Rice Alliance Hosts 7th Annual I.T. &Web 2.0 Venture Forum

Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship showcases most promising I.T. & Web 2.0 Technology companies on December 10th, 2009  

HOUSTON – (November XX, 2009) - The Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship will host its 7th Annual I.T. & Web 2.0 Venture Forums on Thursday, Dec. 10, 2009. This is one of the largest I.T. & Web 2.0 conformances in the Southwest. I.T. & Web 2.0 technology companies from all across the U.S. will showcase their new ventures for an audience of more than 450 attendees, including investors, venture capitalists, industry representatives, business leaders, advisors/mentors, service providers, and entrepreneurs.

Featured keynotes Henry Wong of Garage Technology Ventures, a successful entrepreneur and venture investor from Silicone Valley, Leighton Read, MD, Founder and Chairman of Seriosity and General Partner from Alloy Ventures, and Scott Jones, Founder and CEO of ChaCha will share their years of industry knowledge and investor experience to the attendees on hand.

The one-day event will culminate with the announcement of the Most Promising I.T. & Web 2.0 Companies, who will be chosen from more than 50 competitors. The Rice Alliance Advisory Board will make their selections based on the companies’ elevator pitch presentations. The exercise simulates meeting and investor on an elevator and having only 90 seconds to convince them to invest in your company.

In addition, five other pre-selected I.T. & Web 2.0 technology companies will present their 10-minute business plan presentation at the forum.

Rice Alliance Managing Director Brad Burke, will announce the winners of the Most Promising I.T. & Web 2.0 Technology Company at the event. “It is rewarding to be able to give upstart companies the opportunity to realize their potential by receiving real world experience as well as the possibility of establishing long term partnerships with influential venture capitalists.”

The forum is supported by Andrews Kurth, Austin Ventures, Sevin Rosen Funds, Trailblazer Capital, Greater Houston Partnership and Houston Technology Center with media sponsors Houston Business Journal and the BusinessMakers Radio Show.

The Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship

The Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship (Rice Alliance) is Rice University’s nationally-recognized initiative devoted to the support of technology commercialization, entrepreneurship education, and the launch of technology companies.

Since inception, the Rice Alliance has assisted in the launch of more than 250 start-ups which have raised more than half-a-billion dollars in early-stage capital. More than 750 companies have presented at the 100+ programs hosted by the Rice Alliance.

Recent recognition:
- 2009 #5 U.S. Graduate Entrepreneurship Program – Princeton Review and Entrepreneur magazine
- 2009 Outstanding Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership & Excellence in Specialty Entrepreneurship

Education - GCEC
- 2009 Outstanding Specialty Entrepreneurship Program – USASBE
- 2008 Houston’s Greatest Economic Development Ally – Greater Houston Partnership
- 2007 Outstanding Enterprise Creation Award – GCEC



For more information about the Rice Alliance, visit www.alliance.rice.edu.