You are currently viewing archive.bio.org. Head to our home page to check out our fresh new look!

More Than 30 Leading Biotechnology And Medical Device Companies to Present At BIO Mid-America VentureForum

WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 13, 2005) — The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) today announced the selection of 32 private biotech and medical device companies to present at the BIO Mid-America VentureForum.  This impressive roster, including many of the country’s leading early- to late-stage companies, will present business plans to a national audience of venture capitalists and other potential investors September 21-23 at the Minneapolis Hilton.

The presenters’ technologies span the most promising fields of biomedical research today, including RNA interference, nanotechnology, molecularly targeted diagnostics and therapies, oral vaccines and improved imaging technology. 

Now in its third year, the BIO Mid-America VentureForum is the Midwest’s largest annual event joining private biotech and medical device companies in need of funding with venture capitalists, angel investors, and investment bankers from across the United States and Canada. Each year, an advisory board comprised of venture capitalists from leading firms across the country evaluates the applications. Only applicants receiving the highest scores are named as presenters.

“We are very impressed with the quality of the applications this year,” said advisory board member Dan Broderick of Milwaukee-based Mason Wells. “Having made it through our rigorous screening process, we believe the selected companies represent some of the most promising biotechnology and medical device investment opportunities from the Midwest and other regions.”

“Economic and political leaders in the Midwest have targeted the life sciences as an engine of growth, and their progress will be evident in the quality of companies presenting at this meeting,” said Morrie Ruffin, executive vice president of business development at BIO. “At BIO Mid-America, we’ll see a preview of the regional success stories that will be showcased at BIO 2006 next April in Chicago.”

A list of the selected companies is available at http://bma.bio.org/opencms/bma/2005/program/presentingcompanies.jsp. In addition, online registration for the conference is available at http://bma.bio.org/opencms/bma/2005/.

“The Midwest is home to numerous biotech companies and a high concentration of medical device companies as well,” stated advisory board member Ellen Koskinas of InterWest Partners in Menlo Park, Calif. “The BIO Mid-America VentureForum has become a key event for the national venture community to review dozens of leading companies in just a few days.”

While the first round of presenters has already been selected, the advisory board is currently evaluating a second round of applicants. Private companies interested in presenting may apply to fill one of the remaining presentation slots at http://bma.bio.org/opencms/bma/2005/presenting.  However, slots are limited and applications will be evaluated on a rolling basis.  Therefore, BIO encourages interested companies to apply as soon as possible to increase their likelihood of securing one of the remaining spots.

In addition to BIO, the Mid-America VentureForum is co-sponsored by Medical Alley/MNBIO and eight state biotech associations: the Colorado BioScience Association, the Illinois Biotechnology Industry Organization, the Indiana Health Industry Forum, the Iowa Biotechnology Association, MichBio (Michigan), the Missouri Biotechnology Association, Omeris (Ohio), and the Wisconsin Biotechnology Association.

About BIO

The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) represents more than 1,100 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations in all 50 U.S. states and 33 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of health-care, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products. For more information on BIO, visit our Web site at www.bio.org.

###