SAN DIEGO--- Most Fundable Technology Companies Chosen to Present At 19th Annual UCSD CONNECT Technology Financial Forum
Capital providers and investors will gather on Feb. 12 at a University of California, San Diego (UCSD) CONNECT program to see and hear first-hand about the best capital investment opportunities from the CEOs of San Diego's most promising early- and mid-stage technology companies.
The companies presenting at the 2003 Technology Financial Forum include: Akiva Corp., Ascendent Telecommunications Inc., Cenata Networks Inc., Chaos Telecom, Collective Protection Inc., Digital Map Products, Epic Cycle Interactive, EWI, IBIS Telecom, IP3 Networks Inc., IPMobileNet, Maxima Corp., OnScreen Inc., SABIA Inc., SkyRiver Communications, TechnoCom, WiredRed Software, Enviance Inc., NetHere, PurOptix, Stone Analytics Inc., Pacific DataVision, Deep Sky Software Inc., Streamload and Unified Dispatch Inc. (UDI).
"These companies are what San Diego is all about," said Fred Cutler, executive director of CONNECT. "It just goes to show that our innovative and entrepreneurial spirit still rises to the top even in this current downturn. San Diego has a lot to be proud of and CONNECT is pleased to present these up-and-coming companies at the Forum. We expect quite a few out-of-town venture capitalists, as in past years, taking serious stock of our terrific opportunities and technologies here in San Diego."
The pre-screened presenting companies were selected from a pool of more than 80 applicants. All satisfied three main criteria in that: 1) they had to have already received venture capital or significant seed investment; 2) they must be in need of venture funding; and, 3) they must be related to high technology: software/Internet, electronics, computer hardware and telecommunications.
All commercially viable, the 2003 presenting companies had already raised an average of $4 million in funding and more than 36 percent of them had revenues in excess of $1 million in 2002. They were required to go though an extensive dry-run preparation process with a panel of industry experts, who offered suggestions and recommendations. Final presentations at the forum will be eight (8) minutes in length per company.
The 2003 UCSD CONNECT Technology Financial Forum will feature Bob Loarie, managing director of Morgan Stanley Venture Partners, as keynote speaker.
For more information or to attend, call 858/964-1318 or email blmacias@ucsd.edu. Registration fees are $275 for CONNECT members, $375 for non-members and $75 to attend the reception.
About CONNECT
UCSD CONNECT is a globally recognized, university-based non-profit organization fostering entrepreneurship in the San Diego region by catalyzing, accelerating and supporting the growth of the most promising technology and life sciences businesses. Focused on assisting growth companies in the San Diego region, CONNECT has been directly involved with over 900 companies since its inception in 1985, helping them raise more than $11B in capital. Part of the University of California, San Diego, CONNECT has a dual role in accelerating growth: it assists growth companies in the San Diego region and promotes the commercialization of technology from university-based research. CONNECT's programs also help business service providers, attorneys, accountants, bankers, investors and marketing professionals with the knowledge about emerging technologies and access to new business opportunities. CONNECT is entirely self-supporting and receives no funding from the University or the State of California. It is supported by membership dues, course fees and corporate underwriting for specific programs. For more information, visit connect.org.