It’s important for us to give back to the local entrepreneur community in Seattle. We are proud to be part of this vibrant and young technology hub and think there are a lot of startup potential in the Pacific Northwest. Recently, we became a member of WTIA (Washington Technology Industry Association) and were invited to participate in the 2015 Spring First Look Forum hosted by WTIA.

First Look Forum is both a coaching program and presentation showcase for early stage startups. Companies are paired with mentors and presentation coaches in preparation for the big showcase. The winner of the event wins $10,000 grand prize.  To see the full line-up of companies, and the selected winner, go here.

Branden Harper, our Director of Business Development had the pleasure to coach a local company, Palalinq. Palalinq is a mobile app and wearable technology that provides on-the-go support for those in recovery from alcoholism and drug addiction.

“I was paired with Daniela Luzi Tudor, the founder of Palalinq. We met to talk through her pricing and market strategy, and ways to tackle today’s challenges facing vendor management and the manufacturing process. She’s very driven and passionate about the problem she is solving. She definitely has the “can-do” attitude of an entrepreneur,” says Branden.

Molly Otter, our Chief Investment Officer was invited to be on the judge panel to score the different pitches.

“I had a great time hearing all the pitches. It was exciting to see so many talented entrepreneurs in our hometown Seattle. Also, I was delighted to see many startups in the SaaS space. We think it’s a great business model and look forward to seeing these companies grow. Down the road, many of them can become potential borrowers of Lighter Capital.

Any advice for the entrepreneurs?

Pitching may not be the most enjoyable thing when it comes to running your business, but it is very important and your success depends on it. The First Look Forum provides a platform for entrepreneurs to practice their pitch for the first time. But realistically, you need many, many different platforms and audience to perfect your pitch. The more you practice, the better you will be in your delivery and content. Finally, take every feedback to heart because that’s what can help you refine your long term business objectives.