MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – gener8tor, in partnership with the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) will host the OnRamp Manufacturing Conference virtually on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2020. This virtual conference will attract more than 400 startups to its “Startup Track” – curated, one-on-one pitch sessions between selected startups and corporate venture capital & innovation executives, venture capitalists, and accelerators – to discuss potential customer relationships, strategic partnerships and, if appropriate, investment opportunities. The deadline for startups to apply is September 4th at 11:59pm CT.
The OnRamp Conference Series grew out of a desire to provide entrepreneurs at various stages of growth with access to high-level corporate leaders and investors. Established by gener8tor in 2013, OnRamp has evolved into seven vertical-specific events featuring conference programming and curated one-on-one pitch sessions between startups and corporate venture capital and innovation executives. OnRamp strives to be the premier gathering of corporate venture capital and innovation executives in each industry it serves.
The OnRamp Manufacturing Conference brings together corporations, investors, startups and members of the manufacturing team. The conference highlights innovations disrupting manufacturing, the leaders making such innovations possible, and how new technologies and business models will reinvent the manufacturing. We cover manufacturing in all capacities — from microchips to potato chips.
Originally scheduled to take place in-person at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, the conference has pivoted in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. To ensure the health and safety of attendees, participating startups, corporate venture capital & innovation executives, VCs and accelerators will convene virtually on October 14, for a full day of pitches, speakers, thought leadership and dealmaking.
More than 100 corporations and top-tier venture capital firms are confirmed to take meetings with startups, including 3M, Airbus, Boston Scientific, Avery Dennison, GM, Honda, Kellogg’s, Kohler, Rockwell Automation and dozens of others.
The one-day, virtual conference will include a morning plenary session starting at 8:00 a.m. CT, featuring a fireside chat with Jason Illian, managing director of Koch Disruptive Technologies – the CVC arm of Koch Industries.
Unique to OnRamp, the conference will also include its signature Startup Track, featuring curated, one-on-one pitch sessions between startups and participating organizations. OnRamp will match selected startups with corporate venture capital & innovation executives, VCs and accelerators from participating manufacturing organizations to discuss potential customer relationships, strategic partnerships and, if appropriate, investment opportunities.
“Indiana has a strong tradition in manufacturing, with Hoosiers working around the clock to develop safe, reliable and innovative products that help power our world,” said Indiana Secretary of Commerce Jim Schellinger. “We’re excited to help bring together industry leaders from around the world for the OnRamp Manufacturing Conference, creating new opportunities for Indiana startups and entrepreneurs to share their innovative ideas and products while further positioning the state’s manufacturing industry for future growth and success.”
“It is an enormous privilege to be working with IEDC to bring together innovators and thought leaders from around the world,” said Russ Darrow, lead organizer of the OnRamp Manufacturing Conference. “In spite of the challenging circumstances created by COVID-19, we are thrilled to facilitate game-changing connections between startups, venture capitalists, and key manufacturing executives.”
