Entrepreneurs representing 36 companies from 15 states–including five from the Kansas City area–will present their business cases to prospective investors at next month’s InvestMidwest Venture Capital Forum in Kansas City.

The event, hosted at the Westin Kansas City from March 19-20, marks the 20th annual celebration of the forum.

InvestMidwest will have entrepreneurs representing three separate business tracks presenting simultaneously: Life Sciences; Technology/General Business, and Food/Agriculture/BioEnergy.

While the companies themselves are not listed, the following tracks will be represented by Kansas City:

• Kansas City, Mo.: 1 Life Sciences; 1 Technology
• Olathe: 1 Life Sciences
• Overland Park: 2 Technology

Presenters will have up to eight minutes each to make a compelling case for their respective businesses to prospective funders. In addition to industry track venues for presentations, InvestMidwest offers several opportunities for entrepreneurs to meet privately with attending venture capitalists, angel and corporate investors, and business, legal and financial professionals.

“In addition to showcasing some of the Midwest region’s best high-growth companies, we consistently attract a great group of investors,” said Christine Walsh, InvestMidwest’s executive director.

About InvestMidwest

InvestMidwest also announced that two successful Kansas City-area businessmen will be featured speakers for the venture capital forum’s breakfast and luncheon programs: Tim Barton, Freightquote’s founder, chairman and CEO, and Steven St. Peter, MD, founder and managing director of Vie Ventures and the founder of Aratana Therapeutics Inc.

“The Midwest has a wealth of talent, and we are fortunate to have two terrific businessmen to speak at InvestMidwest,” Walsh said.

InvestMidwest’s selection panel, comprised of venture capitalists, business leaders and executives from across the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, selected the 36 companies from among more than 140 applications received from entrepreneurs.

“These young companies represent some pretty spectacular high-growth businesses seeking to power their businesses to a new level,” Walsh said. “Their insights consistently result in some dynamic businesses representing a well curated group of investment prospects for venture capitalists and other investors.”

Early Bird registration rates will remain available until March 1.