Wednesday, May 14
11:00 am
Registration Opens
12:00 pm
Luncheon Reception & Networking
12:15 pm
Welcome and Opening Remarks
David J. Brophy Ph.D., Professor of Finance, Stephen M. Ross School of Business, University of Michigan
12:30-1:30 pm
Opening Keynote Address: Alan G. Walton, Ph.D., D.Sc., Senior General Partner, Oxford Bioscience Partners
Biotechnology: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
In the next 50 years most major human diseases will be treated, controlled, or prevented by biotechnology products and methods. In 50 years time, most of the world’s food supply will involve more plentiful, nutritious, disease resistant products from biotechnology. This will be the biotechnology century! Throughout his distinguished career, Alan Walton has pioneered advancements in biotechnology as a scientific researcher, university professor, Presidential science advisor, biotech company founder and venture capital investor. With this 360-degree perspective of the biotechnology industry, he will discuss how far it has come, where it is today and the virtually limitless potential of biotechnology in the future.
1:50-2:50 pm
Panel: Creating a Clean Tech Cluster in Michigan and the Midwest
Clean technology is gaining strength as the next big growth market and investment opportunity. What is the potential for clean-technology ‘clusters’ in Michigan and the Midwest? Panelists will present advice for investors and entrepreneurs getting into the clean-tech market sector as well as an authoritative view on Clean Tech trends in the U.S., how to tackle the unique challenges of the marketplace, and assets and opportunities in Michigan and the Midwest.
Panelists:
Ananth Ananthasubramaniam, Manager Technology Investments, DTE Energy, Inc.
Michael Melnick, Ph.D., Principal, CMEA Ventures
Douglas Parks, Vice President of New Market Development, Michigan Economic Development Corporation
Colin South, President & Chief Strategy Officer, Mascoma
Moderator: Jim Matheson, General Partner, Flagship Ventures
Company Presentations – Life Sciences
Company Presentations – IT/Technology
2:50-3:10 pm – Break
3:10-4:10 pm
Panel: Investment in Life Science Companies: Who’s Getting There and Why?
Investment in the Life Sciences continues at a steady pace in a competitive marketplace. What does a company need in order to succeed? Panelists will focus on the challenges of establishing investment partnerships, forecasting forward to be successful in a competitive marketplace, and persevering in building great companies until they are acquired or go public.
Panelists:
Josh Bilenker, M.D., Associate, Aisling Capital
Nina Kjellson, Partner, InterWest Partners
Robert J. More, Partner, Domain Associates, LLC
Douglas E. Onsi, Venture Partner, HealthCare Ventures
Immanuel Thangaraj, Managing Director, Essex Woodlands Health Ventures
Moderator: Mary Campbell, General Partner, EDF Ventures
Company Presentations – Energy/AgBio
Company Presentations – IT/Technology
4:10-4:30 pm – Break
4:30-5:30 pm
Panel: Venture Capital Investment Strategy: Tried and True or Winds of Change?
The fund managers on this panel will explore their overall investment strategy, how venture capital fits and what role venture capital plays in their strategy as a whole. Panelists will also provide insight on their interest in the Midwest and the appeal of various fund stages, sector focus, and other factors that impact their decision making.
Panelists:
Jose Fernandez, Managing Director & General Counsel, StepStone LLC
Michael J. Jandernoa, Principal, Bridge Street Capital Partners, LLC
Jon Norris, Managing Director, SVB Capital
David R. Sarns, Managing Director, 360 Advisors LLC
Moderator: Robert D. Payne III, In-State Investment Specialist, Credit Suisse
4:30-5:30 pm
Panel: Reversing the Lens: An Acquirers View of Venture Backed Companies
Presented by Miller Canfield
Panelists will examine the traditional exit strategies discussion from the view of the acquirer rather than the founders and discuss key data points they examine, material issues they have discovered, and particular complications that may arise in the acquisition of companies that have received financial backing from angel investors or venture capital firms.
Panelists:
Matt Alves, Vice President, Strategic Business Development, Stryker Instruments
Knut A. Simonsen, Senior Vice President, DTE Energy Resources; President, DTE Energy Ventures
Phillip D. Torrence, Principal, Miller Canfield
Moderator: Jeffery LaBine, Principal, Miller Canfield
5:30 pm – Evening Cocktail Reception
6:30 pm – Networking Dinner Reception
8:00 pm – Adjourn
Thursday, May 15
7:45 am – Registration & Networking Breakfast
8:15-9:15 am
Keynote Address: Kenneth R. Pelowski, Founder & Managing Partner, Pinnacle Ventures
VC Ready: Opportunities in the Midwest
Silicon Valley-based VC Ken Pelowski has scaled the wall of success through his leadership prowess at Fortune 500 companies, his savvy investment strategies at top-of-the-chart venture firms and his deal-making finesse at new enterprises spanning high-tech to health care. As a founding partner of Pinnacle Ventures, he also is at the forefront of new enterprise creation in alternative energy where the firm holds current investments. With his eye on emerging trends across the board, he will discuss what he sees as opportunities for growth in Michigan and the Midwest.
9:15-9:45 am – Break
9:45-10:45 am
Panel: Emerging Technologies and Opportunities
This panel of industry experts will discuss investment opportunities in emerging technology market sectors including the Information technology and Alternative Energy markets, as well as broader Technology market applications. Insight on the investment process, from identification to exit, will also be discussed from a legal perspective as well as from the venture capital and corporate firm perspective.
Panelists:
Andrew R. Basile, Jr., Chairman, Young Basile
Thomas J. Dougherty, President & CEO, Monolith Engines Inc.; former Director, Advanced Battery and Hybrid
Systems, Johnson Controls
Annette Finsterbusch, Partner, Applied Ventures LLC
John Lovitt, Investor, Executive Advisor & Retired SVP Field Operations, Rational Software (now IBM)
Moderator: Winslow Sargeant, Managing Director, Venture Investors LLC
Company Presentations – Life Sciences
Company Presentations – IT/Technology
10:45-11:00 am – Break
11:00 am-12:00 pm
Panel: Preparing Your Company for its Initial Venture Financing
Presented by Pepper Hamilton
This panel will provide insights from venture capitalist and company perspectives on determining whether venture capital financing is appropriate for your company, issues to address and consider before seeking funding, what to look for in choosing venture capital partners, creating appropriate management structures and putting in place agreements, programs and procedures that your company may have deferred or neglected.
Panelists:
Jeff Bocan, Managing Director, Beringea
Dave Fachetti, Managing Director, Globespan Capital Partners
Vinay Gupta, Founder & CEO, Janeeva, Inc.
Rand Mueller, CEO & Co-founder, Guidepoint Systems
Moderator: Hugh Douglas Camitta, Partner, Pepper Hamilton LLP
Presenting Companies – Life Sciences
Presenting Companies – IT/Technology
12:00-1:00 pm – Networking Lunch Reception
1:15-2:15 pm
Panel: Lessons from the Trenches: The Outlook for U.S. Venture Capital
Do you want to know where the industry is going in 2008? Our closing panel of seasoned experts will weigh in on the outlook for the upcoming year, how returns in the Midwest stack-up to the coastal regions, where Michigan places among national investment activity, the current economic status and how that is affecting investment pace and exit prospects and where they see momentum in emerging industries.
Panelists:
Alison de Bord, Director, Alta Partners
Koleman Karleski, Managing Director, Chrysalis Ventures
David N. Parsigian, Partner, Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP
Jeanne M. Sullivan, General Partner, StarVest Partners, L.P.
Moderator: Tim Petersen, Managing Director, Arboretum Ventures
2:30-3:30 pm – Closing Reception
|