Funding Your Tech Startup - Presented by Terry Smith, Tech Futures Group Entrepreneur In Residence

• Preparation for funding
• Funding sources
• Types of value value propositions 
• Stages of company maturity
• Funding presentations and business plans
• Funding deal terms
• Stock options
• Boards of directors and advisors

Presenter: Terry Smith

Terry was the founding CEO of four technology companies in Silicon Valley, each acquired by public companies; during his career he has raised more than $105-million in venture capital.

As CEO of multiple hardware and software companies, Terry brings experience in product positioning, partnering strategy, business plan preparation, and funding strategy. His industry experience includes: wireless and fiber telecom, computer-aided design, mobile applications, and energy generation technologies.

Terry is a consultant to early-stage and multinational technology companies, focusing on corporate strategy, fundraising, business development, and R&D innovation. Terry also worked as an Entrepreneur In Residence for Sigma Partners, a venture capital firm.

Terry has a B.A. in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania, where he also studied Electrical Engineering for three years. He has an MBA from the University of Portland. 

Selling to Your First Customers - Presented by Gerry Barañano, Tech Futures Group Entrepreneur In Residence 

• Researching initial target prospects
• The importance of positioning
• Reaching the right target prospects
• What does the first call look like?
• Listening to prospects - Feedback loops and revisions
• Valuable early agreements

Presenter: Gerry Barañano

Gerry was Vice President of Marketing and Sales for companies ranging in size from Fortune 100 to startups and was instrumental in positioning and closing the sale of Xros, a telecommunications startup for $2.2 billion.

Gerry brings a comprehensive understanding of all the elements necessary to start a successful technology company from his experience as founder and CEO of several startup companies. He has hands-on experience in launching products and services in the telecommunications, computer manufacturing, software, hardware, and green/clean tech industries.

Today, as principal of The RevLaunch Company, Gerry consults for high technology companies and the R&D divisions of the world’s largest corporations in the area of business development, technology commercialization strategy, product positioning, and go-to-market strategies. Clients include FujiFilm, embedded software products, open-source software, and hardware products. 

Gerry earned a B.A. from Yale University and an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. 

Panel -  Getting Your First Round of Funding

Panelist: Carrie Walsh, Managing Director, Entrepreneur Services Group - Silicon Valley Bank 

Carrie Walsh has over 15 years of experience in the venture capital industry. As a Managing Director with SVB’s Accelerator, Carrie leads a team that leverages the bank’s deep experience and relationships with the venture community in ways that help Founders and CEOs of emerging technology, cleantech, and life science companies succeed. SVB Accelerator provides strartup and VC clients with access to high end programming and targeted introductions that work to create a mutually beneficial ecosystem that's unparalleled in the technology banking industry today.

Previously, Carrie was a Partner at a leading transatlantic executive recruitment firm where she built out executive teams and boards for venture-backed technology portfolio companies. Prior to that, Carrie was the Vice Consul for IT & Communications at UK Trade & Investment and the British Consulate, where she led a nationwide team working with US venture funds and their technology portfolio companies to drive inward investment to the UK and to promote British trade abroad.

Carrie’s experience also includes work at two venture funds, Red Rock Capital and Brad Peery Capital, where she was Director and Vice President of Strategic Development. Prior to her invest-side experience, Carrie was a record-breaking executive at VentureOne, a leading industry research firm, and at Teletrac, a venture-backed mobile solution provider optimizing the service delivery process.  

Panelist: Prashant Shah, Board of Directors - TiE Silicon Valley

Prashant Shah has been an early stage venture investor since 2001. He is an active Charter Member of TiE Silicon Valley (www.tiesv.org), a member of its Board of Directors, and Head of TiE Angels.

Previously, he spent nearly 10 years at Hummer Winblad Venture Partners, and early stage VC focused on enterprise and infrastructure software. Prior to Hummer Winblad, Prashant spent many years defining and launching high tech products. His background spans all seven layers of the OSI stack with product management roles at enCommerce (acquired by Entrust), Cypress Semiconductor and AT&T.

In addition, he was on the Board of Trustees for Astia (www.astia.org), a non-profit that advances women in high-tech entrepreneurship. Prashant received a BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Panelist: Rebekah Wu, Venture Capital Advisor - Tech Futures Group

Rebekah runs her own venture capital relations company, Right Hand Partners (RHP). She has relationships with over 150 venture capital firms primarily located in the Silicon Valley. Since 2001, she has helped 38 companies raise over $167 million in VC funding. 8 of those companies have since been acquired. 

Rebekah founded Right-Hand Partners (RHP) in 2001 to capitalize on her network of VCs that she acquired while fundraising in 1999-2001 for her own startup. RHP is a VC Relations company – a trusted conduit to reach the VC community. 

Rebekah has also been extending her vast network of serial entrepreneurs and high quality startup engineers to CXOs to her clients; this has evolved into a formal recruiting service at RHP. RHP’s clients are both domestically and internationally based. 

Rebekah was a Founder/CEO of a contracts negotiation software startup from 1999-2001. She was previously the E-Commerce Strategy Manager at Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company and a Regional Manager of Internet Solutions at AT&T. Rebekah earned her BA in Business Administration at Pacific Lutheran University and her post baccalaureate designation with self-proclaimed honors from the School of Hard Knocks.

Panelist: Ashwin Gulati, Entrepreneur In Residence - Tech Futures Group

Ashwin has served as the founder/CEO and as a Senior Executive of both Corporate Strategy and Business Development for several technology companies. He is experienced in leading businesses from inception to exit. His 20-year industry experience spans software, Internet, green/clean tech, finance, life sciences and eCommerce.

As President of Match Point Ventures, Ashwin works closely with leadership teams of technology companies in executing mission critical initiatives including business planning, market entry/traction, strategic alliances, private equity, restructuring and exit strategies.

Ashwin received a B.A. from Claremont McKenna College with a dual degree in Economics and Mathematics. He also attended The London School of Economics and King’s College, England.