2016 Hyde Park Angels & 1871 Entrepreneurial Education Series
Hyde Park Angels is bringing together successful, influential entrepreneurs and investors to teach you everything you need to know about early-stage investment for the second year in a row. Attend all four programs and walk away with a thorough understanding of the early-stage investment cycle from start to finish or pick and choose program to supplement existing knowledge. In either case, you will have the chance to learn the pros and cons of raising a round, the mechanics of doing a deal, how to grow your business through corporate partnerships, and how to manage relationships with different advisors and investors.
When to Raise Venture Capital or Bootstrap
March 3, 6:00 pm — 8:00 pm
Program One
Description: How do you know if you’re ready to raise your first round, or if raising is even your best option? Hear from successful entrepreneurs and investors to learn:
· The pros and cons of early-stage investment versus bootstrapping
· What is the right time to raise and when is too early
· What investors look for in a founder and a business
· What counts as proof of concept and what doesn’t
· What investors see as red flags
· How to move forward if you are ready
Panelists:
· Pam Netzky, Co-Founder & President, SkinnyPop Popcorn
· Bill Pescatello, Partner, Lightbank
· Kristi Ross, Co-CEO & President, dough & tastytrade
· Katlin Smith, Founder & CEO, SimpleMills
· Craig Vodnik, Co-Founder, cleverbridge
Moderator: Pete Wilkins, Managing Director, Hyde Park Angels
Format: 1.5 hour panel with Q&A and a 30-minute networking session
Location: 1871 Auditorium
How to Raise Venture Capital
June 8, 6:00 pm — 8:00 pm
Program Two
Description: We are pulling back the curtain on the investment cycle to teach you the in’s and out’s of raising a round. Hear from successful entrepreneurs and investors who have seen every kind of early-stage investment to learn:
· The differences between funding stages (seed, Series A, etc.)
· What are the key deal points to negotiate
· How convertible debt stacks up against equity
· Who the right investors are and how to find them
· The timeline for the investment cycle
· How to “read” a venture capitalist
· The mechanics of closing a round (deal leads, legal best practices, board seats, etc.)
Panelists:
· Al Goldstein, CEO of Avant
· Rumi Morales, Executive Director, CME Ventures
· Nick Solaro, Partner, Drive Capital
· Guy Turner, Partner, Hyde Park Venture Partners
· Adam Tilton, Co-Founder & CEO, Rithmio
Moderator: Pete Wilkins, Managing Director, Hyde Park Angels
Format: 1.5 hour panel with Q&A and a 30-minute networking session
Location: 1871 Auditorium
Fund Your Startup through Corporate Sales, Partners, and Investment
September 21, 6:00 pm — 8:00 pm
Program Three
Description: Working with corporations — whether as a client, partner, or strategic investor — can help you significantly grow your business. Hear from successful entrepreneurs, industry experts and venture capital professionals to learn:
· Whether you should build client, partner, or strategic investor relationships
· How to build corporate relationships
· Successful examples of corporate relationships
· How will a strategic partnership help or hurt your business
· How to secure investment capital from a Fortune 500 company
· How to manage the sales process to close your first big deal
Panelists:
· Steve Garrou, Executive Vice President, Westcon
· Marc Grabowski, CEO, Persio
· Reese Schroeder, Managing Director, Motorola Solutions Venture Capital
· Jai Shekawat, Founder, Fieldglass
· Lily Yeung, Director of Corporate Development, Molex
Moderator: Pete Wilkins, Managing Director, Hyde Park Angels
Format: 1.5 hour panel with Q&A and a 30-minute networking session
Location: 1871 Auditorium
Attract World-Class Advisors, Board Members, and Investors
November 17, 6:00 pm — 8:00 pm
Program Four
Description: Knowing how to effectively target the right advisors, board members, and investors can make or break your business. Hear from entrepreneurs and investors with valuable experience building these complex relationships to learn:
· How to target the right advisors, board members, and investors
· How to build relationships with key leaders and experts
· How to ask for advice and give permission to advise
· How to leverage the different resources and skills your advisors, board members, and investors offer
Panelists:
· Jim Gray, CEO, G-Bar Limited Partnership; Co-Founder, OptionsXpress (sold to Charles Schwab)
· Amanda Lannert, CEO, Jellyvision
· Badal Shah, Co-Founder & CEO, TurboAppeal
· Michael Small, CEO, GOGO
· Kevin Willer, Partner, Chicago Ventures
Moderator: Pete Wilkins, Managing Director, Hyde Park Angels
Format: 1.5 hour panel with Q&A and a 30-minute networking session
Location: 1871 Auditorium
Registration:
When to Raise Capital or Bootstrap (Program 1): March 3, 2016 from 6:00 pm — 8:00 pm
How to Raise Venture Capital (Program 2): June 8, 2016 from 6:00 pm — 8:00 pm
Fund Your Startup through Corporate Sales, Partners, and Investment (Program 3): September 21, 2016 from 6:00 pm — 8:00 pm
Attract World-Class Advisors, Board Members, and Investors (Program 4): November 17, 2016 from 6:00 pm — 8:00 pm