5th Annual 2005 WTC Entrepreneur Venture Conference Application Deadline Approaching August 15, 2005

The primary objective of the WTC Annual Entrepreneur Venture Conference is to secure early stage venture capital financing for high-growth, women-led companies by presenting to an audience of leaders in the venture capital community. Ideal companies that should apply to the Venture Conference should posses an innovative technology, credible team and business plan, strong and profitable market opportunity, defendable competitive advantage, and a woman in a leadership role (at least at C level) or position of equity.

“The WTC Springboard Conference was instrumental in helping us secure our Series A round. When we decided to seek funding, I made up a wish list of Board members and investors. [The investors we secured through the conference,] Mitchell Kertzman and Hummer Winblad were at the top of this list. I am grateful to the WTC team for helping us reach such world-class investors." — Theresa Bui Friday, Founder, Palamida, Presenter 2004 Venture Conference Conference



WTC Entrepreneur Venture Conferences have an excellent success-rate with 30% of presenting companies receiving funding. The WTC Entrepreneur Venture Conference has become the opportunity for venture capitalists to invest in high-growth, women-led technology and life science companies.

"At last year’s conference one-third of presenting companies received funding, with two companies receiving over $5M in investments – a success measure unparalleled in the industry. In fact, it was at this conference that Hummer Winblad and portfolio company Palamida first met, leading to a $5M investment together with Walden VC. It is because of this that we are pleased to participate in and endorse the 2005 Entrepreneur Venture Conference." — Mitchell Kertzman, Partner, Hummer Winblad Venture Partners & 2005 Venture Partner



Companies wishing to submit an application to present at the Venture Conference must apply online at http://www.wtc-sf.org/ventureconference.htm by the deadline of Monday, August 15, 2005. Applications will be reviewed by a screening committee comprised of venture capitalists, investors and industry experts.

The selected presenters also receive entrepreneurial training through assigned coaches and the WTC Entrepreneur Immersion Program (EIP); a nine-part series of four half-day sessions focused on core business elements (pre-venture conference), three sessions on investor follow-up (post-venture conference), and two interactive workshops on investor pitch and presentation skills with leading presentation coach, Kim Marinucci Acker of Winning Pitch.

2005 EIP Open Speakers include: Jim McCord, EIR, VantagePoint Venture Partners; Janice Roberts, Managing Director, Mayfield ; Theresa Bui Friday, Founder & VP Business Development Palamida ; Julie Shimer, CEO Vocerra ; Mitchell Kertzman, Partner Hummer Winblad Venture Partners; Jamie Lerner, CEO CITTIO; Pamela R. Contag, Ph.D., President Xenogen; Jay Watkins, Managing Director De Novo Ventures; Shirley Clayton, President & CEO Abmaxis; Judith Stant, Ph.D., Former CEO Artemis; and David Lowe, Ph.D, Partner Skyline Ventures.

For questions regarding the conference, please email Chelsea Hewitt, at chelsea@wtc-sf.org, or call (415) 421-5500 x108. For additional information about the WTC Entrepreneur Venture Conference, please visit the website at http://www.wtc-sf.org/ventureconference.htm.

WTC 2005 Entrepreneur Venture Conference Sponsors
Silicon Valley Bank
Fenwick & West LLP
Comerica Bank
DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary LLP
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
O'Melveny & Myers LLP
Microsoft
Davis Wright Tremaine LLP
Red Herring
O'Reilly Media Inc.
Center for Entrepreneurial Studies, Stanford Graduate School of Business

WTC Entrepreneur Venture Conference Venture Partners
Asset Management Company
Cargill Ventures
Hummer Winblad Venture Partners
Opportunity Capital Partners

About the Women’s Technology Cluster (WTC)
The Women's Technology Cluster is the pre-eminent business incubator dedicated to women leaders building technology-driven businesses. Its mission is to increase the number of successful companies and to leverage their influence. Through its dedicated community of proven CEOs, investors, and industry experts, the WTC provides extensive advisory services, coaching, and access to business and capital networks. WTC portfolio companies participate in a specialized and highly developed incubation program designed to help the entrepreneur build business skills while at the same time building relationships with a wide network of industry experts. The WTC looks for companies with an exceptional leadership team that includes a woman in a position of equity, who are able to demonstrate a clear business plan for an innovative, technology-based product or service that has been validated in the market.

The Women’s Technology Cluster
CONTACT:
Chelsea Hewitt, (415) 421-5500 x108
Sharon Vosmek, (415) 421 5500 x103
Web site: http://www.wtc-sf.org/ventureconference.htm