CED Announces New Tech-Focused Venture 2011 Conference

New “Idea Islands” group companies and experts to highlight emerging tech sectors

CED Venture Conference 2011

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C.--()--CED, the southeast’s largest entrepreneurial support organization, today announced that after 28 years, the focus, the format, and the venue of the Venture conference, the longest running fundraising event on the east coast, have changed in 2011. For the first time the conference features brief presentations by some of the most dynamic entrepreneurs in the region followed by a conversation between those entrepreneurs and nationally prominent experts in the same industry sector. The conference is April 27-28, 2011, at the Raleigh Convention Center.

CED has also launched a Twitter contest, running through April 26, 2011, for the most creative tweet on why to attend the 2011 conference. Using the hashtag #whyCEDVenture, tweets must be 140 characters or less. The winner will be announced at the event, winning a free pass to the 2011 conference and lunch at the VIP table with Steve Hannah, President and CEO, The Onion, one of the conference speakers.

Tweet: Most creative tweet including #whyCEDVenture wins free @CEDNC 2011 Venture conference pass & lunch with @TheOnion CEO http://bit.ly/hgwz85

Featured companies at the 2011 program participate in “Idea Islands” representing four of the strongest emerging technology sectors in the southeast: healthcare IT, digital media/communications, business analytics and cloud computing. Each Idea Island includes a presentation from an industry leader followed by an interactive dialogue with the region’s most dynamic entrepreneurs in that sector. These conversations are designed to give investors a better sense of the companies, their sectors, and the potential opportunities. Confirmed featured companies and speakers include:

Healthcare IT

Speaker: Glen Tullman, CEO, Allscripts

Featured companies: Joanne Rohde, CEO and Founder, Axial Exchange, Inc. – open source software provider to reduce the cost and complexity of health care interoperability; Richard Guerin, President and CEO, CareAnyWare – provider of cloud-based homecare and hospice software solutions

Digital Media and Communications

Speaker: David Small, Senior Vice President and CTO, Verizon Wireless

Featured companies: Ben Weinberger, CEO, Digitalsmiths – provider of video metadata solutions; Jud Bowman, CEO, Appia – largest open application marketplace in the world; Dr. Steven F. LeBoeuf, President and CEO, Valencell, Inc. – patent-pending Healthset® technologies monitor vital signs and physical activity through audio earbuds; Kip Frey, CEO, Zenph Sound Innovations – music technology company

Business Analytics

Moderator: Jim Tobin, President, Ignite Social Media

Featured companies: Doug Kaufman, Co-founder and CEO, Spring Metrics – website analytics for e-commerce; Robbie Allen, CEO, Statsheet – online sports content network

Cloud Computing

Featured companies: John Cowan, CEO, 6fusion USA, Inc. – on-demand computing for service providers; Joe Davy, CEO, EvoApp – intelligence tools to help companies build stronger relationships with customers

“It’s an exciting time for Triangle technology entrepreneurs. At Zenph, we’ve spent the past few years building our technology foundation and creating the right team to support it. Now we’re in a period of real growth and innovation,” said Kip A. Frey, Chief Executive Officer at Zenph Sound Innovations. “I’m looking forward to the Idea Islands as an opportunity to discuss industry trends, challenges and best practices with peers.”

In addition to Idea Island speakers, the Demo Room, a new program element, features as many as 75 of the region’s most promising and innovative start-up technology companies. It includes showcases from early stage companies that are a part of LaunchBox Digital, Joystick Labs and local universities.

To register for CED Venture 2011, visit http://bit.ly/hgwz85.

About CED

CED, the southeast’s largest entrepreneurial support organization, connects emerging growth companies with the necessary tools and resources to start something new. A private, non-profit organization, CED harnesses its broad network to support companies that want to take their business to the next level. As the oldest entrepreneurial network in the country, CED has enabled entrepreneurs to raise more than one billion dollars in capital, launched more than 700 companies and currently serves more than 5,500 active members representing nearly 1,100 companies in North Carolina.

Contacts

CED
Kristi Lee John, 919-821-2822
klee@crossroadspr.com

Release Summary

CED announces Idea Island featured companies for Venture 2011 Conference and Twitter contest - most creative tweet including #whyCEDVenture wins free conference pass and lunch with The Onion CEO

Contacts

CED
Kristi Lee John, 919-821-2822
klee@crossroadspr.com