June Conference Delivers Time-Tested, Battle-Hardened Insights for Anyone Involved in Startups

MENLO PARK, CA–May 5, 2004–Garage Technology Ventures today announced “The Art of the Start,” a new conference providing time-tested, battle-hardened business strategies and tactics that entrepreneurs need to succeed in the new environment, whether starting from a garage, dorm room, lab or inside a big company. Go to http://artofthestart.garage.com/ for more information.

The “Art of the Start” conference will be held on Tuesday, June 15, 2004, at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, CA

“Starting a high-tech business is more challenging and demanding than it’s ever been, even in an environment of venture capital overhang,” said Guy Kawasaki, Garage Technology Ventures’ managing director, startup authority and popular business author.

Attendees will learn how things have changed on the investment scene and what it takes to get funded today; how to run and build a business by creating an ecosystem; and how to get a reasonable valuation. Experienced entrepreneurial CEOs will share their success strategies, as well as the lessons they’ve learned from their mistakes.

The conference also serves as a preview of Kawasaki’s new book The Art of the Start, which will be published by Portfolio in October 2004. Kawasaki and Bill Reichert, both managing directors of Garage Technology Ventures, will deliver keynote presentations and will also moderate panel discussions on topics of key interest to entrepreneurs.

Other speakers and panelists include Silicon Valley leaders and mavericks, venture capitalists and successful startup CEOs, including:

  • Dave Anderson – Mohler, Nixon & Williams
  • Steve Baloff – Advanced Technology Ventures
  • Bill Green – VantagePoint Venture Partners
  • Julie Hanna Farris – Scalix
  • Alan Jepsen – Comerica
  • Bill Joos – Garage Technology Ventures
  • Steve Jurvetson – Draper Fisher Jurvetson
  • Brad Koenig – Goldman Sachs
  • Martin Kuhn – Sony
  • Richard Mandeberg – Mirra
  • Michael O’Donnell – BitPass
  • Steve Poizner – Strategic Mapping and SnapTrack
  • Ian Sobieski -The Band of Angels
  • Betty Taylor – Krause Taylor Associates
  • Peter Thiel – Clarium Capital Management (former Chairman & CEO of PayPal)
  • Mark Weeks – Heller Ehrman / Venture Law Group

To review the conference agenda and to register go to artofthestart.garage.com. Seating space at the Computer History Museum is limited and early-bird discount pricing is in effect until May 16.

About Garage Technology Ventures
Garage Technology Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm located in Silicon Valley focusing on emerging technology companies on the West Coast. The firm is currently investing in its third fund, a seed-stage and early-stage fund anchored with an investment from CalPERS. Unlike some venture funds, Garage is happy to support first-time entrepreneurs who are building the next great technology company.

Media Contact:
Krause Taylor Associates
Betty Taylor
bettyt@krause-taylor.com
408-918-9082

All securities and securities-related services are offered by Garage Technology Ventures’ wholly-owned subsidiary Garage Securities, Inc., member NASD/SIPC.

Copyright 2004 Garage Technology Ventures. All rights reserved. Garage Technology Ventures and Garage.com are trademarks of Garage Technology Ventures. All other company names are registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective owners.