"How to Make Your Company Investor Ready"

is invitation only and is designed for entrepreneurs, including CEOs and other C-Level executives of start-up or growth companies interested in raising funds.

This is a focused, intensive day that will lead you step-by-step through the following topics:

• Developing a Financing Map
• Getting to the First Milestone and Beyond
• Determining the Amount of Capital to Raise and Use of Funds
• Learning How Venture Capital Firms Think
• Creating a Winning Business Plan

Course Fees: $495/person includes all day education session, copy of course materials, extensive handouts from speakers, breakfast, and lunch.

Agenda - Subject to Change

Full Agenda and Topics

8:00 – 8:30 am - Registration and Breakfast    

8:30 – 8:35 am - Welcome                        

8:35 – 9:20 am

Presenting to Investors

·        What is the point of view you should be addressing?  What are the key points investors expect to see covered?  How many slides should you use? 

9:20 – 9:30 am BREAK

9:30 – 10:30 am

Strategy & Planning

·        What is strategy?  What is a strategic plan?  Why bother?  What’s a business?  What do you need to know about a business to write a business plan?   What goes into the business plan?  What else do you need before talking with investors?                    

10:30 – 11:30 am

Marketing & Sales

·        Implementation of the Business Plan requires a clear understanding of how and at what stage of the launch to employ Public Relations, Merchandising, Sales Promotion and Media. Discussion will include all marketing tools as well as how best to benefit from co marketing activities and the synergies of strategic alliances.

11:30 – 12:15 pm LUNCH    

12:15 – 1:15 pm

Financial Models & Business Plans

·        Traditional financial analysis is largely based on historical financial statements and ratio analysis.  However, venture capital financial analysis tends to be based most heavily on projected, future financial statements.  What are the different types of financial models?  Which one is best for your business?

1:15 – 2:15 pm

Intellectual Property & Term Sheets 

·        Intellectual property assets can be critical to the success of a start-up.  What are the types of IP (patents ,  copyright,  trademarks, trade secrets)?  How do you protect them?  What can go wrong?  What is a term sheet ?   How do you read one?

2:15 – 2:30 pm BREAK

2:30 – 3:30 pm

Due Diligence & Valuation

·        Venture Capitalists value companies to determine whether they will be able to obtain ownership percentages sufficient to justify the risk of investing.   A key element of valuation is "due diligence" -- the VC's review of documents and information relating to the company.  What should an entrepreneur do to prepare for due diligence?  How can your company be a "winner" in the valuation process?

3:30 – 4:00 pm

Wrap-Up and Q and A