Economist and Legendary Financial Journalist Stuart Varney to Deliver Keynote Address at Capital Connection 2003(R)

    TIMONIUM, Md., April 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Today the Mid-Atlantic Venture
 Association (MAVA) announced that former CNN and CNBC host Stuart Varney will
 deliver the keynote address at the organization's annual venture fair, Capital
 Connection 2003:  Where New Technology Meets Smart Money, being held May 27
 and 28 at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront Hotel.  During his address an
 anticipated nearly 1,000 fair attendees, including local and national private
 equity firms, entrepreneurs and professional service firms, Mr. Varney will
 address the global economic climate facing investors today.
     Mr. Varney is credited with changing the way that television reports on
 financial and economic news worldwide. The former host of CNBC's weekly
 broadcast of the Wall Street Journal Editorial Board with Stuart Varney, he
 also served as co-host of CNN's MoneyLine News Hour from 1999-2001.  Mr.
 Varney is a founding member of CNN's award-winning business team, joining CNN
 upon its founding in 1980.  An economist educated at the London School of
 Economics, Mr. Varney has also earned a Peabody Award for excellence in
 journalism.
     "We are thrilled to have someone with Stuart Varney's economic insight and
 credentials speak to the Capital Connection 2003 attendees," said Julia
 Spicer, Executive Director of MAVA.  "Every year we strive to present
 extraordinary programming that directly benefits attending VCs, as well as
 showcasing best-in-class presenting companies."
     A panel of some of the industry's pioneers and most seasoned venture
 capitalists will also address the audience at Capital Connection 2003.
 Managing partners from New Enterprise Associates, Domain Associates, North
 Bridge Venture Partners and Accel Partners will speak during the panel
 session, "VC MASTERS: A Historical Perspective to the Future of the Venture
 Industry," hosted by Venture Economics Vice President Jesse Reyes.
     Capital Connection 2003 will showcase 50 technology and bio/life sciences
 companies pre-screened by venture capitalists and coached through a formal
 mentoring process. The selected companies represent the premier
 entrepreneurial investment opportunities in the Mid-Atlantic region and
 beyond.  Since 1996, presenting companies at MAVA venture fairs have raised
 more than $2.2 billion. In advance of the fair, a list of the final companies
 selected to present at this year's Capital Connection will be announced.
 
     About MAVA
     MAVA represents the collective interests and leverages the success of
 venture capitalists investing in DC, Maryland and Virginia. Founded in 1986,
 MAVA provides a wide range of programs, information and forums designed to
 facilitate quality deal flow, encourage collaboration, and foster solid
 relationships with key service providers. Membership includes 375 venture
 capital professionals at 126 firms with over $10 billion in capital under
 management. In addition, over 265 key service providers from the legal,
 financial, executive search and consulting fields are also MAVA members. For
 more information on MAVA and Capital Connection 2003, please visit
 www.mava.org.
 
 

SOURCE  Mid-Atlantic Venture Association