A qualified panel discusses every aspect of a deal---from the initiation process of receiving investment to the transaction process, with a special focus on the potential pitfalls of those startup funding deals.
Moderator: - Fred Decosimo from Elliott Davis Decosimo. Fred has more than 30 years of experience in both public accounting and consulting services. He assists clients with private equity capital formation and obtaining both private and public funding. His corporate finance experience encompasses bank debt negotiations, due diligence preceding acquisitions and mergers, litigation support, structuring limited partnerships joint ventures and equity investments.
Panel: - Financial perspective: Robert Belcher, a shareholder at Elliott Davis Decosimo, provides audit and accounting services for investment companies and investment advisory firms with total net assets of approximately $5 billion. In addition to audit, Robert delivers financial due diligence and other merger and acquisition services to a large variety of businesses. His corporate finance clients include private equity, venture capital and investment funds.
- Legal perspective: Rick Hitchcock is a shareholder from Chambliss Bahner & Stophel PC. He advises and represents clients in environmental matters, business planning, technology issues, transactions, and trial and appellate litigation. He regularly works with startup businesses on formation, governance and financing issues.
- Investment perspective: J. Mark Jones, is a partner at River Associates Investments (www.riverassociatesllc.com). Mark oversees new acquisition origination, fundraising and transaction financing efforts for River Associates. In this capacity, he initiates and maintains relationships with deal sources (investment bankers, business brokers and other intermediaries), potential fund investors (limited partners) and senior & mezzanine debt sources.
- Business/startup perspective: Jonathan Bragdon, Partner & Head of Ventures at Very, a consulting and investment firm for companies launching a disruptive new product or a new company. With a number of startups under his belt, he also advises local venture-backed companies and several non profit organizations.
Schedule: - 4:30pm-5:00pm, Q&A by Fred Decosimo, our moderator. - 5:00pm-5:20pm, Q&A open to audience. - 5:20pm-5:45pm, Stick around for brews, wine and snacks.
