When we began forming LaunchMemphis, one of the things that we discussed quite a bit was what the demand for events really was. We felt there was a ground swell desire to enliven and engage the Memphis entrepreneurial community, but were pleasantly surprised with the flurry of activity around the LaunchMemphis events. Now that we have received more than 34 applications for the investment forum, we are certain that we were right in believing that there was (and is) a need for what we are doing. There has also been incredible support from the institutional investors in the area; many of these firms have agreed to make time for the investment forum and listen to the companies we have managed to pull together. And, of course, we greatly appreciate all those that have applied to the investment forums. All of these things have exceeded our expectations, and we are incredibly thrilled.! But the one thing that has been noticeably absent is the involvement of “Angel” investors. Angels are those individuals and groups that have the resources to invest in small companies. They are the critical cog in the machine that is necessary to allow companies that start in Memphis to stay in Memphis. When you look at Silicon Valley, Washington, DC, Austin, TX, and other places with strong startup environments, it is the angels that enable many companies to get over the chasm**. So, to all the angel investors and potential angel investors in Memphis, please contact us (forum@launchmemphis.com). Hopefully,

The LaunchMemphis Early Stage Investment Forum was recently featured in the Commercial Appeal. Commercial Appeal — Coffee Break Section May 17, 2008 Looking for Entrepreneurs Got the entrepreneurial spirit? Or maybe need a little help taking your business to the next level? If so, LaunchMemphis is looking for you. The recently formed organization of Memphis business leaders is dedicated to growing the entrepreneurial community. To forward that mission, the group will host a forum on June 9 at the University of Memphis that will pair entrepreneurs and small business owners with potential investors. The program is geared toward entrepreneurs who need funding assistance and small firms with high growth potential. Investors include Innova Memphis and the Mercury Alpha Fund by Mercury Technology Labs. The forum is free, but application deadline is Tuesday. For more information, visit online at launchmemphis.com

LaunchMemphis was recently featured in the Commercial Appeal.  Read more here.   Commercial Appeal   LaunchMemphis events will build up ties among entrepreneurs By Daniel Connolly Tuesday, May 6, 2008 If you’ve recently started a company in technology or biosciences — or you’re just thinking about it — you’re the target audience for LaunchMemphis, a series of networking and educational events that starts this week. The events are meant to build up social links among tech and science entrepreneurs in the area. The key organizers are Eric Matthews and Marc Diaz, principals with Mercury Technology Labs LLC, a relatively new company that helps scientists and researchers turn their ideas into working firms. The pair have attracted a wide range of sponsors and collaborators, including EmergeMemphis, an organization that provides office space and other support to small businesses, and the Memphis Bioworks Foundation, a nonprofit that promotes the development of science-based industry. The highlight of the LaunchMemphis series is Startup Weekend, which comes at the end of this month. Dozens of people are scheduled to gather at the FedEx Institute of Technology to create a real company in 54 hours. Participants in the event will make a short pitch for their ideas before the group picks one and starts working on it. Everyone from lawyers to Web developers will offer input as a facilitator tries to keep the process running smoothly, Diaz and Matthews said. The organization is accepting 100 people, and 20 slots were still open as of Monday. Those interested may

The Commercial Appeal recently reported on our upcoming networking event.  Commercial Appeal — Coffee Break Section  May 1, 2008  Fill up on ‘TechFuel’ “TechFuel,” an idea-sharing and networking event for businesspeople, entrepreneurs and technologists, is set for 5-7 p.m. May 8 at the Fox and Hound, 5101 Sanderlin. The event is sponsored by LaunchMemphis, recently established by area business leaders to promote entrepreneurship. Get details at launchmemphis.com.

LaunchMemphis Early Stage Investment Forum was recently featured in the Memphis Business Journal.  Friday, May 2, 2008 LaunchMemphis seeks to match investors with local entrepreneurs Memphis Business Journal – by Einat Paz-Frankel Staff writer There’s talent and money in Memphis, but they don’t always meet. LaunchMemphis, a group of local technology leaders, aims to change that by connecting investors to startup companies and Memphis entrepreneurs. The group says many local venture capitalists invest in companies outside Memphis, which is part of the reason why many brilliant ideas born in Memphis never make it to market. In a series of events starting May 8, LaunchMemphis will attempt to engage both entrepreneurs and investors in advancing technology locally. “When growing a successful science or a technology-based company, you can find the right ingredients within the grassroots infrastructure of LaunchMemphis,” says venture capitalist Eric Mathews, principal of Mercury Technology Labs LLC, who co-created LaunchMemphis with attorney Harry Brown. “From finding a new management team member to tracking down funding, the events organized can help entrepreneurs take their idea from the back of a napkin to the next level.” The most significant event for those entrepreneurs seeking funding, the LaunchMemphis Early Stage Investment Forum, will take place June 9 at the University of Memphis FedEx Institute of Technology. Applications for funding — or, rather, for the opportunity to pitch your idea to investors at the forum — will be accepted through May 16. Lori Turner, managing partner at The RedRover Co. and one of

Innova Lunch-n-Learn with LaunchMemphis — The LaunchLunch May 13th, 2008 — 11:30am- 1:00pm Location: Bioworks Additorium on the 1st Floor Speaker: Kevin Boggs, Director of Technology Transfer, University of Memphis Topic: “Technology Transfer: Working with researchers and industry to develop innovative products, while supporting local economic development and making our world a better place.” RSVP if Attending to Courdria Pointer — cpointer@memphisbioworks.org Description of Talk  Our standard of living improves when the productivity of our industries increases and the goods and services they produce are better and more efficient. These improvements depend on innovative research. Universities and research institutes are the dominant source of basic science in the U.S, while industry has the capability to develop products and services based on that science. Kevin Boggs, Director of Technology Transfer at the University of Memphis, will discuss ways that academic technology transfer helps bring science and industry together to provide the next generation of innovative products, support small business formation and foster local economic development.    About Kevin Boggs  Kevin Boggs was most recently Director of Business Development at Applied Genetic Technologies Corporation (AGTC), a biotechnology company spun-out from the University of Florida. AGTC received over $30MM in funding from leading national venture capital firms and its lead product is in Phase I clinical trials. As a member of the Executive Management Team at AGTC, Dr. Boggs was responsible for identifying and evaluating new product development opportunities and negotiating IP licenses required to secure market exclusivity. Before joining AGTC, Kevin was

Thank you for your interest in Memphis BarCamp. We want everyone to have the opportunity to attend the event.  The reason we have discount codes is to allow you to pick a price that fits your budget.  The only thing we ask in return for a discount is that you do one or all of the following: 1) send a message to your friends and colleagues about Memphis BarCamp and encourage them (if they are interested) to join us for the conference 2) send a letter to the editor of the Commercial Appeal either before the conference or after the conference on why it is important for these and other events that LaunchMemphis puts together to continue 3) blog, tweet (twitter.com), utter (utterli.com), Zannel (Zannel.com), Facebook, etc. about BarCamp before, during, and after the conference Or 4) any other way you can communicate to others the value of BarCamp to you personally and why others should attend (or should have been there). Now for the discount . . . It is estimated that your participation in BarCamp will cost around $40.  In order to cover these costs, we ask that you pay what you can at registration.  No one will know how much you paid at registration so don’t worry about that.  The discount codes are placed below.  Use a code that fits your budget. See you on November 7th and 8th, LaunchMemphis Founders Code                    Discount 25OffMemphis       25.00% Off $40 (or $30 for you) HalfOffMemphis     50.00% Off $40 (or $20