BIO TO LAUNCH FIRST NATIONAL VENTURE FORUM FOCUSED EXCLUSIVELY ON BIOTECH
Washington, D.C. (May 23, 2001) – The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) will host its first annual BIO VentureForum on October 3-5, 2001, in Arlington, VA. The event is the only national conference in the biotech industry to bring successful venture conference strategies from the technology sector to health and life sciences companies.
Approximately 75 - 100 biotechnology entrepreneurs from across the nation will present their business plans for seed and early-stage funding. The conference will also feature later-stage companies nearing a public offering.
The conference will be held at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City, minutes from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and downtown Washington, D.C.
BIO VentureForum 2001 is designed to introduce biotechnology firms to the financial networks and resources essential to long-term success. Both product and technology companies will be selected to present.
The conference meets a growing need in the investment community for exposure to high-quality biotech companies. A recent survey of 132 venture capitalists by Deloitte and Touche indicated that the spotlight for new venture capital investment is expected to turn towards the biotechnology sector.
“Over the past decade, innovations in health and science have provided unprecedented opportunities for biotech investors,” said BIO President Carl B. Feldbaum. “BIO VentureForum 2001 will unite the industry’s leading technologists with those investors committed to accelerating the biotech product pipeline.”
The BIO VentureForum Advisory Board, whose membership represents the industry’s most renowned technologists, venture capitalists, business leaders and private investors, will select the presenting companies. The companies will then participate in regional Bootcamps prior to the October forum, where they will be coached by a team of financial and business professionals on how to effectively communicate their business plans to investors.
About 1,000 attendees are expected to attend the two-day event, which will be co-located with The Technology Council of Maryland’s BioAlliance Forum and annual meeting (www.mdhitech.org). BioAlliance programming will provide BIO VentureForum 2001 attendees with important educational information, competitive industry insights and the opportunity to consult with successful CEOs and biotech fast-track leaders.
“The IT industry has relied on venture conferences for years to introduce investors to innovators in their early stages. The BIO VentureForum 2001 will be a premier forum where the nation’s business, entrepreneurial and investment leaders can come together in one of the fastest growing biotechnology centers in the country,” said Bryan Roberts, general partner of Venrock Associates.
Interested entrepreneurs may submit applications online at www.bioventureforum.net.
BIO Venture Forum 2001 Advisory Board Members include representatives of: Atlas Venture, Inc., Birchmere Ventures, Domain Associates, LLC, ETP/FBR Genomic Fund, Intersouth Partners, InterWest Partners, MPM Capital, NeuroVentures Fund, Oxford Bioscience Partners, Sofinnova Ventures, Inc., Techno Venture Management TVM, and Venrock Associates.
BIO Venture Forum 2001 Partners include: Technology Council of Maryland, NASDAQ, The National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) and Washington Business Journal.
For more information on the BIO VentureForum 2001, please visit the Web site at www.bioventureforum.net.
About BIO
BIO represents more than 950 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations in all 50 U.S. states and 33 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of health care, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products.
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