Is InnoVenture Worth Your Investment? Feedback on 2004, 2005, and 2006

Submitter Photo - John Warner Submitted by: John Warner on Dec 03, 2006 at 4:21 pm Tagged with: Featured Articles Source:

In September, we asked people who had attended InnoVenture 2004, 2005, and 2006: What is the most specific benefit that you have received from your past participation in InnoVenture?

Here are their responses, with very little editing and in no particular order. I appreciate these folks being willing to allow me to share their comments with you.

Name Company Comment
Clare Morris The Clare Morris Agency I made some good professional contacts.
J. B. Holeman Holeman Investments LLC It was interesting to see how each company tried to attact investors.
Mike Switzer SC Business Review Contacts
Amanda Head Michelin America's Research and Development Corp It raised my awareness of the venture capital market in the southeast and how many bio-med companies are out there looking for funding.
Ed Roehl Advanced Data Mining Int'l. The networking we did at InnoVenture has created multiple opportunities for Advanced Data Mining International, LLC to collaborate with other organizations in the Upstate and South Carolina.
Kathy Harris Noro-Moseley Partners I met a company which could be a potential investment for our fund in 2007.
Ken Brower TiBA Solutions We have done business with a contact made at InnoVenture. Also re-established former contacts.
Tim Justice Rescom Construction InnoVenture has given me a much clearer understanding of how ideas are developed, given legs and brought to the market. Even though a business owner myself, it is a completely different process to initiate, build and grow a technology company. InnoVenture has also allowed me to meet and interact with people who make that process happen on a daily basis. Without InnoVenture we probably would have never crossed paths.
Emyr Edwards Austria Microsystems Visibility into emerging customers and technologies.
Mark Boxer AFL Telecommunications I've made some contacts through InnoVenture that I didn't have before.
Joel Hogg eMedia Group Building brand within a specific industry segment. Additionally, connecting with innovators who challenge conventional methods and concepts.
Sam Lee Strategic Insights I have been exposed to a vast number of resources for collaboration in the innovative arena in SC. This includes (1) where to look for specific technology; (2) how to approach major industrial clients about their technological excess; and (3) how to use InnoVenture as a year-round resource for navigating in these two realms.
Jerry Greene Green Corp I have spoken with a representative of the Greenville Chamber of Commerce and attended a meeting of "NEXT." I was introduced to these people at InnoVenture.
Kay Martin Protocol with Ease InnoVenture has inspired me to believe in my new business venture. The attitude and factual hope you have provided is a true motivator to strive for success.
Lonnie Emard Blue Cross Blue Shield of SC I developed an appreciation for the benefit of companies driving a common mission toward continuous improvement via innovation.
Apparao Rao Clemson University I was inspired by the energy and enthusiasm
Kim Williams Clemson University SBDC Seeing the growth of companies who benefit from the networking opportunities. Making contact with companies who can benefit from the services of my organization.
Shay Houser UCI Communications Business contacts have been made or reinvigorated
Bud Moseley Multi Media Services I have made contacts that use our products and services.
Mike Fiddy UNC - Charlotte Networking with companies and investors in the region has been very valuable. The meeting brings people together and helps build a sense of community in the innovation arena.
Steven Olson Easley Custom Plastics Due to InnoVenture 2006 I have a new appreciation for the innovation and development activity in South Carolina.
Caron St. John Clemson University Opportunity to make new contacts and engage with other enthusiastic participants.
Ralph Heredia Zipit We used InnoVenture to help fine tune our presentation being used to raise capital for our Zipit company.
Alan Craig Competitive Economics Introduction to new companies and quality networking.
Joel Stevenson University of South Carolina I have done business with a contact I made at InnoVenture 2006
Stan Davis Astan Davis An update on emerging opportunities in the Upstate.
Kurt A. Herwald Chandelle Solutions Limited Networking with other companies in the area. This has generated some ideas.
Jo Watson Hackl Wyche Burgess Freeman & Parham On a personal level, I developed contacts with presenting companies. On a more global level, I believe that InnoVenture is an important forum to highlight and promote entrepreneurship in South Carolina.
Gordon Branson Carey Moving & Storage I have made numerous contacts that benefit my networking to decision makers.
Kathie Bobbitt Kinesis Development It was inspiring to see the potential of a variety of groups spotlighting their visions for growth. The energy and excitement was high. As I went around to the various booths, I was able to meet people and to develop stronger relationships in the Greenville area.
John Van Zee University of South Carolina I have done business with a contact I made at InnoVenture 2006. I was inspired by the energy and enthusiasm at InnoVenture 2006.
Adam Gautsch OrangeCoat Meeting people in the know.
Robby Hill HIllSouth I was completely inspired by the energy and lessons learned at the InnoVenture 2006 event. I came back to my area of South Carolina and spread the word about things that are going on now in this area that are truly innovative and ride against the common misconceptions about innovators and capabilities in the southeastern USA. The South Carolina focus was also great because, again, so many people believe there is so little in the way of innovation occurring in SC. I love to learn those naysayers are wrong and spread the word of the energetic people that converge at InnoVenture.
Kirk Karwan Furman University I discovered an effective and engaging mechanism to introduce college students to the 'real world' of technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
Robert Fletcher The Trelys Funds InnoVenture is an efficient way to talk face-to-face with a wide variety new economy movers-and-shakers.
Julian Bott 3dMDvultus Inc. We have had ongoing business discussions with contacts made at InnoVenture 2006 and expect mutual benefit to be derived from these relationships in the future.
Peter Foley SC Vocational Rehabilitation Department I have do business with a contact I made at InnoVenture 2005 and it is continuing to build. Please keep in mind I do business development for Vocational Rehabilitation, after retiring from industry. VR provides client labor, shop floor space and other resources in our work training centers. We do work for a number of small to medium size entrepreneurial manufacturers.
Matt Gevaert Clemson University I made a contact by presenting a university technology at InnoVenture 2006 and substantial commercialization activity has ensued.
Ronald L. Sobczak USC Upstate I was interested in the research and development going on.
Bruce Dudley UNC - Charlotte I was inspired by the energy and enthusiasm at InnoVenture 2006.
Pearce Gilbert Argolyn BioScience It was a great opportunity to practice for later presentations to prospective investors.
Phil Sanger Western Carolina University Getting connected to the entrepreneurial community.
Jack Brown Shelco Excellent networking opportunity
Bob Hudgins UNC - Charlotte The incredible number of contacts made and the wide range of participants at the function.
Michael Elliott The Wakefield Group Good to see the focus on technology and innovation.
John DaWalt Merrill Lynch/Ellison Kibler Group I have done business with a contact I made at InnoVenture 2006.
Jeff Papenfus North Gate Labs Learning more about the process of raising capital for new enterprise.
John Cannon iPlenus BioInformatics Business contacts. I wish I had raised capital.
Vincent Gallicchio Clemson University I appreciated the level of enthusiasm and activity that was generated at last year's conference. It was important to begin to know what activity has taken place and what is the vision for the future.
Adrian Wilson The Trelys Funds Networking with entrepreneurs, investors, researchers and business leaders.
Tony Boccanfuso University of South Carolina Being from Columbia, I have been able to effectively network with people in the upstate.
Jeff Conley Amoeba Growth Capital I have made contacts - business, economic development, funding - at InnoVenture.
Tim Roberson Integrys Holdings LLC I met contacts that may prove benificial.
Walter Wilkinson Kitty Hawk Capital Met new contacts and possible business relations.
Terry Payne Oak Ridge National Laboratory I was inspired by the energy and enthusiasm at InnoVenture 2006 and met several business prospects. The atmosphere of the event was conducive to, and supportive of, serious business discussions. InnoVenture 2006 was not a 'kid-sized' venture event.
Phyllis Nolan Nolan Management Company I was enlightened by the energy, talent and enthusiasm sparked by the conference.
Bob Dunn ESI Advisors Contacts with interesting companies and professionals
Travis McConkey GSA Business I have done business with a contact I made at InnoVenture 2006.
Steve Stevenson Clemson University I had a chance to connect with the industrial world and to show them that the academic world exists.
Melanie Figueiredo SC World Trade Center I was able to meet a strong group of biotech professionals and learn more about their businesses. InnoVenture allowed me to have a strong introduction to their companies and thus facilitated doing business afterwards.
Walter Ezell Menu Works Inc I learned what it would take for my company to be attractive to investors by attending InnoVenture 2004 and 2005.
Virginia Simpson Simpson & Partners We have started working with some contacts made at the 2006 conference.
Colin Martin Mace Marketing Group I made important contacts with organizations that I may need to contact for future funding needs.
Ray Lattimore Marketplace Staffing Services Networking, Meeting new prospects, learning about new technology and how to get funding.
John Ballato Clemson University Excellent networking, ability to make new contacts and connections, and visibility.
Heiko Kreis Prettl Electric Corp. I was inspired by the energy and enthusiasm at InnoVenture
John Lee Nimlok-Greenville InnoVenture 2006 opened my eyes to the importance of building a stronger technology base in the and nurturing its long-term growth.
Steve Gravely The Consulting Group of Jocassee *Met a highly competent patent lawyer we now use for our consulting business and clients. *Met a Partner of a new startup technology firm. Set up a meeting to test their product for possible composite use in new business jets. *Set up a review with a new technology firm on how we can assist them in the start up of their new manufacturing facility in the Greenville area. *Met a Merger & Acquisition firm with which we have an ongoing business relationship. From this meeting, we were introduced to two other M&A firms in North Carolina. *Set up a meeting for an M&A Group with a pharmaceutical firm that is one of our clients. *Now working with one of the presentors at InnoVenture 2006 to take his product to market.
Keith Miyamoto Fuji Photo Film I met several people who might help/work with us to grow our bisiness at InnoVenture 2005.
Ron Younts ACSinc.Net The InnoVenture 2006 event has inspired me to look into the technologies that are lacking in our part of South Carolina. Particularly the ones that we are experienced in and can add lots of value to an organization being formed.
Frank Tung Genecure Biotechnologies I was inspired by the energy and enthusiasm at InnoVenture 2006.
Keely Saye University of South Carolina Recognition and contacts for potential collaboration.
Stan Smith Palmetto Health Alliance Being informed of what is going on in our State/region regarding the growth of the knowledge economy. Seeing how start up companies do just that, get started.
Terry L. Toney Adventures in Advertising I've done business with a contact I made at InnoVenture 2005 & 2006.
Richard Sheehan Technology Resource Increased my awareness about all of the positive activities in place and being planned to help promote entrepreneurism
Frank Greer Zipit I greatly expanded my list of relevant business contacts.
Matthew Lake Applied Innovations I continue to work with potential investors found at InnoVenture.
Will Pouch M1 Global Several contacts made at InnoVenture 06 have registered and used our developers network (www.m1global.org) to experiment with Business Process Modeling and Model Driven application development. These developers will have a head start as BPM becomes the standard for creating new communication enabled business processes.
Esmaiel Jabbari University of South Carolina I have done business with a contact I made at InnoVenture 2006.
Murray Brockman Governor's School for Science I have advanced a partnership with a contact I made at InnoVenture 2006. Also at InnoVenture 2006, I discovered a mutual interest in innovation with a person there, with whom I was already doing business.
Bill Gartner Clemson University I found important contacts (entrepreneurs and funders).
Cathy Doyle MRP Consulting After a 21 year career in the Corporate World, I am exploring many options from an independent standpoint. InnoVenture 2006 was an educational experience for me. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the speakers and meeting other people in this venue.
Dolph Bell Greenville News I got some news there.
Kaewta Suwannakarn Clemson University I have the inspiration from attending InnoVenture 2005.
Robyn Hannigan Arkansas State University I was inspired by the energy and enthusiasm at InnoVenture 2006
Andy Bach Tatum We've done business with a contact made last year.
Dan LaMorte KEMET Corporation I was inspired by the energy and enthusiasm at InnoVenture 2006.
Genna Keller Made business contacts, networking
Eric Graben Wyche Burgess Freeman & Parham My clients have received excellent exposure at InnoVenture.
Ken Gasque Gasque Marketing & Advertising Inspired and made some contacts
James Carroll Big Fish Recruiters InnoVenture is a place where new ideas and new ways of doing business are spotlighted for everyone to see. It was exciting to be around those like minded, foward thinking, progressive business owners. I made great contacts at InnoVenture and hope to make more this year.
Julian Crawford Swaim Brown PA Introduction to the Upstate (and broader) community of venture capitalists and entrepreneurs.
Jeffrey Phillips OVO Increased awareness of our products and services
Charles Chamberlain Carolina First Bank I have done business with a contact I met at InnoVenture and have referred several names of individuals or companies who presented at InnoVenture to other customers.
Randy Bradley SC Chamber of Commerce I was given a enhanced picture of how innovation and research was coming together in the state.
Tom Ledbetter Midlands Technical College Contacts made through face-to-face meetings at InnoVenture have been invaluable to my efforts to launch a new public-private undertaking in the Midlands area.
Evan Tishuk OrangeCoat I have done business with a contact I made at InnoVenture 2006.
Sam Patrick Patrick Marketing and Communications I have done business with a contact I made at InnoVenture 2006. I have a better understanding of how to tap into today's emerging knowledge-based economy than I did before attending InnoVenture.
Phil Canders Business Vitals I used the function to network with others but have not realized any significant business benefit from it.
Steve Johnson Concurrent Technologies Corporation Strategic discussions with Carl Kohrt, Chairman of Battelle, with whom with have numerous subcontractor / prime contractor relations.
Rick Lampe Mariner Container Corp. The opportunity to present to other entrepreneurs and investors.
See 11256 other posts submitted by John Warner. Find articles, people, and videos related to: Featured Articles