ANN ARBOR – Companies from Michigan, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Ohio, Illinois, and Canada will comprise the 32 emerging and growth business ventures slated to present over two days in May at the Michigan Growth Capital Symposium to an audience of more than 450 investors from across the country.

The Symposium highlights innovation in growth sectors such as clean tech, energy, life sciences and high tech and serves as a launching pad for many of these startups. It will be held May 12-13 at the Marriott in Ypsilanti.

The event also experienced a record number of applications from startups wishing to present at the conference. Of the 80 submissions, 32 have been selected to present. In addition, MGCS has expanded its program to foster greater cross border collaboration with investors and entrepreneurs in Canada, inking a partnership with the Canadian Venture Capital and Private Equity Association to feature presenting companies from Canada, as well as a panel discussion on cross border investing.

“We’ve got an awful lot of technological entrepreneurship coming out of the University of Michigan and the other universities,” said David Brophy, MGCS Founder and Director and Professor of Finance at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business.

“The centers that have been started over the last few years are beginning to produce viable, real companies. But, we have to do a better job of getting our companies known and shown. The Symposium is a great way to pole vault your company in that direction, because we bring in people from those other markets.”

A rigorous screening process was implemented to evaluate over 82 applications. The review committee, which included three venture capitalists from across the U.S., poured over applications to identify those companies who would represent the “Best of the Midwest.” Companies will present in concurrent industry tracks, including the life sciences, energy, IT and technology.

Below is a partial list of companies that will present at MGCS. The complete list will be announced on the opening day of the symposium.

Microposite – a Michigan-based clean tech company that designs, develops, and manufactures advanced green composite materials

Advanced Battery Concepts – a Michigan-based alternative energy company, which has developed battery electrode technology that enables dramatic improvements in battery performance while lowering costs

IGuiders – an Ohio-based technology company commercializing an advanced approach to online lead generation for complex high-value B2B products and services

Skymeter – a Canadian-based technology company that has developed revolutionary technology to address the burgeoning market of road-pricing

Tolera Therapeutics – a Michigan-based biotechnology company focusing on the development of immunotherapeutics directed at the transplantation, oncology and autoimmune disease market

Flexicath – a Pennsylvania-based medical device company innovating in the catheterization market

“Today more than ever, VCs and entrepreneurs need to be connected to the industry’s deal flow,” stated Mina Sooch, founder and general partner of Kalamazoo-based Apjohn Ventures. “We want to know what the great deals are in the region. The Michigan Growth Capital Symposium provides the opportunity for VCs to come and see what the best deals are.”

In addition to the presenting company panels, MGCS attendees will hear from entrepreneurial and investment industry luminaries as part of the symposium’s featured keynote presentations. Keynote speakers for MGCS 2009, include:

Jonathan Seelig, Managing Director of Globespan Capital Partner, and co-founder of Akamai Technologies, a leading Internet technology company;

Fred Craves, Ph.D., Investment Partner, Managing Director, and Founder of Bay City Capital, a San Francisco-based venture capital firm focused on the life sciences industry;

Lloyd H. Carr, Associate Athletic Director and Former Head Football Coach, University of Michigan – Athletics, where he served as a member of the Wolverine football staff for 28 years.

MGCS is the premier networking event for leaders in the venture capital investment world to connect with the entrepreneurs, startups and emerging growth companies that are actively searching for partners and funding. To register or for more information on MGCS, click on MichiganGCS.Com

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