Seventy-Seven Companies to Present at CED Venture 2011 Conference

In just a few days, 77 companies will present their technologies and business plans at the CED Venture 2011 Conference. CED, which will hold its event on April 27-28 at the Raleigh Convention Center, is the southeast’s largest entrepreneurial support organization.

The companies that will present are said to represent the largest-ever gathering of early stage technology firms in the 28-year history of the CED Venture Conference.

“The strong showing of entrepreneurial companies is a sign that the economy is trending up,” said Joan Siefert Rose, president of CED. “People are more willing to start companies when they think there is a likelihood of attracting customers and investors. The fact that we are seeing such a diverse group of companies is a very positive indicator that confidence is returning to tech sector.”

Companies are scheduled to participate in the Demo Room at the CED Venture 2011 Conference. They come from the following sectors: analytics, cleantech, cloud computing, digital media/communications, gaming, healthcare IT, mobile applications and ecommerce, nanotechnology, social media, and software as a service (SaaS (News - Alert)).

These enterprises, which were chosen by a panel of investors, come from the Triangle, Triad, Charlotte-Mecklenburg and Wilmington regions. In addition, four companies headquartered in other states will present at the conference. All participating companies are listed here.

The presentation will be provided by Demo Room companies. At the CED Venture 2011 Conference, the keynote will be addressed by Glen Tullman, CEO, Allscripts; Steve Hannah, CEO of The Onion; and Michael Capps, president, Epic Games, among others.

“Interest in the conference is strong, and the event is nearly sold out,” said Rose.

CED connects emerging growth companies with the necessary tools and resources to start something new. With its broad network, CED, a private, non-profit organization, supports companies that want to take their business to the next level. CED is the oldest entrepreneurial network in the country; it has enabled entrepreneurs to raise more than one billion dollars in capital. Launching more than 700 companies, CED currently serves more than 5,500 active members representing nearly 1,100 companies in North Carolina.

In related news, CED announced that Triangle Startup Weekend, a 54-hour immersion into what it takes to launch the next big thing, is now open to registration. Triangle Startup Weekend is held on June 3-5 at Durham's historic American Tobacco Campus.