The conference is sponsored by the Lyles Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at California State University, Fresno, the Central Valley Fund, city of Clovis and Central Valley Business Incubator. It will be held 8:30 a.m.-3:45 p.m. Oct. 17 at the Rex Phebus Veterans Memorial Building in Clovis.

The event also will feature panel discussions on investment banking and how to raise equity capital, building world-class companies in the Central Valley and which  investment sectors locally are ripe for investment over the next five years.

Up to five Valley businesses will be selected to present to panels of investors that are actively seeking investment opportunities and the panelists will select a Best of Show entrepreneur. Businesses interested in presenting should submit up to a three-page executive summary by Oct. 3 to Craig Scharton, CEO of the incubator, at craig@cvbi.org.

The conference also will feature panels representing many of Northern California’s angel investor groups and venture capital funds.

Advance registration is $65 and seating is limited. On-site registration is $75. A reception will be held after the conference. More information and advance registration are available at the Lyles Center Web site, www.lylescenter.com.

The evening of Oct. 16, the Central Valley Business Incubator hosts its annual stock exchange dinner. Tickets for both events can be purchased for $100 and are available through the Lyles Center.

For more information, contact Nancy Kobata at the Lyles Center, 559.347.3921.