It’s MAVA time again!

by Elias Shams
It was about ten years ago I presented my first Internet company, Telezoo at MAVA and received my first cool $3 mil funding.  I didn’t even know how to carry that much money from MAVA to my bank Damn! It feels like it was just yesterday.

It’s that time of the year again.

MAVA (Mid-Atlantic Venture Association) on announced the 40 early- and expansion-stage technology companies that have been selected to present at the organization’s Capital Connection ’10 event, scheduled for May 19-20 in Baltimore.

They companies will join 14 later-stage companies to be showcased throughout the conference. Selections were made by a panel of nearly 30 investors and advisors, co-chaired by Tom Grossi of New Enterprise Associates, Steve Fredrick of Grotech Ventures, Tom Roberts of Harbert Venture Partners and Sever Totia of Edison Venture Fund.

The complete list of presenting companies is at the link below.

Early / Expansion Companies – Capital Connection ‘10

AdJuggler, Inc.
Agentek
Appfluent Technology, Inc.
Bradford Networks, Inc.
BridgeSpan Financial LLC
Clarabridge
Compressus, Inc.
cut2it
edō Interactive
FolioDynamix
Gold Lasso, Inc.
GridPlex Networks LLC
Harmony Information Systems
HexaTech, Inc.
IDDEX
iKord, Inc.
Inlet Technoologies
Invincea, Inc.
KidSafe
Koofers, Inc.
Lightwave Power, Inc.
Maverick Network Solutions Inc.
Maxtena, Inc.
MiserWare
Motionsoft
Notable Solutions Inc.
PhantomALERT Inc.
ReachForce
Resonate Networks
Servient
Spectrum Bridge, Inc.
Spotlight Ticket Management
STaSIS Engineering
Syncplicity Inc.
Triumfant Incorporated
UpdateLogic
Valen Tecnologies, Inc.
Vertical Search Works, Inc.
Vignet Inc.
Vodpod

Ticket & Registration

Capital Connection is one of the nation’s premier venture and private equity conferences  presented by the MAVA . Over 800 attendees from throughout the United States participate each year and share the same objective of building and investing in the region’s most promising companies. Capital Connection brings together senior players – investors, advisors, and entrepreneurs – to this 1 ½ day showcase for earlier-stage high performance companies, as well as expanded programming initiated last year that includes later-stage companies and CXOs.

The conference employs a rigorous approach in recruiting, selecting and vetting companies to ensure the most exciting field of enterprises and investment opportunities in the mid-Atlantic region are showcased. Historically, 35-50 percent of earlier-stage companies at Capital Connection have attracted funding less than a year after presenting at Capital Connection, a reflection of the caliber of companies chosen by a selection committee of investors.

Participation brings more value than just funding – companies find Capital Connection the place to be for later-stage capital, new customers, partners and alternative financing. In addition to more than 50 company presentations, there is peer-group programming for company CXOs and entrepreneurs that focuses both on managing through difficult economic times and on identifying and taking advantage of the new opportunities for business in both the government and commercial sectors.

MAVA represents private equity and venture capital firms with investment interests in the mid-Atlantic. As the flagship industry association for the region, MAVA’s membership includes more than 500 venture capital professionals representing nearly 125 firms with collectively more than $100 billion in capital under management. In addition, their key partners are members: advisors and professionals from banking, accounting, law, financial, executive search, real estate, business and consulting practices, international to local government development agencies, universities and federal laboratories, as well as up-and-coming company CXOs.

MAVA offers a variety of programs, industry research and forums designed to directly assist company development through funding options; encouraging exchange of ideas and collaboration among members; fostering solid relationships among investors, entrepreneurs and key industry services professionals; and providing information on industry trends. These resources are the foundation for a strong business community that fosters innovation.

MAVA’s top-flight programming are developed to attract and engage entrepreneurs and innovators, expand our offerings to companies at different stages of development and serve investors across the private equity spectrum. MAVA provides an industry-focused network that helps advance ideas while providing an efficient platform for new-to-market players as well as experienced professionals serious about private equity investing and creating exciting enterprise opportunities.