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Bright targets regional high-tech economy
A consortium of more than 15 regional organizations has launched Bright Buffalo Niagara (Bright), a community-driven initiative that will host a series of events for investors, entrepreneurs and other professionals looking to build a high-tech economy across the Great Lakes region, including Southern Ontario.
Led by UB’s New York State Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences, Bright grew out of the Explore Buffalo Niagara Investor and Entrepreneur High-Tech Forum, an annual event that began in 2009.
The event, which supports networking and deal-making across various high-tech sectors, will continue this year as the Bright Forum on June 9. Companies and entrepreneurs seeking investment can apply to present at the event through Bright’s new website. The deadline for applications is April 1. Selected applicants will be notified on April 22.
As part of its expanded mission, Bright has increased its programming to include two Angel Capital Education Foundation (ACEF) workshops for investors, entrepreneurs and other professionals: “The Power of Angel Investing—An Overview,” and “Trends in Raising Capital.”
Bright’s website serves as a resource for annual event offerings.
Bright’s mission is to promote early-stage investments, quality deal flow, business partnering and related entrepreneurial activities across the life sciences, energy, IT and advanced manufacturing high-tech sectors. The Superior Group is a major sponsor of the initiative and partners include academic, public, private and nonprofit organizations.
The goal in 2011 is to focus on early-stage investors and angels, to showcase great deal opportunities through company investor presentations and spur discussions about co-investing and building the entrepreneurial ecosystem across the Great Lakes region.
“Aligning innovation and investment is the mission of Bright Buffalo Niagara,” says Marnie LaVigne, director of business development for the Center of Excellence and the UB Center for Advanced Biomedical and Bioengineering Technology (UB CAT). “Building stronger connections geographically that support all key partners in an entrepreneurial ecosystem is an integral part of our region’s strategy for driving an innovation-based economy.”
An overview of upcoming Bright events can be found on the Bright website.
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