Great Lakes Venture Capital Conference Presents Opportunities for Investors and Entrepreneurs; Upcoming Registration Deadlines for Presenters, Exhibitors and Attendees.

Business Editors

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 11, 2000

The Great Lakes Venture Capital Conference 2000 will take place on June 1, at the Fairmont Hotel, 200 North Columbus Drive in Chicago, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. This non-profit, interactive forum brings together investors and high-growth companies from Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio.

The program features business plan presentations by qualified entrepreneurs, exhibits by companies seeking venture financing and private meetings between exhibitors and investors. Attendees of this year's Great Lakes Venture Capital Conference (GLVCC) will have an opportunity to network with the area's most promising entrepreneurs, investors and financial advisors who specialize in high-growth investments.

Gold sponsors for the conference include: divine interVentures; Freeborn & Peters; Gordon & Glickson L.L.C.; KPMG LLP; William Blair & Company; William Blair Capital Partners; and William Blair New World Ventures.

Silver sponsors include: ABN AMRO Private Equity; ARCH Development Corporation; ARCH Venture Partners; Banc One Equity Capital; Banc One Mezzanine Corporation; Deutsche Banc. Alex Brown; Edelman Public Relations Worldwide; First Analysis Corporation; Frontenac Corporation; Mesirow Financial Private Equity; Microsoft Corporation; Polestar Capital Partners; Redwood Partners; Seyfarth Shaw; Silicon Valley Bank; Svoboda Collins L.L.C.; and Tribune Ventures.

Associate sponsors include Chicago Software Association, Hubbard Online, Minnesota High Tech Association and Northeast Ohio Software Association.

The GLVCC Selection Committee will choose up to 15 companies to present at the conference based on the applicants' business plans. Business plans, completed registration forms and payment are due by 5 p.m. on April 24. The cost for presenting is $595, which includes two attendee passes. Finalists will be notified the week of May 1.

"The Great Lakes Venture Capital Conference represents a great chance for investors to learn about up-and-coming companies in the Great Lakes region, an area which is currently experiencing a major boom in venture funding," said Richard A. Reck, Midwest partner in charge of the software and information services segment of KPMG's Information, Communications and Entertainment practice.

"Forums like the GLVCC foster the ability of innovative companies to effectively launch their products and services in a highly competitive marketplace," Reck added.

Increasingly investors are looking to the Great Lakes region for new investment opportunities. According to the National Venture Capital Association and Venture Economics, 1999 venture funding in the Midwest grew by 61.1 percent to $2,983 million compared to $1,851 million in 1998.

To register for the conference as a presenter, exhibitor or attendee, please call the conference hotline at 312-665-6099 or visit the conference Web site at http://www.glvcc.com. The cost of exhibiting at the conference, which includes two passes, is $595 for registration before May 8 and $645 for registration thereafter. The cost of attending the conference is $395 for registration before May 8 and $445 for registration thereafter. The cost for additional attendees is $300 before May 8 and $350 thereafter.