Thank you to everyone who attended the 2011 Bright Forum! Bright Forum videos, the program for the event, and an article from the Buffalo news are now available for online viewing.

The Bright Forum provides investors, entrepreneurs and other professionals a full day of networking and deal making across the life sciences, energy, IT, and advanced manufacturing high-tech sectors (with over 50 companies seeking investment in attendance). This year’s Forum was held on June 9, 2011 and featured Hatim Tyabji, Chairman and CEO of Bytemobile, as the Keynote speaker.

June 8, 2011

OPENING DINNER

Local and out-of-town investors, early-stage entrepreneurs from 28 different companies, and the 2011 Bright sponsors enjoyed a meal together at Buffalo State College's Burchfield Penney Art Center, 1300 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo, a LEED certified, sustainably designed building.

June 9, 2011

All events, with the exception of The Closing Reception, were held at Buffalo's Beaux Arts Albright Knox Art Gallery, home to one of the nation's most comprehensive modern and contemporary art collections.

BRIGHT FORUM ANGEL INVESTOR BREAKFAST

This breakfast for angel investors, complimentary with event registration, was hosted by Watson Bennett, LLP and the Western New York Venture Association. The theme for the morning was, "Growing Angel Networks with a Co-Investing Focus." Angel investor firms from eight different cities were represented at the breakfast:

• Western New York Venture Association (Buffalo, NY)
• Rochester Angel Network (Rochester, NY)
• Seed Capital Fund of Central New York (Syracuse, NY)
• Niagara Angel Network (Port Colborne, ON)
• Golden Triangle Angelnet (Cambridge, ON)
• BlueTree Erie Angels (Erie, PA)
• BlueTree Allied Angels (Pittsburgh, PA)
• Boston Harbor Angels (Boston, MA)

BRIGHT FORUM

Local and out-of-town angel and VC investors, entrepreneurs, sponsors, community leaders, established high-tech companies and other professionals as well as government representatives, economic development representatives and many others coalesced for a day long event focused on promoting the entrepreneur economy of the Great Lakes Megalopolis. 

Click here to see a list of this year's Ten Minute Presenters!

Click here to see a list of this year's One Minute Presenters!

BRIGHT FORUM CLOSING RECEPTION

All conference participants were invited to dine at Buffalo's scenic Yacht Club, situated where Lake Erie meets the Niagara River.