The Kellogg School of Management's Private Equity and Venture Capital Conference brings together some of the biggest names and brightest minds involved in venture capital and buyouts. 2008 is proving to be a challenging year for venture capital and buyout firms as the credit crunch, rising inflation, and other economic headwinds continue to plague the industry. The conference will provide an open forum for discussing such trends and challenges, exchanging ideas and views, and debating current hot topics in the industry. Additionally, given the increasingly global nature of private equity and venture capital, the conference will specifically address trends and issues in select global regions.

In 2008, the conference attracted more than 300 attendees including investment professionals, limited partners, portfolio company executives, transaction service providers, and MBA students from around the country, providing rich networking opportunities.

Past keynote speakers have included Stewart Alsop, John Canning, Bryan Cressey, Bruce Evans, Paul Finnegan, Robert Grady, Promod Haque, Tommy Lee, Prakash Melwani, Avy Stein, Jack Bovender, John Pfeffer and Raj Atluru.