September 15 is the cutoff date for companies to apply to present at the Atlanta CEO High-Tech Council’s annual “Showcase” venture capital event.

So far, the Council says investors representing many of the nation’s top VC firms are already registered to attend the Showcase, which is set got Oct. 20 in midtown Atlanta.

As many as 12 firms will be selected to present. The list is expected to be announced on Sept. 20.

The CEO Council will pick from business services, healthcare services, information technology and life sciences. The Council includes more than 100 C-level executives from firms in the Atlanta region.

“Once again we’re seeing that some of the country’s leading investors are eager to take a close look at the plans of 12 of the region’s best technology companies,” said Harish Mamtani, president of the CEO council. Mamtani said the investment climate looks to be a “good period” for tech firms and investors the rest of 2004 and for 2005.

Investment firms already registered to attend include: Battery Ventures; Columbia Capital; HIG Ventures; JMI Equity; Mellon Ventures; New Enterprise Associates; Noro-Moseley Partners; Novak Biddle Venture Partners; and Summit Partners.

The Showcase is open to investors. To request an invitation, see: www.atlantaceo.org/investor_register.html

Companies interested in presenting can apply online at: www.atlantaceo.org/apply_invforum.html

On the venture front

Oversight Technologies and Beacon Software, two firms that have developed financial software, have closed on new rounds of venture capital.

Oversight raised $7 million in its second round of financing in less than a year, according to The Atlanta Business Chronicle. Oversight gives companies tools to monitor for internal fraud. The company raised $1 million in January.

Beacon raised $650,000, including from Atlanta technology Angels. It has developed Internet banking applications. The startup recently announced banks in Florida, Tennessee and Georgia as new clients.

Beacon focuses on community banks.

Beacon Software: www.beaconsoft.net

Oversight: www.oversighttech.com

Kind words from NY Times for BellSouth

“Quiet but steady” are the words an analyst uses to describe BellSouth in Monday’s editions of The New York Times. The in-depth review includes comments from chairman and CEO Duane Ackerman, who doesn’t downplay the challenges the Baby Bell faces.

“I don’t take what’s happening lightly,” Ackerman told The Times. “We’ve been painted out of the picture many times before. But we understand where the challenges are.”

For the story (registration required), see: www.nytimes.com/2004/09/13/business/13bellsouth.html?th