2013 BIO World Congress to Feature Focus on Investment Opportunities in Clean Tech
Innovative Industrial Biotech Companies to Present to Investors
The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) 10th Annual World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology will host the Clean Tech Investor Sessions featuring innovativeindustrial biotechnology companies selected to present their technology development and business models to an elite audience of investors and analysts. The world’s largest industrial biotechnology conference for business leaders, investors and policy makers in biofuels, biobased products and renewable chemicals comes to Montreal, June 16 - 19 at the Palais des congrès de Montréal.
"Presenting companies will cover advanced biofuels, renewable chemical platforms and biomass conversion technologies to cheap and sustainable sugar sourcing," said Brent Erickson, executive vice president of BIO’s Industrial & Environmental Section. "Companies will showcase their innovative technologies highlighting the industry's growth, and the importance of industrial and environmental biotechnology for generating green jobs, making greener products and cleaner processes all aimed at building a biobased economy."
Kicking off the investor sessions will be an investor discussion panel on Monday, June 17 at 8:30am. Comprised of leading international investors, the panel will discuss investment opportunities and funding sources to help you identify the right funding for your clean tech business. The panel, "Global Perspectives for Project Financing in Clean Technology," will be moderated by Taite McDonald, Senior Advisor, Energy & Clean Technology Government Initiatives, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati.
Panelists include:
• Dirk Den Ouden, Senior Manager, Kempen & Co Corporate Finance
• Felipe Pereira, Sector Manager, AIB, Department of Chemical Industry, BNDES
• Josko Bobanovic, Partner, Green Chemistry and Bioenergy, Sofinnova Partners
• Michael Curry, Managing Partner, Investeco Capital
• Neil Cameron, PhD, Investment Director, Emerald Technology Ventures
• Thomas J. Erickson, Co-President and Director, First Green Partners
During the following investor sessions taking place over two days, company executives will make formal 25-minute presentations showcasing their new technologies, accomplishments, milestones, value proposition and business case. These sessions, separate from the breakout tracks, are designed to spur investment in companies seeking to raise money.
Investors and banking institutions praise the Clean Tech Investor Sessions for their promotion of innovation, engaging discussions, relevance to the industry, network-building ability and more.
"As a relative newcomer to the space, I look forward to an engaging discussion regarding the relative merits of various business and financing models," said Thomas J. Erickson, co-president and director of First Green Partners. "This is a dynamic industry with a high rate of innovation and significant potential for entrepreneurs and investors."
"The Clean Tech Investor Sessions showcase the next wave in the industry, the innovators that will accelerate innovation," said Dirk Den Ouden, senior manager for Kempen & Co Corporate Finance. "The investor sessions fuel the discussion on true innovation, which should be a commercially relevant new service or technology."
"Having attended the World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology since its beginning ten years ago, I can attest to the high quality of the conference content, the caliber of C-level attendees and the terrific atmosphere for business partnering that takes place at each event," said Thomas JG Huot, managing director for VantagePoint Capital Partners. "It is particularly gratifying to see the Clean Tech Investor Sessions again in Montreal this year. I wouldn't miss it."
"BIO's Clean Tech Investor Sessions help to make the connection among new start-ups derived from science and technology, companies who need financial support for scale-up and growth, and specialized investors who can help project development and may help to transform brilliant ideas and hard work into commercially viable businesses," said Gabriel Lourenço Gomes, head of the Chemicals Department for Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES).
Registration is still available for the 2013 BIO World Congress coming to Montreal, Canada, June 16-19 at the Palais des congrès de Montréal. Please visit http://www.bio.org/worldcongress/ for additional information, or email worldcongress@bio.org.
Online pre-registration for reporters and editors is now open. All breakout and plenary sessions at the BIO World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology are open to attendance by members of the media. Complimentary media registration is available to editors and reporters with valid press credentials working full time for print, broadcast or web publications.