Most of the time, the matter is not about how much money is needed but how and when it is raised. Timing and skillful orchestration of the fund raising campaign can make or save a company. Entrepreneurs who artfully deal with VCs normally recognize when to avoid going to the well and when the right conditions are present. However, how can entrepreneurs seize the moment and identify that the timing is right with a lingering threat of a potential recession? For VCs, how do you make money in a down market?

What is Hot: US and Canada activity

VC activity often shifts from one sector to another, or focuses on certain regions of the world, or changes as a result of recent market dynamics. Where are the hot areas of VC activity in Canada and the US these days? Panelists discuss recent VC activity and what
lies ahead in terms of investor interest.

How to better connect Canada & US companies

Many large corporations have established a US presence and are actively pursuing M&A activities there. However, some opportunities are better exploited with an established US partner. Canadian Technology companies have long ago learned that entering the US market is both necessary and challenging. What cross-border initiatives are in place today that make entering this market more efficient?

The next train of the public market: Options, Opportunities, Risks

What are the prospects for an IPO as an exit strategy for technology companies? We have seen this exit avenue dry up over the past few years, and M&A has taken the slack. What needs to happen for the IPO alternative to be back in style? When and where does pursuing an IPO make sense?

Mobile - The Shifting Balance of Power

The iPhone shifted balance of power between application developers and carriers. There is hope now that more innovative applications will redefine the consumer's mobile experience. Google's Linux-based mobile operating system, Android, and its Open Handset Alliance are all efforts to give more clout to the handset makers. How will these initiatives foster innovation and bring us the next killer app? All sides are still seeking the business model that rewards both carriers and content creators.

Cleantech - Which technology will stand out?

What has been defined as clean technology is really a market-basket of technologies with discrete markets, ranging from alternative fuels and energy sources, to transportation, materials technologies and water purification. While solar energy has been the recent darling of private equity, it remains unclear which of these emergent cleantech sub sectors will become most profitable, and offer venture-style investor return. This panel looks at the cleantech technologies most exploitable by venture capital, within the typical venture horizon of 3-5 years, and what impacts these technologies will likely have on the marketplace.

Web 3.0

Canada has long been a leader in software and Internet product development. As Web 2.0 activity matures, investors are interested at what the next generation (Web 3.0) will look like. Social networks, mobile content and SaaS (Sofware as a Service) are current examples of some of the innovations gaining traction. Canadian entrepreneurs will give us a peak into what the web will offer during the next five years.

Digital Media

The conversion of mass media to digital has been a fundamental revolution. From videos to photos to publications, digitization has caused a shift in the balance of power from traditional media to online and digital distribution. Yet, the business models for this new medium are not clear. Just five percent of all ad spending globally went to the Web last year. Will creativity and quality falter? Can the new business models sustain the rich variety of fare that 21st century consumers expect? This panel discusses the myriad new opportunities in Digital Media and how to best deliver the benefits to a new breed of consumers.

Innovating in a Billion Dollar Enterprise

What are the new realities of growing a business from a few clients to worldwide phenomenon? Is the road from startup to global player more or less bumpy than it was 10 years ago? This panel discusses the key milestones - pitfalls and lessons learned - startups experience on their way to gaining a global footprint.

From concept to worldwide success: Milestones for startups

Once a company achieves the billion dollar in sales milestone it enters a new chapter, one of maintaining market share and always staying relevant. How does a company this size continue to innovate when it is no longer as nimble as its smaller peers?

Running a Public company in Canada

Running a public company in a post-SOX era is a lot different than during the first part of this decade. In Canada, while the regulatory rules are slightly more relaxed, running a public company is still much different than running a private company. This panel compares and contrasts companies who have recently become public with some who have been public for many years.