29th Annual Michigan Growth Capital Symposium Attracts Over 65 Midwestern and Coastal Investment Community Leaders

Midwest's Premier Equity Event Provides Unparalleled Networking and Deal Sourcing Opportunities

ANN ARBOR, Mich., May 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The venture capital community continues to demonstrate growing enthusiasm for innovation and investment opportunities in the Midwest, as evidenced by the quality and quantity of investors attending the upcoming 29th annual Michigan Growth Capital Symposium (MGCS). Today, Symposium organizers announced that over 65 investment firms will be represented at this year's event, providing them an opportunity to connect with the "Best of the Midwest's" entrepreneurs, startups and emerging growth companies that are actively searching for partners and funding.

The Michigan Growth Capital Symposium, which will be held May 11-12 at the Marriott Resort in Ypsilanti, Mich., is expecting over 400 attendees and will feature a robust agenda of six world-class panel discussions, as well as keynote presentations from Kate Mitchell, co-founder and managing director of west-coast based Scale Venture Partners and incoming chair of the National Venture Capital Association, followed by David J. Brailer, MD, PhD and Chairman of Health Evolution Partners.

The growth of the innovation-based entrepreneurial community in Michigan and the Midwest in recent years has rocketed the Symposium onto a national stage.  The event now attracts numerous investors from a number of the east and west coasts' most reputable firms, with 5AM Ventures and Battery Ventures among them.  Other regional and coastal members from the investment community registered to attend include Arboretum Ventures, BioStar Ventures, DFJ Mercury, GE Capital, Silicon Valley Bank and more.

"Despite the economic challenges facing start-ups and venture capitalists, there are still opportunities in the marketplace," said Jan Garfinkle, founder and managing director of Arboretum Ventures who attends the Symposium annually and will be moderating a special panel at this year's event on trends in venture capital. "We all have fresh capital, and we are all actively investing, so for any entrepreneurs attending the conference, there will be venture capitalists in the room that have money."

The Symposium will also include presentations from 32 of the Midwest's most promising companies, representing high growth sectors including life sciences, energy, and IT. The symposium represents an important networking event for companies, and has served as a launching point for many startups. The full list of presenting companies was unveiled today at www.michigangcs.com.

Ann Arbor-based Ambiq Micro Inc. is among those companies and CEO Scott Hanson views the Symposium as an important opportunity to get his company on the radar screens of potential investors. "Firms in the Midwest that will be at the Symposium are able to provide the level of financing needed to take the company to the next level, to grow our product design and management teams," said Hanson. "What we're really heading to the Symposium for is to begin raising money for our Series A round."

The Michigan Growth Capital Symposium is hosted by the Zell Lurie Institute at the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan in partnership with the Michigan Venture Capital Association.  For more information, please visit www.michigangcs.com. To register or with questions regarding presenting company details, please contact Mary Nickson, the symposium manager, at 734-615-4424 or [email protected].

About the Michigan Growth Capital Symposium

Michigan Growth Capital Symposium 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 29th year, the Symposium continues to draw top investors from coast to coast.  The Michigan Growth Capital Symposium is presented by the Center for Venture Capital & Private Equity Finance at the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan with support from the Michigan Venture Capital Association.

SOURCE Michigan Growth Capital Symposium