Dear AVCAL Colleague,

We are very pleased to be working with the Victorian Government, Department of Innovation, Industry & Regional Development and IFM to produce the Melbourne International Venture Capital Conference with the theme of "Cross Border Venture Investment - The Global Growth Story".

The conference will be held on Wednesday 30 January, 2008, at the Sofitel Melbourne in Victoria. For further information about the conference please go to the website at www.mivcc.net





AVCAL 2007 survey results

Thank you to the 202 people who completed the post-conference survey.

Although the approval ratings were very positive, the following themes emerged in the free-form responses:

• the early stage program was not as strong as in recent years
• there should be fewer panel sessions and more keynote speakers
• more LP's should be invited to attend

All these areas will be remedied at AVCAL 2008.

The three survey respondents who won a complimentary registration to AVCAL 2008 were:

- John Peacocke, Ara Capital
- Graydon Smith, Dept of Industry
- Stan Jeffery, Integrated Company Growth Services





Seminar: IT Patents - Current Position in Europe, USA and Australia - International Speakers

- Melbourne, Thursday 22 November

Software and Internet Business Process Systems. Are they patentable? When does one infringe the patent? Is the situation different in Europe and USA from the position in Australia?

Patent protection for information technology developments, particularly software, has attracted controversy and has evolved over the years to a situation where different approaches are being taken in Europe, the USA and Australia. The differences and current state of the evolution will be explained at this half day seminar by experts from UK, USA and Australia, with reference to examples.

The seminar is endorsed by Australian Information Industry Association, Australian Computer Society and Victorian Society for Computers and the Law. Thursday 22 November 2007 from 8.30am to 1.00pm at Monash University Law Chambers, 472 Bourke St, Melbourne. Further information available here, or call 03 9523 7207 or email information@techip.com.au




The BSI/AlwaysOn Venture Summit

BSI is looking for 6 best of breed Australian Innovative Companies to present at the next month's BSI/AlwaysOn Venture Summit conference in California. If you need have an investee that you would like profiled, or for any further information, please contact Ivan Kaye on +614 1333 9888 or +612 9212 5505





Private Equity and Venture Capital in Australia 2007

The Australian Private Equity and Venture Capital Industry is one of the leaders in the Asia-Pacific region and ranks 11th globally, as outlined in Invest Australia's latest financial services publication Private Equity and Venture Capital in Australia 2007.

Providing an overview of private equity and venture capital activity in Australia, this latest publication shows that the Australian private equity and venture capital industry is the second most active market in the Asia-Pacific region behind China.





Information Economy Christmas Events

Sponsored by CSIRO & KPMG, the Information Economy Christmas Events are to be held in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide for the industry to come together to celebrate its achievements and help spread a bit of Christmas cheer! The events provide opportunity to meet new friends, and catch up with existing ones over a few drinks, The Information Economy Christmas events are a must if you work in the internet, telecommunications, multimedia, information technology or electronics field.

ITs* in Brisbane
Monday 26th November, 2007
City Gardens Cafe, Alice Street, Brisbane City Botanical Gardens, Brisbane

ITs* in Sydney
Tuesday 27th November, 2007
Verandah Restaurant, 55-65 Elizabeth Street, Sydney

ITs* in Melbourne
Wednesday 28th November, 2007
Curve Bar, The Arts Centre, 100 St Kilda Road, Melbourne

ITs* in Adelaide
Thursday 29th November, 2007
First, Richmond Hotel, 128 Rundle Mall

Time: 5.30pm - 8.30pm
Cost: $50 for single ticket or 3 tickets for the special price of $99 (inc. GST)
To register click here or call 02 9423 8850




Yours sincerely,


Katherine Woodthorpe
Chief Executive