AVF Organizers Seek Companies
by July 17, 2006 12:00 am 84 views
About 20 entrepreneurs, investors and economic development leaders gathered at the University of Arkansas’ Innovation Center in Fayetteville to discuss an action plan for the upcoming Arkansas Venture Forum. Attendees at the July 6 meeting included Ramsay Ball of Colliers Dickson Flake Partners in Rogers; Jeff Collins, executive director of the University of Arkansas’ Center for Business and Economic Research; and Grady Vanderhoofven, fund manager with Meritus Ventures in Oak Ridge, Tenn.
The group was invited by Tim McFarland, an employee with Arkansas Capital Corp. and an advocate of entrepreneurs in the state.
Vanderhoofven was in the state to attend the meeting. He said that six years ago there was no venture capital being invested in the Knoxville area, but thanks conferences like the AVF educating the business community in Tennessee, now there is about $85 million in active funds for investing in companies.
The AVF is focused on fostering the entrepreneurial spirit within the state through education and an opportunity for companies to seek investment capital.
Potential panels include topics on bio-energy, supply chain and logistics, private equity, high temperature/high voltage electronics, food science, and vendor-related technologies.
The conference is set for Nov. 16 and 17 at the John Q. Hammons Center in Rogers. Venture capital firms, angel investors and private equity firms are expected to attend.
Companies seeking capital investment can make presentations at the conference.
Guidelines can be downloaded at www.arkansasventureforum.com.