Four Virginia companies have been tapped to present at the first annual Southeast Venture Conference. The conference is intended to be a springboard for a new venture capital association, which would represent the interests of Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia and Florida.
Arlington.-based buySAFE, McLean-based Market10, Diffusion Pharmaceuticals in Charlottesville and Submachine Corp. in Providence Forge will each pitch to hundreds of venture capitalists at the conference, scheduled for Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 in North Carolina’s Research Triangle Park.
Mark Warner, former Virginia governor, co-founder of Nextel Communications and a former venture capitalist, is scheduled to deliver the conference’s keynote address.
“The real issues our nationfaces are no longer right versus left or conservative versus liberal. They’re about past versus future,” Warner said in a press release announcing the speaking engagement.
While Virginia is also represented by the Mid-Atlantic Venture Association, there are technology companies below the state that are missing out on opportunities, said Scott Hedrick, a spokesman for the conference.
“[The organizers] felt there was a need to bring in outside money into the region and showcase young companies throughout the [southeast],” Hedrick said. About 50 venture capital firms with a total of $29 billion under management have said they will attend so far, he said.
Conference organizers, which include the trade publication “Tech Journal South” and various venture capital firms, worked with both the Northern Virginia Technology Council and the Center for Innovative Technology to identify Virginia-based companies.
BuySafe is an eCommerce Web site that helps online shoppers prevent identity theft. Market10 is a career Web site designed by the founder of CareerBuilder.com.
