Statewide Venue Launches January 30-31, 2002
1000 Expected to Attend Including 100+ VC Firms
MIAMI, Jan. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Two of Florida's leaders in higher
education, and the state's top two recipients of research grants, will speak
on Opening Day, Wednesday, January 30, 2002 at 12:30 pm at the 11th annual
Florida Venture Capital Conference at the Doral Resort & Spa in Miami. Dr.
John G. Clarkson, Senior Vice President for Medical Affairs and Dean of the UM
School of Medicine and Dr. Charles E. Young, President of the University of
Florida are the Opening Day Speakers.
Each of these renowned leaders will speak about technology
commercialization at their respective universities, entrepreneurial
development, and how these efforts contribute to the growth of Florida's
economy. Dr. Clarkson has been Senior Vice President for Medical Affairs and
Dean of the University of Miami School of Medicine for six years. Since that
time, Dr. Clarkson has created the Executive Office of Research Leadership and
the Schoninger Research Quadrangle which is anchored by two new research
facilities; the Lois Pope LIFE Center, for neurosciences research, and the
Batchelor Children's Research Institute, for research into children's
diseases.
Dr. Young has been President of the University of Florida for three years.
Formerly the Chancellor of the University of California at Los Angeles, he
transformed a regional college into a world-class institution. Dr. Young has
received the Distinguished Service Award for Lifetime Achievement from the
American Council on Education. During his lifetime he has been selected to a
number of boards that include or have included Intel Corp., Nicholas-Applegate
Capital Management and the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
The Florida Venture Capital Conference includes approximately 20 back-to-
back company presentations, seminars featuring the country's leading
consultants, service providers and venture capitalists plus several national
speakers. Over 900 people attended the 2001 Conference and 1,000 venture
capitalists, leading service providers, entrepreneurs and investment bankers
are expected to attend the 2002 Conference.
The Conference boasts a high profile and respected list of Platinum Level
sponsors, each of whom have contributed financially as well as hours of
volunteer time coaching presenters and acting as mentors. These sponsors
include Akerman Senterfitt; Bank of America; Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown;
Edwards & Angell, LLP; Ernst & Young; Greenberg Traurig LLP; and Raymond James
& Associates, Inc.
According to the National Venture Capital Association (http://www.nvca.org),
venture capital investments have increased over the past decade with close to
$104 billion in venture capital invested in companies nationwide in the year
2000. As of the third quarter of 2001, Florida companies received $599 million
in venture capital. Presenters from prior Florida Venture Capital Conferences
over the last 10 years have been successful in raising over $424 million in
capital, and include some of Florida's most successful entrepreneurial
companies such as Citrix Systems, Sportsline.com and Redgate Communications.
According to Conference organizers, seven presenters from the 2001 Conference,
either through their own efforts or as a result of the Conference, have raised
$30.8 million funding from investors.
Presenting companies at the 2002 Conference went through an extensive
selection process, which included the online submission of a detailed
application including financial history, business model and management
qualifications. The entrepreneurs selected to present at the 2002 Conference
have received valuable training as a benefit of their selection. The Florida
Venture Forum, Inc., organizers of the Conference, conducted Basic Training
for Entrepreneurs, a crash course which educates presenters on presenting
their business plan, crafting an elevator speech, negotiating private equity
funding and making a successful public presentation.
Conference Registration is available on-line at
http://www.flvencap.org/attendee_form.php3 or by calling 305-446-5060. Conference
fees are $449 per person before January 9 and $499 thereafter. For hotel
reservations, contact the Doral at 1-800-713-6725 and mention the Conference
room rate of $299 for a single room.
Online Press Center and Videoclip
For additional background information, visit our online press center at
http://www.prnewswire.com/prntradeshows/january/financial/FLA_Venture.shtml,
courtesy of PR Newswire. For a videoclip about the Florida Venture Capital
Conference, visit
http://video.vdat.com/playfile.asp?brand=VN&file=2002010301.asf&stream=w .
About Florida Venture Forum, Inc.
The Florida Venture Forum, Inc., created in 1984, is Florida's premier
entrepreneurial networking group that helps entrepreneurs manage their growing
business and identify sources of venture capital. For updated information on
presenters, speakers and sponsors, please visit http://www.flvencap.org or e-mail
forum@flvencap.org.
Florida Venture Forum (FVF)/Florida Venture Capital Conference
Spokespersons
* Jeanne A. Becker, FVF Executive Director, 305/446-5060
* Thomas E. Aucamp, 2002 FVF Chairperson, Partner, New River Capital
Partners, 954/713-1165
* Kevin Watson, 2001 FVF Chairperson and Chairperson of the 2002
Conference Selection Committee, C/max Capital, 954/765-3480 x226
* Daniel H. Aronson, 2002 Conference Co-Chairperson, Greenberg Traurig,
P.A., 954/765-0500
* Reuben Johnson, 2002 Conference Co-Chairperson, Raymond James &
Associates, 561/833-0285
SOURCE Florida Venture Forum, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.nvca.org
http://www.flvencap.org/attendee_form.php3
http://www.flvencap.org
CONTACT:
Claudia Margolis, +1-305-446-5060, or
cmargolis@beckerconsulting.com, for Florida Venture Forum
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