Former Apple and Pepsi CEO John Sculley to Keynote 2008 Southeast Venture Conference
Speaker lineup includes among others, Salesforce.com President Jim Steele, Sourcefire CEO Wayne Jackson, and NEA co-founder Frank Bonsal.
TYSONS CORNER, VA – November 8, 2007 – The Southeast Venture Conference (SEVC) today announces John Sculley, the former CEO of Apple and Pepsi, currently a venture capitalist with Rho Capital Partners, as a featured keynote speaker. The event will be held February 27 –28, 2008 at the Ritz Carlton in Tysons Corner, Virginia.
One of the top business innovators over the past 30 years, Sculley has earned such honors as "CEO of the Decade", "Man of the Year", and "Advertising Man of the Year". He built his reputation in business while he was President and CEO of Pepsi. By the time he left his position to join Steve Jobs at Apple, becoming the highest paid executive in Silicon Valley, Pepsi had become the number one packaged soft drink in America. After ten years as CEO of Apple, he left the company having achieved the number one market share position of PC's in the world.
Sculley continues to be a visionary and business innovator as a venture partner at Rho Capital Partners in New York City, where his area of focus is telecommunications and Internet services. Sculley will share the business secrets that he used to catapult Apple and Pepsi to the most recognizable brand names in their categories.
"We're excited about the addition of John Sculley to our list of conference speakers," said Jason Caplain of Southern Capitol Ventures, Chairman of the event. "He certainly brings a unique perspective from his background - not only as a top branding CEO, but from his experience as a venture capitalist."
"Its an honor to be associated with such an event…one that pushes the envelope on innovation and promotes regional growth," said Sculley. "It's a great line-up and I'm excited to support emerging companies like those showcased at the SEVC."
Other featured speakers at the SEVC include Salesforce.com's President Jim Steele, Sourcefire CEO Wayne Jackson and NEA co-founder Frank Bonsal, among the 22 speakers already confirmed for the event.
In addition to the featured speakers, informative panels and extensive networking opportunities, the SEVC will showcase approximately 40 high growth private companies before a regional and national audience of venture capitalists, private equity investors, angel investors, investment bankers and the technology service community.
About SEVC
The mission of the Southeast Venture Conference is to help support the innovation and entrepreneurial activity of emerging high growth technology companies from the southeast region and the resulting economic growth in the Southeast. As part of that goal, the SEVC understands the importance of investment capital to this equation and provides a key forum to facilitate the infusion of growth to the southeast high growth technology community. The SEVC highlights both early stage and later stage investment opportunities from: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and Washington DC. The second annual SEVC will be held February 27 –28, 2008 at the Ritz Carlton in Tysons Corner, Virginia. The first annual SEVC was sold out and was represented by over $56 billion in investment capital. www.seventure.org |
