The voice of women entrepreneurs featured at FIU’s Americas Venture Capital Conference Nov. 17

Discussion panel focused on obstacles and opportunities female entrepreneurs face today

FIU’s 2011 Americas Venture Capital Conference will feature a unique look at the challenges and triumphs of women entrepreneurs in Latin America and South Florida, as part of its comprehensive focus on venture capital success in the region. The conference is scheduled for Nov. 16-17 at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables.

The inaugural Women’s Network panel, “Breaking the Venture Capital Glass Ceiling for Global Success,” is designed as an opportunity to discuss leading trends among women entrepreneurs doing business in the region. The panel will take place the morning of Nov. 17 and is co-sponsored by FedEx Express Latin America and Caribbean and Goldman, Sachs & Co. The panel will be moderated by Amelia Balonek of Goldman, Sachs & Co. and will include speaker Annabel Perez, president and CEO of Novo Payment, Latin America’s leading pre-paid program manager and service provider, and Martha Carr, vice president of Information Technology at FedEx Express Latin America and Caribbean.

“The goal of this forum is to share success stories as a means of inspiring a new generation of entrepreneurs and opening doors and opportunities for those just starting out,” said Amelia Balonek.

“At FedEx we know that education is critical to sustained economic growth and a key component for businesses to successfully compete in the global marketplace. Ready access to education and training for entrepreneurs, and especially for women in business, can only help business growth to flourish, and thereby strengthen the region’s competitiveness,” FedEx’s Carr said. “The AVCC Women’s Network panel represents an interesting platform to promote dialog about the advancement of women entrepreneurs, an important sector of the economy, and further the collective consciousness needed to address some of the challenges that the private sector can help address.”

In its second year, the AVCC, presented by the Eugenio Pino and Family Global Entrepreneurship Center and the College of Business Administration, has emerged as the leading networking and learning conference for growth companies doing business in Latin America and South Florida, as well as service providers, financiers and others seeking to engage with members of this expanding economic sector.

As part of the two-day conference’s comprehensive look at entrepreneurship, a wide range of speakers will share their first-person stories of success, as well as the inside stories of triumph over challenges that face every entrepreneurial venture.

Keynote speakers include:

• Wenceslao “Wences” Casares, co-CEO of Lemon.com, and founding partner of MECK Ltd.
• Jose Maria Blanc, managing director of Intel Capital
• Manuel D. “Manny” Medina, chairman and CEO of Medina Capital Partners, Inc. and founder of technology innovator Terremark Worldwide Inc., who will be the keynote speaker at a private dinner.

The panelists include:

• Cate Ambrose, executive director, Latin American Venture Capital Association
• Gustavo Arnavat, United States executive director of the Inter-American Development Bank
• Allen Taylor, director, Global Networks, Endeavor.

Among this year’s panelists is Andres Moreno, CEO and founder of Open English, who presented at the conference last year and has since received an estimated $6 million in venture capital investment. His panel will discuss the role of a venture’s location in raising capital.

Entrepreneurs from throughout Latin America and South Florida will present their business plans to conference attendees, including venture capitalists, private investors and corporations. This year, presenting ventures were chosen in two categories: Top Global Innovative Ventures, established companies that will deliver ten-minute presentations at a conference forum, and Top Emerging Innovative Ventures, which will deliver two-minute presentations at the same forum. Presenting ventures include companies in agriculture and water quality; biotechnology, pharmaceutical and health; consumer products; energy and green technologies; entertainment; information, communication and web technologies; natural resources; and education. A full list of presenting ventures is available here.

Registration fee for the America’s Venture Capital Conference is $599. Conference registration includes admission to panels, keynotes, presentations, meals, networking breaks, and receptions.

For more information, visit AmericasVCConference.com or contact the Pino Global Entrepreneurship Center at entrepreneurship@fiu.edu.

Media Contact:  Ellen Forman at 954-873-4118.