Recognizing these opportunities, the venture community is investing heavily in companies that are developing products and services geared for mature consumers age 40 and up.

Those interested in where VCs are focusing in the baby boomer and senior markets should plan on attending the third annual Silicon Valley Boomer Venture Summit, which takes place June 19, 2007, at Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, California.

The one-day conference brings together leading innovators in the 40+ marketplace, including prominent members of the private venture investment community, corporate strategists and marketing experts, media that track the boomer and seniors markets, and entrepreneurs and early-stage companies targeting the aging baby boomer market.

The Silicon Valley Boomer Venture Summit is co-produced by the Executive Development Center at Santa Clara University's Leavey School of Business and Mary Furlong & Associates. For more information and Summit registration, please visit www.boomerventuresummit.com.

"As a hub for entrepreneurial activity in the Silicon Valley, the Leavey School of Business is delighted to host this showcase of technology, innovative products and services aimed at the boomer market," says Barry Z. Posner, professor of leadership and dean of the Leavey School of Business. "Entrepreneurs would do well to lead development of products and services for this maturing cohort."

The Silicon Valley Boomer Venture Summit "provides a terrific opportunity for participants to network and share market strategies with venture capitalists, potential strategic partners and entrepreneurs who are blazing new trails in the boomer market," says Mary Furlong, CEO of Mary Furlong & Associates and executive producer of the Summit.

A highlight of the conference is the final judging of the 2007 Silicon Valley Boomer Business Plan Competition, which draws entrepreneurs from around the world who are developing products and services for the 40+ marketplace. A panel of judges will review business plans from the competition's finalists and choose two $10,000 grand prize winners at the June 19 Silicon Valley Boomer Venture Summit.

This year's panel of finalist judges includes Charles (Chip) F. Baird, Jr., Managing Partner, North Castle Partners; James P. Firman, Ed.D., President and CEO, National Council on Aging; Jody Holtzman, Director of Strategic Analysis, AARP; James L. Koch, Executive Director of the Center for Science, Technology & Society and Professor of Management, Santa Clara University; Aileen Lee, Partner, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers; Emilio Pardo, Chief Brand Officer, AARP; Bijan Salehizadeh, MD, Partner, Highland Capital Partners; Robert Stein, President & CEO, American Society on Aging; Brad Vale, Ph.D., VP, Johnson & Johnson Development Corporation; Vance Vanier, MD, Partner, Mohr Davidow Ventures. Screening judges include Sandra Timmermann, Director, MetLife Mature Market Institute.

Sponsors of the 2007 Silicon Valley Boomer Venture Summit include the MetLife Mature Market Institute. Marketing partners include the SmartSilvers Alliance.

About the co-producers
Founded in 1926, the Leavey School of Business at Santa Clara University was one of the first business schools in the country to receive national accreditation. Its undergraduate business program was recently acknowledged among the best across the U.S., and its MBA and Executive MBA programs are ranked 12th and 21st, respectively, in the nation among graduate business programs. More than 80 percent of its 1,100 MBA students are working professionals in Silicon Valley.