SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – September 13 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Alan Levy, President and CEO of Northstar Neuroscience, Inc., will keynote the 2005 Neurotech Leaders Forum, to be held in San Francisco, CA October 20-21. Levy, founder of one of the most promising venture capital-backed neurotechnology firms, will address many of the issues involved with launching a neurotechnology startup. The fifth annual event, produced by Neurotech Reports, will be held at the Crowne Plaza San Francisco International Airport. The conference will cover a range of technologies and market segments in the neuro space, including neuromodulation, neural prostheses, neurodiagnostics, and neurostimulation.

Attendees will hear from some of the leading researchers and entrepreneurs developing clinically and commercially promising products such as cochlear implants, stroke rehabilitation devices, implanted pain stimulators, neural-computer interfaces, and advanced brain sensing technologies.

On the afternoon of October 20, the event will feature two short courses devoted to technology basics and investment advice for neurotech start-ups and early-stage firms. The finance track offers a primer on preparing a business plan for submission to potential investors, and covers the key components of a plan, what not to include, and how to arrange a meeting with the right person at a venture capital firm. Participants will also have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with representatives of VC firms for a confidential assessment of their presentation.

2005 Neurotech Leaders ForumNeurotech Reports senior financial editor Glenn Cornett, formerly with McKinsey & Company and a strategic advisor to biotechnology and medical device firms, will lead the course. The technology track. led by Neurotech Reports senior technology editor Warren Grill, offfers a tutorial on the fundamentals of neurostimulation, neuromodulation, deep-brain stimulation, and related topics. The tutorial will explain how neurotech devices work, and include a discussion of product features, stimulation parameters, targeted locations.

The second day of the conference features panel discussions on key issues affecting the neurotechnology industry, such as the role of government, licensing, and user satisfaction issues. The conference will wrap up with a panel discussion featuring representatives of some of the leading venture capital firms active in the neuro space.

The panelists will discuss critical issues such as the relative strengths and weaknesses of devices and bio/pharma approaches to neurological disorders, the current investment climate in the neuro space, and factors in obtaining funding for neurotechnology startups. VC firms participating in the conference include ONSET Ventures, Technology Partners, NeuroVentures Capital, and Lazard Capital Markets.

The forum will also feature presentations from executives of several early-stage and emerging neurotechnology firms covering a range of product and technology areas. Presenting firms include Andara Life Science, Inc, and Restorative Therapies, Inc.

Sponsors of the 2005 Neurotech Leaders Forum include Advanced Neuromodulation Systems, Inc., and Cyberonics, Inc.

Neurotech Reports, the conference producer, was launched in 2001. The company, based in San Francisco, publishes the Neurotech Business Report newsletter as well as market research reports in the neurotechnology industry.

For more information, visit www.neurotechreports.com.

News issued by: Neurotech Reports

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Original Story ID: (785) :: 2005-09-0913-006

Original Keywords: Neurotech Reports, Alan Levy, Northstar Neuroscience, Inc., Neurotech Leaders Forum, Neurotechnology, surgery, investment, venture capital, San Francisco, James Cavuoto, Glenn Cornett, ONSET Ventures, Technology Partners, NeuroVentures Capital, Lazard Capital Markets, Andara Life Science Inc, Restorative Therapies Inc., VC firms, neuromodulation, neural prostheses, neurodiagnostics, neurostimulation Neurotech Reports

News Source: Neurotech Reports