InterTradeIreland

Venture Capital Conference 2012 Highlights

Conference Highlights 2012

The 11th InterTradeIreland Venture Capital Conference took place in Belfast City Hall on 7th March 2012. The event brought together 250 attendees from across the island. The main focus of the event was to assist companies to 'Navigate the Funding Maze' and to build on the experiences of companies that have been through the Venture Capital process and showcase the options and opportunities that are out there for businesses today.

The conference was formally opened by Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Niall Ó Donnghaile, and was chaired by well known BBC NI Business Editor, Jim Fitzpatrick. The keynote speakers were Dennis R Costello, Braemar Energy Ventures and Danny Moore, Lough Shore Investments, who shared their own experiences as entrepreneurs and investors.

A panel of experts made up of representatives of the island's active venture capital funds answered queries from delegates. Representatives from the business angel community were also in attendance and shared their knowledge about Business Angel Finance. There was also a panel session on State Supports featuring InterTradeIreland, Invest NI, and Enterprise Ireland.

As this year's conference focused on 'Navigating the Funding Maze', an additional panel showcasing Complementary Sources of Finance was also included comprising speakers from the IVCA, Silicon Valley Bank, Northern Bank and InterTradeIreland.