ASU SkySong to host University & Global Technology Showcase

All bizjournals.com news

Several premier research universities, hospitals, venture capitalists and global startups will visit ASU SkySong next month for a one-day conference filled with opportunities and informational exchanges.

Co-hosted by SkySong and Arizona Technology Enterprises, the University & Global Technology Showcase on Dec. 9 will kick-start the 2009 Invest Southwest Capital Conference, in which venture capital firms including Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Khosla Ventures, Bay City Capital, RedPoint Ventures, Sevin Rosen Funds and Polaris Ventures will participate in town-hall discussions covering a variety of topics.

“ASU SkySong works hard each day to bring business opportunities to Arizona and to connect startup companies with university resources,” Julia Rosen, associate vice president for innovation and entrepreneurship at Arizona State University, said in a prepared statement.

Higher-education participants include Columbia University, Boston University, California Institute of Technology, University of Pennsylvania, Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center at Texas, University of California at Los Angeles, University of Southern California, University of Minnesota, University of Utah, University of Arizona, Thunderbird School of Global Management, Arizona State University and Ireland’s Dublin City University.

Top research hospitals participating in the event include City of Hope and Mayo Clinic.

Several firms from Mexico, Brazil, Ireland and the United Kingdom will present their investment opportunities in a fast-paced forum, known as “elevator pitches” in venture capital circles.

Invest Southwest is the premier capital conference for VC and angel investors in Arizona.

Three companies from the 2008 Invest Southwest conference received funding: Sedona-based Protein Genomics ($250,000), which developed a human elastin protein for wounds; Medipacs of Tucson ($1.25 million), which is developing miniature, wearable infusion pumps; and Scottsdale-based iMemories ($6.2 million), which converts home movies and photos to digital formats.

A fourth company is close to getting funding, but officials would not disclose details.

Phoenix has tried for years to develop a VC scene here, but has struggled to solidify itself as a player, especially given its proximity to more financially sophisticated fundraising markets in Southern California, Denver, Salt Lake City and Albuquerque.

The 2009 Invest Southwest Capital Conference will be held Dec. 9-11 at the Four Seasons Resort in Scottsdale.

Copyright 2009 bizjournals.com

Back to News Home

MSN Money

Search MSN Money

Message Boards

Site Status