As part of its mission to support entrepreneurship in Mexico, the Monterrey Venture Capital Conference is pleased to announce the launch of E|100 2010; E|100 is a program that identifies and recognizes the region’s top 100 entrepreneurs. The members of the E|100 are selected by the community in response to the question, “Who are the entrepreneurs most likely to build a great company in the next 2 or 3 years?” The members of the E|100 will be presented during a special cocktail on April 20, 2010, the night before the Monterrey Venture Capital Conference.

Why the E|100?

Entrepreneurs need a powerful network and collaboration with others to succeed. When entrepreneurs are faced with obstacles, others in the community often provide solutions and resources that can help them overcome. The E|100 network of entrepreneurs and supporters will provide access to new resources, mentors, capital, and partners, and will contribute to the success of the most innovative new companies in the region.

How is the community created?

While the Monterrey Venture Capital Conference and its sponsors facilitate the program, the actual identification and selection of the 100 individuals is done by the community. The selection process involves two rounds: community-nomination and peer-voting. In the first round, we seek nominations from local accountants, attorneys, investment banks, entrepreneurs, business associations, professionals, and business publications. We look for nominees who best meet the following criteria:

• Individuals who would be most likely to lead a successful venture in the next 2-3 years in high growth industries.
• Individuals who would be the CEO/CTO of a new venture.
• Individuals with or without current involvement in a startup.
• Individuals with ties to the region (but not required to be local residents of Nuevo Leon, Coahuila or Tamaulipas).

After receiving several hundred nominations, these nominees will confidentially vote for each other using the same criteria, yielding the top 100. The E|100 winners will be recognized at a special awards cocktail in Monterrey on April 20, 2010, the night before the Monterrey Venture Capital Conference.

How does the E|100 community function after they are chosen?

While Monterrey Venture Capital Conference and its sponsors facilitate the creation of the community, it does not provide a set structure for meetings or interaction within the E|100. Rather, the E|100 members are free to tailor the group’s collaboration to meet their specific needs. This might include:

• Peer mentoring – Members will have access to fellow entrepreneurs who may provide helpful information or experience implementing similar strategies. The combined experience of the E|100 members will be extensive, and a relevant and effective resource.
• Development of new business ideas – Entrepreneurs can bring their unique skills and knowledge together to strengthen and develop their business plans. Members can create round table discussions, collaborate with other experts in specific fields, and keep up-to-date with industry changes.
• Access to Capital Providers – The Monterrey Venture Capital Conference was created to support entrepreneurship and promote the venture capital industry in Mexico. Members of the E|100 will be highly visible to the participating investors and will have heightened access to the sponsoring venture funds.