November 29, 2007
The Midwest Alternative Energy Venture Forum (MAEVF) is a gathering of those interested in the exciting developments of alternative energy technology in the Midwest. The venture forum is being organized as a collaborative effort by the University of Chicago, the Michael P. Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship at Chicago GSB, Reed Smith LLP, Argonne National Laboratory, and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.
The purpose of the MAEVF is to bring together successful Midwestern alternative energy researchers and entrepreneurs with seasoned venture capitalists interested in this technology to share ideas and advice, foster creativity, and explore the newest breakthroughs in the rapidly changing alternative energy field.
The MAEVF will provide a forum in which venture capitalists can listen to presentations from carefully selected early-stage alternative energy companies, learn about research and development opportunities at Argonne National Laboratory, and explore the latest breakthroughs in alternative energy from a variety of prominent and engaging speakers and panelists. This informative program will be followed by a networking reception where participants will be able to interact with presenters and panelists.
Agenda
8:00 - Registration begins
8:30 - Welcoming remarks by Michael P. Polsky, Founder and CEO of Invenergy, and Robert Rosner, Director of Argonne National Laboratory Board of Governors
8:45 - Opening Address by Jack Lavin, Director of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
9:05 - Panel Discussion among leading Argonne scientists on the next probable breakthroughs in alternative energy technology
10:40 - Presentations by six emerging Midwestern alternative energy companies
1:00 - Luncheon keynote address by John Denniston, Partner, Kleiner Perkins Caulfield & Byers
1:45 - Presentations by six emerging Midwestern alternative energy companies
3:30 - Panel Discussion concerning issues in licensing alternative energy technologies from government laboratories and universitites
4:45 - Concluding Remarks from Sadhu Johnston, Chief Environmental Officer for the City of Chicago
5:00 - Cocktails and Networking Reception