I just read Guy Kawasaki's blog post today on the OPEN Forum. Excellent as usual!

He touches on the typical steps for fundraising through VCs (Plan A) and the pitfalls and then goes onto Plan B (the better bootstrapping approach, which is in essence, don't quit your day job and build your company with as little money as possible).

For another excellent read, you can also see his book, The Art of the Start. Great read!

Tags: theart of the start, bootstrapping, guy kawasaki, fund raising, venture capital

Winnington is preparing to launch 2 new investment funds: (1) Winnington Opportunity Fund LP, a public equity hedge fund focusing on small to mid-cap companies, and (2) Winnington Private Equity Fund LP, a private equity fund also focusing on the small to medium sized enterprise. These funds will be of interest to the high net worth individual seeking to diversify a portfolio through the use of alternative investments.

Need help fundraising, let me know.

Tags: privateequity, small cap, mid-cap, investment fund, winnington, private equity fund, opportunity fund, canadian fund, fundraising

Just thought I'd post about an excellent private equity company I have known about for a while, SilkRoad Equity, run by the very successful Andrew "Flip" Filipowski. (How many other people can say they sold a company to a large technology company, CA, for a dew billion dollars?) They invest in a wide range of opportunities focusing on those with high growth potential and strong management. They have an extensive portfolio of companies and what really impresses me is the following statement from their site:

If you are searching for capital and have high growth potential and strong management, make sure SilkRoad is at the top of your list!

Much Success!
eMarv

Tags: privateequity, startup, venture capital, andrew filipowski, flip filipowski, silkroad equity, buyout

Here's the link: http://www.practicalecommerce.com/yahoo

Here's a description of the magazine from their website:

Enjoy!

Blogged with Flock

Tags: smallbusiness, free magazine, e-commerce, startup help, seo, customer conversion

Blogged with Flock

Tags: startupevents, nvtc, mitef, Southeast Venture Conference, gps, web2.0, february event, venture capital, startup, private equity

so this social networking thing isn't just a fad! ;-)

$300 million ($240M from Microsoft) invested in Facebook in the last 2 months.  Not bad at all!

Blogged with Flock

Tags: facebook, social networking, startup, startup investing, microsoft investments

I just read on TechCrunch that a Silicon Valley venture capital organization, Bay Partners, recently launched a fund just for FaceBook apps called AppFactory. Maybe I should start building a Facebook app!

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GoingGreen is where cutting-edge greentech CEOs meet the movers and shakers from the biggest industries on earth. Green technology innovators are transforming the global energy, water, agriculture, transportation, construction, manufacturing, and resource recovery establishments. This two-and-a-half-day executive event features CEO presentations and high-level debates on the most promising emerging green technologies and new entrepreneurial opportunities.

At GoingGreen, our editors will also honor the GoingGreen 100 Top Private Companies.  Thirty of the top CEOs from the GoingGreen 100 will pitch their market strategies to a panel of industry experts in our “CEO Showcase.”

Who Attends
Seven hundred greentech CEOs, business development officers, eminent researchers, venture capital and private-equity investors, and leading members of the press and blogging community will attend GoingGreen. Over 20,000 webcast viewers from over 100 countries will also tune in and interact with the program. Executives attend GoingGreen to identify and debate emerging trends, build high-level relationships and create new business opportunities.

 Click here to see how the program is shaping up.  

Trends and Topics
The Green Energy of Tomorrow Batteries Water Supply, Storage & Treatment Photovoltaics The Green City Growing Biofuel Alternative Fuels - Landfill Waste, Animal Fat, Plant Fiber Organic & Biofuel Impacts on Global Agriculture Global Warming Challenges Water Entrepreneurs Wastewater Treatment Opportunities Distributed Energy Infrastructure The Virtual Utility Wind Power Fuel Cells vs. Batteries	Green Consumer Products The Next Generation Automobile Biofuel Refining The Green Home Waste and Pollution Treatment The 500,000 Year Timeline Green Energy Companies Mega-Projects - Watering & Cooling the World Big vs. Small - Synergies for Green Civilization Fuel Cells Public & Private, Who is Greenest? What are the Most Lucrative, Transformative Green Technologies?

Meet the New Captains of Innovation

Save the Date
July 31st-August 2nd, 2007
Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA

As those who have attended any of the four annual Stanford Summits know,  the Stanford Summit is a two-and-a-half-day executive gathering that highlights the significant economic, political and commercial trends affecting the global technology industries. The Stanford Summit features the most innovative companies, eminent technologists, influential investors and journalists in keynote presentations, panel debates and private company CEO showcases. The Stanford Summit's goal is to identify the most promising entrepreneurial opportunities and investments in the global tech industry.

So mark your calendar, and click here to take advantage of the 25%-off ticket we have reserved for you before it expires.

Previous executive speakers include Google founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page, Skype founder, Niklas Zennstrom, Marc Benioff of Salesforce.com, Rob Glaser of RealNetworks, Verisign's Stratton Sclavos, Jonathan Schwartz of Sun Microsystems, Jon Miller of AOL, Marten Mickos of MySQL, and Trip Hawkins of Digital Chocolate.

Other notables include YouTube founder and CEO Chad Hurley, FCC Chairman Michael Powell, Stanford Law professor Larry Lessig, Dallas Mavericks owner, Mark Cuban, Don Evans, Secretary of Commerce, Clinton National Security Advisor, Sandy Berger, The "Dean for President" campaign's Joe Trippi, George Gilder, and Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott.

Who Attends
More than a thousand technology, media and advertising CEOs, business development officers, media buyers, venture capital and private-equity investors, and leading members of the press and blogging community will attend the Stanford Summit. Over 20,000 webcast viewers from over 100 countries will also tune in and interact with the program. Executives attend the Stanford Summit to identify and debate emerging trends, build high-level relationships and create new business opportunities.

About TiEcon 2007

TiEcon 2007 is two action-packed days of aspiring, exploring, and networking:

Dream> Brilliant Minds share their dreams, stories, and insights

• Meg Whitman, President & CEO, eBay Inc.
• Tim O’Reilly, CEO, O’Reilly Media
• Marc Benioff, Chairman and CEO, Salesforce.com

… and many more

Explore> Discover latest developments and hottest business opportunities

• Over 40 Panels and 200 Speakers cover topics on Entrepreneurship as well as Industry Segments
• Entrepreneurship panels include:
• When to turn in your badge to work in your garage?
• Where are VCs investing?
• Social entrepreneurship
• Growing for success

…and many more

• Industry panels include:
• Web 2.0
• Wireless 
• Life Sciences 
• Clean Tech

…and many more

Connect> Network with over 4000 Corporate Executives, VCs, Customers, and Entrepreneurs

• Take the shortest path to VCs at the Entrepreneurs Bazaar
• Engage with Panelists and learn from their stories from the front line
• Meet with Corporate Executives to grow your business
• Synergize with fellow entrepreneurs and professionals
• Mingle with target Customers and Partners

The New Face of Entrepreneurship – Theme of TiEcon 2007

The face of business is dramatically changing as Baby Boomers, the Generation Y, mid-career women, and new business leaders are coming together to create the most diverse and innovative pool of entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs of today have broken age, language, geography, and money barriers.

For more info on the conference click www.tiecon.org

Who should attend? Students in engineering, science and business graduate schools, as well as professionals with a few years experience, looking for a career in an international environment

Why attend? Over 30 companies will be represented with 500+ job postings in Europe, Asia and America. Valuable information on international career management will be presented in keynote speeches, seminars by Jean-Marc Hachey, author of “The BIG Guide to Living and Working Overseas”, and workshops led by experts.

How? Register online and post your resume at www.internationalcareerfair.com Walk-in registration will be possible on the day of the event, but prior registration allows you to have interviews scheduled in advance. There is no fee to attend for candidates.

Hotel offer: A few free hotel rooms are still available for registered candidates living over 100 miles. See rules on website.

Early bird special: First 400 attendees on each day will receive a free copy of the web edition of “the BIG Guide to Living and Working Overseas” by JM Hachey

Questions: Contact APEC at candidates@internationalcareerfair.com or call 415-904-8322

Participating Companies include:
Adecco, Airbus, Amadeus, Aperian Global, Bundesagentür für Arbeit (ZAV), CGG Veritas, Datacard, EADS, EDF Group, European Community, Growth Resources, Google, Hexis, Imerys, Lia-Tech, LinkedIn, Mann+Hummel Group, Pierre Fabre Labs, Renault, Renault Samsung Motors, SBM, Total, Voith

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Dear Employer:

Are you seeking qualified employees? Anne Arundel Community College invites you to participate in our Graduate Job Fair on Tuesday March 13, 2007. 

AACC offers degrees/certificates/letters of recognition in the following areas of study Business, Computing and Technical Studies, Arts and Sciences, Continuing and Professional Studies, Health Professions, Wellness and Physical Education. Our graduates are trained to work in jobs for architecture, interior design, fine arts, the sciences, allied health, accounting, marketing, retail management, advertising, communications, computer information systems, computer network, computer science, education, electronic engineering, paralegal and criminal justice, human services, healthcare, hotel/restaurant management, finance, and many more disciplines. 

Your participation will provide your organization/company with a perfect opportunity to directly interview qualified graduating students, alumni, other professionals and job seekers in the community. The graduating class for our college for 2006-2007 totals more than 1500 students and we expect to have additional job seekers from other areas in the community.

In addition to campus advertising, the job fair will be publicized with various community media outlets and organizations, other colleges in and around the county, Capital-Gazette Newspapers, students and alumni.

Details of Event:

Space is limited to 75 employers. Please make your registration as soon as possible.

DATE:    Tuesday March 13, 2007

LOCATION:   Anne Arundel Community College -- Arnold Campus

      West Campus at CALT 100

REGISTRATION FEE:  $100.00 due ASAP, but no later than February 12, 2007

Registration will not be complete and a table cannot be guaranteed until both the registration form and payment are received and there are available tables (see registration form for full details)

EQUIPMENT:   We will provide a 5’ table, 2 chairs, table cover and company directory

LUNCH:   Will be provided

INTERVIEW:   A room will be available for on site interviews 

Please return your company’s registration form (see 2^nd page) and check/money order payable to Anne Arundel Community College to: Attn: Veronica Boreland, Anne Arundel Community College, 101 College Parkway SSVC 222, Arnold, MD 21012. A confirmation will be sent to you after receipt of both your registration form and payment.

We look forward to your company’s participation. If you have any questions about this event, please contact Veronica Boreland at 410-777-2512 or Jean Herzog at 410-777-2764 (TTY: use Maryland Relay Service).

Sincerely,

Veronica Boreland

Job Services Specialist

REGISTRATION FORM

PLEASE TYPE AS YOU WISH THE INFORMATION TO APPEAR IN THE DIRECTORY

REGISTRATION DEADLINE - FEBRUARY 12, 2007

Company Name: ___________________________________________________________________________

Address: _________________________________________________________________________________

City, State, Zip Code: _______________________________________________________________________

Phone: ______________________________Fax: ________________________________________________

E-mail Address: ___________________________________________________________________________

Representative #1: _________________________________________________________________________

Representative #2: _________________________________________________________________________

Positions you have available: _________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Electrical Outlet Required:________ YES_________NO______  (circle one). We cannot guarantee outlets, but we will make every effort to accommodate your needs.

To reserve a table, you may return your completed registration by fax only to 410-777-2494. HOWEVER, REGISTRATION WILL NOT BE COMPLETE AND A TABLE CANNOT BE GUARANTEED UNTIL BOTH REGISTRATION FORM AND PAYMENT ARE RECEIVED AND TABLES ARE STILL AVAILABLE. 

Return the completed registration form and your check payable to Anne Arundel Community College to:

Attn:   Veronica Boreland

      Anne Arundel Community College--Career Services

      101 College Parkway, SSVC 222

      Arnold, MD 21012