Roger Novak Delivers Keynote Address at Tuck Private Equity and Growth Ventures Conference

February 29, 2008 - The Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College tapped Novak Biddle Venture Partners (NBVP) general partner and co-founder Roger Novak to deliver the luncheon keynote address at the third annual Tuck Private Equity and Growth Ventures Conference. The conference is designed to strengthen the Tuck and Dartmouth networks among venture and buyout firms, hedge funds, institutional investors, and growth companies. Keynote speakers and panelists were asked to address current issues and important trends for the benefit of industry practitioners and Tuck students in attendance.

NBVP is the Greater Washington, DC metro region’s premier early stage IT venture fund.

"Multiple events over the last several years have deeply impacted the venture capital industry including the steep costs of Sarbanes-Oxley implementation, the consolidation of the accounting profession, and the decreased transparency caused by Eliot Spitzer’s march through with Wall Street," said Roger Novak, general partner Novak Biddle Venture Partners. "Despite this state of flux, venture capital investment will continue. Top performing firms are persistent and are still returning money to their limited partners while underperforming funds are closing shop. It’s a natural progression given the current political and regulatory environment.

"VC will continue taking risks, backing promising, young companies that will add local and national economic value. Innovation has not stopped. This is perhaps most evident in the alternative energy sector as cleantech continues to attract significant interest from investors," Novak added.

Mr. Novak’s address was preceded by a morning speech by Chris Flowers of JC Flowers & Co. The February 1st conference was limited to an intimate 200 attendees including professionals representing the buyout, hedge fund, real estate, energy, and venture capital industries.