ThinkEquity Partners LLC, a research-centric institutional investment firm, today announced that Howard Schultz, chairman of Starbucks Coffee Company, will deliver a keynote address at the ThinkEquity’s 3rd Annual Growth Conference taking place Sept. 12-15, 2005, at the Ritz Carlton in San Francisco. The conference will highlight 200 of the fastest-growing, most innovative companies in the world.

“Howard Schultz is an icon in the U.S. business community,” says Michael Moe, co-founder and CEO of ThinkEquity. “His vision, passion, drive, and success are representative of the types of companies we have committed to participate in our Growth Conference. Starbucks has become the brand synonymous with a successful growth company, and Howard’s keynote will provide a unique insight for others who aspire to his success and for the community, a window into finding the next Starbucks.”

Moe adds: “Fundamental to any successful conference is to have great companies that investors not only want to see, but need to see. While many investors believe the world is over-conferenced, ThinkEquity believes there is a need for a truly great Growth Conference. The mature companies everybody knows everything about will likely be presenting elsewhere. For growth ideas, ThinkEquity Partners LLC will have the fastest-growing, most dynamic companies that are consistent with our research thesis and megatrends — what we call the stars of tomorrow, today.”

Among the companies scheduled to present at the Think Growth Conference are: FoxHollow Technologies, Inc.; Napster, Inc.; Apollo Group, Inc.; QUALCOMM Incorporated; Opsware Inc.; Peet’s Coffee & Tea, Inc.; Sepracor Inc.; and Momenta Pharmaceuticals, Inc.