SVASE VC Breakfast Club with John Wander, Founder & Partner, Next-Gen Ventures, Focus: Software, Software as a Service, Digital Media, October 2, 2008

SVASE VC Breakfast Club with John Wander, Founder & Partner, Next-Gen Ventures, Focus: Software, Software as a Service, Digital Media,

Start: 10/02/2008 - 8:00am
End: 10/02/2008 - 9:30am

Contact Info: Jai Kumar Email: [email protected]
Location: Bridges SF, Law Offices of Morgan Lewis One Market, Spear Street Tower, San Francisco CA 94303
Cell: 408-406-4693

URL:www.svase.org/?q=node/1734

VC Breakfast Club with John Wander, Founder & Partner, Next-Gen Ventures Focus: Software, Software as a Service, Digital Media, Web 2.0

Next-Gen Ventures, www.next-genventures.com

Next-Gen Ventures targets venture capital investments into paradigm-shifting seed and early-stage web-based companies. The Fund seeks companies with highly differentiated disruptive technologies or business models that address high-growth market segments. Next-Gen Ventures will focus on emerging markets where a company can dominate its niche and bring new products and services that could be disruptive to large existing markets. The markets in which the Fund will target to invest are subject to rapid change as new technologies emerge and as applications of existing technologies enable new segments to appear. While the Fund realizes that in just a few years we will be seeing new opportunities that are not currently known, the following are areas of current interest.

John Wander, Founder & Partner, Next-Gen Ventures

Next-Gen Ventures was founded by John Wander, who has over 15 years of combined professional investing experience. He brings extensive and complementary experience and expertise in technology venture capital investing to Next-Gen Ventures.

Prior to founding Next-Gen Ventures, Mr. Wander was the founder and managing director of GiantStep Angel Network (GAN). GAN was formed in 2000 by Mr. Wander to source, screen, and introduce seed and early-stage web based software companies to sophisticated angel investors, early stage venture capital funds, and family offices. Since its inception, Giantstep Angel Network investors have invested approximately $34 million into several seed and early stage companies.

Prior to founding GAN Mr. Wander was a principal at Stonegate Partners in Boston, MA. Stonegate is an early stage private equity firm for companies in the technology, energy, and health sciences sectors. While at Stonegate he personally placed over $17 million of seed and early stage private equity. Mr. Wander is a former partner of Galaxy Theatres, Inc. based in Los Angeles and was responsible for completing the first round of start-up venture capital. Today, Galaxy Theatres places in the top ten percent by size in their industry. Previously, Mr. Wander was a Senior Vice President at American Finance Group (“AFG”) (now Equis – Merchant Bank) in Boston, MA. At AFG, he was responsible for raising private equity to finance the housing for Boston University’s International Student Program located in Sydney, Australia & Washington DC. Before joining AFG, Mr. Wander spent five years as Vice President of Winthrop Financial Associates. Winthrop is a private investment banking company headquartered in Boston, MA. Mr. Wander was based in the San Francisco and Los Angeles offices.

Mr. Wander has an MBA from the Graziadio School of Business & Management at Pepperdine University and is a graduate of California State University, D.H. with the degree of Bachelor of Science – Business Administration Finance. Mr. Wander holds Series 7 and 63 Licenses.

WHEN: Thursday, October 2
8 – 9:30 AM

LOCATION: Bridges SF, Law Offices of Morgann Lewis, One Market, Spear Street Tower, San Francisco CA 94303

PRE-REGISTERED RATES:
Members - $25; Affiliates who advertise this event - $39; General Public - $49.

This event is intended for entrepreneurs seeking feedback on their startup ideas and funding strategies. Please do not register if you do not fit this profile.

This event is co-sponsored by Bridges SF, www.bridgessf.com