BIO VentureForum 2001 Assembles Unprecedented Array Of Biotech Entrepreneurs, Venture Capitalists
The conference, at the Hilton Washington & Towers on October 3-4, is co-sponsored by the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), the National Venture Capital Association, NASDAQ, the Technology Council of Maryland and the hington Business Journal. The forum will be held concurrently with the Technology Council of Maryland's 7th annual Maryland Bioscience Forum.
BIO VentureForum 2001 is the only event of its size to focus exclusively on life sciences. An advisory panel of major venture firms and other experts selected 92 of the most promising early-stage and pre-IPO biotech companies from the U.S. and Europe. Seeking seed funding, these entrepreneurs will outline their business models to an audience of venture capital executives, industry analysts and institutional investors.
The presenting companies represent a sweeping cross-section of emerging therapies, sciences and tools - including genetics/genomics, proteomics, bioinformatics, medical devices, optics, cancer research, technology platforms and stem cell research. A complete list of presenting companies and additional information on the event can be found at www.bioventureforum.net.
"The market has demonstrated that biotechnology is a good investment," said Mark G. Heesen, president of the National Venture Capital Association. "But in addition to showcasing strong prospects, this event will help ensure that the best new medicines, devices and technologies have a solid financial pipeline moving forward, which is crucial to the industry. And we hope that the many scientists who come will gain insights into how the biotech business works."
In addition to the 92 presentations, BIO VentureForum will feature speeches by scientists-turned-CEOs of established companies such as Cyclex, MedImmune and Entremed Inc.; a panel discussion on investment trends by five leading venture capital partners; and workshops on topics such as securing funding, managing investment risk, forming partnerships, and protecting intellectual property.
Attendees also will be able to take advantage of the Technology Council of Maryland's BioScience Forum, co-located at the same venue. Among other features, the event will showcase the state's universities and federal labs, which are partnering with established companies to bring developing technologies to market. These "poster presentations" will cover areas such as bioinformatics, computational biology, biocatalysis, enzyme research, therapeutics, agricultural and environmental applications, and diagnostics.
BIO VentureForum 2001 and Maryland BioScience Forum sponsors include AT&T; Allfirst Bank; AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, LP; Ernst & Young, LLP; EntreMed, Inc.; Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP; FireRed.com; Friedman, Billings, Ramsey Group Inc.; GATX Ventures, Inc.; Heller Ehrman White & McAuliffe LLP; Hogan & Hartson LLP; Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, PC; Nomura International Plc; Reed Smith; Pacific Growth Equities, Inc.; Ropes & Gray; ShawPittman LLP; Silicon Valley Bank; Sun Microsystems; and UBS Warburg.
Advisory board members include Academy Funds, Advent International Corporation, Alta Partners, Atlas Venture, Birchmere Ventures II PL, Burill & Company, Delphi Ventures, Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship, Domain Associates, Emerging Technology Partners, Intersouth Partners, InterWest Partners, Johnson & Johnson Development Corporation, Maryland Health Care Product Development Corporation, Mason Wells, MPM Capital Advisors LLC, National Capital Companies, Neuroventures Capital, NextGen Capital, Oxford BioScience Partners, Perseus-Soros Biopharmaceutical Fund, ProQuest Investments, Sofinnova Ventures Inc., S.R. One Ltd., Tenex Medical Investors, The Kaufmann Fund Inc., TVM Techno Venture Management, and Venrock Associates.
About BIO: BIO represents more than 1,000 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. For more information, please visit www.bio.org.
About TCM: The Technology Council of Maryland is a 501c membership consortium of more than 800 high technology firms, government laboratories, higher education institutions and technology business service firms. Its mission includes developing links between member organizations, serving as a uniting voice for technology in Maryland, developing and enhancing the region's technology workforce, encouraging entrepreneurship, and advocating for public support and understanding of technology industry issues. For more information, please visit www.mdhitech.org.
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