Past Events & Gallery
IdeaFunding 2005
Overview
Your family and friends have told you that they are maxed out and have no more money to invest; your spouse has told you not to charge anything else to the family credit cards; your home equity line is being used for the kids’ college education; your vendors won’t extend any more credit; and your customers won’t pay in advance. Who do you turn to? A venture capitalist? An angel investor? A lending institution? What are each of these funding sources looking for in a potential investment or client?
Starting and running a business in today’s complex world is more complicated than ever. The decisions you make today will profoundly influence, your future, your future growth, funding opportunities, and profitability. It is essential that you start out on the right foot. That’s why on October 20, 2005, the Desert Angels, and TREO, in cooperation with the Arizona Center for Innovation, Pima Community College Small Business Development Center, and the University Of Arizona Karl Eller College Of Management, is presenting the Eighth Annual Tucson Entrepreneur’s Forum IdeaFunding 2005.
This one-day forum will include presentations by industry, financial and professional experts on the topics that should be considered as you embark on your new enterprise. Watch and listen to three real life companies give it their best shots and then find out what they did right and what they did wrong. The cost is only $75 for the full day of programs and includes a continental breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snack.
An added bonus this year comes from the Desert Angels; Arizona’s largest angel network. They have graciously invited IdeaFunding participants to join them for their dinner and conference. The meetings last approximately three hours and also offer a place for members and guests to socialize, hear speakers on current local or regional economic issues, and discuss past and future investments.
The proceeds from IdeaFunding provide revenue to the High School Venture Fund Program. Potentially the only active fund of its kind available to high school students, the High School Venture Fund is dedicated to assisting local students develop entrepreneurial skills needed to start a small business. Students from Vail and Desert View High Schools will be this year’s recipients.
The goal of IdeaFunding is to assist entrepreneurs, researchers and scientists on identifying and accessing the alternative sources of capital available to them in the Southern Arizona marketplace. In addition, IdeaFunding gives useful suggestions regarding business plan content and how to turn an idea into a reality.
Included in this day’s events are discussions, real-life presentations with critiques, and workshops, designed to help the attendees understand and learn what investors look for in a business. All sessions are led by top industry professionals. Attendees will start the day of by enjoying success and failure “war stories” from local entrepreneurs, then observe presentations and participate in critiques of three real-life companies, attend two workshops discussing the various aspects of a good business and what is needed to be successful, with a final discussion of the day’s events and key topics.
In an effort to provide realistic examples, we will be joined by three companies who are at different funding stages. They are all faced with both the challenges and vast potential that any company experiences. Venture Capitalists, Angel investors and other funding sources look at more than just your good idea in making their funding decisions. IdeaFunding will focus on the major areas of interest to those with the checkbooks.
Following IdeaFunding, the Desert Angels have graciously invited us to attend their general meeting and dinner. The Desert Angels General Membership dinner meeting is where applicant companies make their presentations and answer questions from potential investors. While the organization itself never invests, it provides a forum for entrepreneurs and investors to meet and evaluate one another as potential business partners. The meetings last approximately three hours and also offer a place for members and guests to socialize, hear speakers on current local or regional economic issues, and discuss past and future investments.
Look for Techschmooze coming in Spring 2006
Techschmooze is a full day exhibit like no other you can exhibit at or attend in Tucson. You’ll see the best ideas in all of the Old Pueblo. Bring your technology, your laptops, your cell phones, your palm pilots and your checkbooks and make deals!!!
DESERT ANGELS CONFERENCE FOLLOWING IdeaFunding 2005!!!
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Agenda
MORNING REGISTRATION 8:00 – 8:45am
Morning Star Ballroom
WELCOME 8:45 – 9:45 am: “War Stories”
Morning Star Ballroom
Local entrepreneurs will discuss their experiences (good and bad) in achieving success in Tucson. They will be joined by local venture capitalists and angels who will provide their perspective of the funding process.
Moderator – Lawrence M. Hecker, Esq., Chair, IdeaFunding
Panelists –Wayne Lundeberg, Catalina Tool and Mold; Bruce Seligman, High Throughput Genomics; Tom Grogan, Ventana Medical Systems; Matt Harris, Village Ventures; Harry George, Solstice Capital
PITCHES & CRITIQUE 10:00 am – 12:00 pm: “Reality Time”
Silverbell Ballroom
Watch, listen and learn. Three separate real-life companies will make a 10 minute pitch for financing from a panel that includes a venture capitalist, an angel investor, and a lending source. After the presentation, the panel will spend 30 minutes making comments, suggestions, and exchanging ideas with the entrepreneurs and the audience.
Moderator – Jim Fountain, Director, Arizona Center for Innovation
Panelists – Tim Overton, Lending Source, Bank One/Chase; Scott Caruso, Venture Capitalist, Flywheel Ventures;
Dee Harris, Angel Investor, Exec. Dir. Arizona Angel Investor Group
10:00 - 10:40 am Whole Loan Trader – On-line Mortgage Trading Platform for Secondary Mortgage Market.
Whole Loan Trader is an early stage Tucson company that is attempting to make the buying and selling of mortgages on the secondary market more efficient. Using a unique approach and proprietary software, the company is planning to package loans from small lenders into pools that can be quickly sold at higher prices than might be otherwise obtained.
Presenting—Larry Owens, President; Arsen Ovanessoff, CIO
10:40 - 11:20 am NviroHealth – “The Grip” is an innovative water bottle with own filtration system.
NviroHealth is a middle stage Tucson company that was formed for the purpose of finding solutions to water pollution for people world wide, one step at a time. . The Grip® and Hydrol® filter, the clear alternative to bottled water, provide the consumer the ability to enjoy clean, genuine tasting drinking water without contaminants and impurities while never buying bottled water again.
Presenting—Gary Payne, President/Founder
11:20 am - 12:00 noon Regenesis Biomedical, Inc. –Biotech company specializing in wound treatment products.
Regenesis Biomedical is a Scottsdale company producing products for the
regeneration of damaged or diseased soft tissues by developing non-invasive
technologies to induce healing in cutaneous wounds and other soft tissues.
It is thought that products developed by Regenesis will be commercially
important in the evaluation, treatment and rehabilitation of diseased and
damaged skin, cartilage, spinal and other tissues. Presenting—Mary Ritz, President
LUNCHEON PROGRAM 12:00 noon – 1:15 pm
Morning Star Ballroom
Presentation of Tom Brown Entrepreneur Award – Recipient—Jim Wyant, Dean of University of Arizona Optical Sciences
Presented by—Kathleen Perkins, CEO, Breault Research
Keynote Speaker - Matt Harris, CEO, Village Ventures, Inc. (Introduced by Harry George of Solstice Capital)
FIRST WORKSHOP 1:30 – 2:40 pm: “Planning to Execute”
Silverbell Ballroom
This panel will focus on the issues an entrepreneur will face between the time a business idea is conceived and the business begins to operate. It addresses the importance of the business plan, protection of intellectual property, sources of funding, and legal organization. Each of these areas will be represented by a panelist with extensive experience in assisting entrepreneurs to reach their goals
Moderator – Bob Morrison, Desert Angels
Panelists – Thomas L. Thomas, Managing Director, Peacock, Hislop, Staley & Given, Inc.; Lowell Thomas Snell & Wilmer L.L.P.; Tom Shambo, Business Analyst, Small Business Development Center, PCC; Ashley Kirk, Hayes Soloway P.C.
SECOND WORKSHOP 2:40 – 3:50 pm:
“Executing the Plan-Bridging the Chasm of Ownership Between Investor & Entrepreneur”
Silverbell Ballroom
Investors are looking for opportunities to invest in to build wealth. Entrepreneurs are looking for investment to build companies. Bringing investors and entrepreneurs together would almost be easy if entrepreneurs understood the perspective of investors. This session will explore how investors’ criteria for investment translate into required company ownership.
Moderator – Mike Arnold, Associate Director, UA Engineering Management Program
WRAP UP & FINAL THOUGHTS 4:00 – 5:00 pm: “Lessons Learned”
Silverbell Ballroom
One presenter from each session will recap the day’s events and focus on the key elements of entrepreneurial success. More Q & A from the audience.
Moderator – Larry Aldrich, Valley Ventures
Panelists – Lawrence M. Hecker, Esq., Chair, IdeaFunding; Jim Fountain, Director, Arizona Center for Innovation; Bob Morrison, Desert Angels; Mike Arnold, Associate Director, UA Engineering Management Program
DESERT ANGEL DINNER MEETING 5:00 – 8:30 PM
Morning Star Ballroom
The Desert Angels General Membership dinner meeting is where applicant companies make their presentations and answer questions from potential investors. While the organization itself never invests, it provides a forum for entrepreneurs and investors to meet and evaluate one another as potential business partners. The meetings last approximately three hours and also offer a place for members and guests to socialize, hear speakers on current local or regional economic issues, and discuss past and future investments.
Look for Techschmooze coming in Spring 2006!
Techschmooze is a full day exhibit like no other you can exhibit at or attend in Tucson. You’ll see the best ideas in all of the Old Pueblo. Bring your technology, your laptops, your cell phones, your palm pilots and your checkbooks and make deals!!!
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Presenters
Whole Loan Trader
Whole Loan Trader is an early stage Tucson company that is attempting to
make the buying and selling of mortgages on the secondary market more
efficient. Using a unique approach and proprietary software, the company is
planning to package loans from small lenders into pools that can be quickly
sold at higher prices than might be otherwise obtained.
The Grip by NviroHealth
NviroHealth had its beginnings over ten years ago in Tucson, Arizona where the founders started researching environmental pollution and its effects on humans. It was ultimately formed for the purpose of finding solutions to water pollution for people world wide, one step at a time.
The Grip® and Hydrol® filter, the clear alternative to bottled water, provide the consumer the ability to enjoy clean, genuine tasting drinking water without contaminants and impurities while never buying bottled water again.
The Hydrol® filter cleans municipally or biologically treated water and other normal drinking water sources of chlorine, herbicides, pesticides and metals. You already pay for your tap water or have access to numerous places for free drinking water at water fountains, faucets, etc. Each Hydrol® filter will purify approximately 150 gallons of water or approximately 800 refills of The Grip®.
Just fill The Grip® with tap water or water from any faucet or water fountain and enjoy clean, pure, safe water immediately.
Regenesis
Regenesis Biomedical is a Scottsdale company producing products for the
regeneration of damaged or diseased soft tissues by developing non-invasive
technologies to induce healing in cutaneous wounds and other soft tissues.
It is thought that products developed by Regenesis will be commercially
important in the evaluation, treatment and rehabilitation of diseased and
damaged skin, cartilage, spinal and other tissues.
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For more information, please contact us.
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