Judges Chosen For The 2011 GRA/TAG Business Launch Competition Finalists to compete for over $450,000 in cash and services

ATLANTA, GA, March 24, 2011 (Press-News.org) The Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) and the Georgia Research Alliance (GRA) have finalized an all-star lineup of judges for the 2011 GRA/TAG Business Launch Competition finals round on May 24, 2011.

Announced today are the following finals judges: Bob Bozeman, General Partner, Angel Investments, LP, San Francisco, CA; John Glushik, Investing Team, Intersouth Partners, Durham, NC; Wayne Hunter, Managing Partner, Harbert Management Corporation, Birmingham, AL; Allen Moseley, General Partner, Noro-Moseley Partners, Atlanta, Georgia; Tripp Rackley, Senior Vice President, Qualcomm; Ron Verni, former CEO, Sage Software.

"The 2011 competition will again feature an impressive mix of highly successful serial entrepreneurs, as well as out-of-town and local investors as judges," stated Tino Mantella, president of the Technology Association of Georgia.

"Competing companies describe the interaction and feedback they receive from the judges throughout the competition as a key element to experience," said Michael Cassidy, president and CEO of the Georgia Research Alliance. "We give considerable thought and effort to the composition of the judging team and are excited to have the commitment of such an outstanding group."

After a preliminary and semi-finals competition process, these finalist judges will be responsible for selecting the overall winner from a group of companies to receive $50,000 in cash, and more than $400,000 in donated services from the Atlanta business community.

The TAG/GRA Business Launch Competition is designed to help a local startup technology company launch its business. The competition is GRA/TAG's initiative to reward and promote high-tech entrepreneurship and to help assure that Georgia startups are primed for success.

The initial applications are screened by group of experts in the technology startup field that is chaired by Mike Eckert, Executive Chairman, Atlanta Technology Angels and includes Lawrence Guillory, Racemi Inc.; Melanie Leeth, Vice-President, Imlay Investments; Jeff McConnell, CEO, Whisper Communications; Adrian Sawczuk, Senior Manager, Accenture; Richard Spencer, President, R.P Spencer Company; and Lance Weatherby, Advanced Technology Development Center. Semi final judges include Aaron deSouza, Partner, Grant Thornton; David Eckoff, Revolutionary Partners; Sid Elliott, Director, Georgia Research Alliance (GRA); Dave Gould, President/CEO, TechOperators; Sami Jajeh, Principal, Arketi Group; Paul Judge, Chief Research Officer and VP, Barracuda Networks; Vasant Kamath, Director of Business Development, Cox Enterprises; Jamie Kennedy, Vice President of Business Development, Cox Enterprises; Sig Mosley, President, Imlay Investments; Michael Price, General Partner, CEO Ventures; Martin Tilson, Managing Partner, The Tilson Group, LLC; and Judi Vitale, President, VitaleCFO. Joan Herbig, CEO, ControlScan serves as the competition's Chairman.

For more information about the 2011 TAG/GRA Business Launch Competition, visit http://www.tagonline.org/businesslaunch.php.

About Georgia Research Alliance
The Georgia Research Alliance is a private, non-profit organization that brings together the state's academic, industry and government leaders to grow Georgia's economy through scientific discovery. Key programs are recruitment of top scientific talent (GRA Eminent Scholars), development of centers of research excellence, and commercialization of university R&D (GRA VentureLab). GRA has helped to generate more than 200 new technology companies from university research.

About Technology Association of Georgia
The Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) is a leading technology industry association dedicated to the promotion and economic advancement of the state's technology industry. TAG provides leadership in driving initiatives in the areas of policy, capital, education and giving, and also brings the technology community together through events, initiative programs and networking opportunities. TAG serves as an umbrella organization for 28 affinity groups, or societies, including Women in Technology (WIT). Additionally, TAG's charitable arm, the TAG Education Collaborative, is focused on helping science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education initiatives thrive. For more information visit the TAG website at http://www.tagonline.org or TAG's community website at http://www.TAGthink.com.

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The Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to support its members by generating opportunities for personal, professional and business growth. By forging strategic alliances, TAG serves as a primary catalyst to foster a rich environment for economic development in Georgia's technology community. TAG is made up of over 10,500 members representing technology leaders from over 1,400 Georgia-based companies, affiliated technology and business organizations. TAGthink is the TAG's community website.