| Topic: | WHO NEEDS A @#! VENTURE CAPITALIST? |
| When: | September 18, 2008 - Registration & networking 5:00 p.m.; Program begins at 5:45 p.m. |
| Where: | SPECIAL LOCATION!: SPARK Central, 330 E. Liberty Street, Ann Arbor |
| Cost: | Free for NEF members; $20 for non-members; $5 for students |
Program Partners:
Stakeholder Sponsors:
You may view them as funding gatekeepers, but venture capitalists are actually one part of an interconnected economic ecosystem that includes participation between the state, companies, pension funds, and venture firms to produce prosperity. Join us to understand why you and your local VC might have more in common than you thought...
Our panelists:
Cindy Douglas – Director, Program Administration, Michigan Economic Development Corporation. With over 30 years of economic development experience, Cindy has oversight of the Michigan Strategic Fund Board, Strategic Economic Investment and Commercialization Board, and Michigan Economic Growth Authority Board.
Francis Glorie – Former CFO, Irwin Magnetics, & Independent Finance/Marketing Consultant. Francis has over 25 years of experience in executive management and consulting for start-ups, established companies, and non-profits in the US and Europe, and has led firms from venture-backed inception to acquisition and even IPO.
Tony Grover – Managing Director, RPM Ventures. Tony has 12 years of private equity, manufacturing, and technical knowledge. At RPM, he is involved with the boards of a number of technology firms. He is also on the advisory board for the University of Michigan Frankel Commercialization Fund.
Peter Woodford – Administrator, Alternative Investments Division, Michigan Department of Treasury. As Administrator, Peter manages $16 billion of private equity, hedge fund, and structured product commitments for the $58 billion State of Michigan Retirement Systems.
Our moderator will be venture financing expert, Mahendra Ramsinghani. Mahendra was previously with the MEDC and is a past NEF Board member.