A Brave New World: MIT Sloan to host 2009 MIT Venture Capital Conference on December 4, 2009

How have dramatic shifts in the political and financial worlds changed the venture capital and entrepreneurial landscape? If this is the time to start or fund a venture, where are the best opportunities in healthcare, energy, digital media, internet, and mobile? How are venture capital funds adapting given the challenges in exit markets and LP relationships? And can the venture capital model work in emerging and social markets?

On Friday, December 4, 2009, keynote speakers and panel debates focusing on the evolving strategies of entrepreneurs and the venture capital community will answer these and other timely questions during the 2009 Venture Capital Conference to be held at the Copley Place Hotel at 10 Huntington Avenue in Boston. Hosted by the MIT Sloan Venture Capital & Private Equity Club and the MIT Entrepreneurship Center, this year’s theme is “A Brave New World”: http://www.mitvcconference.com/

Slated speakers are:

Alan J. Patricof, managing director, Greycroft, LLC
David Vieau, president and CEO, A123 Systems
Scott Jones, co-founder and CEO, ChaCha Search, Inc.

Panel discussions will include, among others:

Energy – Disruptive Ventures that Leverage Existing Infrastructure, Technology, and Processes?
Health Care – The Next Big Thing: Where do Life Science VCs and Entrepreneurs See Opportunity?
The LP Perspective – How are LPs weighting liquidity and returns when investing in VC firms?

An Entrepreneur Showcase directly following the conference will allow participants to meet 30 early stage startup exhibitors in the high-tech, mobile, bio-technology and energy sectors, as well as other entrepreneurs, investors and members of the MIT Sloan community. The Showcase, which is open to the public, attracted approximately 500 attendees last year. Companies interested in taking part should contact: showcase@mitvcconference.com.

Now in its twelfth year, the Venture Capital Conference attracts participants representing venture capital professionals, corporate executives, angel investors, entrepreneurs, MBAs, and academics.

For more information and to register for the event, please visit http://www.mitvcconference.com/

For further information, please contact Jeff Blake at 305-733-7224 or jeffrey.blake@sloan.mit.edu

For over fifty years, the MIT Sloan School of Management, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, has been one of the world's leading academic sources of innovation in management theory and practice. With students from more than 60 countries, it develops effective, innovative, and principled leaders who advance the global economy.