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Media Advisory: Fast-Paced Venture Forum to Kick Off Week of Events for Great Lakes Investors, Entrepreneurs
Release Date: May 14, 2012 This content is archived.
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Investors and entrepreneurs from across the Great Lakes will convene in Buffalo May 16-17 for the 2012 Venture Forum, a premier event for introducing investors to promising technologies from New York State and Ontario, Canada.
The event will include panel discussions on technology transfer, along with a full day of fast-paced pitch sessions during which high-tech entrepreneurs will present their companies to angel investors and venture capitalists.
More than 30 companies from across New York State and Ontario, Canada will participate, with each receiving one minute or 10 minutes to present. About 250 people are expected to attend -- including nearly 60 investors -- with many coming to Western New York from out of town.
Events will take place at the University at Buffalo's Center for the Arts and the Albright Knox Art Gallery, and a full agenda is available at http://bit.ly/IjdelV. A list of presenting companies: http://bit.ly/Iwkn0d.
UB Vice President for Research and Economic Development Alexander N. Cartwright will deliver opening remarks on May 17, along with Empire State Development Deputy Commissioner and Senior Vice President for Community Economic Development Steven Cohen, the lead for the new Innovate NY Fund. The featured keynote speaker will be Victor Thorne, director of Ohio TechAngel Funds, the largest angel group in the United States.
The Venture Forum opens a week of activities for the region's business community. On May 18, the Business Incubator Association of New York State will hold its annual meeting in Buffalo at UB's New York State Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences.
2012 Venture Forum, May 16-17
Background: The 2012 Venture Forum is Upstate New York's premier forum for introducing investors to promising companies in life sciences, energy, IT and advanced manufacturing. The forum is a collaboration between Buffalo Niagara's annual Bright Forum and the Center for Economic Growth's (CEG) annual SmartStart UNYTECH Venture Forum. Major sponsors include UB's New York State Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences, CEG and Superior Group.
May 16:
What: Panel discussions on technology transfer, focusing on best practices in partnerships between universities and private corporations
When: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., May 16, 2012
Where: Center for the Arts on UB's North Campus (building No. 2 on this map: http://www.buffalo.edu/buildings/maps/NorthCampus.pdf)
Online agenda: http://bit.ly/K01pwx
On-site contact: Suzanne Chamberlain, UB Office of Economic Development, 716-868-1020
May 17:
What: Fast-paced pitch sessions during which entrepreneurs present companies and technologies to investors
When: 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., May 17, 2012
Where: Albright Knox Art Gallery at 1285 Elmwood Ave. in Buffalo
Opening speakers: Alexander N. Cartwright, Vice President for Research and Economic Development, University at Buffalo; Steve Cohen, Deputy Commissioner and Senior Vice President for Community Economic Development, Empire State Development
Keynote speaker: Victor Thorne, Director, Ohio TechAngel Funds
Online agenda: http://bit.ly/Jd9qiB
On-site contact: Suzanne Chamberlain, UB Office of Economic Development, 716-868-1020
2012 Business Incubator Association of New York State (BIA/NYS) Annual Meeting
What: Presentations on business incubator programs in New York State and topics including innovative seed funding models. The UB Technology Incubator, UB downtown biomedical incubator and Thomas R. Beecher Jr. Innovation Center (Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus) are among Western New York members of BIA/NYS.
When: Media may attend the meeting's public sessions from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., May 18, 2012. To make arrangements for attending, please contact Charlotte Hsu at chsu22@buffalo.edu or 716-645-4655 in advance.
Where: UB's New York State Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences at 701 Ellicott St. in Buffalo
Online agenda: http://bit.ly/JxqEbz
Media Contact Information
Charlotte Hsu is a former staff writer in University Communications. To contact UB's media relations staff, email ub-news@buffalo.edu or visit our list of current university media contacts.
