CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – Southeast BIO (SEBIO), a regionalnonprofit organization dedicated to fostering the growth of the Southeast’s life sciencesindustry, announced today the first annual BIO/Plan Competition. The year-long programhas been designed and developed to help promote the creation of new, venture-attractivelife science companies based in the Southeast.Working closely with tech transfer offices and entrepreneurs throughout the region, thecompetition is seeking to pull opportunities forward from our region’s researchuniversities, research centers and experienced entrepreneurs.Here is how the BIO/Plan Competition works:• Investigators/entrepreneurs will first complete a short application outlining theirconcept and the opportunity.• A selection committee will then choose the best ideas and pair each with a teamof mentors to further develop the concept and surround it with a first-classbusiness plan.• The finished plans will be submitted to a panel of experts and a small group offinalists will be selected. The finalists will present their plans to the investmentcommunity at the 2007 SEBIO Investor Forum on November 8, 2007 at thePinehurst Resort in Pinehurst, NC, and a winner will be chosen. The winner willbe awarded a substantial prize of non-dilutive funds (estimated at $100,000)with which to launch the enterprise and implement their business plan.Details about the BIO/Plan Competition as well as rules and eligibility requirements canbe found on the SEBIO site, www.sebio.org/bioplan. THE DEADLINE TO APPLY ISMARCH 15, 2007!“BIO/Plan represents SEBIO’scommitment to move further back into the company lifecycle,” said Rebecca Kaufman, counsel with King & Spalding LLP and chair of SEBIO.“The opportunity to spur the creation of fundable companies, while bringing thetechnology transfer and venture capital communities together in the process, is anexciting challenge.”For additional questions, please contact the BIO/Plan Competition Co-Chairs:Frank Hunt, bioStrategies – frankrhunt@aol.comMichael Wasserman, H.I.G. Ventures – mwasserman@higventures.com
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About Southeast BIOSoutheast BIO (SEBIO) is a regional nonprofit organization that fosters the growth of thelife sciences industry in the Southeastern U.S. through efforts that promoteentrepreneurship and bring together companies, investors, universities, and supportorganizations active in the development of the industry. Today, the Southeast isrecognized as one of the fastest growing life sciences regions in the U.S. and home tomore than 220 life sciences companies. A public/private partnership formed in 1999,SEBIO is committed to conducting activities that create regional leverage and facilitatethe common interests and goals of constituents in the life sciences industry. Thegeographic footprint of SEBIO presently includes Alabama, Florida, Georgia, NorthCarolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. For more information on SEBIO, goto www.sebio.org.