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Premiere networking event registration reaches approximately 900 attendees

PHILADELPHIA, PA — October 2, 2006 — The Mid-Atlantic Capital Alliance(MAC Alliance) — the catalyst organization promoting the Greater Philadelphia region as one of North America's top private equity markets — today announced that its annual Mid-Atlantic Venture Conference has surpassed their goal set for 700 attendees. This year, approximately 900 venture capitalists, entrepreneurs and top technology and life science companies will gather at the event — well surpassing its 18-year history of 700 attendees. The MAVC is Wednesday, October 4 and Thursday, October 5 at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown.

"We are thrilled to have such a positive response to this year's MAVC," said Tom Balderston President & CEO of the MAC Alliance. "The record- breaking attendance numbers validates the MAC Alliance's new, proactive approach to promote the entire Mid-Atlantic region's venture community. Helping to surpass its goal, the MAC Alliance offered a special rate in August for the first 100 entrepreneurs to register for only $100 and sold out. This year that the conference will host more than 200 entrepreneurs, who is the nucleus of the capital community in the Mid-Atlantic region.

"The 2006 MAVC will recognize entrepreneurialism at every stage," said Michael J. Purcell, Assurance Partner with Deloitte & Touche LLP in Philadelphia and Chairman of the 2006 MAVC. "New and returning entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and companies will benefit from the expanded program that will include Institutional Investor, Business Development and Technology Transfer sessions." Deloitte is the lead sponsor of this year's Mid-Atlantic Venture Conference.

This year also marks a major milestone for the MAVC and includes the launch of the new name and expanded mission of the MAC Alliance. On October 4th, the MAC Alliance will officially become the Mid-Atlantic Capital (MAC) Alliance: The Catalyst for Companies and Capital. The new identity reflects a new, proactive approach to promoting the entire Mid-Atlantic region, a change from the original Philadelphia-centric focus. The new mission is to embrace every stage of the corporate life cycle- from angel investment to venture to buyout.

Some highlights of the MAVC that have been an enormous draw to the venture capital and entrepreneurial community are:

• Institutional Investor Panel featuring speakers from GKM Newport Funds, The Investment Fund for Foundations, Grove Street Advisors, State Employees' Retirement System and Portfolio Advisors
• Technology Transfer panel featuring PhDs from Columbia University, Drexel University, Yale University and University of Pennsylvania
• Angel to Venture panel hosting speaker from And1, NY Angels and Investors Circle
• Business Development with technology and service companies such as Safeguard Scientifics, Inc., SunGard, Microsoft Corporation, SAP America, Symantec and EMC Corporation
• Business Development with life science companies such as Susquehanna Financial Group, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Shire Pharmaceuticals, IMS Health and VWR BioSciences

Many are registering to hear the keynote address by Pat Croce, The New York Times best-selling author and former owner of the Philadelphia '76ers, who will kick off the program on the second day. The keynote session is titled "Everything is Impossible- Before it Works" and will be on Thursday at 7:30 am. Over a hundred additional people registered for the Reception Gala that will conclude the event, on Thursday from 6-9pm.

Warren "Pete" Musser will be honored at an awards luncheon on Thursday, recognizing regional business leaders who have developed promising start-ups into successful businesses. Tengion, Philadelphia Media Holdings, LLC and NutriSystem, Inc will also be honored as success stories that reflect the vibrancy of the entrepreneurial community in the region.

Registration and a more detailed schedule of events for MAVC 2006 are available at www.mavc.org.

About the Mid-Atlantic Capital Alliance

The MAC Alliance's vision is to be the catalyst organization promoting the Greater Philadelphia region as one of North America's top private equity markets — from venture to buyout. The MAC Alliance's mission is to cultivate a vibrant private equity and entrepreneurial community by providing compelling programming that engages the community; superior networking and visibility that stimulates deal and capital flow; and relevant metrics that reflect our unique strengths as a region. For more information please visit www.macalliance.com.