Supporting Organisations

Bio-M is a financing service and consulting company with the aim to promote the development of the BioTech-Region München. It is the “one-stop shop” for start-up biotech companies seeking financial support, business advice and the right contacts. Bio-M has set up a finance program to provide promising biotechnology companies with venture capital in the initial seed and start-up phases.
www.bio-m.de

BVK
Dr. Holger Frommann, Managing Director

The National German Venture Capital Association (Bundesverband deutscher Kapitalbeteiligungsgesellschaften e. V., BVK) was founded on January 20, 1988. On December 8, 1989, Deutsche Venture Capital Verband, DVCV, joined BVK. Since then, the corporate name is: Bundesverband deutscher Kapitalbeteiligungs-gesellschaften – German Venture Capital Association e. V. (BVK). The organization is a registered association.

BVK represents most of the German venture capital companies as well as the German branches of foreign venture capital companies. Every company dealing in and with the venture capital sector is welcome to become a member of BVK. As per September 30, 2001, BVK represented more than 200 venture capital companies.

BVK also offers associate membership to companies and organizations which support this particular business sector, i. e. accountants, lawyers, consultants etc.

By June 2001, BVK members were associated with 5,603 companies and held an overall portfolio of billion DM 23.5.

What does BVK do? BVK serves as a link between government and business. BVK represents its members’ views, needs and problems while supplying information and discussing any particular political and economic subject with the relevant government institutions.

Science and research are becoming more and more interested in venture capital subjects. BVK supports universities, colleges and their students with their research activities and problem solving.

As far as international contacts are concerned, BVK exchanges information with other national organizations in the economic sector and other international venture capital associations.

We strive that our work is for the benefit of both, the venture capital companies and their partners as well as economic prosperity itself.
www.BVK-eV.de

Israel Venture Association
Zeev Holtzman, Board Member

IVA - Israel Venture Association is a non-profit organization that was founded in August 1996 in response to the steady developments of venture capital activities in Israel, acting as a broad-based organization representing the diverse aspects of the Israeli capital venture industry.Today, the IVA membership stands at around 150, comprised of Israeli based and Israeli oriented VC’s, investment and holding companies, investment banks, as well as service providers (like cpa’s and law firms).

The goals of the IVA are to:

Represent members on issues of common interest.
Establish a viable, unified lobby.
Provide a platform for members to present subjects of common interest to the IVA membership.
Arrange speaking opportunities in Israel and abroad for IVA members.
Initiate activities of interest.
Develop and maintain relevant databases for member access.
Provide representation abroad to promote common aims.
Establish and maintain cooperation with parallel international organizations.
Secure special conditions and privileges for IVA members from service organizations in Israel and abroad.
Arrange for membership participation in local and international events.

Current activities include a regular exchange of information and joint events with the European Venture Capital Association (EVCA). Contacts with other international bodies are taking place with the objective of instituting similar cooperative relationships.

An international conference dedicated to the current developments that impact the Israeli venture capital community is held annually, and social events between members and portfolio companies also take place.

The IVA also publishes an Annual Yearbook, which has become an indispensable informational tool regarding the current activities in the Israeli venture capital and hi-tech scenes.

SECA

The Swiss Private Equity & Corporate Finance Association (SECA) is the representative body for Switzerland’s private equity, venture capital and corporate finance industries. SECA has the objective to promote private equity and corporate finance activities in Switzerland. Private Equity refers to equity investments in privately held, non-quoted companies (“Beteiligungsfinanzierungen”). Corporate Finance Services are advisory services related to mergers, acquisitions, buyouts and the financing of companies. Members of the SECA include equity investment companies, Banks, Corporate Finance Advisors, Auditing Companies, Management Consultants and Private Investors. The association is a non-profit organization and has the following purposes:

to promote corporate finance and private equity activities in the public and the relevant target groups;
to promote the exchange of ideas and the cooperation between members;
to contribute to the professional education and development of the members and their clients;
to represent the members views and interests in discussion with government and other bodies;
to establish and maintain ethical and professional standards.

SECA Activities
In addition to promoting corporate finance in the public, SECA provides a platform to its members to exchange information and experiences. The main activities of SECA are:

Seminars and events about relevant topics
Publication of statistics about private equity investment and management buyout activities in Switzerland
Quarterly edition of a newsletter SECA News (for members only)
Contacts of other associations and state bodies

www.seca.ch

SVCA

The Swedish Venture Capital Association (Svenska Riskkapitalföreningen), formed in 1985, is an independent non-profit association supporting the interests of companies and persons engaged in the Swedish venture capital industry. The Association’s objective is to promote an efficient venture capital market in Sweden. The Swedish Venture Capital Association has approximately 370 members, of whom 155 are venture capital firms. Membership in the Association is open for companies outside Sweden and is recommended for all who are interested in matters pertaining to Swedish venture capital. Membership offers access to information on activities in the market, invitations to the Association’s monthly luncheon meetings, a presentation in the Association's Directory of members and on the website, access to Association training courses and seminars and offers of membership discounts for a number of events. For the Active Corporate Members, a membership is also a signal that the company abides by the ethical rules and valuation guidelines of the Association.