Service Provider Investment Forum (SPIF)

Some of the world's Telco giants are literally coming to you! The Service Provider Investment Forum - SPIF for short – is a unique event produced by WINBC in collaboration with The Telecom Council from Silicon Valley, California for the fourth year in a row.

SPIF is a monthly meeting of representatives from Telecom carriers' venture capital and R&D divisions in Silicon Valley. The member carriers have wireless and/or fixed operator's licenses in a wide range of nations, but also pursue investment, technology, and partnership opportunities. On January 19th, 2009, they will be in Vancouver.

This is a unique and extraordinary opportunity to put your company in front of representatives from wireless and wireline carriers' venture capital and R&D divisions. This is a chance for a select group of young or established companies that are seeking funding, strategic investment and/or have a product or service, to make their case.

If you have an innovative technology, application or a smart idea then maybe you should be part of the Service Provider Investment Forum (SPIF), presented in Vancouver on January 19, 2009 by WINBC and the Telecom Council of Silicon Valley.

What happens after I apply for SPIF?

10 to 12 companies will be selected to make SPIF presentations. A month before presenting they will be invited to individual 30-minute polishing sessions in the WINBC Boardroom to review their pitch and receive expert advice on how to improve it.

Who gets selected for SPIF?

Companies are selected to present through a multi-stage review, starting with a review by the WINBC selection committee and selected VCs from across Canada. Companies selected at this stage are then referred to the SPIF committee for final selection.

What is SPIF looking for?

• Wireless companies who have been in business at least 2 – 3 years (i.e., not a raw start-up)
• Companies seeking funding or strategic investment
• Companies looking for customers
• Applications or innovative technology with clear benefits to wireless carriers and their customers
• Sufficient staff and infrastructure to work effectively with major carriers

What happens at the SPIF?

At the SPIF you'll have 15 minutes to make the presentation of your life and potentially attract the interest of one or more of the world's largest wireless or wireline carriers. Your presentation will be completely private – no competitors in the room – and you’ll have a chance to network face-to-face with some of the SPIF members after your presentation.

How to Apply?

If your company is interested in presenting to SPIF in Vancouver on January 19, 2009, please complete the online application. All wireless companies headquartered in BC, rest of Canada and the Pacific Northwest region are eligible to apply.

There is a selection process and a fee for submitting your application. You will undergo a pre-screening process than includes a polishing session where your presentation and technology will be critiqued by a panel of judges. If you are selected to continue, you will make a presentation at the PNWS on January 19th, 2009.

Step 1- Submit your application notification of selected companies by Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Step 2 – Review applications and selection by Monday, January 5, 2009

Step 3 – Presentations in front of PNWS 09 review committee on Friday, January 9, 2009

Step 4 – Presentation at SPIF Forum on Monday, January 19, 2009

SPIF Application Fee

There is a selection process and a fee for submitting your application. To offset the time and costs of reviewing each application, there is an initial application fee, which must be received before your application can be considered.

If you are chosen as a finalist to present to the SPIF, there is an additional fee. This fee includes:

• An opportunity to present your company and your innovative ideas to SPIF members in a closed door session.
• A Polishing session in the WINBC boardroom with a panel of local experts who can help you improve your pitch.
• Two tickets to the Pacific Northwest Wireless Summit conference
• There will be at least 6 and possibly as many as 12 SPIF representatives to see your presentation.

If you are selected to continue, you will make a presentation at the PNWS on January 19th, 2009.