Conference Matches High-Growth Companies with Investors

    CHICAGO, Sept. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Jack Jewel, president of Picolight,
Inc., was initially skeptical before he decided to become one of 16
high-growth companies making presentations to potential investors at last
year's inaugural Illinois Venture Capital Conference.
    "At first, it seemed like going to a venture capital conference was like
going fishing,"  Jewel said.
    How did it turn out?
    "Grrreat!" Jewel wrote in a post-conference recap.  "It just goes to show
you never know where you'll meet the right investor."
    Jewel's company, a Boulder, Colo.-based developer and manufacturer of
laser-based transceivers, was one of 10 companies that reported successfully
securing funding as a direct result of the Illinois Venture Capital
Conference.  An 11th company went public prior to accepting the offers it had
received.
    This year's conference will be held Thursday, Sept. 24, 1998, at the
Chicago Marriott Downtown, 540 N. Michigan Ave.
    Ping Fu, president of Champaign-based Raindrop Geomagic Inc., said her
firm not only secured its needed funding, it benefited from the conference in
other ways.
    "The presentation helped our company develop a more clear vision," she
said.  'The investment community was wonderful in trying to help us . . . the
mentoring is very helpful."
    Raindrop Geomagic develops technologically advanced software for geometric
modeling of complex 3D objects.
    Like the participants in last year's conference, this year's 19 presenters
were prescreened for the conference by a panel of 11 venture capital firms.
Once selected, they were paired with mentors, who helped them refine their
business plans and presentations.  Presenting companies were selected on the
basis of participation in high-growth industries, already having seed capital,
having developed a viable product and being directed by quality management.
    More than 300 institutional venture capitalist and qualified private
investors are expected to hear the 10-minutes presentations from the companies
participating in this year's conference.  Following the presentations, the
companies go into "break-out" sessions with potential investors.
    Among other companies successfully securing funding at last year's
conference was Firefly Greetings LLC, an Evanston-based company that employs
the Internet to allow businesses and consumers alike to select and deliver
greeting cards and gifts, either traditionally or electronically.
    BioRecycling Technology Inc. of Fontana. Calif., also was successful in
receiving much-needed capital.  "I thought the conference was extremely well
run," said Biomedical financial officer David Barth.  His company develops
systems for converting organic waste into marketable products, including
renewable forms of energy.
    "We look forward to an even more successful conference this year," said
Mark Glennon, president of the non-profit Illinois Venture capital Conference.
"This event has rapidly evolved into the premier opportunity in the Midwest
for companies to raise the capital they require to take businesses to the next
level."
    This year's conference features a diverse group of presenters, including
companies in the fields of robotics, computer software and hardware, Internet
services, biotechnology, medical devices and communications.
    The conference opens with a reception Wednesday, September 23, from 5 p.m.
to 7:30 p.m. at the Sheraton Chicago, 301 E. North Water  St. Actual
presentations from the 19 companies begin at 9 a.m. Thursday, September 24, at
the Chicago Marriott Downtown.

    Presenting companies are:
    *  AgilTech, Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio -- develops and sells software
       applications and proprietary data bases used in manufacturing
       processes.
    *  ChinaOnline, LLC, Chicago -- collects, researches, translates and
       distributes business news and intelligence on China.
    *  Collaborative Motion Control, Inc., Evanston, Ill. -- develops and
       manufactures "cobots," a technology for shared robot and human control
       of manufacturing and material handling.
    *  Cybo Robots, Inc., Indianapolis, Ind. -- provides comprehensive
       services in the industrial robotics industry.
    *  Electronic Lighting, Inc., Newark, Calif. -- designs, manufactures and
       markets energy efficient, programmable fluorescent lighting systems,
       including baluster dimming fluorescent lights.
    *  Endorex Corporation, Lake Bluff, Ill. -- development stage
       biotechnology company focused on oral delivery technology, vaccine
       delivery and cancer therapy.
    *  Focus Surgery, Inc., Indianapolis, Ind. -- manufactures and markets
       non-invasive, image-guided ultrasound surgical devices for the
       treatment of benign and cancerous diseases.
    *  Micro Pulse, Portage, Mich. -- manufactures and markets proprietary
       devices for the prevention of pressure ulcers.
    *  Optical Solutions, Inc., Minneapolis -- markets broadband, fiberoptic
       services.
    *  Planetary Motion, Inc., Glencoe, Ill. -- provides service for sending
       and retrieving E-mail messages by telephone, and related services.
    *  Periodontix, Inc., Watertown, Mass. -- development stage
       biopharmaceutical company focused on products to treat and prevent
       periodontal diseases.
    *  Silicon Biology, Inc., Minneapolis -- sells image-recognition software
       used primarily for processing healthcare claims.
    *  SoMat Corporation, Champaign, Ill. -- develops and sells portable
       hardware and software components for field testing computers.
    *  Synergetic Micro Systems, Inc., Downers Grove, Ill. -- provides
       hardware and software for networking factory floor components.
    *  U. Communications, L.L.C. (d/b/a  U.Access), Evanston, Ill. -- sells a
       proprietary telephone-based system for delivering targeted direct
       marketing messages to consumers.
    *  General Products & Services Corporation (d/b/a Ultima Foods), Waukegan,
       Ill. -- makes and sells salty snack food.
    *  Vallon, Inc., Minneapolis -- produces web sites through a proprietary,
       automated web site production system.
    *  Venture Capital Online, L.L.C., Chicago -- provides professional
       services to the venture capital community and to ventures seeking
       venture capital.
    *  Web Promote, Libertyville, Ill. -- provides Internet marketing
       services.

    The Illinois Venture Capital Conference is a non-profit corporation
dedicated to promoting capital formation in the region.  Its primary activity
is the annual Illinois Venture Capital Conference matching venture capitalists
with companies seeking private funding.

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