First Annual Venture Capital in Education Summit 2009 Launches in May

STANFORD, CA--(Marketwire - April 22, 2009) - Despite education representing the second largest U.S. economic sector, entrepreneurs in the education market grapple with the gap between funding for nascent ventures and that available to later-stage businesses. In an attempt to reverse this trend, leading independent investment bank Berkery Noyes and Stanford University today announced the Venture Capital in Education Summit 2009, an inaugural meeting designed to connect early-stage capital with transformative education sector trends and innovative early-stage education companies. The Summit is scheduled for May 29, 2009 at the Schwab Center on the Stanford University campus.

"At a time when the nation is investing billions of dollars to improve K-20 education, early-stage education companies are suffering from neglect of both attention and dollars," explains Adam Newman, Director of Berkery Noyes. "This lack of capital and resources stifles promising initiatives driving K-20 improvements and game-changing advances in learning."

The upcoming Venture Capital in Education Summit will bring together a select group of leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs, and investors to learn more about the K-12 and postsecondary education sectors and to build stronger bridges between the early-stage investment community and the dynamic businesses transforming the education landscape. In a single day, early-stage investors interested in the education space will have the opportunity to engage influential leaders and companies from the education industry in an exploration of topics including:

--  The Future of Education
--  Policy and Regulatory Insights into the K-12 and Higher Education
--  Funding Early-Stage Education Businesses
--  Finding an Exit Strategy
--  Beating the Odds: Perspectives from Education Executives
--  Digital Innovation and Empowerment for All
    

The Summit program will include a keynote address by Dr. Milton Chen, executive director of The George Lucas Educational Foundation, as well as sessions led by noted members of the investment community, education entrepreneurs and executives, foundations and institutions, and policy experts. In an intimate setting, the gathering will bring together venture capitalists, angel investors, social venture philanthropists and private equity investors with entrepreneurs, executives, foundations and other innovators in the K-20 education markets.

"Education empowers people and brings about change, and is subsequently the one thing we can never overlook amongst the various facets of our lives and businesses," explains Dr. Paul Kim, chief technology officer and assistant dean at Stanford University School of Education. "The upcoming Venture Capital in Education Summit will unite Stanford University's vibrant community of entrepreneurs in the education sector with innovative funding strategies and inventive blended entrepreneurship models. The presentation and exchange of best practices in education entrepreneurism will ultimately help to make educational experiences more efficient, effective, engaging and enabling in a world that is evolving at the speed of thought."

In addition to support from Berkery Noyes and Stanford University, the Venture Capital in Education Summit 2009 is being co-sponsored by Hogan & Hartson (www.hhlaw.com) and CSG|PR (www.csg-pr.com). Space is limited. For more information about the event, contact Adam Newman at 212.668.3022 or event@berkerynoyes.com.

About Berkery Noyes

Berkery Noyes is one of the pre-eminent merger and acquisition firms serving the education and information industry, having completed more than 400 transactions since its inception. Among the most recent education transactions include Rockbridge Growth Equity's acquisition of Northcentral University, KUE Digital's acquisition of Excelsior Software, Leeds' acquisition of Ex Libris and eInstruction's acquisition of Interwrite Learning. Berkery Noyes' clients include private companies seeking a buyer, most of the major international information companies, and private equity firms who use the firm's expertise in locating, analyzing and negotiating with acquisition candidates and in managing divestitures. For more information, visit http://www.berkerynoyes.com.

Stanford University School of Education

The Stanford University School of Education is a leader in groundbreaking, cross-disciplinary research and analysis that help shape educational practice and policy. Internationally distinguished faculty integrate practice and research by working collaboratively with administrators, teachers and policy leaders around the world. The school develops the knowledge, wisdom and imagination of its students to enable them to take leadership positions as teachers, researchers, administrators and policy makers. For more information, visit http://ed.stanford.edu/.

Contact Information: Contact: Steven Shapiro 303.433.7020 (office) 303.886.6342 (cell)