Local Tech Wire debuts the TechExec, a premier executive networking event, at the 3rd Annual Carolina Connect Entrepreneur and Capital Conference on September 8. Advantage West — North Carolina, AB Tech Small Business Center, Nanotech Capital, Peak 10, Proof of Concept and Media Arts Project are the newest sponsors. The event will take place at the Renaissance Hotel in downtown Asheville beginning at 4pm, immediately following the last break out panel of the conference.
“We are excited to be the first host for a TechExec in the western region of North Carolina. The Tech Exec will be the perfect end to our 3rd Annual Carolina Connect Conference,” said Jim Roberts, executive director of AdvantageWest’s Blue Ridge Entrepreneurial Council and Blue Ridge Angel Investors Network. “Our entrepreneurs from western North Carolina, east Tennessee and upstate South Carolina are eager to meet with other business contacts from across the state and from the southeast.”
The Tech Exec events have been held quarterly over the past two years the Research Triangle Region and Charlotte area. The events provide technology, business and entrepreneurial leaders the opportunity for an open exchange of ideas.
“We are excited to support Carolina Connect and bring the Tech Exec event that provides a relaxed environment where executives can meet regularly and develop lasting business relationships,” said Jeff Spalding, vice president for sales and marketing for Peak 10. “As a long standing supporter of the technology and entrepreneurial communities, Peak 10 is pleased to see programs like this come to life in the mountain region.”
The Carolina Connect Conference will concentrate on helping entrepreneurs get more private investor capital, increase sales revenue and learn more about the process of partnering for research grants. There will be a total of nine workshops on investment capital, sales and marketing and technology transfer. Conference keynote participating speakers include:
• Jim Armstrong, managing partner of Clearstone Venture Partners, a Top 50 Venture Capitalists according to Forbes Magazine and in the cover story of the September issue of Business 2.0
• Mike Elliot and Kathy Harris from Noro Moseley, the largest and oldest venture capital firm in the southeast from Atlanta, Ga
• Jeff Clark of Aurora Funds from Research Triangle Park region
• Adrian Wilson from Trelys Funds
• Plus, more than 30 angel investment funds from across the southeast
The Tech Exec is a complimentary event to the business community. Registration for the conference can be made at www.ncmtns.biz/carolinaconnect.shtml.
For more details, contact Jim Roberts at: 828-273-9862 or jroberts@awnc.org. To RSVP Contact Pam Lewis at: plewis@awnc.org.
About Advantage West North Carolina:
AdvantageWest-North Carolina is western North Carolina’s regional economic development commission. Chartered by the North Carolina General Assembly in 1994, AdvantageWest is a non-profit public-private partnership whose primary focus is marketing the North Carolina mountains to corporations seeking to relocate or open a new facility, expand an existing business within our region, and those who might otherwise improve the quality of life for citizens within our region.
About Peak 10, Inc.
Peak 10 is the Southeast’s leading data center services provider offering a full range of hosting, storage, security and business continuity solutions. Customers such as RDU Airport, Global Knowledge, Ameristeel, LendingTree and Siemens rely on Peak 10 to keep business critical applications up and running around-the-clock. The company owns and operates five enterprise-class data centers that deliver a higher standard of infrastructure, security and performance to businesses nationwide. Peak 10 has data centers in Louisville, Ky., Charlotte and Raleigh, N.C., as well as Jacksonville and Tampa, Fla. Visit: www.peak10.com
About Proof of Concept:
Proof of Concept and its associates have years of experience in large and small enterprises. We have had C-Level roles in over a dozen startups, taking them from idea screening to successful commercialization. We use quality work processes, Stage Gate Decision Making, a “Do It Right The First Time” management concept, and an aggressive approach to Value Creation.
About AB Tech Small Business Center:
The Small Business Center (SBC) at AB Tech provides free one-to-one counseling for small business owners or prospective owners to assist them in getting started or with a specific area of concern. Counseling can cover a variety of topics ranging from licensing to marketing. A resource library of SBC materials along with a selection of audio and videotapes can also be checked out. Workshops and seminars are sponsored by the SBC to assist the small business entrepreneur with continuing education in the areas of management and supervision, communications, taxes and the “how tos” of operating a business, as well as other topics.
About MAP:
The Media Arts Project cultivates innovative arts & technology in western North Carolina. The MAP provides exhibition programming, professional development, outreach, and education. We are driven by the belief that the media arts are integral to the vibrant cultural and economic life of the region.
About Nanotech Capital:
Nanotech Capital, LLC is a North Carolina based nanotechnology intellectual property management and development company founded by individuals involved for many years with investment in and commercialization of cutting-edge technology. It specializes in assisting inventors and entrepreneurs in the commercialization of patented and highly proprietary ideas. Visit: http://www.nanotechcap.com/
