Invest Southwest Capital Conference Announces Pioneering Cleantech Venture Capitalist as Keynote Speaker
Invest Southwest Capital Conference Announces Ira Ehrenpreis, Pioneering Cleantech Venture Capitalist, as Keynote Speaker for December 2008 Event
(Phoenix, Ariz. – Nov. 13, 2008) – Invest Southwest, the premier capital conference in Arizona and the Southwest, with title sponsor The Miller Group, announces today that Ira Ehrenpreis will be this year’s keynote speaker. Ehrenpreis, a general partner with Technology Partners and a seasoned venture capitalist, is regarded as one of the preeminent and pioneering VCs focused on the cleantech sector.
“The trends impacting the Cleantech sector are not only changing the world, but also the venture landscape as we know it. Cleantech is a global problem – and opportunity – and the southwest is one of the hot beds of growth for the innovation in this area. Invest Southwest has done a tremendous job capturing the best of what this region has to offer.” said Ehrenpreis. “I am honored to speak at this conference and take part in what has become an exciting annual event in Arizona.”
Ira Ehrenpreis has been with Technology Partners since 1996. As head of the firm’s Cleantech investment practice, Ehrenpreis oversees investing in energy technology, water technology, and advance materials opportunities. He is a recognized leader in both the venture capital industry and the cleantech sector, and in 2007, was named one of the “Top 50 Most Influential Men Under 45” by Details Magazine. In the venture community, Ira serves on several industry and non profit boards including the Board of the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA), the Board of the Western Association of Venture Capitalists (WAVC), the Clean-Tech Investor Summit (2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008 Conference Chairman), Cleantech Venture Network (Past Chairman), Energy Investors Forum (2004 Conference Chairman), Energy Venture Fair, and California Climate Change Advisory Board. Ira received his JD/MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business and Stanford Law School, where he was an Associate Editor of Stanford Law Review. He holds a B.A. from the University of California, Los Angeles, graduating Phi Beta Kappa and Summa Cum Laude.
“Ira is an exceptional influencer in the investment community and a phenomenal speaker. We are so thrilled to have him keynote this year’s conference,” said Dave Bittner, chairman of Invest Southwest. “Our attendees are in a very special conference this year and should expect to find unique opportunities that are exclusive to this event.”
About the Invest Southwest Capital Conference
Invest Southwest has been connecting entrepreneurs and investors in Arizona and the Southwest for over 15 years. Companies that have presented at past Invest Southwest conferences include Ventana Medical, Flypaper, NetPro, Vivid Semiconductor, and AutoXray. Companies submitting to present seek between $250,000 and $5MM in capital. For more information about the conference, with title sponsor The Miller Group, visit www.investsouthwest.org.
About Technology Partners
Technology Partners is a 24 year venture capital firm that has managed more than $750 million of investment capital with current investments being made from Technology Partners Fund VIII. Technology Partners has invested in more than 100 companies in a variety of industries serving principally as a lead investor. The majority of investments are in early stage companies. The firm invests approximately half of its capital into Cleantech (Energy Technology, Water Technology, and Advanced Materials) companies and the other half into companies focused on the Life Sciences. For more information on Technology Partners, go to www.technologypartners.com.
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Contact:
Terree Parlett Wasley
Director, Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Office of VP for Research and Economic Affairs, ASU
480-884-1803
Terree.Wasley@asu.edu