SCORCH is pleased to sponsor the first annual Venture Draft Conference held at St. Louis University’s Anheuser Busch Auditorium on August 10th and 11th. Hosted by the Brandon Williams Economic Development Corporation (BWEDC) and the St. Louis University Entrepreneurship Center, professional athletes, venture capitalists and technology experts will meet face-to-face to discuss new business opportunities.

“The venture community is always trying to keep up with new technologies while professional athletes are looking for ways to leverage their playing days for more efficient and effective post-sports careers,” says Brandon Williams, co-founder of BWEDC and former wide-receiver for the St. Louis Rams. “We understand the needs of both sectors and developed a platform to address them.”

Venture Draft 2012 aims to bridge the gap for professional athletes, venture capitalists, tech firms, educational institutions, and other IT-related organizations to explore the latest technology business opportunities, products and applications while assisting athletes with their careers, business education and investments. Using a series of workshops and networking sessions, attendees will learn to make informed decisions and capitalize on the ever-expanding opportunities in the global world of information technology.

Speakers include Henry Wong, founder of Garage.com, who describes Venture Draft 2012 as “the ideal gateway for sharing and developing” tech ideas that are attractive to athletes and venture capitalists.

venture capitalists. Other speakers include: Daymond John, Entrepreneur, Founder, President and CEO of FUBU and investor on the ABC reality television series Shark Tank; Gabe Lozano, Co-Founder and CEO of Lockerdome; Shawn Green, former MLB All-Star; Adam Edwards, Former NFL player and franchiser; and Ron Roy of Wines that Rock, to name a few.

Sessions include; “For Athletes Only,” “Show Me the Money,” “The Business of Sports,” “How to Pitch A Deal to an Athlete and Investor” and “Pitch the Player.” To register, visit the website or call 314-302-1339.