Growth Capital Symposium Starts Tuesday

ANN ARBOR — Financiers from across the country will once again have a chance to connect with emerging and growth business ventures at the 26th annual Michigan Growth Capital Symposium next week Tuesday and Wednesday at Marriott Resort at Eagle Crest in Ypsilanti.

The symposium is an opportunity for investment leaders throughout the country to become acquainted with and forge new partnerships with Midwest entrepreneurs, said David Brophy, director of the University of Michigan‘s Center for Venture Capital & Private Equity Finance. The center is part of the Samuel Zell & Robert H. Laurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies, the event sponsor.

Keynote presenters at the symposium will be leading venture capitalists and business veterans Ram Shriram of Sherpalo Ventures and Richard Wong of Accel Partners.

Shriram is a University of Michigan MBA alumnus and a “Silicon Valley legend.” Sherpalo Ventures invests in the growth and development of leading Internet companies such as Netscape, Junglee, Amazon and Google. Shriram will share his perspective on a wide-range of issues that confront and sometimes confound early stage ventures and will talk to entrepreneurs and investors about opportunities present in the Midwest  

Wong is a partner in Accel Partners, a leading Silicon Valley venture firm that focuses on mobile and broadband services software, as well as messaging and security applications. Wong will address early-stage, fast-growth wireless and messaging companies and their opportunities for growth in the Midwest

More than 65 regional and coastal investment companies will participate in panel discussions during the two-day event. Throughout the event, attendees will hear presentations by 40 companies that are currently seeking funding. The companies selected represent “the best of the Midwest,” in industries ranging from information technology to life sciences and alternative energy.

“For 26 years, MGCS has sought out ‘the best of the Midwest‘ emerging companies and has put them in front of leading investors to make valuable connections,” Brophy said. “The caliber of investors and innovative new companies at this year’s event again highlights the great potential for development in Michigan and across the Midwest.”