Harlan Jacobs is the founder and president of Genesis Business Centers, Ltd., a diversified high tech, for-profit incubator program. Mr. Jacobs is a seasoned CFO with over 20 years experience as a corporate controller and treasurer prior to becoming involved in the fields of incubation and early stage venture (seed) capital. He was the CFO for FilmTec Corporation, a successful Minnesota high tech start-up company with a unique reverse osmosis membrane technology. Formed in 1977 with only $100,000 of founders capital, the company went public in 1979.  In 1985, with sales of $10 million and net income of $1.5 million, FilmTec was sold to Dow Chemical for $75 million in cash! Mr. Jacobs was actively involved in the acquisition negotiations.  Over the years he became interested in other early-stage, high tech companies like FilmTec. Most of the companies in which he invested were having great difficulty raising the first $250,000 of capital. Paying the rent and having adequate business advisory services available early-on were common laments among the management teams he interviewed for his prospective investments.  A business opportunity seemed obvious. In 1993 he founded one of the most progressive high-tech business incubator programs in Minnesota, if not in the U.S., by offering to barter rent and "Acting CFO" services for a negotiated equity position in its incubatee companies. This bartering program has become a cornerstone of the Genesis Incubator program.  Successful graduates of the Genesis Incubator program include SurVivaLink, a manufacturer of portable battery operated defibrillators that was acquired by Cardiac Sciences (stock symbol: DFIB), NT International, a specialty sensor manufacturer that was acquired by Entegris (stock symbol: ENTG), and Excorp Medical, a bioartificial liver company whose system recently received FDA "orphan drug" designation, a significant approval step.  www.genesiscenters.com

Minnesota Investment Network provides equity financing and business expertise to help grow companies located in Minnesota. Minnesota Investment Network manages a $15 million equity fund and establishes angel funds a.k.a. RAIN^® funds.  We fill the void for equity capital that exists outside the metropolitan area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. We are the only equity fund that focuses on rural business opportunities statewide. Investments must be capable of providing returns to investors and creating quality jobs.  What is a RAIN^® fund?  Minnesota Investment Network builds local capacity to make equity investments a reality by organizing RAIN funds in communities throughout Minnesota. RAIN funds are a series of formal investment funds that pool the intellectual and financial resources of accredited individuals and institutional investors. They provide seed and growth equity capital for emerging companies in their communities. RAIN funds are structured as limited liability companies (LLC) and function like mini-quasi venture funds.  A RAIN fund must be capitalized at a minimum of $500,000.  Minnesota Investment Network participates as a member in each fund by matching 10% of the capital raised locally, up to $100,000 per fund.  www.minncorp.org 

Ennovato is a startup venture dedicated to designing, manufacturing, and selling flat panels for use in flat panel displays. Using a new manufacturing technology to manufacture flat panels, Ennovato hopes to (i) reduce variable manufacturing costs by 40%~60%, and (ii) realize a 90% reduction in capital expenditure. In a fragmented industry projected to be $48.3 Billion dollars in 2006 these two advantages will help Ennovato compete against entrenched competitors. Ennovato has attracted well respected and knowledgeable individuals to serve in its advisory board.  www.ennovato.com