Entrepreneur & Small Business Forum: Educational Lecture Events

Startup Funding Outlook 2014  

The terrain for startup funding has been rough for quite some time, with only the most promising new businesses receiving angel or venture capital support. The funding market in 2014 is expected to be marginally better, as money held on the sidelines becomes available as investors gain more confidence in the direction of the economy. That said, the funding process remains a steep hill to climb, requiring considerable awareness of potential obstacles and hurdles that may stand in the way. Those with the best market intelligence who have built bridges to investors tend to be the ones who ultimately receive funding.

The event will focus on:

• What are the current trends in angel and venture capital investing?
• Where to find reliable information on deals which have recently taken place.
• Checklist that investors typically use when determining if startups are fundable.
• The necessity of creating a strategic plan, and elements that should be included.
• How to conduct an investor search, targeting those favorable to your sector.
• What you should know about the due diligence process in terms of questions asked.
• Points of negotiation, including anti-dilution provisions, employment contracts, valuation of the firm, etc.

Mike Segal is a Founder of New York Private Equity Forums, the pre-eminent angel, venture capital, and private equity funding conference in the northeast. He is also a member of the screening committee of Tri-State Private Investors Network, one of the area’s leading Angel groups. Further, he is Founder of the boutique investment banking firm M.J. Segal Associates, formed to address funding problems faced by emerging and growth companies.

Michael Beller is President and CEO of Lightship Partners, an advisory firm which helps executives to manage the stages of change which growing businesses encounter. In particular, Lightship analyzes the strategic, operational, and technological platforms which companies have pinned their success on. As firms grow, these platforms inevitably change and require ongoing adjustment. Michael has invested in 8 startups, and is a member of ARC Angel Fund.

 Jonathan Emery is a serial angel investor, having participated in the funding of 65 startup firms. All in, Jon has invested $4 million in the sector, and serves on the Board of 17 entrepreneurial firms. Currently, Jon is a Partner at Bressler, Amery, & Ross, where he focuses on corporate law and legal assistance to firms in the startup sector. Previously, as General Counsel of Network Solutions, he managed sale of the firm to VeriSign for $19.6 billion.

Kim Wales is CEO of Wales Capital, is a global management-consulting firm headquartered in New York, NY. We provide strategic planning, best practices, Compliance and trend analysis for alternative investment opportunities under the JOBS Act (e.g., Equity and Debt Crowdfunding).  Wales Capital works with organization across private, public and social impact sectors as a trusted advisors to start-up businesses, debt and equity funding platforms, the world’s leading businesses and governments.  Kim  is a board member of CFIRA, an organization which works with the SEC and FINRA to ensure that crowdfunding standards sufficiently support the startup industry while at the same time protecting investors and board member of CF50.

To learn more about the meeting, please visit the event website by clicking here.