One Spark Grows to $3.25 Million in Private Investment Opportunities for Creators

-- Jaguars Owner Shad Khan Joined by New Private Venture Firms

JACKSONVILLE, Florida, Jan. 29, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- One Spark, the world's crowdfunding festival, announced today a number of private venture capital firms and partners have joined with Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan to increase potential investment funding for One Spark creators participating in the April 9 - 13, 2014 event in downtown Jacksonville.

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Khan pledged up to $1 million during the inaugural One Spark 2013 event and converted his pledge into over $1 million of actual investment in six qualified One Spark 2013 creator projects through his STACHE Investments Corp. Khan is repeating his pledge at One Spark 2014 to make a similar investment in qualified companies or people. Qualifications include entrepreneurial spirit, big ideas and a commitment to base their business in Jacksonville, STACHE's primary investment mandate.

"One Spark has my support again this year because it showcases Jacksonville, particularly downtown, and everything we have here to offer an entrepreneur," Khan said.  "We will definitely show a preference to qualified creators who have a quality idea that perhaps needs financial support to become reality, and then would be willing to do business here in Jax. I wish the participants good luck."

This year Khan is joined by Arsenal Venture Partners, Florida Blue, Healthbox, Palm Ventures, PS27 Ventures and UE Investors to offer up to $3.25 million in combined potential investment opportunities for projects they could independently select at One Spark 2014. One Spark 2014 also offers participating projects access to private individual contributions from the public and $310,000 in guaranteed crowdfunds and awards, increased from its first year's $250,000 crowdfund pool.   

"Our partnership with Arsenal Venture Partners, Palm Ventures, Florida Blue, Healthbox, PS27 Ventures, UE Investors and STACHE Investments Corp. continues to elevate the level of funding opportunities on the table for One Spark 2014 creators," said Elton Rivas, One Spark co-founder. "Connecting great ideas to investment dollars is a critical component of a successful event. The caliber of capital partners who will be at One Spark 2014 looking for the next big thing is truly remarkable."

One Spark 2014's creator registration deadline has been extended to Feb. 21, 2014 to give interested creators the opportunity to register and apply for the additional potential capital investment. Details about how registered creators can apply can be found at http://bit.ly/1Spark.

About One Spark: One Spark, The World's Crowdfunding Festival, is committed to fostering environments of creativity and innovation by showcasing artists, entrepreneurs and innovators from around the world for five days every spring in downtown Jacksonville, Fla. Creators are provided a platform to connect their ideas with resources to make it happen. The festival is an interactive experience that allows attendees to support ideas and projects that inspire them and decide on the next big thing. One Spark 2014 will be held April 9 -13, 2014. One Spark 2014 has also been selected for A&E's PROJECT STARTUP. To learn more or sign up to be a creator or volunteer, visit BeOneSpark.com.

About Arsenal Venture Partners: Arsenal Venture Partners (AVP) is the leading venture capital firm focused on the intersection of the commercial and defense markets. AVP, formerly known as, MILCOM Venture Partners, manages multiple early stage venture capital funds including Arsenal Venture Partners II, OnPoint Technologies, and MILCOM Technologies. Through the funds it manages the AVP team and has invested in dozens of portfolio companies across three primary sectors: communications and information technology, power and energy and environmental and industrial technologies.

About Florida Blue: Florida Blue, Florida's Blue Cross and Blue Shield company, is a leader in Florida's health care industry. Our mission is to help people and communities achieve better health. Florida blue has approximately 4 million health care members and serves 15.5 million people in 16 states through its affiliated companies. Florida Blue is a not-for-profit, policyholder-owned, tax-paying mutual company. Headquartered in Jacksonville, Fla., it is an independent licensee of Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies. For more information, visit www.FloridaBlue.com.

About Healthbox: Healthbox (www.healthbox.com) is the preeminent resource to help healthcare companies achieve meaningful growth. Within its business accelerator, Healthbox works with early-stage companies that are solving significant problems with technology. The program provides investment, expert insight, business model guidance and sales support to position entrepreneurs for success. Healthbox has created a strong global community dedicated to driving change in healthcare with operations in Boston, Chicago, Florida, Nashville and London. Through strategic partnerships with more than 20 leading healthcare organizations, Healthbox has built a portfolio of 55 active companies.

About Palm Ventures: Since 1992, Palm Ventures has focused on nurturing and growing businesses that have a positive and transformative impact on society. In partnership with management teams and a small group of substantial investors, we leverage our collective strengths and resources to tap an organization's full potential. By utilizing new and disruptive business models, we challenge the status quo and bring about change that is good for business and good for society.

About PS27 Ventures: PS27 Ventures is a Florida based boutique investment and consulting firm that is focused on the healthy living and wellness solutions segment of the market.  We work with founders and inventors of new ideas and breakthrough products and help bring them to market. We advise as well as invest in selected situations. We utilize the Lean Start Up methodology to accelerate our companies to success.

About STACHE Investments Corporation: In an effort to help the community, Shad Khan formed the STACHE Investments Corporation to support business people in the area hoping to help them grow their businesses and provide new employment opportunities for people in the Greater Jacksonville area.

About UE Investors: UEI makes small seed and growth capital investments in businesses with profitable services models and recurring revenue streams. These investments are in both private and public companies as UEI is stage agnostic. However, a bias does exist toward investing in small private companies as a "micro-VC."