Space Angels Network, LLC, a national network of seed- and early-stage investors focused on aerospace-related ventures, today announced the 14 presenting companies it has selected for its first Aerospace Venture Forum being held in Long Beach, California, on September 25, 2008. The Forum will be a full-day event that showcases promising aerospace-related ventures and allows entrepreneurs to present their investment opportunities to an exclusive audience of active accredited investors. The presenting companies include:
- Advanced Aero (www.invertedvtail.com) of Melbourne, FL
- American Dynamics Flight Systems (www.adflightsystems.com) of Jessup, MD
- Aviation Technologies International (www.avtechintl.com) of Orange, CA
- Blue Marble Network (www.bluemarblenetwork.net) of Sammamish, WA
- Brainlike Surveillance (www.brainlike.com) of Atlanta, GA
- Masten Space Systems (www.masten-space.com) of Mojave, CA
- Ocean Galactic (www.deepflight.com) of San Anselmo, CA
- Samson Motorworks (www.samsonmotorworks.com) of Meadow Vista, CA
- Skymeter Corporation (www.skymetercorp.com) of Toronto, ON
- Space Data Corporation (www.spacedata.net) of Chandler, AZ
- Terrafugia (www.terrafugia.com) of Woburn, MA
- Virtual Space Entertainment (www.virtualspaceentertainment.com) of San Anselmo, CA
- WheelTug (www.wheeltug.com) of Baltimore, MD
- XCOR Aerospace (www.xcor.com) of Mojave, CA
"We were very pleased by the number of applicant companies with impressive credentials, which made the selection committee's job difficult given the limited number of presentation slots," said Guillermo Söhnlein, founder and managing director of Space Angels Network. "We are certain the investors attending the Aerospace Venture Forum will see this group of emerging companies to be an interesting cross-section of high-quality aerospace-related deals, including sensors, telematics, and various types of vehicle systems."
The event is scheduled to be the first of a series of "deal screenings" organized across the U.S. by Space Angels Network for the benefit of its investor members. Attendance is limited to the presenting entrepreneurs and individuals qualifying as "accredited investors" as defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The purpose of the day-long program is to help investors meet and screen potential investment opportunities by providing them with pre-screened materials about each venture, briefings by the entrepreneurs, an Entrepreneur Showcase, investment process support from the Space Angels Network staff and online platform, and an end-of-day collaborative session where investors will benefit from each other's experiences to further refine their investment due diligence.
The Aerospace Venture Forum is being co-hosted by the Keiretsu Forum Southern California, part of the world's largest angel investment network, which will also be conducting its own Venture Forum and Investor Education Day on September 26 at the same location. On the evening of the Aerospace Venture Forum, Keiretsu Forum Southern California will hold a "Big Band Ball" fundraiser to launch its new charitable foundation, with a portion of the proceeds being donated to several aerospace non-profit organizations.
More information about Space Angels Network and the Aerospace Venture Forum can be found at www.spaceangelsnetwork.com/ventureforums.php.
About Space Angels Network, LLC
Space Angels Network is a professionally managed national network of seed- and early-stage investors focused on aerospace-related ventures. The online platform allows members to find investment opportunities, to connect with like-minded accredited investors and aerospace industry experts across the U.S. and Canada, and to collaborate on due diligence and deal negotiations. Space Angels Network also organizes semi-annual Aerospace Venture Forums, which offer entrepreneurs opportunities to meet face-to-face with accredited investors and present their ventures for their consideration. Through its extended strategic relationships with venture capital firms, federal science and technology agencies, state economic development organizations, research universities, incentive prize organizations, and other partners, Space Angels Network creates a robust ecosystem for both aerospace entrepreneurs and investors to connect for seed- and early-stage financing. For more information, please visit www.spaceangelsnetwork.com.