PERRYSBURG ­- Rocket Ventures, the financial arm for technology-based development of the Regional Growth
Partnership, is hosting its first "VentureTech" convention – a venture capital fair –
Wednesday through Friday at the Hilton Garden Inn at Levis Commons.
For people dreaming of opening their own technology business, it’s being billed as "three days of
networking and learning, a lifetime of rewards."
Attendees from throughout Northwest Ohio and beyond are expected to network in five areas: Technology,
innovation, entrepreneurship, commercialization and wealth creation.
Rocket Ventures provides financing for the development of technology-based businesses in Northwest Ohio.
Its first "Ignite" grant went to a market study for Blue Water Satellite in Bowling Green. The
study proved there is a need for satellite information identifying pollution in large bodies of water,
and the business has since gotten off to a successful start.
The event offers something different each day. On Wednesday, from 5 to 8 p.m., is "Tech
Connect," a networking session which is free. There is a charge of $100 for exhibitors.
A highlight of the convention is "Venture Fair" on Thursday. It includes breakfast keynote
speaker Jim Hauden, CEO of Root Learning in Sylvania, identified by a national newspaper as "one of
the top 16 small companies in America." The lunch keynote speaker will be Roger Newton,
co-discoverer of the drug Lipitor. Admission is $295 but $100 for university students, and $370 which
includes exhibit space.
There will also be live pitches of eight minutes each from 15 firms in Ohio, Michigan and Pennsylvania
which have been invited to make appeals for venture capital investment in their budding technology
firms.
"We’re bringing in venture capitalists from all over the Midwest," said Greg Knudson, director
of Rocket Ventures and a vice president of the Regional Growth Partnership. "There will be special
panels, talking about trends and technology they’re look for from entrepreneurs. The third panel will be
on very, very successful entrepreneurs starting up businesses."
Friday is "Entrepreneurial Boot Camp" from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for entrepreneurs who hope to get
their businesses off the ground. Admission is $100, but $25 for university students.
"This is where we get 100 or more people who want to be entrepreneurs and go through every stage of
building a successful company, bring in experts in finances, law, accounting," said Knudson.
"We really help build an entrepreneur environment."
The convention will include extensive networking opportunities and panels with venture capitalists and
successful entrepreneurs from some of the nation’s leading solar, information technology and life
science companies.
"No one has done that in Ohio. This is the first one across Ohio and probably the Midwest as
well," said Knudson. "This is an ambitious program. It raises the visibility of Rocket
Ventures."
Knudson identified Bowling Green State University as the lead sponsor for VentureTech. "Wow, that’s
exciting. It’s a reflection of Dr. Carol Cartwright and her commitment to grow an entrepreneur
environment at Bowling Green State University and across the region."
He noted BGSU, Owens Community College and the universities of Toledo and Findlay are sending students to
attend. "That’s our mission, to help build entrepreneurs. … How do we train students to go out
and work with new technology?".
For more information, visit the Web site www.rocketventures.org or call the Regional Growth Partnership
at (419) 252-2700.