It was like swimming in a sea of money. On May 4, The Greater Philadelphia Alliance for Capital and Technologies hosted the
18th Annual Enterprise Awards. About a thousand business leaders and executives attended. Beginning with a VIP reception, the kudos flowed as easily as the cocktails, while down the hall a larger food and drink fest filled with tuxedo and evening gown clad representatives from Philadelphia's top law and finance firms, who networked with the area's best and brightest entrepreneurs and incubators.
Out of 27 nominees, these are the results: the Life Sciences Startup Company award went to
CareKinesis, Philly's top Technology Startup Company of 2011 is
Monetate, an eCommerce leader that runs websites for Urban Outfitters and QVC; the area's Emerging Life Sciences Company was
NuPathe, which works on branded therapeutics for diseases of the central nervous system;
SevOne was named Emerging Technology Company, following a 2009 PACT award for Tech Startup, and this year's award for a MedTech Pioneering Company was sewn up by medical device provider
Teleflex.
The award for MedTech Product Innovation went to
Siemens Healthcare. The venerated Morgan Lewis attorney
Stephen M. Goodman received the Legend Award for his many years assisting entrepreneurs; the IT Innovator Award of Excellence went to
Lockheed Martin, Information Systems & Global Solutions � Defense, based in Maryland but with offices in King of Prussia. The Investment Deal of the Year went to
Safeguard Scientifics for the acquisition of Clarient Inc., formerly in Safeguard's portfolio, purchased by GE Healthcare for $144 million. "It was a spectacular dinner," says attorney Michael Heller, one of the evening's presenters and Chair of Business Law at Cozen O'Connor. "It was wonderful to see such a terrific turnout among the venture capital community. The region is more active today than it was a year ago, and there's more excitement in the air regarding the VC community."
PACT judges named
James Walker of
Octagon Research Solutions Technology CEO of the Year; Life Sciences Company of the Year was
Health Advocate, and
ICG Commerce beat out HTH Worldwide and Qlik Tech to win Technology Company of the Year.
Prior to the event, three CleanTech Companies to Watch were named:
ElectroPetroleum,
NovaThermal Energy, and
Viridity Energy. Video of the entire event is available
here.
Source: Michael Heller, Cozen O'Connor; PACT Enterprise Awards
Writer: Sue Spolan
Photo :
Attorney Stephen M. Goodman