The View From All Sides: Seed Funding June 10, 2009

MIT Enterprise Forum Cambridge Presents:

The View from All Sides: What It Takes and Means to Secure Seed Funding in Today's Economy

Date: Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Time: 5:30 p.m. Networking mixer & Sandwiches
6:15-8:00 p.m.: Program
8:00-9:00 p.m.: Networking Reception, upstairs in R&D Pub
Location: Stata Center (Bldg. 32), Kirsch Auditorium, 1st fl., 32 Vassar Street
Cambridge, MA 02139

We all know how tough it is today for most entrepreneurs to raise money. VCs are battening down the hatches and many are distracted trying to manage current portfolio companies. Angels aren't as "angelic" as they used to be. Thanks in part to the credit crunch and the recession, friends and family who are willing and able to open their wallets are few and far between.
The good news is that these days successful technology startups can show meaningful progress and even customer traction on less than $1M in funding. In addition, new approaches to funding startups at their earliest stages have emerged over the last couple of years, creating more fuel for entrepreneurs and innovators.
We will explore the following issues:
* Is a new paradigm emerging for startups and their seed and angel investors? How is seed funding changing and what does it mean for this generation of start-ups?
* What are some of the opportunities and challenges that entrepreneurs and investors face in finding - and then managing - a seed-stage deal?

* Are there unique - and more successful - approaches to angel investing?
* Do VCs need to change their approach to seed funding, or perhaps alter their focus in terms of stage of investing?

Join us for a provocative discussion and gain perspective from a panel of entrepreneurs, angel investors and VCs.

Our conversation will feature:
David Friend, angel investor and serial entrepreneur, Chairman & CEO, Co-founder of Carbonite
Rich Miner, Managing Partner, Google Ventures
Rob Go, Venture Capitalist, Spark Capital, Start @ Spark
Shawn Broderick, Executive Director, TechStars Boston and Founder/CEO, TrustPlus
Moderator: Lee Hower, co-founder of LinkedIn, Venture Capitalist, Point Judith Capital

Pre-registration is strongly encouraged, as space fills up fast!