12th Annual Great Midwest Venture Capital Conference Looking for a Few Good Companies; Local and National Investors to Review Presentations.

Business Editors

LANSING, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 12, 2002

One of the nation's premier venture capital conferences is headed to Michigan.

The Great Midwest Venture Capital Conference (GMVCC(TM)) wants emerging companies to take advantage of a golden opportunity to attract investor interest and present at this year's conference October 31 and November 1, 2002, at the Ritz Carlton hotel in Dearborn, Michigan.

Innovative companies, with a well-developed business model, seeking $1 to $20 million in capital must submit an application by August 31 to present at the conference. Presenter application information is available on the conference web site www.gmvcc.com.

Two panels of professional investors will review the applications. Companies selected for the GMVCC will give personal audio/visual presentations to an audience of venture capital and other professional investors from more than twenty states.

The Great Midwest Venture Capital Conference provides an innovative forum for companies seeking growth capital to meet with investors looking for firms with good growth potential. Dawn White of Solidica, an Ann Arbor, Michigan-based producer of direct metal rapid prototyping systems, presented at the 2001 GMVCC and found the experience to be rewarding.

"At the GMVCC, I had the opportunity to meet and talk with a large number of potential investors at a single event," White said. "In addition, seeing how other companies presented themselves, and how investors responded was very valuable. The conference was well organized, and the staff helpful."

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) will host the conference in partnership with the Indiana Business Modernization and Technology Corporation (BMT(R)).

Early bird supporters of this year's GMVCC, include: Hosts North Coast Technology Investors, Arbor Partners, Dow Chemical, American Venture Magazine, Hass MS&L, The Great Lakes IT Report, the Indiana Department of Commerce; and Sponsors such as EDF Ventures and Miller Canfield.

The GMVCC is designed by investors for investors. The conference features emerging companies exhibiting a broad range of innovative products for prime growing markets. Companies wanting to present at the conference and potential investors who wish to attend may obtain additional information by calling Bill Glennon of BMT at [phone] ext. 230; toll-free [phone], fax [phone] and e-mail is [e-mail].