ANN ARBOR ? David Brophy, a University of Michigan finance professor, is well known in the Midwest venture capital community for his annual Michigan Growth Capital Symposium, a two-day conference that gives 30 start-up companies that chance to woo potential investors. Now armed with a $350,000 state grant, Brophy hopes to make the 24th version a national draw.
?It?s the grand daddy of all venture capital symposiums, but it still behaves as a youngster,?? Brophy said. ?We?re still on the cutting edge of what we?re doing. We?re tracking the venture capital business to make sure our offerings track to what the VCs are interested in investing in.?
The investing themes at next year?s symposium ? June 15-16 ? will be life sciences, information technology and nanotechnology. Thirty five companies from those three technology sectors will be given the opportunity to woo hundreds of investors, primarily from the Midwest, but with a large representation from the east and west coasts.
What kinds of companies will be invited to present? Those that have already received some early stage funding. Those with good value and strong management teams.
?We want this program to be the quality standard that Midwestern companies aspire to,?? Brophy said. ?But we also want it to be something that VCs from either coast come to because they know they?ll see good companies to invest in.?
Last June?s MGCS attracted about 450 people. Brophy hopes next June?s symposium attracts more than 500, including more big name investors from California, Massachusetts and New York. Attracting these investors improves the quality of networking and the potential for Michigan companies and investors to do more deals with national players.
?With one plane ticket you can meet all these people,?? Brophy said. ?For the companies that want to present, you can with great confidence apply here and if selected you?ll hit serious investors with deep pockets and long arms.?
For more information, click on MichiganGCS.Com
