| October
2008 |
|
Current feedback from investors, angels and venture
capitalists, is they will continue to make investments
through the economic crisis. However, in order to ensure
their current portfolio companies survive the credit
crunch, they will be holding back on some new
investments. Great companies will still be able to
secure funding, but those that are "B+" and lower will
have more difficulty and should be prepared for longer
financing rounds and greater scrutiny. Click
here to read a column on the latest in the
investment market by Tom Still, president, Wisconsin
Technology Council.
|
Forty Companies to Present |
|
About 40 emerging companies will present to
potential investors at the Wisconsin Early Stage
Symposium, to be held Nov. 5-6 at Madison's Monona
Terrace Community and Convention Center. The
annual conference, which has existed under
different names for more than 20 years, will
feature the fourth annual "Elevator Pitch
Olympics" for companies in a seed financing stage
and the second annual Wisconsin Angel Network
Early Stage presentation track for companies
seeking angel investments beginning in the
$500,000 range. Names of the companies will be
released just prior to the conference.
Investors, meet some of
the region's latest innovative companies and
researchers at this year's symposium. Register now
by following this
link.
|
|
WAN Members Only: Meet the
Presenters |
|
|
The list of companies
presenting during the 2008 Early Stage Symposium
will be released just prior to the conference.
However, WAN investor-members can preview the
companies by logging on to the WAN Deal-flow
Pipeline (DFP) and opening the "ESS
Applicants" folder.
Does your angel network or
fund belong to WAN? A listing is in the left
column of the newsletter. If so and you do not
have access to the Deal-flow Pipeline, contact
your network or fund administrator and ask for
your own personal logon credentials.
If your network or fund is
not a member of the Wisconsin Angel Network,
contact Joe Kremer to learn how to join.
Membership includes discounts to programs, access
to the Deal-flow Pipeline and supports WAN
initiatives.
|
|
Only the Best Will Secure Funding
|
|
|
Entrepreneurs seeking funding must stand out
from the pack in order to attract investors'
attention and money. The Wisconsin Angel Network
has several tools designed to help entrepreneurs
make the best pitch possible. On-demand videos,
business plan and presentation templates and other
resources on how to raise money are available for
free on the WAN website. Follow this link to the
WAN
resource page.
Top hits on the WAN free
resource page:
Finance
marketing: Many entrepreneurs do not
approach funding rounds from the correct
standpoint-raising money is sales. Learn more with
this 15-minute, on-demand video by WAN director,
Joe Kremer. Watch
now.
What are investors
thinking? Tim Keane, founder and director
of the Golden Angels Network, gives entrepreneurs
a sneak peek on how he evaluates investment
opportunities. If you are new to the early stage
market, this is a must-watch video. Click
here.
Business plan
template: Not sure where to start your
funding round? First thing you need is a
well-written, concise business plan. Download the
WAN business plan template by clicking
here.
Presentation
template: Getting ready to make a
presentation to investors? Use your presentation
time wisely. The WAN presentation template steps
through a 15-minute presentation, including how
much time should be spent on each area of the
business. Download the template here.
|
|
The Wisconsin Portfolio |
|
A report on "risk capital"
investing trends in Wisconsin has been published
by the Wisconsin Technology Council and the
Wisconsin Angel Network. The Wisconsin
Portfolio: Putting risk capital to work is a
16-page magazine aimed at informing investors
outside the state, homegrown investors and others
about Wisconsin's technology assets, recent
investments in state companies and resources
available to investors.
Download The
Wisconsin Portfolio by following this
link or e-mail Gina Leahy at gleahy@wisconsintechnologycouncil.com
for printed copies at $6 each.
|
|
Deals, Acquisitions and Exits
|
|
|
PDM Solar, $250,000
from individual investors.
The Wisconsin Energy
Independence Fund (WEIF) announced several
awards:
Virent Energy Systems won a
$500,000 grant and received a $500,000
loan.
Eaton Corp. and ZBB Energy
Corp. won a $229,000 grant.
Johnson
Controls-Saft Advanced Power Solutions won a
$500,000 grant.
C&D Technologies
Inc. received a $500,000
loan.
Energenecs Inc. received a
$313,000 loan.
Paradigm Sensors, LLC
received a $150,000 loan.
Other
News:
Quintessence Biosciences, Inc.
won a $170,000 SBIR grant, read
more.
Swallow Solutions, LLC
received a $113,000 Technology Venture Fund
loan.
Delta Communications Inc. was
acquired by Avtex Solutions LLC.
Magnetek,
Inc. sold its telecom power systems business
to Myers Power Products Inc.
MSOE
recently licensed its first patent, read
more.
Are we missing a deal or other news? Please
e-mail us at info@wisconsinangelnetwork.com.
|
| |
With investors keeping more of their "powder dry" for
their portfolio companies, new companies will be competing for
fewer investment dollars. It is in this environment that
entrepreneurs must put their best foot forward. Often times,
great companies are not recognized by investors because of
poorly written business plans, bad presentations or rambling
elevator pitches. To help companies grab the attention of
investors, the Wisconsin Angel Network has many tools and
educational videos at our resources page, www.wisconsinangelnetwork.com/
resources/entrepreneurs.
Please forward copies of this month's eVestor; if you're
not on our e-mail list, click here to join.
Sincerely, 
Joe Kremer, director
Wisconsin Angel Network
| | |
