Sponsor Lineup Unveiled and Presenting Company Evaluation Process Begins for
Midwest's Premier Equity Event
ANN ARBOR, Mich., March 24 /PRNewswire/ -- With less than two months until
opening day, sponsor and presenting company momentum continues for the
Michigan Growth Capital Symposium (MGCS), the annual Midwest equity event
which will be held May 14-15, 2008 at the Marriott Resort at Eagle Crest in
Ypsilanti, Mich. MGCS is the premier networking event for venture capital
investment leaders to connect with emerging growth companies that are actively
searching for funding and partners.
MGCS organizers and a committee composed of qualified venture capitalists
have begun a careful evaluation process to select 30 companies from more than
50 applications. Selected companies will be contacted on April 3 and the
entire lineup will be publicly unveiled at the event on May 14.
On the sponsorship front, MGCS has continued to attract regional and
national partners including venture capital, economic development, private
equity and professional services firms that value the networking, business
development and marketing opportunities present at this leading growth capital
event. The 2008 lineup includes longtime MGCS partners and new sponsoring
organizations including:
Amherst Fund, LLC Dow
Ann Arbor Spark DTE Energy
Apjohn Ventures Dykema
Arboretum Ventures EDF Ventures
Automation Alley Essex Woodlands Health Ventures
Bank of Ann Arbor Honigman
Beringea Michigan Economic Development Corporation
Bodman Attorneys & Counselors Michigan Venture Capital Association
Chrysalis Ventures Miller Canfield
CMEA Ventures Pepper Hamilton LLP
Crain's Detroit Business The Ohio Capital Fund
Credit Suisse Young Basile
Delphi Venture Investors LLC
Dickinson Wright
Reflecting MGCS' influence as a central vehicle for business development
and strategic initiatives, this year the Michigan Venture Capital Association
(MVCA) and the Michigan Economic Development Corp. have formed partnerships
with MGCS creating a natural and vital link between the industry's premier
networking event and the largest representatives of capital funds in the
state. The enhanced relationships with these two organizations will not only
help to expand the resources of the MGCS, but to enrich the MVCA and Michigan
Economic Development Corp.'s participation through a renewed declaration of
commitment to the event.
In addition, companies such as DTE Energy and Credit Suisse have become
sponsors of MGCS acknowledging that the event presents a strategic and
compelling platform at which to promote new business initiatives in the
Midwest in industries such as alternative energy and healthcare. As Michigan
continues to nurture its startup industry and nationwide reputation as a
leader in life sciences, advanced manufacturing, homeland security, and
biotechnology, one key aspect of its success is participation in the marketing
of Midwest investment as a whole.
Paul Cohn, vice president and regional director of the Ohio Capital Fund,
a $150-million fund-of-funds that invests in Ohio early-stage companies and a
supporting sponsor of MGCS, says a strong Midwest region will serve as an
attraction unto itself. "We strongly believe that the Midwest is a great place
to found companies, and to invest in companies. The Ohio Capital Fund sees
MGCS as a means to build relationships with venture capital firms from outside
Ohio that may consider expanding their investment focus to other states in the
region," said Cohn.
Doug Camitta, partner at law firm Pepper Hamilton, LLP, a longtime sponsor
of MGCS, sees value in the foundations it has laid and partnerships it has
created at MGCS. "The firm has sponsored MGCS almost since its beginning,"
said Camitta. "We have encouraged development-stage companies that we
represent that are looking for money to participate. We've also encouraged
clients and other venture firms who we deal with to send people."
For more information on MGCS please visit http://www.michigangcs.com/ .
About the Michigan Growth Capital Symposium (MGCS)
MGCS is the original university-based venture fair, which was first held
in 1979. This nationally attended two-day event provides an opportunity for
financiers to connect with up-and-coming Midwest businesses and learn about
emerging technologies. The Symposium offers the opportunity to build
relationships with an unparalleled business network of distinguished private
equity industry leaders, leading university research faculty, and
entrepreneurial business professionals. Entering its 27th year, MGCS
continues to draw top investors from coast to coast. MGCS is hosted by the
Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan and its
Center for Venture Capital and Private Equity Finance of the Samuel Zell &
Robert H. Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies.
SOURCE Michigan Growth Capital Symposium
Jean Serra of Version 2.0 Communications, +1-617-426-2222, jserra@v2comms.com;
or Mary Nickson of Samuel Zell and Robert H. Lurie Institute for
Entrepreneurial Studies, +1-734-615-4424, mnickson@umich.edu, both for
Michigan Growth Capital Symposium
