INNOVENTURE 2008 Seeks Entrepreneurs To Present To Investors

GREENVILLE, SC - InnoVenture 2008, the annual meeting of the Swamp Fox Community, is accepting applications from entrepreneurs seeking growth capital for their emerging companies.

InnoVenture is seeking the highest potential emerging companies, targeting large and growing markets and which have or can recruit strong, experienced leadership teams. Applications to present to investors can be submitted online at SwampFox.ws. The deadline is January 25, 2008, and applications are accepted from companies throughout the southeast.

The fifth annual InnoVenture conference will be held March 25 and 26, 2008 at the Carolina First Center in Greenville, SC.

Kathy Harris, Senior Vice President with Noro-Moseley Partners, one of the largest and most experienced venture capital firms in the southeastern United States, said, "InnoVenture showcases the region and how corporations can partner with entrepreneurs. We look forward to participating in this year's conference to get some great investment ideas, and a great view of future opportunities."

In addition to capital, the Swamp Fox Community has hundreds of people and dozens of organizations that can provide expertise, resources or even customers to entrepreneurial companies. 2008 Diamond and Emerald Swamp Fox Anchors include Michelin, Milliken, GE, BlueCross BlueShield, SC Launch!, Zeus Industrial, and the SC Department of Commerce.

A 2007 presenter, Greg Frisby of Sensory Analytics in Greensboro, said, "InnoVenture could not have been a more target rich environment of customers."

Prior presenters at InnoVenture have represented an emerging pipeline of opportunities from across the southeast. Presenting companies have been from Charlotte, Greensboro, Raleigh, Asheville, Arden, Hickory, Atlanta, and Savannah, as well as Beaufort, Hilton Head, Charleston, Columbia, Fort Mill, Clemson, and Greenville.

Prior InnoVenture presenters have collectively have raised over $40 million that has been publicly announced. Among 2005 presenters, Zipit has subsequently raised $4.7 million and Ometic has subsequently raised $20 million. Among 2006 presenters, Digitalsmiths subsequently raised $6 million. Four different 2007 presenters have had a subsequent investment round. Since 2004, 1500 people from 650 organizations from across the southeast have attended an InnoVenture conference.

Online at SwampFox.ws, users can see all of the presentations from InnoVenture 2007 as well as see the profiles of everyone who attended the conference, to get a better feel for the people and organizations that attend.

Contact: John Warner 864-561-6609