Sponsors

Founded in 1875 by Jules-Louis Audemars and Edward-Auguste Piguet in the Swiss village of Le Brassus, Audemars Piguet is the oldest Manufacture of Haute Horlogerie never to have left the hands of the founding families. Today, its range encompasses complex mechanical watches, Haute Joaillerie creations as well as a line of jewellery. At each stage in its history, the Manufacture has daringly adopted avant-garde techniques in order to place them in the service of traditional craftsmanship. This approach has earned it an unparalleled number of world firsts in the field of Haute Horlogerie.

Endeavour Vision is a premier European venture capital firm investing in high potential companies in the information technology and life sciences sectors. Since 1989, the principals have made over 63 investments in 12 different countries. The goal of Endeavour Vision is to contribute to the success of companies who demonstrate great potential by teaming up with entrepreneurs and sharing skills, expertise and network To better support Entrepreneurs, the firm has developed two institutions: the European Tech Tour Association, a non-profit foundation generating networking opportunities for Entrepreneurs with VCs, Corporations and other Entrepreneurs, and the CEO-Circle, a group of world-class entrepreneurial CEOs who are committed in helping with the development of portfolio companies.

Some investments made by the principals include Sandisk, Dolphin Interconnect, SCM Microsystems, Virata, Altitun, Cirpack, Media Lario, Tagsys RFID and Sequans, (Information Technology); and Actelion, Axovan, Endoart and Novimmune (Life Sciences).

GrowthPoint Technology Partners is a different kind of investment bank. We provide M&A, fundraising and strategic advisory services to a wide range of technology companies. As former CEOs, executives, board members, investors and advisors, we bring a wealth of strategic and financial experience to our clients with the sole objective of helping them achieve success. In 2005, four senior members of SVB/Alliant, formerly Alliant Partners (sold to Silicon Valley Bankshares in 2001) left to form GrowthPoint Technology Partners. We created a new firm to provide the very best advisory environment for our clients. Our highly experienced senior advisors deliver a quality, research driven service, in a variety of technology sectors.

Weber Shandwick is a Communications Partner of the European Tech Tour, supporting both the European level organization and the various country tours.  Weber Shandwick, a unit of The Interpublic Group of Companies (NYSE: IPG), is one of the world's leading public relations agencies, with offices in major media, business and government capitals around the world. Weber Shandwick is a leader in marketing public relations, public affairs and corporate communications counseling, and also provides services in advocacy advertising, market research and visual communications.

Doughty Hanson & Co is one of Europe's largest independent private Equity fund managers, with funds focused on private equity, European real estate, and technology start-up companies . Headquartered in London, the firm has offices throughout Europe as well as in the United States. Doughty Hanson Technology Ventures invest in outstanding management teams to build world-class companies. The fund provides early-stage venture capital financing to technology companies throughout Europe, focusing on software, communications technologies and semiconductors. For more information, please visit www.doughtyhanson.com.

Iris Capital is a leading pan-European growth and development capital fund specialising in Media & Entertainment, Communications and IT. Since it was established in 1986 in Paris, the team has invested over €800 million in more than 200 participations.

As a truly European firm, Iris Capital stands out through its original industrial positioning (notably in the field of media) and strong presence in key European markets and sectors. We have historically invested across 16 European countries and have significant and successful experience in North America. We proactively look for companies that have the potential to become leaders inside and outside their home market; we invest in strong and experienced teams, superior technologies, favorable market dynamics and viable business models. In terms of the companies' development, we take a broad investment approach in terms of growth and development phases. We also invest in special situations such as public-to-private or secondary transactions. We have supported such successful companies as Phone.com (Openwave), SFR, Wavecom, e-Plus, n-tv, Computec, SBS Broadcasting, to name a few. For additional information please see www.iriscapital.com.

Seventure Partners is an active partner of companies with high growth potential. Seventure Partners invests since 1997 in innovative technology businesses. The Seventure Partners team has a proven track-record and deep knowledge in technology, entrepreneurship, operations of venture capital, and in the needs generated in fast-growing companies. The partners are trained to provide a full range of solutions to entrepreneurs, from help in fund raising, building organizations, producing realistic forecast, business development, to support during an IPO, trade sale process or LBO. We invest in innovative companies with strong growth potential in France, Germany and Europe with a special focus on telecoms and fixed-mobile convergence, telecom infrastructure, Internet and e-services, software & software as a service as well as semiconductors.

Wellington Partners (www.wellington-partners.com) ranks among the most successful pan-European venture capital firms. With € 800 million under management and offices in London, Munich and Zurich, the firm invests into opportunities throughout Europe that have the potential to become global leaders, mainly in the areas of Information Technology, Media Convergence and Life Science. Since 1998, Wellington has established a worldwide network to aid its entrepreneurs in building companies on a global scale. Wellington Partners has invested in more than 100 companies in Europe and Israel, including now publicly traded Actelion, SAF and XING, successful privately held companies like Alando (acquired by eBay) and ImmobilienScout24 (acquired by Deutsche Telekom) as well as current portfolio companies like Adconion Astaro, Questico and Truphone.

BayTech Venture Capital is an independent leading European Venture Capital firm based in Munich, Germany, with the ambition to help the best entrepreneurs build the most successful companies in their fields of expertise. We invest at an early stage in companies in the Technology sector in Western Europe, especially in Germany and France. Our contribution to success in the growth phase of these companies is not limited to capital. The money we provide goes along with our experience in company building and the industry expertise of our investment professionals, access to our world-wide network and the respect for the values and the contribution of the entrepreneurs we work with .

The Forsyth Group, with offices in London and Palo Alto, is a leading executive search firm focused on the emerging technologies sector. Founded in 1981 the company has developed close relationships with investors, entrepreneurs and the world’s leading technology companies, recruiting outstanding leadership talent across the UK, Europe and North America.

The company offers depth of experience across the technology sector including expertise in:
-Software / Software as a service
-Digital media
-Internet technologies
-Mobile communications
-Hardware
-Cleantech
-Venture Capital

A sample of past clients, include companies such as Oracle, IBM, Netscape, Scopus, Doubleclick, RealNetworks and more recently emerging technology companies such as Zecco, CoComment, Speakanet, Vidavee, Funcom, Trampoline Systems and The Light Agency have all worked with the Forsyth Group to expand their senior management teams.

Noble Venture Finance is focused exclusively on providing asset based and working capital finance to fast growing privately held venture capital backed companies throughout Europe.

The first fund was launched in 2003 by Mark Taylor one of the pioneers of Venture Debt in Europe. Mark was founder of Europe’s first resident Venture Debt provider in 1998.The second £100 million fund recently announced its first close in September 2007 and its final close in April 2008.

Noble Venture Finance provide working capital by secured loan/and or provide a line of credit for future equipment purchases or working capital needs, thereby preserving expensive equity capital for building the business, development work, staff recruitment and marketing.

We look to provide facilities from €1 million to €10 million over a period of time and we can syndicate larger amounts though our extensive bank connections. We will provide facilities in Sterling, Euros or US dollars over repayment periods usually to 36 months.

To date we have invested more than €90 million in 29 companies in nine European countries, working with more than 40 venture capital firms.

TVM Capital is a global venture firm with a 25 year operating track record. The long-term investment focus of TVM Capital on technology and life sciences companies has led to specialized, teams with dedicated funds. The TVM Capital Technology Team invests in promising businesses with a focus in information technology, internet, communications and clean technology. Having successfully invested in these emerging markets consistently, has enabled the team to develop a deep understanding of rapidly evolving markets and to combine that knowledge with the right business expertise to help portfolio companies navigate the proper course. The TVM Capital Technology Team invests in all stages of the product life cycle from its earliest stages like material and design innovation through late stage opportunities brought about by business model and execution innovation. More information on: www.tvm-capital.com

Berlin Adlershof is one of the most successful high tech locations in Germany. Since 1991, an integrated Science, Business and Media location, embedded in an overall urban development concept, has been growing on an area covering 4.2 km2.

Its core is a Science and Technology Park with 413 businesses, twelve non-university research institutes and six scientific institutes of the Humboldt University in Berlin. Some 7,000 people work here. There are also 6,600 students. Businesses and non-university scientific institutes concentrate on:
-Photonics and optical technologies
-Material and microsystem technology
-Information and media technology
-Environmental, Bio- and Energy Technology


In addition, with 145 industry representatives, Adlershof is also the most significant media location in Berlin. Right next to science and technology there is a complex of 217 light industrial businesses, shops, hotels, restaurants, a 66 ha landscape park and 380 owner occupied homes. Adlershof, the City of Science, Business and Media, is also the workplace of 13,500 people. One of the key elements of the Adlershof growth strategy is the active support of company foundations via an incubator and activities like the "Humboldt Spin-Off-Zone". Relations to the regional Business Angel Network and the VC scene are active and frequent.

GE Energy Financial Services’ 350 experts invest globally with a long-term view, backed by the best of GE’s technical know-how and financial strength, across the capital spectrum and the energy and water industries, to help their customers and GE grow. With $17 billion in assets, GE Energy Financial Services, based in Stamford, Connecticut, invests more than $5 billion annually in two of the world’s most capital-intensive industries, energy and water. In renewable energy, GE Energy Financial Services is growing its portfolio of more than $3 billion in assets in wind, solar, biomass, hydro and geothermal power. Venture investments include A123, THINK, and Ocean Power Delivery. For more information, visit www.geenergyfinancialservices.com.

Hasso Plattner Ventures was established in summer 2005 with the aim of helping young, highly promising IT companies to transform their innovative ideas into sustainable commercial successes. Founding investors are Hasso Plattner, CMEA Ventures and InvestitionsBank des Landes Brandenburg.

In the meantime, Hasso Plattner Ventures has 150 million Euros under management and invests in both young and already established companies in the IT and cleantech sector. Currently, the portfolio consists of ten companies based in Germany and Austria. Three of them reside in the Hasso Plattner High Tech Park in Potsdam, close to the Hasso Plattner Institute for Software Systems Engineering and are able to benefit from this unique package of workspace, consulting and financing.

All the portfolio companies are part of Hasso Plattner Ventures’ unique network within industry, sciences, finance and education and support each other on their way to the international markets. Hasso Plattner Ventures is the host of the renowned “Annual Forum on Entrepreneurship” that regularly attracts industry leaders, scientists and entrepreneurs and leads to many intensive discussions.

SAP Ventures helps build industry-leading companies by partnering with outstanding entrepreneurs and top-tier venture capital firms. We are information technology investors who focus on enterprise products and services. In the 10 years since we were founded by Hasso Plattner, Chairman and co-Founder of SAP AG, SAP Ventures has invested in over 75 companies.

Our seven person investment team has more than 60 years of combined software experience as operators, entrepreneurs, industry analysts and investors. We have over 35 years of direct investing experience. The entire team believes in involving ourselves deeply with our companies. We are open and flexible in our thinking and believe there is the potential for great companies and solutions in a wide variety of spaces. This is reflected in our willingness to investigate opportunities across all stages, industries and market segments on a global basis.

Target Partners is one of the leading venture capital investors in Germany. The partners of Target Partners have years of collective experience as successful managers, entrepreneurs and venture capital investors in Europe and the USA. We founded or led companies ourselves, developed or sold technology products ourselves. We have seen numerous companies through to IPO and beyond. We understand the challenges an entrepreneur faces and that the road to success often isn't simple and straight.

Both in Europe and the USA Target Partners has a large network in industry and venture capital. We open doors for you to customers, business partners, experienced managers and financial markets. We support you in business development, in international expansion, in closing OEM or distribution contracts, and in acquisition decisions. In addition, several dozen European and US entrepreneurs and top managers, as well as a number of US venture capitalists, have personally invested in our funds and thus have a particularly strong interest in your company's success.

T-Venture Holding GmbH, or T-Venture for short, is one of the most important corporate venture capital companies in Europe. Founded in 1997 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom AG, it has since then invested in young companies that demonstrate economic and technological synergies with the business units of Deutsche Telekom and also show considerable growth potential.

Headquartered in Bonn and supported by T-Venture of America, Inc. in Foster City, California, T-Venture focuses on the management of shareholdings. These commitments are financed by the T-Mobile Venture Fund, T-Online Venture Fund, T-Com Venture Fund and T-Systems Venture Fund set up especially by Deutsche Telekom AG. The T-Corporate Venture Fund also controls other direct and indirect investments, such as TeleSoft Partners, USA, a venture capital fund specializing in high tech companies.

Although financing is provided directly via funds, T-Venture is responsible for selecting and managing innovative companies in the throes of starting up or expanding. From then on, T-Venture provides intensive support for the companies and acts as a long-term partner. T-Venture's success is reflected in its successful IPOs and trade sales, constant growth of investment volumes and in the intensive transfer of innovation between Deutsche Telekom and shareholdings.

Xange Private Equity (www.xange.fr) is a leading European venture capital investor specialized in the field of information and communication technologies, media, core technologies and clean tech, with headquarters in Paris and a German office based in Munich. Backed by leading European companies and financial institutions, XAnge is a unique private equity firm with ca. €350 million in assets under management.

Positioned as a link between large corporations and small and medium-sized businesses, XAnge offers its expertise with an industrial and a financial vision. XAnge has a strong team of 16 professionals, including 12 experienced investment managers who play an active role in their portfolio companies.

The Chilli is a unique media platform for high-tech entrepreneurs, investors and advisors. The Chilli is an established global brand in the technology entrepreneurial food chain in Europe, US and now expanding out in Asia. Our information and in-depth analysis are available through regular newsletter updates, online products and live at seminars, conferences and events.

Red Herring is a media company whose mission is to cover innovation, technology, financing and entrepreneurial activity. Its staff of award-winning journalists tell readers what's first, what matters and most importantly, why.

Founded in 1998 GoingPublic Media AG is today one of the leading German publishers of magazines on technology trends, corporate finance and capital markets. In addition to the monthly issued “GoingPublic Magazin” and its well known yearly special editions like “Corporate Finance & Private Equity Guide” or “Biotechnology” which are largely meant as reference books, the company publishes the likewise monthly “VentureCapital Magazin”. New since 2007 is “Unternehmeredition”, which focuses quarterly on Small and Medium-sized family owned enterprises. All publications are available in German.