic to customers beyond Hawai’i, whilst supporting her local community and using business as a vehicle for true, social enterprise and force for good. From leaf to bottle, Shaka Tea strives to live their mission and vision: be the aloha you wish to see in the world. Learn more about Shaka Tea here.
Building Capacity, Building Network
Our speakers and lecturers draw on years of hands-on experience to provide practical advice, and they are eager to help your business continue to recover and grow. Attendees also heard from alumni on how they took advantage of the program to accelerate their growth, along with how they have positioned themselves for growth during this time.
With close to 1,000 growth-oriented businesses in attendance, the ICIC National Conference presented a unique opportunity to forge strategic alliances with capital providers, mentors, and potential partners, suppliers, or clients.
Business Growth Marketplace
The Business Growth Marketplace is an opportunity where program participants had the opportunity to request one-on-one meetings with key decision-makers from the worlds of finance and procurement to learn more about what they look for in prospective partnerships!
Participants will leave the Business Growth Marketplace with newfound connections and relationships that will help them advance their business!
