Established in 2001, the Silicon Forest Forum provides a unique venue for the exchange of ideas and information among the Pacific Northwest's leading entrepreneurs, investors, bankers and service providers. Drawing from an attendee pool of company management and investors in Washington and Oregon, the Forum has a focus and visibility that is significant in the region's technology community.

The Forum has and will continue to feature leading investors, bankers, service organizations, banks, entrepreneurs and others from the Pacific Northwest and Silicon Valley who will share their ideas and observations on critical issues companies must address to be successful.

Each attendee will receive written background papers and presentations for future reference and for use as a standard to judge terms and deal parameters in the current market.

Fast facts on Comerica:

Among the 20 largest banking companies in the United States, with $51 billion in total assets at June 30, 2002;

#1 among the top 50 U.S. bank holding companies in commercial loans as a percent of total assets;

Among the top 10 in commercial loans and top 20 in small business loans; and,

3rd largest SBA 7(a) lender in the U.S.

In January 2002, Comerica was named one of the "Best Big Companies in America" by Forbes magazine. According to Comerica President and Chief Executive Officer Ralph W. Babb Jr., "This is fine recognition of the outstanding job each of our colleagues does every day for our customers and our shareholders."

KPMG member firms are a leading provider of assurance, tax and legal, and financial advisory services. With a global approach to service delivery, KPMG responds to clients' complex business challenges with consistent methodologies and common tools across industry sectors and national boundaries.

Fundamental to KPMG's approach is our focus on industry sectors. We believe that we can add value for our clients if we truly understand their industry. This is why we invest in continuously improving our knowledge of the industries we serve.

In 2001, KPMG achieved record revenues of US$11.7 billion, a 9 percent increase driven by all of our major service lines. More than 100,000 KPMG professionals in member firms worldwide collaborate across industry, service and national boundaries to deliver professional services in 152 countries. This enviable network of firms is connected through three operating regions, bringing together our local and national resources with greater flexibility, responsiveness and consistency of service delivery worldwide.

Why we're different...

First, we haven't built up a large staff like most venture firms. We're five partners managing over $300 million, and we know that our financial success is tied directly to yours. So when you partner with us, you deal with experienced people who not only invest capital, but can help you make that money work. Second, we get it. We're not starchy. We're not stiff. We're not bankers or accountants. We're in this business because we love it. We understand that to you it's not an "investment opportunity." It's your dream. So when we work with you it becomes our dream too. We don't want, or need control. We partner.

Based in Portland, Oregon, SmartForest's two partners are Debi Coleman and Hugh Mackworth. The first fund was closed in July 2000 with capital from both individual and institutional investors, including the Oregon Growth Account, a public investment fund formed from lottery revenues to develop startup businesses and venture capital in Oregon. We are licensed as a Small Business Investment Corporation (SBIC) bringing total investment funds to $75M. As our portfolio companies grow and require more capital, SmartForest will continue to invest and connect these companies to our network of co-investment partners in Portland, Seattle, and Silicon Valley as well as connections to our limited partners and advisors, such as Madrona and PacRim Partners.

We are active investors and provide our portfolio companies with advice, mentoring, networking opportunities, business services, and even office space as needed.

The facilities we offer to our portfolio companies are located in downtown Portland and include high-speed Internet access, meeting spaces, shared business services and flexible space.