Forum will focus on venture capital investments

When outside investors consider putting money into companies based in the Inland Northwest, do they see dollar signs or do they see warning signs?

Judging from the amount of investment activity here over the past three years, regional technology companies are holding their own. Three or four firms can all point to hefty investments that have helped push them to the next level.

Whether the region can develop another wave of successful new companies will be discussed during a forum on venture capital investments to be held at the Davenport Hotel on Wednesday from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.

The event, starting with a dinner and followed by a panel featuring several regional investors and managers, costs $60 and is sponsored by economic development group Connect Northwest.

Keynote remarks will be presented by Paul Berger, CEO and president of Nighthawk Radiology, based in Coeur d’Alene.

He’ll discuss how venture capital helped Nighthawk — which provides long-distance, overnight radiology readings to doctors and hospitals — to the next step, an initial public offering of shares earlier this year.

If Spokane worries that it’s still in the shadow of Puget Sound, Seattle investment manager Kevin Cable plans to dispel that notion. Cable, executive vice president of Cascadia Capital, said several Inland Northwest success stories prove the region has a vibrant, if limited, base of technology companies.

“(Spokane) has some very strong companies,” such as Nighthawk Radiology, ReliOn, World Wide Packets, Next IT, Genprime and Purcell Systems, he said.

For more information on the regional investors forum, go to www.connectnw.org.