May 17th, 2012 - The 2012 Venture Forum, a collaboration of Bright - SmartStart - UNYTECH
Location: Albright Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, NY
Time: 9:30AM - 5PM
The 2012 Venture Forum was a collaboration of Bright Buffalo Niagara and the Center for Economic Growth's Upstate SmartStart UNYTECH Venture Forum.
Learn more about our Keynote Speaker, Victor Thorne, here.
This partnership enabled the two events to merge their audiences, reaching both the venture capitalists that SmartStart/UNYTECH typically attracts and the angel investors that have been the focus of Bright in past years into one, premier Upstate New York Venture Forum.
Nearly 300 investors, entrepreneurs and other professionals gathered for a two day event that featured:
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Special "Angel and Venture Capitalist Networking Breakfast" for local and out-of-town investor attendees
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Welcoming remarks and breakfast
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Over 30 pitches and presentations from early-stage companies in high-tech sectors including life sciences, energy, IT and advanced manufacturing from across New York and Canada
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Keynote luncheon presentation
- Closing reception at the Buffalo Yacht Club
For the full highlights package, click here.
For the full print program, click here.
Agenda:
| 7:30 - 8:00 |
Angel & Venture Capitalist Investor Breakfast Registration
(Albright-Knox - Entry Way)
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| 8:00 - 9:00 |
Angel & Venture Capitalist Investor Breakfast
"Doing the Deal: Building Angel/VC Collaborations for Success"
(Albright-Knox - Muse)
Our Panel:
- Nasir Ali
Co-Founder and CEO, Upstate Venture Connect
Executive Director, Seed Capital Fund of Central NY
Managing Director, StartFast Venture Accelerator
Board Member, Upstate Venture Association of NY
- Bryan Watson
Executive Director, National Angel Capital Organization
- Timothy O'Neill
General Partner, Golden Seeds Fund II
- Dan Penberthy
President, Upstate Venture Capital Association of NY
EVP and CFO, RAND Capital Corporation
Moderator:
David Colligan, Esq.
Parter, Watson Bennet Colligan & Schechter LLP
Board Member, Western New York Venture Association
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| 9:30 - 10:00 |
Forum Registration & Breakfast
(Albright-Knox - Entry Way) |
| 10:00 - 10:15 |
Welcome and Introductions
(Albright-Knox - Auditorium)
Alexander Cartwright
Vice President for Research and Economic Development, Acting Executive Director
New York State Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences
University at Buffalo, The State University of New York
Steven Cohen
Deputy Commissioner & SVP, Community Economic Development
Empire State Development
"New Innovate NY Funds $25 million to spur
small business job creation through seed funding"
Jeffrey A Lawrence
EVP, Technology, Center for Economic Growth
Moderator:
Marnie LaVigne, Ph.D.
Associate Vice President for Economic Development,
University at Buffalo
|
| 10:15 - 11:30 |
High-Tech Company Showcase
in Life Sciences, Energy, IT & Advanced Manufacturing
(Albright-Knox - Auditorium)
Ten Minute investor pitches by six high-tech firms
Moderator:
Scott Stenclik
President, Superior Group
|
| 11:30 - 1:00 |
Networking Lunch
(Burchfield Penney)
Transportation will be available at the registration area |
| 1:00 - 2:00 |
Keynote Address
(Albright-Knox - Auditorium)
"Building an Innovation-based Entrepreneurial Ecosystem"
Victor M. Thorne
Director, Ohio TechAngels
Moderator:
Alfred Culliton
COO, Erie County Industrial Development Agency
|
| 2:00 - 2:15 |
Break |
| 2:15 - 3:30 |
High-Tech Company Showcase
in Life Sciences, Energy, IT & Advanced Manufacturing
(Albright-Knox - Auditorium)
Ten Minute investor pitches by six high-tech firms
Moderator:
Thomas A. Kucharski
President and CEO, Buffalo Niagara Enterprise
|
| 3:30 - 3:45 |
Break |
| 3:45 - 5:00 |
High-Tech Company Showcase
in Life Sciences, Energy, IT & Advanced Manufacturing
(Albright-Knox - Auditorium)
Ten Minute investor pitches by six high-tech firms
Moderator:
Jennifer Kutas
Office Manager, Thomas R. Beecher Jr. Innovation Center
|
| 5:00 - 5:15 |
One Minute Entrepreneur Pitches
(Albright-Knox - Auditorium)
One Minute Pitches by a select group of high-tech firms
Moderator:
Jack McGowan
Project Manager, Insyte Consulting
|
| 5:15 - 5:20 |
Company Recognitions
Moderator:
Laura Mann
Project Director of Business Growth Services
Center for Economic Growth
iPad winner announced - Enter to Win at Registration*
*must be present to win
|
| 5:45 - 7:30 |
Reception
(Buffalo Yacht Club - 1 Porter Avenue, Buffalo, NY)
Directions from Albright-Knox Gallery to Buffalo Yacht Club:
- Head south on Elmwood Avenue toward Rockwell Road
- Turn right onto Bidwell Parkway
- At the traffic circle, take the third exit onto Richmond Avenue
- At the next traffic circle, continue straight to stay on Richmond Ave
- At the next traffic circle, take the exit onto Porter Avenue
- Take Porter Avenue to last right turn before water (Lake Erie)
- Buffalo Yacht Club, at 1 Porter Avenue, will be on the right
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