Feature News

SEATTLE, Aug. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Following the theme "Invest in Innovation; Kickstart the Economy," a $100,000 investment fund will be awarded to the top two companies with the greatest investment opportunity as selected by the fund investors at ZINO Society's annual ZINO Zillionaire Investment Forum, to be held September 17, 2009, 8:00 am - 6:00 pm at the Four Seasons Hotel in Seattle.

Accredited investors, entrepreneurs, and business leaders are invited to attend the ZINO Zillionaire Investment Forum. There will be five-minute presentations by 28 entrepreneurs representing broad and varied investment opportunities, including but not limited to technology, consumer goods, and life sciences. More than 200 people are expected to attend the all-day event. "The entrepreneurs are competing for a $50,000 Best Technology Opportunity Investment and a $50,000 Best Non-Technology Opportunity Investment. The winners will be determined following due diligence by angel investors participating in the ZINO Society facilitated ZZIF 2009 Investment Fund, LLC," remarked Cathi Hatch, ZINO Society Founder and CEO.

VIP speakers and panelists include Glen Hiemstra, founder and owner of Futurist.com; Ric Merrifield, Author of Rethink; Trish Dziko, CEO & Executive Director of Technology Access Foundation; Alan Smith, Partner at Fenwick & West; and Michael Butler, Chairman & CEO of Cascadia Capital. Phyllis Campbell of Chase JP Morgan will serve as guest host of the VIP Investor/Entrepreneur dinner which occurs on the evening preceding the forum.

    ZINO Zillionaire Investment Forum (ZZIF) Presenting Companies

    Company              Key Contact            Website

    Alerts.com           Pascal Stolz,
                          CEO & Co-Founder      www.alerts.com
    Ballentene Railing   Fred Larkin, President www.breezerailing.com
    Cogi, Inc            Mark Cromack,
                          President             www.cogi.com
    Corewerks            Horst Schaaf,
                          President & Founder   www.corewerks.com
    Dr. Susanna's World  Dr. Susanna Block,
     Baby Foods, LLC      Co-Founder & CEO      www.worldbabyfoods.com
    DropStation          Jon Matsuo, CEO        www.dropstation.com
    EnergeticX LLC       Mark Russell, CEO &
                          Founder               www.zebigo.com
    Enroute              Keith McCall,
                          President & CEO       www.enroutecorp.com
    Giftango Corporation David Nelsen, CEO      www.giftango.com
    Grace & Game LLC     Jessica Mathews,
                          Founder & CEO         www.graceandgame.com
    Harbor Wing          Ken Childress, EVP,
     Technologies, Inc.   Business Develop      www.harborwingtech.com
    Hydrovolts           Burt Hamner, CEO       www.hydrovolts.com
    IONexus              David Caffey, CEO      www.ionexus.com
    Journey Gym          John Friess, Co-Founder
                          & President           www.journeygym.com
    Julep Nail Parlor    Jane Park, CEO         www.myjulep.com
    Light-Based          Jeanette Jackson,
     Technologies Inc.    CEO                   www.lightbasedtechnologies.com
    Magic Wheels Inc.    Loren Lyon, CEO        www.magicwheels.com
    MicroGREEN
     Polymers, Inc.      Thomas Malone, CEO     www.microgreeninc.com
    Mulligan Stew        Gary Trauner, CFO      www.mulliganstewpetfood.com
    Nakea Inc.           Chris Nakea, Founder
                          & CEO                 www.nakea.net
    nTerraCon, LLC       Clyde Ford, Co-Founder www.nterracon.com
    Oasis Diagnostics    Paul Slowey, PhD, CEO  www.4saliva.com
    Photon Machines,     Dr. Steven Buckley,
     Inc.                 President             www.photon-machines.com
    Shiftboard           Rob Eleveld, CEO       www.shiftboard.com
    Talentspring         Bryan Starbuck, CEO    www.talentspring.com
    Value Appeal         Charles Walsh, Founder
                          & CEO                 www.valueappeal.com
    VioVi                Giuseppe Mascarella    www.viovi.it
    Zero Crossing Inc.   Sam Sudore, CEO        www.zeroxing.com

Six of the 28 entrepreneurs will be selected as finalists to participate in Due Diligence LIVE! To help investors make investing decisions, Due Diligence LIVE! includes expert panelists asking in-depth follow-up questions. The 2009 ZINO Zillionaire Investment Fund investors will undertake additional due diligence following the event to decide which two companies will get the investment funds. The winners will be announced about a month after ZZIF following the completion of due diligence. The afternoon will conclude with a wine reception, a finalists' awards ceremony, announcement of the ZINO Zenith Award winners, and the opportunity for angel investors and entrepreneurs to interact.

ZINO Society also actively works to support entrepreneur education and early stage businesses through involvement with the Entrepreneurship programs at the University of Washington and Seattle University, and is pleased to showcase selected finalists from the schools' Business Plan competitions at ZINO Zillionaire Investment Forum each year.

About ZINO Society

ZINO Society is a membership network that connects accredited investors with entrepreneurs seeking funding and connects people for business and social interaction, enrichment, education and commerce. Since its inception, ZINO Society has facilitated angel funding in excess of $12.5 million for early-stage and expansion businesses. More information can be found at zinosociety.com.