VC conference draws state firms

With the Sixth Annual Silver & Gold Venture Capital Conference still a month away, organizers say they're certain that Nevada companies will be increasingly in the spotlight.

Four northern Nevada companies already are scheduled for presentations during the conference, which links young growing companies with venture capitalists and angel investors.

Last year, three Nevada companies made presentations during the conference.

Northern Nevada companies registered so far include:

* Mariah Power, a Reno-based developer of vertical-axis wind turbines.

* Digital Solid State Propulsion Inc., a Reno-based company that makes propellants for rockets and other applications.

* Understand.com, a Reno company that provides Web-based educational services for medical professionals and health-care companies to share with their patients.

* Blackbooks, a Minden developer of Web-based business applications.

Also registered are representatives of about a dozen venture capital and angel investment organizations.

(For registration information, go to www.goldencapital.net. Companies pay a $700 fee to present.)

The conference is sponsored by the Golden Capital Network, the Nevada Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology and the Sierra Angels.