Venture Funding for Healthcare Technology Innovation

ATLANTA, GA--(Marketwire - May 23, 2011) - The June 7, 2011 meeting of the Southeastern Medical Device Association (SEMDA) will look at emerging funding sources for southeast healthcare companies. The meeting will begin at 5:30 PM and will be held at the Ravinia Club (www.semda.net to register).

Approximately six months ago, Ross Mason announced the launch of HealthTrain Ventures, a venture fund with the ambitious goal of helping launch approximately 100 companies over the next three years through investments in the areas of health information technology, medical devices, military health care and regenerative medicine. Mason, a partner in HealthTrain and founder of HINRI Labs, will be a featured speaker at the meeting. Mason will describe the funding, the research and the outcomes, as well as how to create partnerships across the state and region, around the country, even internationally.

Joining Mason will be Connor Seabrook, a consultant for the Georgia Research Alliance (GRA) Venture Fund and Administrative General Partner at Alliance Technology Ventures (ATV). In addition to managing all operations at ATV, Seabrook has also worked directly with several ATV portfolio companies, serving as CFO for ATV Inhibitex, Helios Health and Somatocor Pharmaceuticals.

"One of the greatest challenges for any entrepreneur is securing funding," said David Hartnett, SEMDA's 2011-2012 president, and Vice President, Bioscience Industry Development at the Metro Atlanta Chamber. "Often start-ups must look to other parts of the country for funding sources, so it is very exciting to learn about the developments that are taking place here in the Southeast.

"This meeting will offer new insights into established seed funds as well as the early-stage HealthTrain fund. Ross Mason is a dynamic speaker and it's virtually impossible to hear him speak and not be excited about the opportunities our industry offers," Hartnett concluded.

About SEMDA

The Southeastern Medical Device Association (SEMDA) is a non-profit trade association that supports and promotes medical device companies in the Southeast. Created in 2004, the association provides a unique resource and networking opportunity for medical device companies, inventors, physicians, and investors interested in accelerating the growth of the medical device industry in the Southeast. Through quarterly and members-only meetings, as well as its highly regarded annual Conference, SEMDA meets the needs of members of the medical device community. Learn more at www.semda.net.