Suggest a Topic
you would like
us to address

March 11, 2010 Evening Seminar 6:00-8:00PM

The Art of Angel/Early Stage Investing:

Hear Prominent NYC Investors Discuss What They Look For (and Look Out For) When Investing in Early Stage Companies.

RSVP/REGISTER FOR THIS EVENT (Click here)

This Seminar will be held at Fordham University's Lowenstein Building, 12th Floor Lounge, 113 West 60th Street (9th Avenue), New York, NY 10023

*The lecture portion of the evening will start promptly at 6:00PM, please attempt to arrive 5-10 minutes early to minimize distruptions

Format:

During this Entrepreneurial Learning Forum, a selected startup will pitch live to a group of prominent early stage investors including William J. Benedict, Jr. (Alpine Meridian), Brendan Burns (Stepping Stone Capital Partners, LLC), Steve Brotman (Greenhill Venture Partners), Brian Cohen (New York Angels), Charlie O'Donnell (First Round Capital) and, Andrew Peskoe (Golenbock Eiseman Assor Bell & Peskoe LLP). The audience will first hear from each investor about what he/she looks for when investing in a startup--this includes the personal/character aspects of the entrepreneurs as well as the business concept, business model and the team's execution plan. Next, the entrepreneurs will make a short presentation, followed by a Q&A between investors and entrepreneurs. The investors will then each make a few comments to the presenting team. Before closing, the audience will have the opportunity to ask both parties questions.

About the Investors:

William J. Benedict, Jr., CEO, Alpine Meridian
William J. Benedict, Jr. is founder and CEO of Alpine Meridian, an advisory and investment firm that focuses on digital media, education, healthcare and electronic payments. The firm’s clients have included major information services and technology corporations, as well as many smaller businesses. Alpine Meridian has also created and operated technology-based joint ventures with major media companies.

Previously Mr. Benedict was managing partner of Resource Ventures, L. P., a venture capital fund, and before that responsible for Societe Generale's U.S. National Banking Department. Prior to Societe Generale, Mr. Benedict was with Chase Manhattan Bank in New York and Tokyo and co-founded LaSalle Commodities, a futures investment fund. Mr. Benedict is a director of Madison Logic, Certify, LLC, and Good Health Media and has been a director or on the advisory board of numerous private companies. He holds a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Denver and is a member of the Alumni Board of Governors of The Hotchkiss School. Extended Biography Can be Found Here

Brendan Burns, Managing Director, Stepping Stone Capital Partners, LLC
Brendan is a Managing Director of Stepping Stone Capital Partners, LLC.  SSCP is a growth-stage focused advisory and merchant banking firm.  The firm specializes in early and growth stage capital raising, venture investment, M&A and turnarounds.  Primary recent assignments include the turnaround and sale of Vigilar, an information security company where SSCP drove balance sheet restructuring, multiple capital raises and a sale in 2.5 years resulting in a 5x increase in enterprise value. Extended Biography Can be Found Here

Steve Brotman, Managing Director, Greenhill Venture Partners
Steve is a Managing Director of Greenhill & Co, and co-founder and co-head of Greenhill SAVP. Prior to founding SAVP in 1998, Steve was the founder, CEO and Chairman of AdOne Classified Network, one of the nation's leading classified ad web sites which was acquired by Hearst, Scripps and Advance-Newhouse. While at SAVP, Steve was a finalist for the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2000 and was named in Crain's 2001 Tech 100. While at AdOne, Steve was selected for the 1997 Crain's Top 25 Players Shaping Silicon Alley and the 1995 Top 40 under 40 among New York businessmen.Extended Biography Can be Found Here

Brian Cohen, Vice Chairman-Board of Directors, New York Angels
Founded GlobalComm/TSI (Technology Solutions, Inc.in 1983. TSI was the first science and technology strategic marketing and public relations agency in New York and one of the first such specialists in the United States. In 1996, TSI was recognized as the #1 fastest growing public relations agency in the United States. Nearing 200 employees with 5 offices, he sold the company to The McCann Erickson World Group, part of the Interpublic Group of Companies in 1997. TSI's client list reads like an entrepreneurial who's who list of leading technology companies in computing, communication, software, education, and entertainment all supported by an integrated matrix of professionals in research, strategic planning, media placement, video production and event management. Extended Biography Can be Found Here

Charlie O'Donnell, EIR, First Round Capital
Charlie is an EIR at First Round Capital.  He founded New York’s largest independent innovation community group, nextNY, and was voted one of the 100 Most Influential People in New York Technology the last three years.  He was the founder of Path 101 an innovative startup in the career guidance and recruiting space, which raised half a million dollars and was a Business Insider Startup 2009 Finalist.  He spend a year as the Director of Consumer Products at Oddcast after two years at Union Square Ventures.  Previous to that, he was investing in venture capital funds for General Motors Asset Management.  A New York native, he also teaches entrepreneurship at Fordham University and can be found blogging at www.thisisgoingtobebig.com. In his spare time, Charlie bikes everywhere, plays softball, dodgeball, and kayaks. Extended Biography Can be Found Here

Andrew Peskoe, Partner, Golenbock Eiseman Assor Bell & Peskoe LLP
Andrew is an active private investor in early stage companies, principally in the media and technology area. In addition, he is an investor in a number of venture capital and private equity funds, and is a principal in Israeli Cleantech Ventures L.P., a $75 million venture capital fund. As co-head of his law firm’s corporate practice group, he represents private and public emerging growth companies, VC and PE funds, and strategic investors in mergers, acquisitions, equity and debt financings, technology transfer and licensing, and complex financing transactions, including leverage buyouts, venture capital and “growth equity” financings. Extended Biography Can be Found Here