A Case Study of Learning Lessons for Entrepreneurs December 17, 2008

Building a Silicon Valley Business: A Case Study of Learning Lessons for Entrepreneurs

SDForum, in collaboration with Nixon Peabody and Frank Rimerman are delighted to announce the launch of a unique and innovative breakfast series: Building a Tech Business in Silicon Valley: A Case Study. The Series is NOT a "talking heads" panel program. Instead, the important lessons learned are communicated through discussions centering around detailed case descriptions. Audience members put themselves in the shoes of the company's principals as they suffer and succeed through the rollercoaster life of a startup. The Series will take place across five sessions from Fall '08 to Spring '09 and will trace the lifecycle of a fictitious Silicon Valley technology company.

Each session will be kicked off by a panel of experts and then participants will discuss and debate what the founders should do, provide helpful insights and materials for the entrepreneurial attendees as they build and grow their own companies. The experts include seasoned entrepreneurs and CEO's, service providers, investors and executives with pertinent experience and insights. There will be a dedicated wiki to communicate with attendees, including disseminating background material prior to the sessions, session materials, news and other related pieces or posts, and speaker and sponsor information.

Attendees are invited to participate in the entire series, or simply come for one session of particular interest.

Session #2 - Funding Opportunities:
America Has a Big Secret is a BIG hit. US's technology is a hit too. How do they fund their future? Do they continue to self fund and rely on angel investors? What are the pros and cons of accepting venture capital?

John Baer, Threshold Ventures
Steve Baroni, Frank Rimerman
Jim Chapman, Nixon Peabody
Karen Northup, Corefino
Steve Reale, Levensohn Venture Partners
Carol Sands, The Halo Fund
Susan Lucas-Conwell, Moderator

SDForum members: $35, Non-members: $45, Platinum Pass: $0.

Official Website: http://sdforum.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=Calendar.eventDetail&eventID=13267