The San Diego Regional Technology Alliance is hosting its fourth annual Venture Roundtable program on Oct. 8 and Oct. 9 for local entrepreneurs and investors.

Launched in 2002, the Venture Roundtable sessions are exclusive, private, invitation-only showcases for the most promising technology and life sciences companies in the region. Selected companies, which are some of the best and brightest companies in the San Diego area, have the opportunity to present themselves to a small group of premier investors in an intimate environment.

Separate roundtable sessions are held for high-tech and life sciences companies, with venture capital investors invited accordingly. Generally, each roundtable includes five or six presenting companies and 12 to 20 investors.

The Venture Roundtables offer emerging technology companies an opportunity to receive preparatory coaching and to present their funding proposal to a group of investors who have been selected because of synergies with presenters' markets and technologies. It offers local entrepreneurs an opportunity for a high-level introduction to capital providers.

The investors, who are invited based upon the technology areas represented, have the opportunity to see new proposals and to network with their peers for future syndication opportunities.

"We are really pleased to see quality of business development and sophistication that our presenting companies will be bringing to the investors," said Tyler Orion, RTA president and CEO. "And the response by the investment community -- both locally and from out of town -- reflects very positively on San Diego's continued vitality."

The Venture Roundtables for 2003 are being produced by the RTA in partnership with Silicon Valley Bank, Heller Ehrman White & McAuliffe , Ernst & Young and a distinguished committee of industry experts, which includes:

Paul Bouchard, Hamilton Apex Technology Ventures

Jennifer Brown and Rich Mejia, Ernst & Young

Terrance Bruggeman, Aspetuck Capital Partners

Tim Bubnack, Silicon Valley Bank

Bill Carpenter, Michael Elconin, Jay Kunin, Ralph Mayer, Michael Lutz, Jack Florio and Jon Hee, Tech Coast Angels

Brian Khoury, Waypoint Ventures

Tony Medrano, Seed Enterprise

Martin C. Nichols, Michael S. Kagnoff and Nancy Davis, Heller Ehrman

Lina Ramos Holm, Emerging Growth Enterprise

Brian Sagi, Cerian Technology Ventures

Jim Thornton, Guide Ventures

Killu Tougu Sanborn, Inglewood Ventures

"From what we've seen, there is a tremendous amount of investor interest in these companies and for this event," said Martin Nichols, shareholder at Heller Ehrman. "The market trend appears to be that investors want to put their money back to work, and the RTA has done a great job screening and coaching these entrepreneurs for their presentations."

Venture Roundtables are not open to the public, however applications for Venture Roundtable 2004 will be announced in the RTA's eSanDiego newsletter early next year. Interested entrepreneurs are invited to visit www.sdrta.org for additional information.