Press Releases

Contact: Adam Smith Council for Entrepreneurial Development asmith@cednc.org

919-549-7500 ext.110 FAX: 919-549-7405 www.cednc.org

CED Hosts Capital Connection Innovator's Quarterly Workshop September 14

September 10, 2002, Research Triangle Park, NC - In an effort to help prospective entrepreneurs and innovators evaluate the business feasibility of their ideas, the Council for Entrepreneurial Development (CED) created the Capital Connection Innovator's Quarterly Workshop to address idea stage companies - the next session of which will be held on Saturday, September 14, at Centennial Campus, North Carolina State University. The Innovator's Quarterly Workshop program is part of the CED Capital Connection system, which consists of several entrepreneur-focused programs that assist entrepreneurs at various stages, from idea to initial funding.

"The decision of whether or not to pursue a new venture is often a difficult one as the potential entrepreneur weighs the risks and rewards, and compares his or her technology and idea against the investment criteria of angel and venture capital investors," said Monica Doss, CED president. "The Quarterly Workshops are designed for corporate and academic researchers, but are open to anyone working with an innovative technology or idea and interested in starting a new venture."

Well-established entrepreneurs, investors and service partners (accountants, attorneys, etc.) deliver the content of the program, combining panel discussions with interactive workshops and take-away tools. Some of the featured speakers at the Sept. 14 session will include:

• Steve Walsh, N.C. State, former senior VP and founder of BOPS
• Brad Walters, Academy Funds
• Jesko von Windheim, Cronos
• Chris Lynch, Wyrick Robbins Yates & Ponton LLP

Key topics to be discussed include: understanding venture capital and angel investment criteria, how to approach investors, understanding potential customers and competition, and science vs. business and technology vs. product. Participants will also discuss the start-up process, intellectual property protection and ownership, business formation, and management and team/partner issues.

"The biggest benefits of the workshop for budding entrepreneurs is the opportunity for them to hear and learn about doing a start-up from seasoned business people," said Steve Walsh, former senior vice president, BOPS, who was part of the advisory team that helped create the workshop. "Most people who attend the workshop are really more technically minded, and this workshop gives them a better understanding of what it takes to succeed in business before they take the plunge."

The Capital Connection Quarterly Workshop audience is limited to potential entrepreneurs interested in starting a business. Service partners are encouraged to refer individuals thinking of launching a business to the workshop. Prospective technology entrepreneurs interested in attending may visit www.cednc.org/programs/capital_connection/quarterlyworkshop.html for details and an online registration form.

About CED's Capital Connection:
CED's Capital Connection consists of updated versions of CED's existing FastTrac Tech and Streak entrepreneurial training programs as well as new programs to assist innovators in the earliest stages of company development. The Capital Connection Advisory Team, comprised of angel and venture capital investors, helps companies review plans for business development and assess funding progress, identifies CED programs that uniquely suit business needs, and provides ongoing mentoring and direction. Capital raised more than $270 million in 2000, and $361 million since 1999. For more information about the individual Capital Connection programs visit CED's Web site at www.cednc.org/capitalconnection or contact Adam Smith at asmith@cednc.org.

About CED:
CED is a nonprofit organization established in 1984 to encourage and assist entrepreneurs and to enhance North Carolina's prominence as a center for high-growth business opportunities. Included in CED's membership are high-growth businesses, investors, professional firms and other organizations that actively assist entrepreneurs in developing high-growth business ventures throughout the area. For more information, visit CED on the Web at www.cednc.org.

###