Nutrition Capital Network -- coming soon to NYC

For investors (funds and individuals), I highly recommend attending the Nutrition Capital Network meeting, coming up in NYC on April 20/21.  This will be the fourth NCN meeting and I've been to the previous three; they've been getting better and better.  The format is simple:  On April 20th there is a networking session and dinner -- a mixer for the investors and the 22 companies (selected from the 60-100 formal applications) invited to participate.  Those companies each get 10 minutes to pitch their company on April 21.  For those of you who have been to "pitch fests" and are now groaning, this one is well run and well screened.  The 10-minute limit is strict (although I'm up for an eight-limit myself) and the program moves quickly.  And the companies are good; in fact, I've noticed a quality improvement in each of the previous three meetings.  This year, the presenters are described in the NCN materials as:

$30 million botanical supplement manufacturer
$12 million scalable local fresh foods and produce business
$5-10 million value-added produce brand
$5-10 million in food testing/lab services
$5-10 million specialty & natural food brand
$5-10 million natural functional chocolate company
$3-5 million in sustainable non-toxic baby products
$3-5 million specialty tea company
$3-5 million claim-based functional fruit juice business
$3-5-million high-growth natural personal care brand
$3-5-million integrated essential oil brand
$1-3 million supplements and functional foods for kids
$1-3 million natural sunscreen brand
Developer of functional, renewable plant proteins
Biotech development of patented condition-specific products
Proprietary enzymatic extraction process for nutritional oils
Proprietary cultivation process for DHA ingredients

If you are thinking of attending but still not sure, send me an email at mcb@ceicommunityventures.com and I can answer any questions.  As you can tell, I'm a big fan.

It's not only good for seeing companies, but also for networking with fellow investors.  I've built many great relationships in the industry from people that I have met at NCN events.  I'll be in NYC in a few weeks and am already looking forward to it.  This is a great indsutry with great people -- both in the companies and with investor groups.

Here's a list of some previous NCN investor attendees:

2x Consumer Products Growth Partners
AEA Investors LLC
Aisling Capital
Avrio Ventures
Bruckmann, Rosser, Sherrill & Co.
Burrill & Co.
CEI Community Ventures Inc.
Charterhouse Group, Inc.
Coca-Cola Company
Danisco
Dean Foods/ White Wave Foods
Del Monte Foods
Encore Consumer Capital
Fonterra
Friedman Fleischer & Lowe
General MIlls
Gerber (Nestlé)
Glanbia Nutritionals
Greenmont Capital Partners
Highland Consumer Fund
Hilco Equity Management, LLC
HSBC Capital (USA) Inc.
Hunt Private Equity Group, Inc.
Inventages
Kellogg Company
Kerry
Kraft Foods
Lonza AG
Mars Health & Nutrition U.S.
Maveron
Nestlé
North Castle Partners
Novus International Inc.
Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
Pepsico
Prolog Ventures
Quaker Oats QTG Technical Center
Quilvest USA, Inc.
Redwood Securities Group, Inc.
Rosewood Capital
RSF Capital Management
Sea Change Management, LLC
Sherbrooke Capital
SJF Ventures
Tate & Lyle Ventures
The Dannon Company
TSG Consumer Partners
VMG Partner