Media advisory: 35 early-stage high-tech companies will pitch to investors at Bright Buffalo Niagara venture forum

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Bright Buffalo Niagara, Western New York’s premier venture forum, will feature 35 promising young companies in the life sciences, energy, software and other high-tech industries who will pitch to potential investors in 10-minute or one-minute sessions.

Over 300 attendees, including investors, entrepreneurs and elected officials, are expected to attend the venture forum on Oct. 1. The presenting companies represent a diverse cross-section of the region’s growing high-tech economy, working in fields including nanotechnology, drug development, green energy, smartphone applications and many more.

The forum also includes a keynote speech from Victor Hwang, San Francisco-based venture capitalist and author of “The Rainforest: The Secret to Building the Next Silicon Valley.”

When: Oct. 1, 2013, 8 a.m. to 6:45 p.m.

Victor Hwang keynote remarks:
12:30 p.m.-2 p.m.

Company presentation sessions:
10-minute presentations begin: 9:45 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 2 p.m. and 3:45 p.m.
One-minute presentations begin: 12:15 p.m., 4:45 p.m.

Where: Statler City, 107 Delaware Ave., Buffalo.

Full event schedule: www.BrightBuffaloNiagara.com/events-schedule.

On Sept. 30, organizers of the venture forum will host a VIP reception and dinner for investors, company presenters, elected officials including New York State comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli, and others from 4:30-8:30 p.m. at the University at Buffalo’s Clinical and Translational Research Center, 875 Ellicott St., Buffalo.

About Bright Buffalo Niagara:

About 100 early-stage companies have presented at Bright Buffalo Niagara since it was established in 2009, with 250-300 attendees each year including entrepreneurs, angel and venture capital investors, potential business partners, industry leaders, elected officials and more. Since its inception, Bright Buffalo Niagara participants have gone on to raise more than $23 million in funding and have gained invaluable exposure to national markets and potential future investors.

Bright Buffalo Niagara 2013 sponsors:

GROWTH STAGE SPONSORS: Launch NY; Superior Group; UB’s New York State Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences; and the University at Buffalo.

START-UP STAGE SPONSOR: Colligan Law LLP.

SEED STAGE SPONSORS: Buffalo Business First; Buffalo Niagara Enterprise; Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus; CareerBuilder; Erie County Industrial Development Agency; Insyte Consulting; Phillips Lytle LLP; UB’s Office of Science, Technology Transfer and Economic Outreach; and Upstate Venture Association of New York.

PRE-SEED STAGE SPONSORS: Dopkins and Company LLP; Freed Maxick CPAs, P.C.; Hodgson Russ Attorneys; HSBC; Lippes Mathias Wexler Friedman LLP; the Research Foundation for the State University of New York; Wilmington Trust; Woods Oviatt Gillman LLP; and the Western New York Venture Association.