Media Advisory: Bright Forum Brings Great Lakes High-Tech Investors and Entrepreneurs to Buffalo for a Day of Networking and Deal-Making

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Bright Buffalo Niagara, a high-tech initiative re-launched earlier this year, will bring Great Lakes investors, entrepreneurs and community leaders to Buffalo on June 9 for the Bright Forum -- a full day of networking and deal-making across the life sciences, energy, IT and advanced manufacturing sectors.

Formerly known as the Explore Buffalo Niagara Investor and Entrepreneur High-Tech Forum during the past two years, the Bright Forum will take place at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery. Major sponsors include the University at Buffalo, UB's New York State Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences, and Superior Group.

This year's event will feature investor presentations by high-tech entrepreneurs and start-ups seeking to raise funds, along with a panel discussion on successful cross-border deals pairing investors and companies from the U.S. and Canada.

Hatim Tyabji, chairman and CEO of Bytemobile Inc. and a UB alum, will deliver the keynote address. Other dignitaries scheduled to give brief remarks include Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown, Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster and Erie County Executive Chris Collins.

Companies from across the Great Lakes region, including some from Southern Ontario, have registered to attend the forum, which sold out in both 2009 and 2010. A program that includes a list of businesses delivering investor pitches is available online at http://brightbuffaloniagara.com.

Of more than 50 companies that applied to make presentations, 15 were selected to give one-minute pitches to an elite audience of investors and business leaders, while 12 were asked to prepare 10-minute presentations showcasing deal opportunities.

The Bright Forum seeks not only to give start-up companies a chance to present products and ideas to investors, but to help investors, entrepreneurs and community leaders make the connections they need to establish long-term relationships and build a stronger entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Great Lakes region.

"Connecting good investment opportunities with interested investors is one of the most important parts of what's now become known around the country as Technology-Based Economic Development," said Marnie LaVigne, director of business development at UB's Center of Excellence. "Building this new high-tech economy is what our mission is all about at the Center of Excellence, and we're so fortunate to have partners across an expanding region to collaborate with us on initiatives like the Bright Forum."

Besides organizing the Bright Forum, Bright Buffalo Niagara hosted two workshops in May for investors, entrepreneurs and other professionals hoping to learn about angel investing and trends in raising capital.

The community-driven initiative, led by the Center of Excellence, grew out of the High-Tech Forum and brings academic, public, private and nonprofit organizations together to promote early-stage investments, quality deal flow, business partnering and related entrepreneurial activities in various high-tech sectors throughout the Great Lakes region.

Media arrangements: Contact Charlotte Hsu in the Office of University Communications at 716-645-4655 or chsu22@buffalo.edu in advance of the event. For on-site assistance the day of the event, contact Charlotte at 510-388-1831.