youngStartup Ventures Events (03/01/05)

Venture Capital presentation event in Philadelphia.

youngStartup Ventures Events

Market research resources: Wharton SBDC (2/16/05)

Workshop: Competitive & Market Research Sources for Entrepreneurs
Every business needs marketing information - for strategic planning, new business development, sales communications, and keeping ahead of competition. But how do you find up-to-date, reliable and affordable data? Using information that has already been published - otherwise known as secondary research - can save you time and money if you know where to look!
This workshop is for entrepreneurs and small business owners who need to do their own information- gathering. Topics covered include types of business information available through secondary research, major sources (including the internet), and guidelines for successful searching.
Wednesday, February 16 from 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm. Fee is $45.
Register now...

Innovation Philadelphia: Philadelphia Innovation Conference, (02/23/05)

All star cast helps you think about innovation.

Innovation Philadelphia: Philadelphia Innovation Conference, February 23, 2005

Angel Venture Fair (Call for Companies by 1/30/05)

(Forwarded to me by a member of WIN)

7th Annual Angel Venture Fair - APRIL 12, 2005
"HOLD THE DATE"If you know of any companies seeking angel investment dollars up to $5M, please have them contact AVF and apply now.
*** High-Tech - Low-tech - No-Tech ***

Company Applications accepted: November 18, 2004 - January 30, 20050, 2005

www.angelventurefair.com

Dear WIN: Thank you for supporting The 7th Angel Venture Fair (AVF7). We are looking for quality companies. If you know of any companies seeking angel investment dollars, please encourage them to apply and let them know the following details:* AVF7 will be held on April 12, 2005 at the Union League in Philadelphia. * AVF7 unites growth companies - HIGH-TECH, LOW-TECH & NO-TECH- from across the Northeast with private accredited investors from New England to Virginia.
Key features:
*Audience attendance limited to active acredited investors and whose purpose for attending the event will be to invest.
*Present your company at AVF7 and meet more than 100 angel investors in one day - moren than anywhere else.
*Special education & training provided to all applicants
*Company applications reviewed by a team of active private investors who are looking for good investments specifically for angel investors in mind.
* 30 companies will be selected as semi-finalists to present before our judges; 20 selected as finalists to present on April 12. (see calendar)

Companies can apply by going to the 7th ANNUAL ANGEL VENTURE FAIR website at http://www.angelventurefair.com for detailed directions and more information.Or you may go directly to the application form.Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions, if you know of any interested sponsors or directions on how additional supporting organizations may get involved.

I may be reached at tel: 717-238-1222 or vgaydos@51st.com or on my cell phone at 410-913-8326.Sincerely,Valerie GaydosExecutive Director, 7th Annual Angel Venture Fair

CALENDAR
Call For Companies - November 18, 2004- January 30, 2005
Judges Review/Selection - January 26- February 4, 2005
Companies Notifed - No Later than February 7, 2005
Presentation & Selection Day - February 24, 2005
One-On-One Professional Coaching February 25 - April 1, 2005
Education & Networking Days (exclusive to Selected companies) - March 2005 - Specific dates to be determined by Education Committee

Mid-Atlantic Angel Group closes $3.3mm fund (1/25/05)

Check out the news from Innovation Philadelphia on the new fund.

http://www.imakenews.com/innovationphiladelphia/e_article000347835.cfm?x=b4jjnKM,b2Jdqqv2

VC Networking Event in Philadelphia (3/1/05)

VENTURE CONNECTION MID-ATLANTIC
March 1, 2005 The Liacouras Center Philadelphia, PA

Seeking Funding and Exposure?
Register Today and submit your plan for the opportunity to present to a leading audience of VCs, corporate investors, Private Investors, Investment Bankers, and potential strategic partners.

Developed by youngStartup Ventures, Venture Connection Mid-Atlantic will feature:

VC Panels:
Top-tier VCs sharing their criteria and discussing the issues facing the industry.

Company Presentations:
Some of the hottest emerging companies presenting their investment opportunities.

High-level Networking:
Excellent opportunities to meet, interact and network with investors and industry leaders.

COME MEET INTERACT AND NETWORK WITH LEADING INVESTORS INCLUDING:
Apax Partners
Cross Atlantic Capital Partners
Inflection Point Ventures
PA Early Stage
Masthead Venture Partners
Eastern Technology Fund
Silicon Alley Venture Partners
Edison Venture Fund
Novak Biddle Venture Partners
Updata Partners
Zon Partners
Additional VCs to be announced
Register Today and Save up to $200!!
https://itys.safe-order.net/youngstartup/registration/?ysveid=70&ysvpc=ySV
(Early Bird Registration available for a limited time!)

For complete details click here: http://youngstartup.com/events/index.phtml?ysveid=70

For more information or to RSVP by phone call Carolyn Jamate at (718) 447-0009.

Sponsorship Inquiries:
Contact Joe Benjamin at 718.447.0817

Building Brand Identity for startups (2/09/05)

SmartTalk: Building Brand Identity - Strategies for SuccessWed., Feb. 9, 2005 12-1:30 PM

Speaker: Orly Zeewy, Brand Identity Consultant and a graduate of Cincinnati College of Design, Architecture and Art. Ms. Zeewy, an adjunct professor at Philadelphia University, conducts visual literacy and branding workshops for the MBA program and at the University of Pennsylvania she conducts workshops on strategic design and branding for non-profits as a guest lecturer.

Registration Information: ndupont@sciencecenter.org All programs are held in the Wedge Conference Room at the Science Center, 3701 Market Street, 3rd Floor, Philadelphia unless another location is listed. Events are subject to change. Please call 215-966-6015 to confirm or for more information. All noon programs include a complimentary lunch.

PA makes small biz loans available below market rate through Sovereign Bank (1/15/05)

Folks,
I'm not sure what "below market rates" really means or what the terms are. I'll post more information as I learn more. May be worth a call though if you are looking for capital.
- Skip
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Sovereign Enters Into Partnership With State of Pennsylvania for Small Businesses

Sovereign Chairman and CEO Jay Sidhu and Pennsylvania Gov. Edward G. Rendell announced on Wednesday at Sovereign's 1500 Market St. offices in Philadelphia a new partnership between Sovereign Bank and the state of Pennsylvania to offer up to $250 million in loans at below market interest rates to small businesses. Please see the following press release from the governor's office for additional details about this program.



GOVERNOR RENDELL ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH SOVEREIGN BANK FOR SMALL BUSINESSESDCED/Banking Secretaries commend Sovereign for commitment to Pennsylvania -->
HARRISBURG: Governor Edward G. Rendell was joined by Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Secretary Dennis Yablonsky and Banking Secretary William Schenck today to announce that Pennsylvania is partnering with Sovereign Bank to offer up to $250 million in loans to the Commonwealth's entrepreneurs and growing businesses through the new Pennsylvania Small Business Growth Lending Program. Effective immediately, Sovereign Bank will provide loans ranging from $250,000 to $2.5 million throughout 2005 for companies with less than $10 million in annual revenues. Interest rates offered will be below market rates.

"Sovereign Bank shares my continuing goal to create new jobs and opportunities for Pennsylvanians, which makes for an ideal partnership" said Governor Rendell. "This commitment to offer up to $250 million in loans at below market interest rates will further strengthen my economic stimulus plan by boosting job creation and retention in the Commonwealth. This program echoes my unwavering goal of energizing our economy and establishing Pennsylvania as a formidable economic leader."

To help Governor Rendell revive the state's economy, Sovereign Bank's goal is to focus on small businesses, which create more than two out of three new jobs nationally and promote diversity and economic advancement. The Pennsylvania Small Business Growth Lending Program will offer tailored, flexible repayment terms and amortization options, including extended terms for real estate and interest-only payment options for one year. There are no pre-payment penalties.

The Pennsylvania Small Business Growth Lending Program through Sovereign Bank will be an important part of the Governor's economic stimulus plan and will be coordinated through the Department of Community and Economic Development. The program will also be administered in partnership with local Chambers of Commerce throughout Pennsylvania.

"This is a significant investment for a state-headquartered bank and I commend Sovereign for its commitment to the businesses and people of the Commonwealth," said DCED Secretary Yablonsky. "This is yet another example of how the Commonwealth is able to attract the private sector into our programs and our projects by making targeted, proactive investments in our communities and businesses."

"This program supports Governor Rendell's initiative to promote economic development with banks around the state," said Secretary of Banking Schenck. "Through this new program, Sovereign Bank, the second largest bank headquartered in Pennsylvania with $60 billion in assets, is demonstrating its significant commitment to small businesses around the state, that create jobs for many of our citizens."

"By working together, Sovereign, the Commonwealth and the Chambers of Commerce in our local communities are providing an innovative and effective way to make capital available to small businesses," said Sovereign CEO, Jay Sidhu.

The Small Business Growth Lending Program will work concurrently with other site preparation, infrastructure and business investment programs in Governor Rendell's economic stimulus package: Business in Our Sites; Tax Increment Financing Guarantee Program; First Industries Fund; PennWorks; Building PA; New PA Venture Guarantee Program; New PA Venture Capital Investment Program; 2nd Stage Loan Program; Core Industries; and the Infrastructure & Facilities Improvement Program.

For more information on the Small Business Growth Lending Program visit www.sovereignbank.com. For more information on the stimulus programs through the Department of Community and Economic Development, visit www.newPA.com, or call 1-866-GO-NEWPA (1-866-466-3972).

Career Philly connects students and employers (1/11/05)

CareerPhilly Assists Regional Employers to Find Qualified Employees

CareerPhilly, Greater Philadelphia’s student retention initiative, has planned another successful year of programming and events designed to help Regional employers link to the best and brightest students in the Region. By retaining more of these graduates, we will build the skilled workforce that companies crave. There is a great demand for CareerPhilly’s tools and services, which include the CareerPhilly Internship Fairs, an internship and job search engine (www.careerphilly.com), and the Internship-in-a-Box Program Manual. To meet the growing needs of Regional workforce recruitment, CareerPhilly has expanded its goals and program calendar for 2005.

To meet the demands of local industry, CareerPhilly will add three industry-specific fairs or career events to the 2005 program calendar and will continue to expand the International, College Fest, and Minority Student Internship Fairs.

CareerPhilly Program Events for 2005 include:
Financial Services Internship Workshop - February 2005
Arts and Technology Internship Fair - March 2005
Minority Student Internship Fair - April 2005
Life Sciences Student Career Event - June 2005
CareerPhilly College Festival Internship Fair - September 2005
International Student Internship Fair - October 2005
“CareerPhilly internship fairs and career events are a great opportunity for employers to raise awareness about the diversity of career opportunities available to young workers and promote their businesses through sponsorship,” says Kelly Lee, Vice President of Community and Economic Development at Innovation Philadelphia. CareerPhilly events have attracted 470 employers and 6,850 students. As a sponsor, businesses and organizations will have maximum opportunity to promote their services or products. To learn more about how you can sponsor a CareerPhilly event, please contact Kelly Lee at Innovation Philadelphia (klee@ipphila.com).

In addition to CareerPhilly’s expanded program calendar, CareerPhilly’s website, www.careerphilly.com, was recently renovated to provide comprehensive service to students, employers, and university career counselors. CareerPhilly’s new and improved online presence has generated an unprecedented increase in activity on the website. New employers register every day to post exciting and meaningful work opportunities for young, educated talent in the Greater Philadelphia Region. By logging on to www.careerphilly.com, employers and students from throughout the Region can connect in one place to find an optimal career opportunities and candidates. Connecting online via CareerPhilly’s secure website is a convenient and efficient means of finding ideal candidates for internships or entry-level positions designed for recent graduates.

If you would like to learn more about the CareerPhilly initiative or 2005 programming, please visit www.careerphilly.com or call Innovation Philadelphia at 215-496-8110.

Angel Organization provides seminar on raising capital from angels. (01/19/05)

Dear Entrepreneur,
Tired of attending the same old investor panel presentations, listening to the same old standard moderator questions and hearing the same old investor answers --- and still NOT finding the financing you need?
The Tri-State Private Investors Network (PIN) is one of the leading angel organizations in the metropolitan New York area. Since the year 2000, the Tri-State PIN has been hosting personalized, in-depth seminars, with limited attendance, where a member of our investor network is present, and entrepreneurs have the opportunity to discuss their venture and learn proven ways to get funding for start-up or early-stage companies.
Common responses to this educational program about "raising capital from angel investors" include:
"Thank you for providing the most informative seminar I have attended concerning funding for a new or existing business. You and associate sponsors answered all questions in enough depth for a first time fund raiser or an experienced entrepreneur to understand the process. Your examples of what not to do were superb."
"I thought you did a great presentation. I've seen many and felt that you made a provided real educational material to your audience."
"It was a pleasure meeting you last evening at your seminar which was Excellent. I learned quite a bit."
We are pleased to announce our next seminar is Wednesday, January 19th, 6-9pm, to be held at Heller Ehrman White & McAuliffe. Admission is a reasonable $70 and includes food/beverage. Entrepreneurs attending the seminar may have the opportunity to present their company to the Tri-State PIN a future date.
Please join us by registering now at: www.angelinvestorfunding.com/viewseminar.asp
**If you see a dialogue box come up, press "yes." We are moving web servers shortly and will renew the name certificate upon completion. In the meantime, please be assured the site is secure.

--Ellen Sandles
Executive Director, Tri-State Private Investors Network

Innovation Philadelphia: Announcing the 11th Annual Wharton Private Equity Conference (01/21/05)

Innovation Philadelphia: Announcing the 11th Annual Wharton Private Equity Conference