The lineup is set for the upcoming InvestMidwest Venture Capital Forum.

Set for March 28-29 at Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark in St. Louis, the venture capital conference will feature 45 fast-growth companies from 15 states to pitch to prospective funders.

Two keynote speakers also were announced. Dedric A. Carter, vice chancellor for operations and technology transfer and professor of engineering practice at Washington University in St. Louis will be the breakfast speaker. Dan Katz, director of global public policy and North American projects for Hyperloop One will be the luncheon speaker.

The companies have been divided into three tracks: life sciences, technology/general business and food/agriculture/bioenergy.

Kansas and Missouri claim the lion’s share of presenting companies — seven will represent Kansas, from Leawood, Mission, Overland Park, Shawnee, Wichita and Cottonwood Falls; Missouri has 14 participating companies, including 11 from St. Louis, two from Kansas City and one from Nixa.

Other state to be represented at the event include Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Washington and Wisconsin.

The presenting companies will be revealed at the event.

Presenters will have up to eight minutes each to make a compelling case for their businesses to prospective funders. Entrepreneurs also have the opportunity to meet privately at the conference with attending venture capitalists; angel and corporate investors; and business, legal and financial professionals.

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

Presenting companies were selected from among more than 150 applications by the InvestMidwest selection panel, comprised of venture capitalists, business leaders and executives from across the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

“The companies selected represent some pretty spectacular fast-growth companies that are seeking funding to power their businesses to a new level,” Walsh said. “We received strong applications from 19 states across the country and from Ontario, Canada. Our rigorous selection process was very challenging this year.”

Organizes expect about 350 attendees. For more information or to register, visit InvestMidwest’s website.