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Panel Topics Announced For Annual Michigan Growth Capital Symposium

ANN ARBOR -- The Michigan Growth Capital Symposium Thursday announced initial details on the program for the 31st annual event.

The symposium, which serves as a conduit for introducing early stage and emerging growth companies seeking funding to U.S. investors prospecting deals, is known for attracting high-quality investors from around the country to discuss top issues in venture capital and institutional investment.

This year's program will feature six panels, as well as 40 presentations from Midwest emerging startups seeking $500,000 to $20 million in funding.

Presented by the University of Michigan Zell Lurie Institute's Center for Venture Capital & Private Equity Finance at the Ross School of Business with support from the Michigan Venture Capital Association, this year's symposium will be held May 15-16, 2012 at the Marriott Resort in Ypsilanti.

Panel discussions for this year's event include:

* What Really Goes on Behind the Scenes: Starting and Operating a Venture Capital Firm
Presented by Arboretum Ventures
This panel will give entrepreneurs, angel investors and new venture capital investors an opportunity to learn about the process of forming and operating a venture capital firm. Panelists include experienced VCs from different parts of the country (focusing on different industry sectors) that have played key roles in the creation of their firms.

* Funding the Next Leg of Growth: Planning, Preparing and Completing a Growth Stage Investment
Presented by Plymouth Management Co.
This panel will discuss how to best build the foundation for growth taking into account the role of founders and early capital rounds, initial commercialization success, and fine tuning the business model. In addition, panelists will address how to identify and assess growth to accelerate the next leg, as well as how to successfully seek venture capital funding for growth.

* Geographic Expansion of Your Venture Capital Fund: Opportunities, Challenges and Considerations
Presented by Venture Investors
This panel will present a candid discussion based on the panelists' experiences in expanding their venture funds, and from observations of other funds efforts to do the same. Topics will include: fund raising, deal sourcing and investment, and operational best practices.

* IT Investing: Picking Firms to Back -- Why It's Different, This Time
Presented by Early Stage Partners
This panel will offer panelists' proven expertise and advice for deciding which IT firms to invest in. It will also provide insight into how the market has changed and what it means for investment strategies moving forward.

* U.S. Medical Device Companies Trending to R&D Investments Abroad: How Venture Capital Firms are Adapting
Presented by BioStar Ventures
This panel will discuss the current trend for medical device companies to direct their investments in research and development, animal studies, clinical trials and initial infrastructure outside the U.S. and the impact on the U.S. venture capital sector.

Pepper Hamilton and Baird Venture Partners will also team up to co-host a panel.

"Because of a stronger investment community and events like the Symposium that foster important discussions about the market and industry, we're more and more capable of seeing a deal further down the road than we used to be able to -- maybe a second or third round of funding. And that is a real key strength in the marketplace." said David J. Brophy, founder and director of the Symposium and professor of finance at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business.

The list of presenting companies will be announced in early May. For more information, including registration, visit www.MichiganGCS.com.

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