Press Release

IdeaFunding 2006 Invention to Venture workshop in Tucson November 2, 2006

The University of Arizona and community partners join together to advance regional opportunities through technology innovation and entrepreneurship

TUCSON, Ariz. – September 22, 2006 – In today’s economy, successful companies, organizations, governments, and universities look to high-impact innovation — the conversion of ideas into commercial success — as the source of competitive advantage. As stated in The Economist, “Innovation is now recognized as the single most important ingredient in any modern economy.”

This fall, business community members and academics will have the opportunity to come together in Tucson, Arizona to explore the critical success factors of technology entrepreneurship. On November 2, 2006, the day-long workshop “IdeaFunding 2006: Invention to Venture” will be held in downtown Tucson at the historic Manning House.

Speakers at the event will include:

• Dr. Robert Shelton, President, The University of Arizona
• Joe Snell, President & CEO, Tucson Regional Economic Opportunities, Inc. (TREO)
• Carl J. Schramm, President, The Kauffman Foundation, the industry leader in the support and advancement of entrepreneurship teaching and research
• Many experienced entrepreneurs, technology transfer experts, and investors

For a full list of speakers, visit www.ideafunding.org.

Business owners and anyone whose interests intersect with innovation, entrepreneurship, and innovation will learn critical areas of successful technology entrepreneurship:

• Idea Validation and Opportunity Assessment
• Sales and Marketing
• Building the Team
• Intellectual Property and Licensing
• The Perfect Business Plan: What it is, isn’t, and what it should be
• Finding the Money

The workshop will be held from 8:30am – 5:00pm (with check in beginning at 7:45am) on Thursday, November 2 at the Manning House. Registration for the full-day workshop is $75. Scholarships for innovating faculty and students are available through a grant from The Kauffman Foundation. Group discounts for students are also available. Visit www.ideafunding.org for more information and to register.

During lunch, the 2006 Thomas R. Brown Excellence in Entrepreneurship Award will be presented by Brown’s daughter, Sarah Brown Smallhouse, to recognize an innovator in Arizona. IdeaFunding attendees are also invited to stay for the monthly dinner of the Desert Angels, Tucson’s organization for angel investing, for a separate price of $55.

Invention to Venture is a workshop designed by the National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance (NCIIA) in conjunction with the Kansas City-based Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. The workshop is a powerful combination of proven design strengthened by local knowledge and experience.

The 2006 IdeaFunding event is a partnership of the NCIIA, The University of Arizona’s McGuire Center for Entrepreneurship at the Eller College of Management, the UA Office of Technology Transfer, Tucson Regional Economic Opportunities, Inc. (TREO), Desert Angels, Pima Community College Small Business Development Center, Arizona Angels Venture Group, Inc., Arizona Center for Innovation (AzCI), and the Hecker & Muehlebach law firm.

Press Contacts

Linda Herrick, Eller College of Management
520.626.2590, lherrick@eller.arizona.edu

Laura Shaw, Tucson Regional Economic Opportunities, Inc. (TREO)
520.243.1940, laura.shaw@treaoaz.org

Program Contact

Lawrence Hecker, Hecker & Muehlebach, PLLC
520.798.3803, heckyes@hpzlaw.com