Creative businesses depend on funding in order to succeed and thrive.  Yet in the competitive world of technology, even the best ideas have sometimes found it difficult to secure seed funding. 

This year's Cyberport Venture Capital Forum (CVCF), held for the sixth consecutive time this fall, will share invaluable expertise on how creative start-ups can secure angel funding and plant the foundation for success.  Themed "Finding Perfect Angels: Early Stage Investors Backing Creative Start-ups", CVCF 2009 will draw together angel investors and entrepreneurs who have undergone the crucial start-up stage of a creative business to share their insights and experiences.

The Forum aims to unlock the secrets to finding the right investors, striking the fine balance of ensuring the angel does not take charge of the entire business while, at the same time, spending the time to develop a proper constructive relationship with the investor.

With the current economic environment making early stage financing ever more competitive, CVCF 2009 will also highlight the current trends in angel investing, and take a close look at how angel investors and creative industry entrepreneurs can work together to develop and build innovative companies that can succeed and thrive.

A dynamic lineup of experienced keynote speakers will be featured.  They include Dave McClure, Startup Investor and Advisor of Founders Fund, a venture capital firm specializing in seed stage investments.  Mr. McClure will host a presentation to shed light on how to source, select and nurture your next best deal.

Another keynote speaker is Aydin Senkut, Founder and President of Felicis Ventures, a seed stage angel fund.  Mr. Senkut will talk about the changing role of angel investors.

Additionally, Yat Siu, CEO of Outblaze Limited, the first company to meet the market demand for multi-lingual community-oriented Internet messaging services, will address in the keynote presentation.

These and seven other business leaders will also talk about how angel investors and start-up entrepreneurs can work together to create viable businesses and produce a desired return on investment. The Forum will look into the issues and challenges of the process and how they can be resolved.

What's more, there will be opportunities for participants to closely network with the Forum's international experts who will independently address pertinent issues such as how to win and secure angel funding and how to best position your company for an angel investor.

Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to gain insightful strategies that can turn your start-up into a profitable and sustainable business.  What's more, the first 50 fee paying registrants will be entitled to free autographed copies of "Zero-to-IPO" by David Smith or "Angel Financing" co-authored by John Lo and Patricia Woo.  Register early while stock lasts!

For further information of this unmissable event, visit cvcf.cyberport.asia and enjoy early bird rates.

Event details:

CVCF 2009	Workshop – How to Best Position Your Company for an Angel Investor
Date: November 17	Date: November 18
Time: 9:00am-5:30pm	Time: 10:30am-12:30pm
Venue: Function Rooms 1-3, Core E, Cyberport 3, 100 Cyberport Road, Hong Kong
Website: cvcf.cyberport.asia
Email: cvcf@cyberport.hk
Enquiry hotline: 3166 3838

Rita Lau, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, on September 17, enjoyed an engaging afternoon visit to Cyberport, touring the cloud computing lab of IBM and attending the presentations of three incubatee companies at the Cyberport IncuTrain Centre.  Government Chief Information Officer Jeremy Godfrey and Deputy Government Chief Information Officer Ava Chiu accompanied Mrs. Lau on the visit.

Mrs. Lau was presented with the success stories of three incubatee companies and learnt more about Cyberport's latest development.  She also conducted a media interview with TVB News at the centre in which she shared her views on Hong Kong's creative industry development.  The reporter also interviewed representatives from the three presenting incubatee companies as well as Nicholas Yang, CEO of Cyberport.

The presenting companies were Emagist Entertainment Limited, Music Powerhouse Limited, and Simage Animation and Media Limited.

Newly formed online game company Emagist Entertainment Limited focuses on RPG, real time multiplayer games and the development of online flash games.  The start-up has released games targeted at the international market including making use of social networking sites like Facebook as a delivery platform.  In mid-2009, the company launched two Facebook real-time multi-player games that attracted 500,000 users.

Hong Kong based Music Powerhouse Limited, established in October 2007, and received funding from the Innovation and Technology Commission's Small Entrepreneur Research Assistance Programme, applies the latest digital music technologies to its business model in a bid to tap changes in music consumption behaviour and the creation of more commercial opportunities particularly in the Southeast Asia market.  Their products also received industry recognition, including Ubiquitous City – the HK Government's WiFi Application Award and the Innovative TD-SCDMA Application Award.

Last but not least, Simage Animation and Media Limited joined the IncuTrain programme as an offsite company in 2007.  Graduating in early 2009, it specializes in the end-to-end production of high-end animation for cartoon, advertising and broadcast by taking advantage of various 3D techniques to maximize their effectiveness.

As part of the Wine Festival @ Cyberport, Cyberport has organized an exciting range of events between October 25-27 for wine connoisseurs and novices alike. 

These include The First Hong Kong Wine Angel Competition in which 12 selected candidates will undergo makeovers, catwalk training and wine education, transforming them into ladies possessing the same elegance as wine.  All members of the public are encouraged to log on to wine.cyberport.hk to cast a vote for their individual of choice.

Meanwhile, several informative seminars have been arranged including a wine tasting session with Kat Lee, Wine Consultant of Berry Bros. & Rudd Hong Kong, on October 25 from 5:30-7:00pm.  Participants will be able to sample up to five wines at the session.  Ms. Lee has passed her Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) Advanced Level Exam with distinction after her only 3 1/2 years in the wine industry.

Separately, Mark Arrowsmith, Senior Wine Broker of Berry Bros. & Rudd Hong Kong, will give a seminar on wine investment on October 26 from 5:30-6:30pm.  Mr. Arrowsmith has been in the fine wine trade business for 15 years.  Berry Bros. & Rudd is Britain's oldest wine and spirit merchant with over 300 years' trade experiences.

In addition to the above programmes, The Arcade, Cyberport, will turn the Ocean View Court into a fun-filled wine carnival during the 3 days.  In the Wine and Food Matching section, celebrated chef Mr. Chow Chung will join hands with wine consultant in pairing up delicious dishes with appropriate wine.  The Wine Charity Auction will be open to public to bid for their favourite wines including special items such as Kormilitsa Tsantali, the official wine for Moscow Kremlin Palace.  More fun, all visitors can enter into a lucky draw and win a bottle of 1982 Chateau Cheval Blanc with an estimated value of HK$10,000.  This wine has been rated 99 points by Robert Parker, the world's leading wine critic.  What's more, special offers by wine merchants are provided in the Festival including Smoke Grappa special set and $10 for a bottle of wine etc.

Reservations for the Wine and Food Matching section, Wine Tasting and Investment seminars can be made in advance, and the ticket cost for each activity is $100.  Proceeds will be fully donated to Habitat for Humanity China for their charity projects there.  Seats are limited.  Call 3166 3111 or go to wine.cyberport.hk for more information and reserve a place now.