Seed and Angel Financing
Discover how Angel and Seed investors approach the problem of making a good investment. Go behind the scenes of the decision making to discover the process our panelist-investors use to choose and to invest in emerging and seed stage companies. Whether you are planning to launch a company or you are planning the next level, a Seed or Angel investor could be the funding source you are looking for. Maybe you’re not even sure what angel investment is? This panel will focus on the nature of angel and seed investments in New England technology based companies, and on how to obtain that initial or angel or seed-stage investment in your company.. The panelists will also offer candid views and discussion on how to prepare a company for raising angel capital or seed stage investment, the raise itself, and how to work with angel groups or seed investors after getting the investment.
Panel
James Geshwiler is one of two managing directors of CommonAngels, an angel group focused on making investments in early-stage information technology startups. James joined Common Angels in 1999 and currently manages the group's investments in Apperian, HNW, Insight Squared, Nimbit, ParElastic, Influitive, Skyhook Wireless and TimeTrade Systems. He also is on the Board of Trustees of the Massachusetts Technology Leadership Council. James was the founding chairman of the Angel Capital Association, the professional alliance of angel groups. He also was the founding chairman of ACA’s sister organization, the Angel Capital Education Foundation. He is a contributing author to Cutting-Edge Practices in American Angel Investing, published in October 2003 by Darden Business Publishing of the University of Virginia, has written papers and various articles on angel investment processes, and regularly speaks on entrepreneurship and private investing. Prior to CommonAngels, James worked at Cambridge Energy Research Associates, the premier strategic advisory consultancy for the oil, natural gas, electric power and refined products sectors. Prior to CERA, James worked for the U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. Department of State—both in Washington DC. He holds a bachelor's degree with highest honors from the Liberal Arts Honors Program at the University of Texas at Austin, a master's degree in political science from UCLA, and an MBA from MIT's Sloan School of Management.
Lucinda Linde is a member of Walnut Venture Associates, a group of experienced entrepreneurs and investors seeking investment opportunities in seed and early-stage companies in the New England area. Lucinda invests in and consults to early stage information technology companies, including investments at First Light Capital included Nellymoser, Incipient, KESI, Strong Numbers (now part of Intuit's "It's Deductible" product) and HubX (acquired by SynXis). Personal angel investments include Nanigans, Visualization Technologies Inc. (acquired by GE Medical Systems), Viveca (acquired by Open Pages, then IBM) and Collego (acquired by MRO Systems) and Softrax (acquired by AFS). Lucinda co-authored the VSS Project: Report on Angel Investors, for Ken Morse of the MIT Entrepreneurship Center and Professor Howard Stevenson at HBS. Previously, Lucinda helped build a management consulting firm focused on the telecommunications industry, COBA Boston, now Adventis. Start-up experience includes operations and marketing positions at Molten Metal Technology and Ceramics Process Systems. Both were venture-backed companies that went public. She holds an SB and an SM in Materials Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and an MBA from the Harvard Business School.
David Martirano is Co-Founder and General Partner at Point Judith Capital. David has experience investing broadly in Internet, Healthcare and Software companies. He is currently involved with the Firm’s investments in Antenna Software, Envista Software, Fidelis Security Systems, FSAStore.com, GetwellNetwork, MedOptions, NABsys, Spotlight Ticket Management, ParElastic, and Apptegic, and was previously involved with Taqua (acquired by Tekelec NASDAQ: TKLC) and Optasite (acquired by SBA Communications NASDAQ: SBAC). Prior to Point Judith, David co-founded Rex Capital with Dave Mixer. While at Rex Capital, David led Rex’s investments in Yandex (NASDAQ: YNDX), the number one search engine in Russia, Co-nect, which was sold to Pearson (NYSE: PSO) and SnapGear which was sold to CyberGuard (NASDAQ: CGFW). Earlier, David was a member of the Healthcare Investment Banking Group at Cowen & Company, where he executed public offerings, private placements, and mergers and acquisitions, and still earlier, he worked in equity capital markets at both Josephthal Lyon & Ross and Kidder Peabody. David received a Masters of Business Administration from Columbia Business School and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Rhode Island. David sits on the board of Year Up Rhode Island and the advisory board of the Business School at the University of Rhode Island.
Moderator:
The meeting moderator and organizer is Robert Adelson, business and tax attorney and partner at the Boston law firm of Engel & Schultz LLP. Rob has been an attorney for over 30 years specializing in business, tax, stock and options, employment, contracts, financings and intellectual property. Rob began his legal career as an associate at major New York law firms Dewey Ballantine and later Weil Gotshal & Manges, before returning home to Boston in 1985. He has since been a partner in small and medium sized firms and joined his present firm in 2004. Rob represents entrepreneurs, start-ups and small companies, independent contractors and employees and executives. His main practice areas are: Business formation, allocation of equity and angel and VC finance; Commercial contracts, licensing, alliances; Executive employment, stock, options and severance; Trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets; M&A. Rob is a frequent speaker on business law topics and author of numerous articles published in Boston Business Journal, Mass High Tech and other publications. Rob is also Chairman of IEEE Boston Entrepreneurs’ Network and Board member of the 128 Innovation Capital Group. He holds degrees from Boston University, B.A., summa cum laude, Northwestern University (Chicago), J.D., Law Review, and New York University, LL.M. in Taxation.
LOW COST PORTABLE SYSTEM TO PROTECT NEIGHBORHOODS FROM APPROACHING FIRES
IEEE Boston Entrepreneurs’ Network eMinute Presentation 10/2/2012
Our Product
IFFC, LLC has developed a system to create a remote controlled, low cost, hose-based system that can be quickly deployed by small trucks to surround a fire threatened neighborhood.
The figure shows homes that have been surrounded by a special fire hose. A truck has driven around the area and deployed the hose from a reel onto the ground. The truck also carries a pump which draws water from any available water source, and pumps the water into the full length of the hose.
At the top of the figure of the neighborhood is an an approaching fire. The blue band along the nearby hose represents a water or foam spray curtain that will slow or stop the flames.
The system concept is protected by issued US patents and pending Canadian patents. Many of them can be applied to other wildfire fighting systems which are under development.
Our Market
Many homes are built close to the wildland-urban-interface. Recent megafires have destroyed many homes. The proposed system can provide low cost protection for homes, and increased safety for the crews assigned to fight the fires. Many insurance companies provide private fire crews to protect the homes of their customers. The system will cost a fraction of the replacement cost of a home. The insurance companies should appreciate the value proposition. Local fire departments may also be customers.
Our Needs
IFFC would appreciate any inquiries, feedback or comments on our concept. Please contact Steve Shoap at 781-521-4687, or email him at [email protected]. We are also looking for seed capital to initiate our business plan.
5:15 PM Pre-meeting Self-pay Dinner Bertucci's Restaurant 475 Winter St., (exit 27B off Route 128), Waltham, MA ("pay-as-you-go")
7:00 - 10:00PM Meeting Presentation Note: Meeting at the Foley Hoag Emerging Enterprise Center, 1000 Winter Street, Suite 4000 (north entrance), Waltham, MA Directions to the EEC at Foley Hoag
The doors to the north entrance of 1000 Winter Street are locked at 7:30 pm. For admittance after 7:30, please use your cell phone to call the number that will be posted at the door. Thank you.
