• Sat. Sep 20th, 2008 @ 8:00am - 4:00pm
• ChicagoRuby.org
• IIT
• Address: 3201 South State Street
• Fee: $ 99.00
• http://windycityrails.org

WindyCityRails is a gathering for all who are passionate about Ruby on Rails. Developers, designers, entrepreneurs, and venture capitalists will interact for a full day in the Windy City. Only 150 seats are available and they are expected to sell fast. Visit http://windycityrails.org for registration and details.

Questions? Contact: http://windycityrails.org

• Sat. May 31st, 2008 @ 12:00am - Fri. Jun 20th, 2008 @ 12:00am
• ILCelerate Application
• Illinois Technology Association
• Address: 200 South Wacker, 15th floor Chicago, IL
• Fee: $ 0
• Submit application to ilcelerate@illinoistech.org

Do you know of an Illinois-based technology startup looking for funding?

The ILCelerate program provides money, resources and mentoring to Illinois-based technology companies.

If selected, you will receive up to $ 15,000 this summer. Applications must be received by June 20th. Questions: contact ilcelerate@illinoistech.org

Questions? Contact: ilcelerate@illinoistech.org

• Tue. May 6th, 2008 @ 12:00pm - 1:40am
• Business Network Chicago
• ITA Headquarters
• Address: 200 S. Wacker, Chicago, IL 60606
• Fee: 5.00
• Sign up at 123Signup

We will review three quality entrepreneurial opportunities this month.

This group is led by Len Bland of Concept Equity Group (www.conceptequity.com) and David Carman of the BNC.

Business Network Chicago (BNC) is a professional networking and career development organization bringing together professionals to support members in all phases of their career.

Please bring your own lunch and drinks.

We meet the first Tuesday of every month. If you have a scheduling conflict, please join us for the next meeting on 6/3.

Questions? Contact: Len Bland: len_bland@conceptequity.com, 847-317-0656

• Tue. Apr 22nd, 2008 @ 11:00am - 2:00am
• NAWBO
• Hilton
• Address: 720 South Michigan
• Fee: $ 80
• Call NAWBO at 312-609-1300 or visit the NAWBO Chicago site

Join the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) and featured speaker, Kay Koplovitz, the founder of USA network and the first woman president in television history. She is the author of Bold Women, Big Ideas, which she wrote to inform and inspire women entrepreneurs to create wealth through equity. Koplovitz also created Springboard Enterprises, a national organization that fosters venture capital investments in women-led high growth companies.

Questions? Contact: NAWBO/312-609-1300

• Tue. Apr 1st, 2008 @ 12:00pm - 1:30pm
• Business Network Chicago
• ITA Headquarters
• Address: 200 S. Wacker, Chicago, IL 60606
• Fee: 5.00
• Sign up at 123Signup

ITA is hosting the monthly BNC Venture Capital networking group. This group is led by Len Bland of Concept Equity Group. David Carman is CEO & President of the BNC.

We will begin the meeting with networking and follow with a presentation from Sword Diagnostics.

Sword Diagnostics expects to save lives by enabling earlier detection of biomarkers that may be present for cancer, Alztheimer’s, and other diseases. They have been approved for 6 different clinical trials that should lead to revenue by the second quarter.

Headquartered near Chicago, IL, Sword Diagnostics is a leader in making diagnostic tests more sensitive. Sword\’s Saber Detection Systemâ�¢ is an extremely sensitive system, utilizing Raman Spectroscopy coupled with their patent-pending detection chemistry. Saber provides 1,000x increase in detection sensitivity, enabling scientists and clinicians to study and to quantify low-abundance biomarkers, as well as working with ever-decreasing sample volumes.

Please bring your own lunch and drinks.

We meet the first Tuesday of every month. If you have a scheduling conflict, please join us for the next meeting on 5/6.

Questions? Contact: Len Bland: len_bland@conceptequity.com

• Tue. Mar 4th, 2008 @ 12:00pm - 1:30am
• Business Network Chicago
• ITA Headquarters
• Address: 200 S. Wacker, Chicago, IL 60606
• Fee: 5.00
• Sign up at 123Signup

BNC Venture Capital Group

We will begin the meeting with networking and follow with a presentation from Hybrid Electric Vehicle Technologies, Inc. http://www.hevt.com/

Hybrid Electric Vehicle Technologies, Inc. (HEVT) Increases the fuel efficiency improvement of a transit bus (in hybrid mode) by 40% while reducing CO2 emissions.
They are an early-stage technology venture specializing in the design and development of plug-in hybrid electric conversions for transit buses. HEVT’s mission is to lead the way toward sustainable transportation by providing the best adaptive control unit and integrated electro-mechanical drive train for plug-in hybrid electric transit buses.
Located at the University Tech Park on Illinois Institute of Technology’s campus in Chicago, HEVT has exclusive rights to the intellectual property, patents, and patents-pending developed by Professor Ali Emadi and his research laboratory at IIT.
Please bring your own lunch and drinks.

Call Len Bland at 847-317-0656 with questions. Other investors welcome.

We meet the first Tuesday of every month. If you have a scheduling conflict, please join us for the next meeting on 4/1.

Questions? Contact: Len Bland: len_bland@conceptequity.com

• Tue. Feb 12th, 2008 @ 12:00pm - 1:30am
• Business Network Chicago
• ITA Headquarters
• Address: 200 S. Wacker, Chicago, IL 60606
• Fee: 5.00
• Sign up at 123Signup

BNC Venture Capital Group

Business Network Chicago (BNC) is a professional networking and career development organization bringing together professionals to support members in all phases of their career whether looking for a job, clients, talent, capital, strategic alliances, or innovative ideas.

ITA is hosting the monthly BNC Venture Capital networking group. This group is led by Len Bland of Concept Equity Group. David Carman is CEO & President of the BNC.

We will begin the meeting with networking and follow with a presentation from Brogan Pharmaceuticals.

Brogan Pharmaceuticals is decreasing the time and increasing the number of drug products used to diagnose and treat rare diseases via the federal Orphan Drug Act in the US. The drug products produced are superior to current technologies, are used in grossly underserved markets, and are desperately sought by physicians and patients with rare diseases. Orphan drug products offer 7 years exclusivity, tax credits, and development assistance from the FDA. BP operates a 9,000 sq ft. FDA cGMP manufacturing facility used for the launch of drug product I, contract manufacturing and drug product development activities. Core competencies in FDA manufacturing, regulatory, and pharmaceutical formulation development are leveraged at the facility generating revenues outside of the orphan product development space. Ancillary operations include contract manufacturing and drug product development for research and development clients, orphan drug developers, and virtual pharmaceutical firms in support of their clinical trials. The mission is to be a vertically integrated, developer, manufacturer, and distributor of six to eight small market, low demand, orphan drug products each generating annualized revenues of $ 50-150MM.

Please bring your own lunch and drinks.

Call Len Bland at 847-317-0656 with questions.
Other investors welcome.

We meet the first Tuesday of every month. If you have a scheduling conflict, please join us for the next meeting on 3/4.

Questions? Contact: Len Bland: len_bland@conceptequity.com

• Mon. Jan 8th, 2007 @ 12:00pm - 1:30pm
• Business Network Chicago
• ITA Headquarters
• Address: 200 S. Wacker, Chicago, IL
• Fee: 0
• e-mail: len_bland@conceptequity.com

ITA is hosting the monthly BNC Venture Capital networking group. This group is led by Len Bland of Concept Equity Group. David Carman is CEO & President of the BNC.

The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, 1/8 from 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM.

We will begin the meeting with networking and follow with a presentation from BioTarget.
BioTarget is leading the nanoparticle revolution in medicine by diagnosing cancers, initially for protein-based in vitro diagnostic testing, and subsequently for in vivo diagnosis. BioTarget has developed a polymer encapsulation technology for delivery of bio-materials and pharmacological agents to targeted cells with exceptional selectivity and delivery efficiency. Biotechnology Associates estimates that the worldwide market for in vitro cancer diagnostic products will grow to $ 2.8 billion in 2007 and will continue growing between 8% and 10% per year. The company\’s first in vitro diagnostic products are targeted for the market within 2 years, with minimal FDA approval requirements.
Please bring your own lunch and drinks.

Illinois Information Technology Association (ITA) is located at:
200 S. Wacker Drive, 15th Floor | Chicago, IL 60606
+1.312.435.2805 | +1.312.264.0306 (Fax)

Send RSVP’s to: len_bland@conceptequity.com
Investors welcome.

We meet the first Tuesday of every month. If you have a scheduling conflict, please join us for the next meeting on 2/5.

Questions? Contact: Len Bland: len_bland@conceptequity.com

• Mon. Dec 3rd, 2007 @ 5:30pm - 9:00pm
• Midwest Entrepreneurs Forum (MEF)
• Chicago Union League Club - 2nd Floor Lounge
• Address: 65 West Jackson Chicago, IL
• Fee: Online Registration with Credit Card before November 26th will be $ 20 for MEF Members and $ 30 for Non-Members; At the Door and after November 26th will be $ 30 for MEF Members and $ 40 for Non-Members.
• For Online Registration Please go to: www.MidwestEntrepreneursForum.Org. CLICK ON CALENDAR OF EVENTS AND SELECT NETWORKING EVENT

Do do not miss Chicago Well-Known Entrepreneurial Networking Event of the Year

The Midwest Entrepreneurs’ Forum Monday December 3rd Networking Event

Date: Monday December 3, 2007
Time: 5:30 - 9:00 PM
Location: Union League Club - 2nd Floor Lounge 65 West Jackson Chicago, Il.

Cost Online Registration with Credit Card before November 26th will be $ 20 for MEF Members and $ 30 for Non-Members.

Admission at the Door and after November 26th will be $ 30 for MEF Members and $ 40 for Non-Members.

We are asking you to please preregister so we can better plan on the food and other services we must order ahead of time in order to have a successful event.

• Tue. Oct 16th, 2007 @ 8:00am - 2:00pm
• Magnificent Women Organization
• Chicago Marriott Midway
• Address: 6520 South Cicero, Chicago, IL, 60638
• Fee: $ 197.00 minus 20% discount.
• RSVP website

An amazing half-day seminar training experience to ignite a new level of accomplishment for Magnificent Women executives and business owners. We didn’t invent personal branding, but wait until you discover the modern ways we’re sharing to help you makeover your career or take your business to the next level.

The Art of Personal Branding Conference features real tools women can implement for greater personal branding success on the job and in their business. An inspiring half-day session featuring Michelle Anton, former Oprah freelance associate producer and author of The Weekend Entrepreneur; award-winning branding aficionado, Cheryl Scales; real talk with Strong Women, Powerful Financial Strategies from our sponsor, Ameriprise Financial Services. SMART Girls is our designated charitable organization.

About Magnificent Women Organization:
The Magnificent Women Organization is dedicated to celebrating women of accomplishment in every environment. We believe: Magnificent Women are full of purpose and respect abundance, are authentic, not arrogant, are impressive and bursting with confidence, are multi-cultural and celebrate the connections, are spectacular and their signature is their personal brand.

Questions? Contact: info@magnificentwomen.org

• Thu. Oct 4th, 2007 @ 8:00am - 11:30am
• The Technology Executives Club
• Milwaukee Athletic Club
• Address: 758 N. Braodway, Milwaukee
• Fee: $ 85 - $ 125
• Call Celine Seaback 847-837-3900 x4

How secure is your organization? Are you sure? Explore the latest security technologies, infrastructure and policies designed to protect the 24-7, zero-perimeter enterprise:

Local IT executives will review top security concerns and strategies facing their companies: Keynote Panel
Enabling business through IT security
Steps to building a comprehensive Information Security Management System
Managing identity and access
Strategies for securing the network

Questions? Contact: Celine Seback 847-837-3900 x4

• Wed. Sep 26th, 2007 @ 1:00am - 5:30pm
• The Technology Executives Club
• Union League Club
• Address: 65 W. Jackson Blvd.
• Fee: $ 125 - $ 150
• Call Celine Seabck 847-837-3900 x4

In this seminar we’ll explore how project managers and top IT executives budget and track key IT projects and assets. Starting with the original budget process and ending with the year end ROI and review. We’ll explore top strategies and techniques in the major processes of Budgeting, Portfolio Management, Asset Management, Balanced Scorecards & Project Tracking. Here’s what you’ll learn at this event:

Learn from a Keynote Panel of CIO’s and Senior Project Managers how they budget & track their IT investment using budgeting & portfolio management processes.
Top Trends in the Budget Process.
How IT executives use Portfolio Management to balance investments in their overall portfolio of projects.
The increasing importance of Asset Management and why top IT executives are increasing their investments in this process.
Using the Balanced Scorecard Framework for project tracking & measurement.
Best Practices in IT departments tracking their projects and measuring their ROI.

Questions? Contact: Celine Seaback 847-837-3900 x4

• Wed. Apr 18th, 2007 @ 8:00am - 11:00am
• Depaul CEC
• Address: DePaul Center, 1 E. Jackson, Room 8012
• Fee: $ 45 Registration Fee ($ 35 for DEN Members)
• RSVP website

Are you concerned about cash flows? Worried about making payroll? Confused by your financial statements? Come to this GROW seminar for help.

If you’re like most entrepreneurs, you do not come from a financial background. Therefore, your business finances can be intimidating, perplexing, and worrisome. But effective financial management is the key to continued success, and a challenge that must be overcome for long-term sustainabilityâ�¦even if you have a CPA. Whether it is lines of credit, breakeven points, accounts receivable, or balance sheets, you must know the fundamentals so you can focus on growing your company.

This seminar gives you a chance to learn from others who have done it: experienced entrepreneurs who effectively manage their finances and professionals who specialize in this area. In layman terms, they will discuss strategies to do the following:

* Improve your cash flows
* Keep expenses under control
* Work with your accountant as a financial consultant
* Use software & financial statements to help manage the business
* Measure performance and the success of company

If the finances of your business are a challenge you continue to face, this seminar will give you the foundation skills you need to take them on!

• Tue. Apr 10th, 2007 @ 9:00am - 11:00am
• Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center
• Address: Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, 200 E. Randolph Street, Suite 2200
• Fee: $ 20 for Chamber Members, $ 30 for Non-Members
• Sign Up Online, Required by 12pm on 4/9, No Walk-Ins Allowed

Join us for a special panel discussion with experts from some of Chicago’s leading banking institutions. This seminar will be an excellent opportunity for business owners to learn about debt financing and how it can help them to grow their business. In addition, business owners will leave the seminar with a better understanding of how to approach a bank for financing.

Topics of Discussion

• Mon. Feb 26th, 2007 @ 3:30pm - Wed. Jan 31st, 2007 @ 8:00pm
• by many sponsoring organizations
• Gleacher Center
• Address: 450 North Cityfront Plaza Drive, Chicago
• Fee: $ 25 ($ 15 for students)

Entrepreneurs are invited to tryout their best pitches at the Chicagoland FAST PITCH Competition on Monday, February 26, 2007. At the competition, entrepreneurs will deliver pitches of three minutes or less for a chance to win a prize of $ 5,000. A panel of judges will offer feedback to the entrepreneur, and select a winner in each of 5 categories: Information Technology, Business Products and Services, Life Sciences, Retail and Consumer Products, and Open Competition. The five finalists will then present to the general audience, and the champion will be chosen by audience vote. Find more information and register for the competition here.

This competition kicks off Chicago’s celebration of Entrepreneurship Week 2007, a national event sponsored by the Kauffman Foundation. FAST PITCH is co-sponsored by DePaul University, the Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center, Northwestern University, University of Chicago, Illinois Institute of Technology, the Illinois Business & Investors Forum, the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

For more Entrepreneurship Week 2007 activities, visit: www.chicagoeweek.com

• Tue. Jan 23rd, 2007 @ 8:00am - 11:00am
• Coleman Entrepreneurship Center
• DePaul Univ
• Address: 1 E. Jackson, 8th Floor, Room 8012, Chicago
• Fee: $ 55/Registration; $ 45/DEN Members
• RSVP website

You’ve put a lot of work into getting your business to the point it is today. When you exit it, you want it to be in the best possible position in order to get the most value for all your blood, sweat and tears. By beginning your exit planning today, you can transition the company to new management smoothly and avoid the disruptions that can adversely impact you and the business.

This EVOLVE seminar will cover three common ways to exit a company: selling, succession, and merger. Our panel of entrepreneurs will talk about how they positioned companies for exit, how they chose their strategy, and what they feel went well (and what they wish they could do over). In addition, professional advisors will discuss the financial implications and legal considerations of exit planning.

Topics covered will include:

* How to choose the best strategy to exit your business;
* Which outside advisors to involve in the process; and
* How to build the strategy into your business plan.

When you exit your business, it should be in your own time and on your own terms. By attending this seminar and beginning your exit planning now, you can receive the maximum value and ensure a successful transfer to the new owners - a win-win for every entrepreneur!

HOW ENTREPRENEURIAL QUEST SEMINARS WORK

E Quest seminars are focused on topics that are relevant to each stage of entrepreneurial development: EXPLORE, LAUNCH, GROW or EVOLVE. A typical seminar features experts giving guidance and entrepreneurs sharing advice from their experiences; and always includes ample time for you to ask questions. When you attend an E Quest seminar, you will gain knowledge that is targeted towards what you and your business are going through now.

• Wed. Jan 10th, 2007 @ 6:30pm - 8:30pm
• ManhattanGMAT
• ManhattanGMAT Chicago Center
• Address: 222 West Ontario Street
• Fee: FREE!
• Sign up online or call 800-576-4628

Starting the MBA application process? Essays, references, undergrad transcripts, your resume, and the GMAT? While it will not single-handedly get you into b-school, the GMAT is an important element and may demand 2-3 months worth of prep work. It WILL pay off to take ample time to study and to study well! Join the ManhattanGMAT team for a free two-hour orientation class about the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) at our Chicago center. Learn test format and scoring, how the GMAT fits into the MBA admissions process, and ManhattanGMAT’s approach to adaptive testing (a major hurdle for most students). Attendees also walk away with four practical strategies to use as you proceed, plus a $ 100 discount off any ManhattanGMAT course.

Questions? Contact: Danielle, at danielle@manhattangmat.com or 800-576-4628

• Wed. Nov 1st, 2006 @ 8:00am - 4:00pm
• TiE
• Marriott Chicago Downtown
• Address: 540 N. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL
• Fee: $ 295
• Register here

35 Regional Entrepreneurs Compete at the Midwest Venture Summit: Series A+, Seed/Angel and Business School Tracks

Midwest Venture Summit 2006, the only regional conference led by 21 venture capital firms, will showcase 35 of the most promising Midwest companies seeking Seed/Angel, Series A or later stage capital. To date, companies that participated at the last two summits have raised nearly $ 160 million in private equity investments. The last summit, held in May of 2005, attracted more than 360 institutional investors, angel investors, entrepreneurs, management teams, business leaders and media professionals. Investors interested in the region’s hottest companies as well as entrepreneurs looking for insights on how to present to investor audiences should attend the Midwest Venture Summit on November 1, 2006.

Tracks include:

• Series A or Later: Seventeen presenting companies
• Seed/Angel: Sixteen presenting companies
• Business School Plans: Six presenting companies with one winner to be awarded a $ 50,000 prize to establish a business in Illinois, sponsored by Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity

Prior participants have received nearly $ 160 million in equity funding. $ 50,000 prize to be awarded to the best business school plan sponsored by Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

Corporate Sponsors include: Bell Boyd & Lloyd, LLC, Winston & Strawn LLP, Grant Thornton, KPMG LLP, Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon LLP, McGuireWoods LLP, Sonnenschein, Nath & Rosenthal LLP

Organizers include Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center, iBio, Illinois Business & Investor Forum, KPMG, Origin Ventures, TiE Midwest, University of Chicago Graduate School of Business

Hosted By: Illinois Venture Capital Association, www.illinoisvc.org

• Thursday, October 19, 6:00pm - 8:30pm
• 55 E. Jackson, 22nd Floor, Room 2201, Chicago
• $85, refreshments included
• Register Now for “Angel Investing 101: The Fundamentals”

These are some of the questions that are answered in this seminar. Panelists will discuss how to determine whether angel investing is for you, the expectations new investors should have, and how it can help diversify investment portfolios.

• What is an “accredited investor”?
• How does one find “good deals”?
• What are angel networks, and why should I join one?

Speakers:
Raman Chadha, Coleman Entrepreneurship Center
Ronald L. Kirschner, M.D., Heartland Angels, Inc.

Angel Academy is a seminar series for new and prospective angel investors, who gain knowledge, advice, and lessons learned from experienced investors and leaders of angel groups. In addition to learning how to make educated investments in early stage ventures, participants are able to build a valuable network of like-minded professionals.

• R R Donnelley 111 S. Wacker Street Chicago, IL
• September 28, 2006 at 6:00 PM sharp (arrive early to sign in with security)
• For questions about the site on the day of the meeting, call 312-326-8820
• RSVP by noon of Sept 27th to Ron Kirschner at 847-675-3057 (ron.kirschner@comcast.net) or Adriano Pedrelli (AP@bluestreamgroup.com)

Heartland Angels, Inc. will be presenting two companies to individuals who are interested in exploring potential involvement and investment.

Unlike prior presentations, these will be designed to give a “mountain-top view” of these companies rather than provide the usual in-depth information that our typical presentations offer to our
investors and guests. Also there will be a brief period after each the presentation’s Q & A period for interested investors to give feedback.
Agenda:

5:30 PM- 6:00 PM Registration
6:00 PM- 6:30 PM Visual3D Presentation
6:30 PM- 6:50 PM Formal Q & A
6:50 PM- 7:00 PM Investor Feedback
7:00 PM- 7:30 PM IMI Presentation
7:30 PM- 7:50 PM Formal Q & A
7:50 PM- 8:00 PM Investor Feedback
8:00 on Informal feedback and Refreshments

Visual3D.NET has created a toolset for quickly and easily creating 3D simulations, games, learning tools, and modeling environments by individuals without previous computer graphics.

IMI Innovations, Inc. has created tools for the multi-tasking universe. The computer interface will have independent multiple inputs with full cursor-level navigation and functionality. Two or more computer operators can work simultaneously on one computer with full point, click, drag, drop, and scroll navigational functionality. Input devices can be designed to utilize the core operating system, customized to suit unique circumstances, and will generate an independent data stream enabling new vistas of programming, synergies and functionalities.

• You are invited to Heartland Angels investor presentation of Zienon
• Monday, July 17 at 6:00 PM sharp
• at FGMK, 2801 Lakeside Drive, 3rd Floor Bannockburn, IL 60015

website: www.fgmk.net (847) 374-0400

Because this also is a secured building and the elevators require manual over-ride after 6 PM, guests should allow extra time for registration. Pre-registration is required.

The agenda will be as follows for both meetings:
5:30 PM- 6:00 PM Registration
6:00 PM- 6:10 PM Introduction
6:10 PM- 6:55 PM Presentation
Joe Zlonicki, President
Derek Li, Chief Technology Officer
6:55 PM- 7:30 PM Formal Q & A
7:30 PM- 8:30 PM Refreshments and open discussion

Heartland Angels, Inc. maintains a due diligence notebook of relevant documents to assist in the review of this company. Guests who are not members of Heartland Angels may be requested to sign a non-disclosure agreement prior to the presentation due to the confidential and sensitive nature of the information presented.

If you are a non-member and wish to bring someone to assist you in evaluating this opportunity or another non-member accredited investor, please contact Ron Kirschner, MD as noted below. RSVP by 12 PM on July 17, 2006 to Ronald L. Kirschner, M.D., MBA at 847-675-3057 or at Ron.Kirschner@comcast.net

Please feel free to forward this invitation to those appropriate individuals to whom this program might fit into their personal asset allocation investment strategy.

Heartland Angels, Inc. provides a forum for select companies seeking investment capital the opportunity to present their companies to accredited individual and institutional investors.