May KVT Welcomes Van Andel Institute and Features a Panel on Angel Investing.

KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- Continuing its series of nationally-renowned guests, Southwest Michigan First welcomes ideas and technologies from Van Andel Research Institute to its May 3 Kalamazoo Venture Tuesday (KVT) event. The half-day program will also feature two additional technology presentations and a panel discussion on Angel Investing.

Over the course of its five-year history, KVT has introduced more than 250 entrepreneurs to venture capitalists and to management talent through this monthly first-Tuesday program held at the Southwest Michigan Innovation Center. Since January, the program has featured a panel discussion led by State Treasurer Jay B. Rising, start-up companies from Cleveland Clinic's commercialization arm - CCF Innovations - and from Purdue Research Foundation. This month, Van Andel Research Institute will present new product concepts from some of its most compelling innovators. According to Gail Lindsey, SMF equity investment director, Tuesday's event brings the KVT program full circle to its original roots of providing a venue for pre-capital technology concepts.

"KVT is unique in that it provides a forum for technology-based ideas and concepts from their origin to the stages of follow-on financing and asset-managed companies," Lindsey said. "We're not aware of any other forum in the Midwest that covers the spectrum of technologies for new business creation in quite the same way we do."

Lindsey said that the monthly program regularly draws venture capitalists from Chicago and Indiana and is beginning to see a presence from as far away as St. Louis.

Following the April event, CCF Innovations Executive Director Chris Coburn provided similar feedback. "This forum provided us with an opportunity to get our companies in front of a financial audience with significant industry perspective," Coburn said.

"There is no other investment forum that we know of where scientists and other entrepreneurs can get informed feedback from the venture capital community based on early stage innovative concepts," Lindsey said. "By drawing nationally recognized scientific organizations and other key industry leaders - like our state treasurer - the venture capital community knows we're serious about our mission."

Lindsey said the Van Andel technologies are so early in their development process that the presenters may be looking for ideas and resources just to get them to the capital-seeking stage.

In addition to business concept pitches, the May event will feature a panel discussion called "Angel Investing - Filling the Capital Gap for Early Stage Investing." Lindsey said the topic will complement the early-stage business plans being presented by Van Andel entrepreneurs. Participating on the panel are Pete Farner of TGap Ventures, Don Parfet of Apjohn Ventures, Jody Vanderwel of Grand Angels, Terry Cross of Windward Associates, and David Weaver of Great Lakes Angels.

The event, which is free and open to individuals interested in venture capital development, will be held at the Southwest Michigan Innovation Center located at 4717 Campus Dr. in Western Michigan University's Business Technology and Research Park. The business plan portion of the program begins at 9:00 a.m. and includes a networking luncheon at noon. For more information, contact Gail Lindsey, Southwest Michigan First's director of equity investments, at [e-mail].

The series is hosted by the Kalamazoo Bank Consortium, a formal association of eleven bank executives from Kalamazoo County who have come together to assist Southwest Michigan First in its economic development efforts. The events are sponsored by Miller Canfield, Michigan Public Radio, the City of Kalamazoo, and Arch Development Partners.

Southwest Michigan First is an economic development organization providing business development, retention and attraction programs throughout Kalamazoo County. A privately funded, 501 (c) (3) non-profit corporation, the organization was formed by leaders in business and higher education to promote economic development. Southwest Michigan First provides entrepreneurs and established companies with a wide range of corporate business development services and support.