Statewide Venue Moves to Orlando January 15-16, 2003:
Central Florida Region to Shine in Front of National Investment Audience;
1,000 Expected to Attend Including 100+ VC Firms
ORLANDO, Fla., Dec. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Up to 25 of Florida's best prospects
for equity capital will be showcased before a nationwide investment audience
at the 12th annual Florida Venture Capital Conference. Florida's only
statewide conference for the venture capital community, with a proven track
record of attracting millions of dollars of venture capital to Florida, will
take place January 15-16, 2003 at the Wyndham Palace Resort & Spa in Orlando,
a Walt Disney Resort.
"We are pleased to locate the Conference to Central Florida in 2003.
Rotating the Conference allows different regions in Florida the opportunity to
shine in front of a national investment audience," said Steven F. Lux,
Director of Tampa-based Stonehenge Capital Corporation, and 2003 Chairperson
of the Florida Venture Forum, organizers of the annual Conference. The
Conference is a platform for promising, high-growth companies in Florida to be
showcased to venture capitalists and other private equity funding sources. It
also highlights different geographic regions in Florida, their infrastructure,
amenities and entrepreneurial base. The 2003 lineup of Conference presenters
features biotech, software developers, e-commerce enablers and medical/health
care.
Over 1,000 people are expected to attend the 2003 Conference including
venture capitalists, private equity investors, leading service providers,
entrepreneurs and investment bankers. The two-day event includes approximately
20 to 25 back-to-back company presentations; seminars featuring the country's
leading venture capitalists, investment advisors and consultants; and two
prominent speakers.
The opening day speaker on Wednesday, January 15 is Dennis Shaughnessy,
Managing Director of Grotech Capital Corporation, a $1 billion venture capital
fund. The second day of the Conference, Thursday, January 16, 2003, features
luncheon speaker David Neeleman, President/CEO of JetBlue Airways
(Nasdaq: JBLU) and one of the aviation industry's most successful venture-
backed deals.
"Venture capital investing in 2003 is expected to return to pre-1999
levels," said Richard J. Dobkin, 2003 Co-Chairperson of the Florida Venture
Capital Conference, and Managing Partner of the Tampa office of Ernst & Young
LLP. According to the National Venture Capital Association (http://www.nvca.org),
venture capital investments have increased over the past decade with close to
$42 billion in venture capital invested in companies nationwide in the year
2001. As of the third quarter of 2002, Florida companies received $332.5
million in venture capital. Presenters from prior Florida Venture Capital
Conferences over the last 11 years, have been successful in raising over $473
million in capital and include some of Florida's most successful
entrepreneurial companies such as Citrix Systems, Sportsline.com and Redgate
Communications.
"We have selected another exceptional group of qualified presenters for
2003, both early stage and later stage investment opportunities," said Jay
Simione, 2003 Co-Chairperson of the Florida Venture Capital Conference, and
Senior Vice President of Summit Global Partners. Presenting companies at the
2003 Conference went through an extensive selection process, which included
the online submission of a detailed application including financial history,
business model and management qualifications. More than 300 applications were
submitted by companies from within the entire state of Florida.
In addition, entrepreneurs selected to present at the 2003 Conference have
received valuable training as a benefit of their selection. The Florida
Venture Forum, Inc., http://www.flvencap.org, organizers of the Conference, conducted
Basic Training for Entrepreneurs, a crash course which educates presenters on
presenting their business plan, crafting an elevator speech, understanding
venture capital term sheets, negotiating private equity funding and making a
successful public presentation.
The Conference also boasts a high profile and respected list of corporate
sponsors, each of whom have contributed financially as well as hours of
volunteer time coaching presenters and acting as mentors. Conference Platinum
level sponsors include Akerman Senterfitt, Edwards & Angell, LLP, Ernst &
Young, Greenberg Traurig LLP and Raymond James & Associates, Inc. Conference
Patron level sponsors include Citrix Systems, Inc., CoAlianz, Deloitte &
Touche, Deutsche Banc, Grant Thornton LLP, Grotech Capital Group, HIG Capital,
Holland & Knight, Kilpatrick Stockton LLP, KPMG LLP, MARSH, Noro-Moseley
Partners, Poole Carbone, PR Newswire, Robert W. Baird & Co., RR Donnelley
Financial, Silicon Valley Bank, Stonehenge Capital Corporation, Summit Global
Partners, and White & Case LLP.
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 December 24 and $499 thereafter. For hotel
reservations, contact the Wyndham Palace Resort & Spa at 1-800-996-3426 and
mention the Conference room rate of $241 for a single room.
ONLINE PRESS CENTER AND VIDEOCLIP
For additional background information, visit our online press center at
http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/tradeshows/events.jsp?show=638063&option=tr
adeshow&view=LATEST, courtesy of PR Newswire.
For a videoclip about the Florida Venture Capital Conference, visit
Windows, 56/150k:
http://video.vdat.com/playfile.asp?brand=VN&file=2002120305.asf&stream=w
Real 56/150k:
http://video.vdat.com/playfile.asp?brand=VN&file=2002120305.rm&stream=rg2
ABOUT THE FLORIDA VENTURE FORUM, INC.
The Florida Venture Forum, Inc. is Florida's premiere statewide support
group for venture capitalists and entrepreneurs. As an entrepreneurial
networking group, the Forum educates entrepreneurs and assists them in
identifying sources of venture capital. Created in 1984 by a group of high-
level business leaders and academicians, the goal of the Forum is to help
ensure the success of entrepreneurial ventures by offering expert counsel and
educational advice. 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
* Steven F. Lux, 2003 FVF Chairperson, Stonehenge Capital Corp.,
813/221-8302
* Richard J. Dobkin, 2003 Conference Co-Chairperson, Ernst & Young,
813/225-4900
* Jay Simione, 2003 Conference Co-Chairperson, Summit Global Partners,
561/237-3207
Following
2003 List of Selected Presenters (to date)
Conference Funding History Chart (1992 to date)]
FLORIDA VENTURE CAPITAL CONFERENCE
PRESENTERS WHO HAVE RECEIVED FUNDING
COMPANY YEAR PRESENTED AMOUNT SOURCE
Tony Zalenski
Boca Research 1992 $7,000,000 Summit Partners
561/997-6227
Dr. Norman Weldon
Corvita Corp. 1992 $11,000,000 Institutional Investor
305/557-3100 (California)
Ted Leonsis
Redgate Communications 1992 $1,000,000 Massey Birch Inv. Group
415/525-4000
Diane Huth
Skinny Snacks 1992 $13,000,000 Original Brazilian
941/278-0244 Investor
Luis Romero-Font
Celpage, Inc. 1994 $6,000,000 Providence Ventures
809/277-2812
Michael Levy
SportsLine USA, Inc. 1995 $ 3,000,000 Kleiner Perkins Caufield
954/351-2120 and Byers
Armand Alciatore Econ. Dev. Fund of
Tahoe Surgical Puerto Rico and
Instruments 1995 $750,000 Venture Capital Fund
1-800-TAHOE-11 of Puerto Rico
Eric Hale
UroQuest, Inc. 1995 $2,500,000 E.M. Warburg
1-800-464-8735 Pincus
Global Vision 1996 $2,500,000 Crosspoint Ventures
904-268-4587
Mead McCabe, Jr.
Genetic Vectors 1996 $4,768,700 Initial Public Offering
305-716-0000
Nick Molina
Let's Talk Cellular 1996 $21,100,000 Initial Public Offering
305-477-8255
Burt Sookram
Catalina Food Ingredients 1997 $3,500,000 Sirrom Capital
813-845-5595
Ellen Caravello
On-line @Unicom 1997 $1,000,000 PennWell Publishing
561-276-2433
Luis F. Ayala
TAC Systems, Inc. 1997 $2,000,000 Sirrom Capital
205-721-1976
Michael Dowling
Sawgrass Electronics
Group, Inc. 1997 $5,000,000 N/A
954-340-8127
Brendan T. Fitzgerald
Microgistics, Inc. 1998 $2,400,000 Combination of
407-757-5780 Private Investors
John Lawlor
The Email Channel 1998 $385,000 Antares Capital
561-226-3624
Steve McLaughlin
Net Healthcare 1998 $9,000,000 Sale/merger with
954-492-8774 Preferred Employers
Holdings
Gary Patterson
Imaginet Design Solutions 1998 $380,000 South Florida-based
954/922-0399 bank
Martin E. Doyle
Perception, Inc. 1998 $3,000,000 Equity funds from
305-593-5505 Private Investors
Gail Nichols
Willow CSN Incorporated 1998 $5,000,000 Terms confidential
305-864-6577
Oscar Coen
Yupi.com 1999 $108,000,000 Interprise Technology
305-604-0366 Partners, IFX
Corporation, Sony, etc.
Michael Baron
TeraNex 1999 $4,000,000 BancBoston Capital
407-417-1086
Michael A. McNeal
Absolutely Software 1999 $1,000,000 Private investors
561-852-0681
Clifford T. Boro
Internet Financial
Network, Inc.(IFN) 1999 $10,000,000 Private investors-Julius
954-321-6061 Trump
Scott Moody 1999 $20,000,000 Stonehenge Capita
AuthenTec Royal Bank of Canada
407-729-5848
Jerome Pepin
U.S. Bid 1999 $1,200,000 Private investor
407-725-0260 2000 $ 10,000,000 Spectrum Equity
Investors and
Brinson Partners
Zijad F. Aganovic, Ph. D.
Cylex Systems, Inc. 1999 $6,000,000 H.I.G. Capital
561-998-7175
2000 Florida Venture Capital
Christopher Cogan
GoCo-op 2000 $ 21,000,000 Invemed Associates
407-628-3636 2001 $ 23,000,000 Invemed Catalyst Fund
David A. Schwedel
Marex.com 2000 $ 43,000,000 Brown Simpson Strategic
305-285-2003 Growth Funds
Glenn Parker
ParkStone Medical 2000 $ 31,500,000 Oak Investment
954-389-8900 Partech International
Cardinal Health
Salix Ventures
Kenneth Dotson
ScoreCardUSA.com 2000 $ 1,600,000 CrossBow Ventures
407-482-8282
Orlando, FL
Michael Davis
eAngler.com 2000 $ 9,100,000 SI Ventures LLC
877-979-3474 Brunswick Corporation
2001 Florida Venture Capital
Steve Sponder 2001 $3,200,000 Crossbow Ventures
BizProLink
954-535-2999
Roger Ueltzen 2001 $3,000,000
Cylex Systems, Inc.
561-998-7175
William D. Kirsh
eAppealSolutions.com,
Inc. 2001 $2,500,000 Scientia Health
305-534-7174 Group
Rick Sanderson
Fourbit Group, Inc. 2001 $1,500,000 Private Investors
954-938-9900
John Textor 2001 $6,800,000 Crossbow
Jester Digital
Wyncrest Capital
561-833-9220
Keith Gibson 2001 $5,000,000 Stonehenge
Kview, Inc. Capital,
813-221-2765 Advantage Capital
Thompson
Murff LCC and others
Nate Clement 2001 $300,000 Fred Perkins,
LatPro Perkins & Assoc.
954-474-6880 ext. 138
Michael Meiser 2001 $4,000,000 Crossbow
Medmundo Battery Ventures
305-576-0227
Chris Fleck 2001 $10,000,000 Mellon Ventures
OmniCluster HIG Ventures
561-981-0261 Crossbow
Kurt Long 2001 $10,000,000 Battery Ventures, JP
OpenNetwork SI Ventures
Technologies
727-561-9500
2002 Florida Venture Capital
Stefan Borg 2002 $2,500,000
Copharos, Inc.
904-543-1140
John D. Friske, Jr. 2002 $400,000 Stonehenge
In.vision Research Capital and
727-822-7200 others
Robert Licursi 2002 $12,000,000 Redwood Venture
MeshNetworks Partners and Others
407-659-5302
John Yin 2002 $600,000 Private
PartnerCommunity, investors
Inc.
561-981-1200
Robert L. Heid 2002 $150,000 Aurora Funds
psiloQuest 2002 $1,150,000 Grace Venture
407-677-0997
Douglas A. Wheeler 2002 $2,000,000 CrossBow
ScriptRX
561-805-5935
Robert C. Strandberg 2002 $8,333,000 SpaceVest,
Xytrans, Inc. Grace Venture
407-345-8008 Partners,
CrossBow Ventures,
Stonehenge
Capital,
Alliance
Technology Ventures
TOTAL: $476,717,100
2003 FLORIDA VENTURE CAPITAL CONFERENCE
LIST OF PRESENTERS
COMPANY DESCRIPTION
* Anything Email, Inc. - Ft. Lauderdale (http://www.anythingemail.com) - An email
direct marketing company which licenses its proprietary email software to
companies that desire to communicate with current customers as well as sell
email related products (like personal domains) through email marketing.
* Applied Genetic Technologies Corp. - Alachua (http://www.agtcfl.com) - A drug
recovery company with a patent-protected portfolio of innovative therapeutics
utilizing its Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV) gene delivery technology for the
treatment of inherited and acquired diseases.
* Bioheart, Inc. - Ft. Lauderdale (http://www.bioheartinc.com) - A developer of
cellular-based therapy products for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases,
including myocardial infarction ("MI"), congestive heart failure ("CHF") and
cardiovascular electrical abnormalities.
* Blue Frog Solutions, Inc. - Pompano Beach (http://www.bluefrogsolutions.com) -
An IT solutions provider for web services, applications and integration for
the financial services and insurance industries.
* Comerxia - Hallandale (http://www.douwantit.com) - A global commerce enabler
which addresses categorization, import/export compliance, denied third party
screening, customs documentation generation, landed cost calculation, fraud
protection, product delivery and local marketing.
* CrossGeneration Comics, Inc. - Oldsmar (http://www.crossgen.com) - A broad-
based consumer entertainment company whose primary creative product is comic
books.
* Custom Care Pharmacy - Tampa (http://www.customcarepharmacy.com) - A national
mail order specialty pharmacy specializing in nuclear diagnostic and treatment
modalities, infusion drug products, and distribution solutions for clinical
drug trials for pharmaceutical manufacturers.
* Florical Systems, Inc. - Gainesville (http://www.florical.com) - Provides
television automation for on-air broadcast presentation, media management, and
program asset acquisition.
* Fortress Technologies, Inc. - Oldsmar (http://www.fortresstech.com) - A
provider of security products that addresses the inherent vulnerabilities of
802.11 wireless LAN's and point-to-point wireless bridges.
* Intelligenxia - Jacksonville (http://www.intelligenxia.com) - Creates
artificial intelligence software designed to extract trends, patterns, and/or
anomalies without traditional human biases from free-form text across multiple
data sources to be used within sophisticated multi-dimensional analyses.
* Jagged Peak - Clearwater (http://www.jaggedpeak.com) - An enterprise software
company whose proprietary and complete E-business Dynamic Global Engine
("EDGE") software platform enables companies to control and coordinate
distributed orders, inventory, and fulfillment across multiple customers,
suppliers and partners over the Internet.
* Litestream Technologies - Tampa - A captive utilities provider of
bundled services including voice (telephone), video (cable), high speed
Internet, and alarm monitoring services to residential master-planned
communities in Florida.
* MaxxVision, LLC - Gainesville (http://www.maxxv.com) - A developer of high-
resolution info-imaging products to medical, industrial, and
government/military markets.
* Pro Tech Monitoring, Inc. - Odessa (http://www.ptm.com) - Developer of the
world's first satellite tracking system providing real-time, 24 hour tracking
of criminal offenders who are under community supervision.
* Q-Link Technologies- Tampa (http://www.qlinktech.com) - A provider of Business
Process Management (BPM) software that provides the fastest, most
comprehensive solution for automating business processes.
* SkyCross, Inc. - Melbourne (http://www.skycross.com) - A global supplier of
ultra compact, highly efficient, multifrequency antenna and RF solutions for a
broad array of wireless devices and infrastructure products.
* Skyway Software - Tampa (http://www.skywaysoftware.com) - Provides software
that improves IT-dependent enterprises' ability to create business
applications that span functions and enterprise boundaries.
* Solicore, Inc. - Lakeland (http://www.solicore.com) - Develops, manufactures,
and markets revolutionary lithium polymer batteries.
* Tandel Systems, LLC - Clearwater (http://www.tandelsys.com) - Provides
solutions to complex computing systems and software problems using an
integration framework environment licensed from Honeywell, called SAGE.
* XOS Technologies, Inc. - Sanford (http://www.xostech.com) - A provider of
audio/visual integration and software application development solutions.
SOURCE Florida Venture Forum, Inc.
 back to top
Related links:
http://www.flvencap.org
CONTACT:
Debbie G. Abramowitz,
DAbramowitz@beckerconsulting.com, or Jeanne A. Becker, both of
Becker Consulting Services, Inc., +1-305-444-2181 or
+1-305-804-4994, for Florida Venture Forum
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