Indiana Future Fund Forum Visits Notre Dame

On Thursday, September 21, 2006, the BioCrossroads life sciences
initiative and the University of Notre Dame will host the Indiana
Future Fund Entrepreneurial Forum at the university.
This
is the sixth Entrepreneurial Forum that BioCrossroads has sponsored,
with support from Indiana Future Fund professional management firm
Credit Suisse, since April 2005. Credit Suisse manages the Indiana
Future Fund, a $73 million venture capital pool that employs a network
of six local and national venture investment firms to explore Indiana
life sciences investment opportunities. The Indiana Future Fund was
formed through BioCrossroads. The event will feature remarks
from Stephen Luecke, Mayor of South Bend and Chris Murphy, President of
1st Source Bank. A special luncheon presentation will be given by Tom
Burish, University of Notre Dame Provost and BioCrossroads Board of
Directors member and Dave Brenner, IrishAngels Executive Committee
member, Gigot Center for Entrepreneurial Studies at the University of
Notre Dame Advisory Board Trustee and IdeaWorks, LLC Managing Partner.
IrishAngels is a network of Notre Dame alumni and associates who are
experienced in entrepreneurial endeavors and interested in supporting
new venture development.

“IrishAngels strives to support
aspiring entrepreneurs within the Notre Dame community in many ways,
including helping them access funding networks,” said Dave Brenner.
“This event will provide Notre Dame’s entrepreneurial community with
yet another avenue to help foster the development of new business
opportunities.” Presentations will also be given by
university-affiliated companies. Updates on the university’s life
sciences research and biomedical engineering activities will also be
provided. These presentations will be made to the six Indiana Future
Fund venture capital firms. Jeffrey Kantor, former University
of Notre Dame Vice President for Graduate Studies and Research, added,
“Research has been an important part of Notre Dame’s history and we are
committed to helping faculty members obtain and manage the funding they
need to support their research. The university continues to be a
significant source of intellectual capital and entrepreneurial spirit
and we’re glad the Indiana Future Fund is making its latest stop here.”
The Indiana Future Fund has played a significant role in
helping to spur the growth and development of Indiana life sciences
businesses, raise Indiana’s venture capital profile and attract
additional venture capital investment into the state. The six venture
capital funds are Burrill & Company, EDF Ventures, Pappas Ventures,
Pearl Street Venture Funds, Spring Mill Venture Fund and Triathlon
Medical Ventures. Future Fund investors include Indiana’s public
pension funds as well as corporate and academic institutions.