Venturing Forum Looks North
by August 15, 2005 12:00 am 78 views
The Arkansas Venture Forum may be coming back to downtown Fayetteville. That traditionally means the influx of about 300 to 350 people for dining, lodging and shopping.
Les Lane, the former director of the Arkansas Science & Technology Authority, is now senior vice president of Capital Resource Group in Little Rock. The entity is a division of Arkansas Capital Corp., which started the forum in 2001.
The second AVF conference was held at the Fayetteville Town Center. Since then, it’s resided in Little Rock.
The event is an attempt to increase the public’s awareness of the need for venture capital and enterprise development. It’s also an opportunity for growing companies to make presentations in a bid for capital.
Lane said it takes time to brand an event, but Arkansas’ forum has probably matured enough to attract folks from private equity markets whether it’s held in Little Rock or Fayetteville.
In Missouri, he pointed out, their venture forum rotates between St. Louis and Kansas City.
The AVF would traditionally fall next June, but planners might wait until autumn and use Fayetteville’s fall foliage as an added attraction.