Calgary, Alberta – September 7, 2010 – InfoTech, the not-for-profit industry association that developed, organizes and manages the annual Banff Venture Forum, has acquired the annual Canadian Financing Forum as a means to further enhance the access to capital environment for technology entrepreneurs while building on the current Banff Venture Forum brand.
An essential element of the Banff Venture Forum mission is to deliver world class educational events that provide formal training to entrepreneurs, through boot camps, and informal training to both entrepreneurs and investors through the Banff Venture Forum’s panel and speaker content. The addition of the Canadian Financing Forum to the Banff Venture Forum family is synergistic and will assist in improving the opportunities for early and growth stage technology companies to better access investment financing.
“InfoTech looks forward to adding the Canadian Financing Forum to the Banff Venture Forum program of events” says InfoTech Chairman Don Kjosness. “We welcome the opportunity to build on the stellar event that Kathy and her team have established over the past 14 years, to further enhance the access to capital environment for early stage technology entrepreneurs.” Kjosness added: “This reinforces our commitment to improving access to capital for innovative technology companies in Western Canada while supporting the continued national focus on the Banff Venture Forum.”
Previous Canadian Financing Forum owner, Kathy Standeven, expressed her excitement surrounding the recent acquisition. “I am very pleased to pass on the Canadian Financing Forum to the extremely capable InfoTech Board and their event organizer, Marc Elrick of Critical Path Group” said Standeven. “I know that they will continue to offer a marquee event to investors and promising technology companies alike, and I look forward to watching the Forum continue to grow and meet the investment needs of the technology sectors in the future.”
Standeven expressed sincere gratitude to the community of Vancouver, in particular to the Forum’s numerous long standing and loyal sponsors, business partners and venture capital members throughout Canada and the U. S. “I thank you again for the opportunity, along with Dave Thomas, Forum manager for the past seven years and the creative force behind the Forum’s success, to support investment activity in Canada” says Standeven.
“Over the past 14 years, the Canadian Financing Forum has established a strong following in the Pacific Northwest and across Canada,” says Kjosness, “and on behalf of InfoTech, I would like to thank Kathy and Dave for their commitment to both the Forum and the Canadian entrepreneurial community.”
A formal announcement of the acquisition will be made at the Banff Venture Forum 2010, September 23 and 24, 2010 at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel.
About the Banff Venture Forum:
Banff Venture Forum was conceived by InfoTech, a not-for-profit industry association, in 1999 as a means of improving the access to capital environment for emerging, small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) in the technology sector. Since its inception, Banff Venture Forum has realised an order of magnitude scale of growth in all respects, with the 2010 Forum hosting in excess of 40 venture capital firms, 37 presenting companies and 360 delegates.
Featuring technology companies across three streams, Information Technology, Energy & Cleantech and Life Sciences Technology, the Banff Venture Forum provides emerging technology companies with unparalleled visibility and an opportunity to present to leading private equity and venture capital investors from across North America.
Banff Venture Forum 2011
October 6 & 7, 2011
Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel
Banff, Alberta, Canada
www.banffventureforum.com
About the Canadian Financing Forum:
The Canadian Financing Forum features presentations from the best and most promising Canadian technology companies, with over 24 technology companies competing for attention from top tier investors from across Canada and the United States. Focusing on both Information Technology and Energy & Cleantech companies, the Canadian Financing Forum matches North American corporate and venture capital investors with entrepreneurs looking to build world-class technology companies.
Canadian Financing Forum 2011
February 10, 2011
Fairmont Hotel Vancouver
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
www.financingforum.com
For more information, please contact:
Marc Elrick
Executive Director
Banff Venture Forum
#472, 3553 – 31 Street NW
Calgary, Alberta
403-699-1040
marc@criticalpathgroup.com
Updated CFF Acquisition Press Release (010907)
