Industry Leaders Gather for OCTANe's 7th Annual Medical Device & Investor Forum

IRVINE, CA--(Marketwire - Sep 18, 2012) - OCTANe, the Orange County startup accelerator dedicated to connecting people and ideas with capital and resources to fuel technology growth, will host their seventh annual Medical Device & Investor Forum (MDIF) at the Hyatt Regency in Irvine, Calif., on Oct. 10-11, 2012. The event is one of the leading medical technology industry conferences in the nation, and will feature a keynote from Rep. Erik Paulsen (R-MN), co-chair of the Congressional Medical Technology Caucus.

The two-day Signature Event will feature general sessions covering a broad range of pertinent industry topics ranging from a venture capital panel discussion, working with the FDA following the Medical Device User Fee Amendments of 2012 and a profile of Covidien, a profitable medical device company producing innovative and lifesaving neurovascular devices. The event will also include investment presentations and panel discussions hosted by leading industry experts.

In this Presidential election year, understanding the ramifications of the changing political landscape is paramount for influencers in the medical device industry. Rep. Erik Paulsen will share his perspective as the co-chair of the Congressional Medical Technology Caucus, highlighting upcoming legislative issues that could affect the industry. The event concludes with a panel discussion on "The 2012 Presidential Election Update: What it means to Medtech." The event's programming is rounded out by keynote addresses from Michael A. Mussallem, chairman and CEO of Edwards Lifesciences and Robert Grant, chairman of Strathspey Crown LLC.

Additionally, attendees will have access to the Health Pavilion, which will provide personal health assessments in seven areas, sponsored by Edwards Lifesciences, the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association.

"The Medical Device and Investor Forum is the premier medtech industry event where industry leaders, investors and entrepreneurs gather together to learn about the groundbreaking technologies that have the potential to make a real difference in our lives," said Matthew Jenusaitis, president and CEO of OCTANe. "The medtech industry is continuously evolving with startups emerging all over the country, especially in Southern California."

Each year, OCTANe programs and Signature Events attract more than 7,000 entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and major players from the regional technology industries. With support from nearly 50 major high tech companies, two major research universities and thousands of high tech professionals, OCTANe is the place where business leaders, entrepreneurs and investors gather to grow the Orange County technology ecosystem.

To learn more, exhibit or attend Medical Device & Investor Forum, please visit:
www.mdif2012.com

About OCTANe

Celebrating its 10-year anniversary in 2012, OCTANe connects people and ideas with capital and resources to fuel technology growth in Orange County. Its members represent Orange County technology executive leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, venture capitalists, academicians, and strategic advisors, all working together to fuel innovation in the OC. The organization has helped over 120 companies receive more than $217 million in investment and equity exits, enabled over 500 companies to connect via the LaunchPad accelerator, and annually welcomes more than 7,000 people to its programs and events. Over 2,000 business leaders throughout the Orange County region are OCTANe members. For more information, visit www.octaneoc.org.