Piranha Pond pitch contest set for
Nov. 13 at UMassD innovation center

DARTMOUTH – The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and the South Coast Entrepreneurs Collaborative will host a Piranha Pond pitch contest on Nov. 13.

Modeled along the lines of the TV show “Shark Tank,” the pitch contest is designed for early-stage companies that are beyond the idea stage, according to organizers. Ideally, the winner will be a technology-oriented company, organizers said, and will have done some fundraising, such as from family, friends or grants.

A panel of angel investors will consider the five-minute company pitches and determine which is the most compelling, while the audience will also pick a winner, according to the South Coast Entrepreneurs Collaborative. The best pitch will win more than $10,000 in cash and services. Applicants were notified of their selection on Nov. 1.

The panel of judges is made up of Paul Edelman, an experienced angel investor; Bert Lederer, executive director, Cherrystone Angel Group; Edward Melia, managing  director, Evolution Global Growth Partners LLC; Gregory Murdoch of Saunders Murdoch; Katherine Putnam, managing director, Golden Seeds LLC; and Thorne Sparkman, managing director, Slater Technology Fund.

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The cost to attend the public event is $20. Those with South Coast Entrepreneurs Collaborative alliances will only pay $15, while UMass Dartmouth students and faculty will get in for free.

The event will be held from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the UMass Dartmouth Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at 151 Martine St. in Fall River. More information is available here.

Susan Shalhoub is a PBN contributing writer.