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formerly known as "Century Club of GMU, Inc."



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Business Alliance Grubstake Breakfast News

Five Emerging Companies Present Investment Opportunities at George Mason University “Grubstake Breakfast”

Interest in Technology and Bio Investment Opportunities Strong

Five Emerging Companies Present Investment Opportunities at George Mason University “Grubstake Breakfast”

Century Club Unveils New Name

June 9, 2005, FAIRFAX, Va.---At the “Grubstake Breakfast,” hosted by George Mason University today, five companies presented their products and services to a panel of investors. The breakfast is a tradition of George Mason's Century Club, which formally unveiled its new name, Business Alliance of George Mason University.

“The Grubstake Breakfast provides innovative companies the forum they need to reach business leaders and decision-makers within the investment community,” said Erik Ayers, president of the Business Alliance and a director at PricewaterhouseCoopers. “Grubstake is a unique forum that has provided more than 100 businesses the opportunity to make valuable connections with investors and business leaders for nearly 18 years.”

Grubstake offers small and growing companies seeking up to two million dollars the opportunity to present to corporations, venture-capitalists and investors. More than 170 business and community leaders attended the breakfast to hear presentations of the following featured companies:

  • BioSciCon, Inc.

BioSciCon, Inc. recently has completed the translational research required to commercialize, MarkPap,® its proprietary line of products intended to improve the standard of care for cervical cancer prevention.

  • Jebra Technologies

Jebra Technologies is a health sciences company with patents on tissue preservation and neuroprotection against reperfusion injury and nerve gas. (Reperfusion is the restoration of blood flow to an organ or tissue that has had its blood supply cut off, as after a heart attack.)

  • String Bean Software, Inc.

String Bean Software, Inc. has developed WinTarget™, which enables organizations of any size to cost-effectively meet critical business requirements while reducing operational costs, meeting regulatory requirements, and the need for improved disaster recovery/business continuity solutions.

  • Video Search Technology

Video Search Technology (VST) plans to market and sell its proven proprietary video search platform to a rapidly expanding marketplace that is demanding a well priced, easily integrated solution for its video search needs.

  • Visure

Visure offers a platform technology which catalogs and measures product placements, a rapidly growing form of advertising in which real brands of real products are used in movies, television, or any entertainment production.

The breakfast panel consisted of: Tom Roberts, principal, Harbert Venture Partners; Mark Costanzo, associate, Blue Water Capital; and Tom Weithman, vice-president at VA CIT Gap Fund.

“Our new designation more accurately reflects our mission of sharing expertise between the business community and the university,” said Judy Costello, executive director of Business Alliance. “This partnership brings tremendous value to the local business community and George Mason.”

The program is run by Business Alliance members who volunteer their time with selection, coaching and feedback activities. The School of Management faculty and students and Mason Enterprise Center staff participate in this live-lab learning process.

 

Interest in Technology and Bio Investment Opportunities Strong

Judging from the crowded room at the recent Century Club Grubstake Breakfast, the investment climate for growing technology and biotech firms is picking up.  More than 220 people gathered earlier this month at the McLean Hilton to learn more about five entrepreneurial firms each seeking $250,000-2M in investment capital:  Bent Systems, Inc., Blue Ridge Games, Inc., iRCA, Inc., New Hope Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and The Bill Police LLC.  PartnerMD was selected as an alternate and had the opportunity to participate in the prevent networking. Partners with Charles River Ventures , Valhalla Partners , and Intersouth Partners also spoke briefly regarding their funds and their thoughts regarding the current investor climate.

Kae Zulager, CEO of The Bill Police with Anna McKean, COO of Partner MD

GMU Tech. Mgmt student and Entrepreneur Sylvanus Bent presenting his business investment opportunity.

Charles River Ventures' Austin Westerling discusses presentations with Grubstake Committee Chair Dave Harvey, Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr.

 

 

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About the Business Alliance

Business Alliance of George Mason University
MSN 1D7, Fairfax, VA 22030
703-993-4765 fax 703-993-4760
e-mail: info@businessalliance.org