ANN ARBOR, Mich., April 17 /PRNewswire/ -- The Michigan Growth Capital Symposium (MGCS), an event fueling Midwest economic emergence, today announced the selection of presenting companies for its 25th Anniversary event to be held on May 16 and 17, 2006 at the Eagle Crest Conference Center. The symposium will showcase 45 companies, carefully screened by members of the Midwest venture capital community, specializing in information technology, life sciences and alternative energy. These companies are among the highest quality in the Midwest and comprise three investment-stage tracks: commercialization, A/B round, and expansion/growth round.
“The Midwest is realizing the potential that it has always had. Entrepreneurs are staying, universities are taking a leading role in commercialization activity, venture capital firms are becoming more numerous and available capital is increasing - together these elements are a tremendous catalyst for emerging business activity in the Midwest. The MGCS annually draws coastal investors seeking to make contact with researchers and business leaders from across the Midwest,” said David J. Brophy, director of the University of Michigan’s Center for Venture Capital & Private Equity Finance, which is part of the Samuel Zell & Robert H. Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies.
The symposium features an impressive lineup of national guest speakers and a highly-targeted audience of technology and finance leaders. Online registration is open through May 12. To view the list of speakers and to register, visit: http://www.MichiganGCS.com.
Following is a sampling of companies that will be presenting in each of the three investment-stage tracks:
Commercialization Track:
10x Technology produces micro-and nano-structured polymer materials used in a variety of high demand applications.
CheckTheCrib Corporation provides an Internet-based procurement system for manufacturers requiring mission critical spare parts from the equipment and parts suppliers.
Rapid BioSense designs and markets a highly sensitive, affordable, and rapid biosensor able to detect bacteria and viruses in a liquid sample.
A/B Track:
GPSi, LLC is an emerging supplier of telematics hardware, software and services that make driving safer, smarter and easier.
STM Power, Inc. designs, develops, assembles and sells low emissions, external combustion (Stirling cycle) engines and integrates them into 55 kilowatt generator sets designed to deliver electricity by burning various liquid and gaseous fuels.
ZyStor Therapeutics, Inc. has developed a novel, proprietary technology which improves the delivery of therapeutics that replaces the missing lysosomal enzyme in LSD patients.
Expansion/Growth Track:
Avidimer is a biopharmaceutical company whose mission is to advance the use of its proprietary nano-scale therapeutic platform for the treatment of certain cancers through clinical trials to worldwide availability.
HealthMedia, Inc. is a technology and health management company that builds and delivers individualized, one-to-one solutions for the pharmaceutical/medical device market, the healthcare market, and organizations focused on disease management.
Molecular Therapeutics, Inc (MRx) is a clinical developmental stage biotechnology company developing a small molecule for the prevention of oral mucositis.
Plextronics is the global leader in active layer technology for printed electronics and provides its customers with highly tuned technology, in the form of polymers and inks, which will be applied as layers in devices through standard printing techniques.
Velocys, Inc. is developing revolutionary processing systems and nano- scale catalysts that will provide energy and chemical companies with substantial capital cost savings, improved product yields, and greater energy efficiencies.
About the MGCS
The MGCS is the original university-based venture fair, which was first held in 1979. This nationally attended two-day event provides an opportunity for financiers to connect with up-and-coming Midwest businesses and learn about emerging technologies. The Symposium offers the opportunity to build relationships with an unparalleled business network of distinguished private equity industry leaders, leading university research faculty, and entrepreneurial business professionals. Entering its 25th year, the MGCS continues to draw top investors from coast to coast. The 2005 event attracted more than 550 attendees, with more than 200 attending investors. The MGCS is hosted by the Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan and its Center for Venture Capital and Private Equity Finance of the Samuel Zell & Robert H. Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies.
Samuel Zell & Robert H. Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies
CONTACT: Erin Muhlhan, of FitzGerald Communications for Samuel Zell &Robert H. Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies, +1-617-585-2226, oremuhlhan@fitzgerald.com; or Mary Nickson, of Samuel Zell & Robert H. LurieInstitute for Entrepreneurial Studies, +1-734-615-4424, ormnickson@umich.edu
