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OEN Blog

March 2009
Dave Chen

There is a lot of assesing going on in the VC community about what constitutes a good return on investment. In a recent post entitled  Venture Capital - Thoughts on Asset Class by Fred Wilson, VC and principal of Union Square Ventures he shares some valuable insights about the value of Venture Capital as an asset class, what the fall out might be and how it might be bad news for entrepreneurs but could potentially be good for innovation in the high tech industry sector.

 

Read the article below. Love to hear what you think.

 

+++++++++

 

An exerpt from Fred Wilson's blog, Musings of a VC in NYC

Venture Capital - Thoughts On The Asset Class

I wrote a post a week or so ago thinking outloud about what a good "venture return' is.   Yesterday, one of our investors, Lindel Eakman of UTIMCO, stopped by this blog and left a very interesting comment on that post.

Lindel pointed out that UTIMCO's portfolio return on all VC funds over the past 10 years was in the range of 9pcnt and that he thought that wasn't very good. He did point out that VC is well ahead of the public equity markets in their portfolio and so to the extent they have their equity dollars in VC (or other private equity), that is better than public equity right now.

The punch line to Lindel's comment is important. He wonders if VC can't do better than 9pcnt across a diversified portfolio, would UTIMCO simply be better in bonds given the illiquidity and greater risk of the VC asset class?

 

And sadly, it may well come to that. VC has not proven that it can scale as an asset class since the mid 90s. The vast amount of money that has come into the sector from public pension funds in the past fifteen to twenty years has not been put to work very well and returns for the asset class as a whole have come down. It may well be the case that the public pension money (and other money) may leave the asset class as CIOs and the investment committees ask the hard questions that Lindel is asking.

 

Read the rest of the article Venture Capital - Thoughts on Asset Class

1 Comments Permalink Tags: entrepreneurs, innovation, venture_captital, return_on_investment
Dave Chen
i ran across this a while back, seem to ring very true to the hi-tech experience and seems equally applicable to private companies and start ups:
Top 10 Investing Rules for Technology Stocks
http://www.iimagazine.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=2117316&LS=EMS251261
02 Mar 2009
Christopher Danely

From buying or selling stocks based on valuation to investing in tech companies with hot-selling products, J.P. Morgan's technology research analsyst Christopher Danely offers his ten rules for smart investing in technology/semiconductor stocks.

Christopher Danely is the Managing Director of Global Semiconductor Research Coordinator at J.P. Morgan.

March 4, 2009 — Although widely held technology-sector stocks are suffering these days, there are some exceptions and bright spots for the savvy investor who knows how to pick technology stocks that show signs of endurance.

From buying or selling stocks based on valuation to investing in tech companies with hot-selling products, J.P. Morgan technology analyst Christopher Danely offers his ten rules for smart investing in technology/semiconductor stocks.

1. Don’t ever Buy or Sell a tech stock based on valuation. Tech stocks are still largely momentum investments.  They go up if the estimates are going to go higher and go down if the estimates are going lower and seem “cheap” prior to a blow up, and “expensive” prior to a run up.

2. Exchanging higher revenue growth for lower margins never works. The reason many tech companies have such high multiples is the high margins and high cash flow they generate.  When margins go down, multiples go down, ergo, stock goes down.

3. Lead times going out is good.  Lead times coming in is bad. These are two occurrences tech companies will deny, deny, and deny ’til the cows come home.  They will insist that there is no double ordering when lead times stretch out, even though their customers will openly admit it.  They will also try to say their customers will not cancel orders when lead times come in.

4. Very rarely is “it’s different this time” a good rationale for investing in tech stocks. I can’t count how many times I’ve heard:  “Inventory is better managed” or “Our biggest customer just blew up, but we’re fine.”  In over a decade of covering tech stocks, VERY RARELY is it different this time.  The reason?  Human nature is difficult to change.

5. Technology company management is ALWAYS bullish. Tech company managements are often founders; they work very hard, and have a huge amount of skin in the game.  The company is their “baby.” Case in point, my mom still loves me after I put her through hell and beyond for the first 25 years of my life.

6. “Looking through a tough quarter or two” never works. When a tech company blows up, the negative estimate revisions are usually much greater than anticipated.

7. Intel stock usually follows its gross margins. I have charted this axiom of semi investing back almost 20 years, and it still works.

8. When a tech company says, “Our revenue growth will come from the Medical or Healthcare end markets,” what they’re really trying to say is, “We have no revenue growth.” While electronic content is increasing in both applications, the number of units are tiny compared to cell phones or PCs.

9. Its never “just a one-quarter problem.” When a tech company blows up sometimes you hear, “its just a one-quarter problem.  Business will be back to normal soon.”  Technology stock corrections are at least two, if not three quarters of sequential declines, even worse when share loss is involved.

10.  If a tech company either has or supplies into a hot-selling product, consensus estimates are usually way too low. Product cycles never cease to amaze me at how strong they are and how many people will buy the truly revolutionary products such as iPods, cell phones, BlackBerrys and digital TVs.

Copyright 2009 JPMorgan Chase & Co. All rights reserved.

0 Comments Permalink
Sarena Regazzoni

I saw this inspiring video called Did you know? on You Tube. It was produced with research done by Karl Fisch, Scott McLeod, and Jeff Bronman  and contains myriad data points world wide on population, competion and the progression of information technology.

 

This video, through a series of questions and data points shed some light on some current and upcoming stats that will be hurdles for some and  a boon for others. Knowing entrepreneurs always have a unique vision on challenges, I thought I'd share this video with you. Enjoy!...Who knows, it just might inspire your next great venture.

 

 

0 Comments Permalink Tags: entrepreneur, innovation, inspiration
Irving Levin

The evaporation of capital for  small, private companies presents acute danger for entrepreneurs requiring cash  to fund their businesses. As a direct investor in several such companies, I have  seen bank loans, AR lines, and letters of credit reduced, restricted or yanked by banks, even  when the borrowers are current. And I  have seen valuations drop by more than 90% on subsequent equity raises for  companies needing cash which have not yet attained cash flow breakeven. For  those just starting to seek funding, the fear within the angel community  presents an equally chilling picture.  

The culprit is fear, uncertainty,  and the inability to value assets. After years in which risk was not valued at  all, the value of liquidity and safety is incalculable. Individuals with  investible funds are looking for safety and liquidity, not return. Fund managers  are caught between the need to invest funds they have raised, and their aversion  to risk---especially in earlier stage companies. After all, the lack of credit  and poor valuations has pushed the exit timeframe out indefinitely: not only  will small independent companies struggle in this environment, but they are  likely to be struggling longer. Later-stage investors and hedge funds are able  to earn attractive returns by buying higher quality bonds and other debt  instruments. With modest leverage, these can yield a low-to-mid-teens return.  Their logic is, “Why take risk on an unknown venture at this time, when my  investors will be happy with a safer, lower yield from a well-known  company?”

I am suggesting to my investees that  the best way to raise cash in these times is through the only tools they  control: cutting expenses and increasing revenue. It is always true that a  dollar you save or earn is a dollar you don’t need to raise, but with lack of  credit availability and horrendous valuations, dollars generated through  operations are even more critical. If you need cash, create it!  This same approach is necessary for early stage companies too: cut down the  expense runway to revenue, and cut the runway from revenue to cash flow  positive. Trade cash conservation for growth, in favor of  survival.

Many, many pre-cash flow breakeven  companies will not survive in this new environment. They won’t have the  flexibility to adapt their business model, or won’t act quickly enough. Those  which can generate enough cash to survive will create their own  oxygen.

Amidst the darkness, there will be  success stories---companies which moved quickly and changed their business  model, cost structure, growth ramp or selling costs---to take advantage of the  current conditions. Each of these, I suspect, will have devised successful  strategies for creating and conserving  cash.

0 Comments Permalink Tags: angel_investment, entrepreneur, startup, funding, cost_cutting, revenue
Dave Chen

100 ways to make a difference - refinding the  "way"

i grew up in cupertino  in the mid 70’s.  down the road from our home , on bubb road, was the birth  place of apple.

in that era, the most  respected culture was HP and the HP  ”way“…a great place to work, grow your  people, a duty to community, and build great products.  apple’s “way” was about  changing the world, giving every day folks the tools to make a difference, to  change their lives and do it by making insanely cool products.

in that era, hi tech  was about creating unbounded tools to do the impossible.  it wasn’t about  building enterprises that made people rich.

hi tech was about  building insanely powerful tools that made a difference,  that created  successful enterprises, that ultimately were successful companies, that did in  fact create alot of wealth.

some where along the  road to hi-tech riches, we lost the way.  by the 90’s, the HP “way” seemed  quaint in a “on golden pond” kind of way.   by the 90’s, VC’s and entrepreneurs  were all about the “exit.”  we weren’t that different from wall street.

in these last couple  years, i see a shift taking place…in some ways driven by a set  of un-related confluences:

  • -   the increasing  awareness of the impact we have on our environment: climate change,  sustainability / constrained resources and developing  nations/peoples needs
  • -   the treadmill of  energy use, increasing cost, supply, and dependence
  • -   an increasing  awareness that there needs to be more than just the “big payoff”…we’re starting  to probe the notion of impact & significance.
  • -   baby boomers getting  to a phase in their professional and personal lives where they seek meaning…and  seeking ways to be involved and even committed.  i know i fell into that  category.
  • -   20-somethings are coming at this from a different angle - one of "it just makes sense, so why aren't we doing it".  they think from a different perspective.  these "kids" are having a huge impact as they ask tough questions and begin to innovate in their workplace.  for use at eq cap, these are our future foundational team members.
  • -   an increasing feeling  in hi-tech areas that we’re now polishing already shiny rocks…do we need that  extra feature or extra cycle optimized?  all that brain power is channeled into  making data centers safe and web sites that serve up that ultra personalized  offer; surely that IIT+MIT+stanford degree can be used for something more  powerful and impactful?
  • -  big problems requiring  big brains and big commitment

this economic  downturn combined with the obama hope only accentuate these factors. i can feel  a new vocabulary starting to emerge…words like duty, calling, vision,  compelled, create, making a difference…

24-36 months ago, the  plans that i saw were from hi-tech alumni seeking to apply hi-tech approaches to  this class of problem…sometimes naively; as if technology was the key barrier to  the solution to these problems.  in many ways they saw the gold rush… ”energy 2  dot oh.“  they wanted to save the planet because it was a big damn  market.

today, i see folks  starting on a very personal basis…and starting on a journey.  hi-tech in the  70’s was a big un-known.  there were no big damn markets.  to jump off and start  a company was an act of courage.  in those days, the journey was the  reward.

the folks today, are  talking about the 100’s of ways they can make a difference. they are applying  their intellect, not just technology.  they are questioning old assumptions.   they are spending time thinking about about culture and authenticity. they are  sincerely thinking about the “problems”, not simply about the technology.  as  they plan their companies, they are purposefully blurring the lines of culture,  community, values, commerce and creating their own version of the  “way”.

a few years  ago, oen started to see the first glimmers of these trends, and began to expand  it's definition of entrepreneur and markets.  over the next few years, my hope  is that oen starts to cultivate the mentors and pioneers in these areas, as well  as, creating a set of programs that support this next phase of entrepreneurial  challenge.

this is a thrilling  time for entrepreneurship…the problems are so big…and the rewards are so  meaningful.

“because we can, we  must”.

 

dave chen     www.quuh.wordpress.com

 

1 Comments Permalink Tags: sustainability, entrepreneurs, venture_funding, 100_days, hi_tech
Larry Williams

The next OEN SwapMeet has been set for Thursday, April 30th, 5-7 PM, at the Someday Lounge.

 

If you've read Rori's discussion post about connections, you'll be happy to know that the OEN SwapMeet is a great event for making connections with a variety of folks and an opportunity for you to make introductions for your friends.

 

So come to SwapMeet and bring a friend!  The event is free, though the drinks are not.  We hope to see you there!

0 Comments Permalink Tags: oen, networking
Sarena Regazzoni

OEN is seeking all companies and entrepreneurs to nominate themselves and their companies for OEN's 16th Annual Tom Holce Awards for Entrepreneurship. Please share this with any company or entrepreneur that you believe deserves recognition for outstanding achievement.

 

About the event

The OEN Tom Holce Awards for Entrepreneurship takes place on Thursday, September 24, 2009 at The Oregon Convention Center. It is Oregon's largest, annual, statewide gathering which celebrates our best and brightest entrepreneurs. Nominate an outstanding Northwest business or individual entrepreneur by the May 6th, and help us recognize their entrepreneurial achievements.If you wish to share more info please view the attached pdf. Descriptions of categories are listed below.

 

OEN Tom Holce Award for Entrepreneurship Categories

 

OEN Development Stage Company of the Year

 

Companies in this category are the purest of start-ups. They may be in the process of setting up, developing and testing the products, processes, or services they intend to market or are currently marketing. Revenues from sales of products or services are in the $0-1 million range and the amount of invested capital in these companies is less than $5 million.


OEN Working Capital Stage Company of the Year

 

These companies are in the early stages of fully launching their businesses on the market. They are in the process of establishing their production, marketing, sales, distribution and administrative functions and may be hiring employees or contractors to support their operations. These companies have revenues in the range of $1-$10 million and should either show a historical trend toward positive cash flow or have a credible plan to reach that objective in the near- to mid term.  They may have any amount of invested capital.

 

OEN Growth Stage Company of the Year

 

These companies have a fully-marketable product or service, have earned a degree of market acceptance and have acquired a critical mass of customers. Their efforts are aimed not at remaining viable but at increasing market share, moving into new markets, adapting products or services to new uses and customers or increasing efficiency and cash flow.  These companies have revenues in excess of $10 million and, if not profitable, are generating cash flow and are financially self-sustaining. They may have any amount of invested capital.

 

OEN Entrepreneurship Award for Individual Achievement

 

Individual entrepreneurs are considered eligible for the Award for Individual Achievement if they found and/or operate a new enterprise or venture, assuming material risk and personal accountability for the venture's survival.

Applicants for the Award for Individual Achievement do not need to be on the founding team, but do need to have assumed leadership of the organization at a time in which its survival or success was not assured and have assumed significant risk to their career and/or personal assets.

0 Comments Permalink Tags: oen_tom_holce_awards_for_entrepreneurship
Larry Williams

Hi everyone -

 

Check out this upcoming event on Thursday, March 19th, at NedSpace.  It should be a fun and interesting gathering, good for perking up entrepreneurs during this dark economic times.  Many thanks to Josh Friedman for sending us this info!

 

You can register for the event by clicking on the Yahoo Upcoming link at the bottom of the message.

 

Hope to see you there!

 

Larry

 

Join Oregon's entrepreneurs Thursday evening March 19th at 5:00 PM at NedSpace (920 SW Third, between Taylor and Salmon) to explore and answer the question "What Would Your Startup Do With $250,000 in 2009?"

 

In the last 6 months the economy, access to capital, the cost of talent and the opportunities for innovation have all changed. We think it's time for the relationship between entrepreneurs and the State of Oregon to change, too (the state needs jobs & entrepreneurs need capital!).

 

Hear stories of successful, local homegrown companies that have either bootstrapped or raised funds and then grown themselves to success.


Most importantly, though, the goal of this event is to prove to the State of Oregon that there are enough jobs, compelling ideas and entrepreneurs to warrant an immediate investment of $100,000,000 for start ups that want to hire local talent.

 

We are working to raise a $100M fund that makes small investments in Oregon-based companies who hire Oregon-based employees. Now, in 2009. Not next year or some point in the future. In growing these new startups, we are investing in innovation, creating jobs and building Oregon's brand with innovators and entrepreneurs.

 

Please be prepared to answer the following questions:

  • Could your company hire $250,000 worth of Oregon-based talent in 2009 to get it to the next level?
  • What could your company achieve during 2009 with a $250,000 investment?
  • How many new jobs would be created if 400 new Oregon startups were funded?
  • How would you like to see $100,000,000 invested in Oregon startups?

 

NedSpace is proud to host an Oregon entrepreneurial startup event during this unparalleled time of economic chaos and disruption. Be a part of this unparalleled movement!

 

http://upcoming.yahoo.com/event/2127942

 

//Contact Information//
Wayne Embree - wle@refcapllc.com, 503.619.4310

Josh Friedman - josh@bw-mn.com, 503.705.7975

Mark Grimes - mark@bw-mn.com, 503.502.0185
Harvey Mathews - harvey.mathews@sao.org, 503-999-5849

0 Comments Permalink Tags: development, business, angel_investment, entrepreneur, startup, entrepreneurs, networking, investment, oregon, startup_portland
Sarena Regazzoni

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Contact:   Jeff Fishburn

OnPR for Oregon Entrepreneurs Network

 

503-802-4408
jefff@onpr.com
@jefffishburn

 

DesignMedix Selected Winner of Oregon Entrepreneurs Network Angel Oregon 2009 Investment Competition

 

DesignMedix to Receive $150,000 Investment Award;
  WeoGeo Wins $75,000 as Runner Up

 

Winners-1-72dpi_blog.jpg

 

 

PORTLAND, Ore. – March 12, 2009 — The Oregon Entrepreneurs Network (OEN) today announced that DesignMedix was selected as the overall winner of OEN’s Angel Oregon 2009 investment competition, held today, in Portland. DesignMedix, a maker of drugs to combat drug resistance in multiple diseases, will receive the $150,000 angel award investment as the overall winner.

 

WeoGeo, a Software-as-a-Service file management system and library of survey, engineering, mapping, and architectural content received an $80,000 investment award for being selected as another outstanding company the investors chose to receive an award among the six companies presenting at OEN’s Angel Oregon 2009 today.

 

“Despite the difficult economy, OEN’s Angel Oregon is a bright spot that demonstrates the commitment that the angel investor community has to supporting emerging growth companies,” said Jon Summers, partner at White & Lee LLP and Chairman of OEN’s Angel Oregon 2009. “The fact that we did not have a sharp drop-off in support is a testament to the high level of angel investor interest and fortitude. OEN’s Angel Oregon channels that energy to companies that require precious startup capital.”

 

This year’s finalist companies were selected from nearly 50 companies based throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington that applied to compete at OEN’s Angel Oregon 2009. A rigorous selection process was undertaken by the 46-member panel of active angel investors to select the companies chosen as the overall and runner-up winners. Each investor staked $5,000 to create the $230,000 investment award for this year’s event.

 

OEN’s Angel Oregon is the Northwest’s premier deal flow and networking event for Oregon and SW Washington-based angel investors and early-stage entrepreneurs. The competition has real economic impact for Oregon. The 26 companies that have presented at OEN’s Angel Oregon since 2003, have more than $66 million in combined revenues (up 43% from 2007) and employ more than 478 people. This year’s event drew an audience of nearly 300 angels, potential angels, entrepreneurs and OEN members and supporters.

 

About Oregon Entrepreneurs Network
Founded in 1991, the Oregon Entrepreneurs Network is a not-for-profit corporation dedicated to providing opportunities for Oregon entrepreneurs and improving the business climate for emerging, growth-oriented companies statewide. The organization has members throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington. For more information about the OEN, visit its website at www.oen.org.

 


 

 

Finalists for the 2009 OEN Angel Oregon

 

2009 CleanTech/ Biotech Track Companies
DesignMedix - DesignMedix develops drugs to combat drug resistance in multiple diseases. Effective inexpensive malaria drugs will enter human trials in two years mainly funded by grants.

 

Tau Science Corporation - Tau Science designs and manufactures diagnostic tools that accelerate process development and increase manufacturing yield in the photovoltaic (PV) solar manufacturing industry.

 

2009 Consumer Track Companies
GlideCycle - The GlideCycle is a revolutionary new mobility device that helps people run.  By virtually eliminating the impact of running, people who never expected to run again can, including those with painful joints, permanent disabilities, temporary injuries or excess body weight.

 

Wicked Quick - Wicked Quick is a premium clothing and accessories brand rooted in the world of speed, rebellion and attitude.  Wicked Quick currently offers lifestyle product at Nordstrom, Metropark, select Harley Davidson Dealership's and others, and produces performance gear for professional teams including three-time NASCAR champion team Joe Gibbs Racing.

 

2009 Technology Track Companies
GadgetTrak - GadgetTrak develops and sells theft-recovery software to help protect today's most popular mobile devices against theft or loss.  GadgetTrak uses the latest in wi-fi position technology along with its patented technology to protect Apple's mobile product line: MacNotebooks, iPhones & iPods.

 

WeoGeo - WeoGeo is building the world's richest and most accessible library of survey, engineering, mapping, and architectural content.  WeoGeo’s platform provides a Software-as-a-Service file management system that dramatically reduces customer storage and hosting costs, while at the same time providing a professional B2B marketplace for new revenue opportunities. WeoGeo was the winner of OEN Seed Oregon.

 

• Fourteen additional companies delivered a 1-minute elevator pitch for a chance at investment and further exposure.

0 Comments Permalink Tags: angel_oregon, angel_investment, entrepreneur, startup
Linda Weston

Hope... it is a funny concept.

 

Basically it's a general belief that things will turn out fine without proof that it actually will. Some may think that having hope now is delusion,  because the current economic indicators are not encouraging. But despite everything seemingly heading the wrong way, I still believe that there are reasons for hope.   Perhaps I have hope because I have seen time and again people making a difference through their deeds.  Perhaps I have hope because I know that human creativity and innovation is boundless. Perhaps I have hope because I am surrounded by an entrepreneurial community of people that dares to believe that they can succeed when everybody tells them they cannot.

 

Hope is hard to have these days. The news is full of discouraging stories about layoffs, businesses cutting back, and about how things are in a mess greater than anything we've known since The Great Depression. I don't know about you, but those kinds of stories all piled up one after another can leave a person without…hope.   But without hope, you don't believe.  Without belief, you can't do. Without doing you can't succeed. So my experience tells me that we need a goal.

The time has come for our community to have hope and remember we have the power to take control and shape our own economic destiny.

 

OEN is blazing that trail by supporting the biggest source of innovation -- emerging businesses and the community that supports it. Entrepreneurship and innovation will fuel job growth and will  be an important part of our collective economic recovery.  That’s where the jobs will come from. OEN provides entrepreneurs with the educational programs, networking opportunities and events as well as mentoring that help businesses raise capital for growth.

 

Our goal over the next 100 days is to get:

 

 

OEN is the hub on the wheel of entrepreneurship in Oregon. To keep the wheel in motion and keep new programs coming, we need the support of the entire entrepreneurial community including: the entrepreneurs, the investors and the experienced service providers and business partners. There are many ways to help OEN help entrepreneurs in the next 100 days.  Whether you bring OEN a new member, or you contribute some educational content to the online entrepreneur resources, or you make a donation, you will be helping support innovation through entrepreneurship.   We have 100 days to lay the foundation of our new path to prosperity and I hope you will join us as we invest in our entrepreneurial community.  The glass isn’t half empty----it’s half  full.  Help us fill it to the brim.

 

Sincerely,

 

Linda Weston

OEN President and Executive Director

0 Comments Permalink Tags: entrepreneurship, 100_days, innovation_economy
Sarena Regazzoni

Founder/CEO Robin Jones, of 88 inc. was recently a featured entrepreneur in Oregon Biz Report. She is a member of the Oregon Entrepreneurs Network and her company was an OEN Seed Oregon PubTalk finalist recently. Check out the Oregon Biz Report article featuring 88 inc. that highlights this new entrepreneurial endeavor and the approach her company is taking to redefine electronics for women.

0 Comments Permalink Tags: seed_oregon, angel_investment, entrepreneur, pubtalk, startup_portland, oen_member
Tim Leinhos

GoGreen '09 is an all-day  educational conference that inspires, motivates and educates aspiring and  established business owners to "go green". Join us and spend a value-packed day  connecting with our amazing speaker line-up that features over 40 leading  eco-visionaries, experts and like-minded individuals who will provide you with  the latest knowledge and tools needed to make your business more sustainable and  to take your business to the next level.

 

 

When| Wednesday,  October 7th 2009, 8:30-4:00pm

Where| Portland Art  Museum/1219 SW Park  Ave Portland, OR 97205

WHO| Regional  business owners + professionals

Visit| www.gogreenpdx.com

0 Comments Permalink
Tim Leinhos

SHOP/09 is a unique educational  forum to educate, invigorate and inspire entrepreneurs of all stripes. This year  tilted to embrace the economic stance of the nation, attendees will learn how to  survive and thrive in the  downturn, attract new customers, predict future trends and build or  re-build marketing strategies from the ground up. Tailored to  both the start-up and the established business, this all-day symposium includes  a range of interactive panel  discussionsled by more than 30 thriving business  leaders. During lunch by Art  Bar, four lucky audience members will receive  15-minute business strategy  makeovers LIVE on stage with Lisa Johnson, Creator of the Free Agent  Formula, a proactive plan geared to boost business for the modern entrepreneur.

 

 

When| Monday, April  6, 2009, 8:30am–4:00pm

Where| Portland Center for the Performing Arts {Brunish  Hall}, 1111 SW Broadway

Who| Local  retailers + small business owners

Visit| www.cravebusiness.com/shopsymposium09/portland

0 Comments Permalink
Tim Leinhos

The Gorge Angel Conference is an educational, investment and networking event for angel investors and early stage entrepreneurs. Early stage companies will compete for a minimum pooled investment prize of $100,000. The Selection Committee, made up of the group of investors, will be reviewing and judging each application in search of the best investment opportunity. Companies must have good growth and profit potential. Early stage deals are preferred. Companies should be seeking capital within the range of $100,000 to $1,000,000 and planning to locate in the Columbia River Gorge region.

 

The Keynote Speaker for the event will be Doug Fieldhouse, the CEO of Vesta. He will talk about how Angels and entrepreneurs grow companies together.

 

The company submission criteria is located on the event website. Use the link below and click on the Company description Criteria pdf file. This document will also include all the important dates and deadlines for the event.

 

For more information click here

0 Comments Permalink
Sarena Regazzoni

At last week's session you learned about Term Sheets. So let's say you have a signed term  sheet with an angel or venture-capital investor. Now what? How does the actual  process of closing an investment work? What can go wrong? What are the key  documents that are involved? Neil Nathanson of Perkins Coie will explain how it  all works - and what can go wrong.

 

What: Closing an Investment -  How it Works
When: Tuesday, March 3, 11:30am to 1:15pm (program starts  at noon)
Where: OTBC
MAX: Blue line, Beaverton Central stop  (one stop west of the Beaverton Transit Center)
Driving: Directions
Parking: Free parking in the parking  garage next door to our building

 

Cost: $10 if pre-paid; $15 at the door  (includes lunch)

 

Get more info and  RSVP.

 

Program Partners

 

These lunch programs are brought  to you by OTBC in partnership with the OEN and the SAO.

 

================================================

 

OTBC  Sponsors and Partners

 

We appreciate the support of all of our  Sponsors and Partners!

0 Comments Permalink Tags: angel_investment, entrepreneur, investment, venture_funding, otbc, term_sheets
Larry Williams

Last Saturday I attended the Entpreneur Speed Dating event at the OTBC.  It was great to see the place packed with vibrant startups and folks eager to work for them.  I met up with several members of OEN, including Digital Data Innovations, iComprehend, KinDigs, Portland Wiz Kids, InsYght Consulting, and others.

 

In addition to networking, we heard 30 second pitches from each of the company presenters.  The pitches were good, even if they had to be shortened to 30 seconds at the last minute!

 

During my brief OEN pitch, I forgot to mention at the event that OEN company members can post jobs for free on the OEN job board at jobs.oen.org.  Also, OEN members can sign up to be a 5 Minute pitch company at an upcoming OEN PubTalk.  If either of these are of interest to you, please contact me!

0 Comments Permalink Tags: business, entrepreneur, startup, entrepreneurs, networking

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