The Road to Entrepreneurship
A Complimentary Workshop on Company Formation and Venture Capitalism
This
interactive workshop was intended for would-be entrepreneurs
who are interested in learning about the company formation
and venture-capital fundraising process, as well as researchers
who are considering employment with venture-backed private
companies.
The
audience had an opportunity to guide the selection of topics
and time was provided for questions and answers.
Topics
covered include:
- Goal Assessment
What makes on idea venture-backable?
- Required Performance Metrics
How good is great?
- Commercialization Timing and Market Readiness
Is this a business or a science project?
- Market Sizing and Structure
Niche vs. mass markets, horizontal vs. vertical play
- How to Analyze a Value Proposition
What is the customer’s ROI?
- Corporate Partnering
How to establish brand and distribution
- How to Build a Product Roadmap
One-trick pony vs. platform
- Intellectual Property Protection
When and what to patent?
- Getting Through the University Licensing Office
- Team Building
Where do I find a CEO?
- Business Plan Development, Structuring Angel, and Seed and Early-Stage Investments
- How Pre-Revenue Companies are Valued by Investors
- Term-Sheet Structure and Negotiation
What’s the difference between common and preferred stock?
- How Stock Option Plans Work
Entrepreneurs Roundtable
This
informal networking opportunity was especially intended
for those involved in─or thinking about getting involved
in─a start-up company, as well as for venture capitalists
and others in the investment community. Host Bill
Frezza of Adams Capital Management and others shared
questions and/or experiences. Continental breakfast
was provided.
Bill Frezza is a general partner of Adams Capital Management, Inc., a national venture capital firm with offices in Austin, Boston, Palo Alto, and Pittsburgh. Adams Capital, which manages $700 million, invests in first-stage semiconductor, information technology, telecommunications, and advanced materials companies.
Before joining Adams, Frezza was president of Wireless Computing Associates. Prior to founding Wireless Computing, he was director of marketing and business development at Ericsson, Inc. He has held engineering and product management positions at General Instrument Corporation and Bell Laboratories, and has been involved in several start-up ventures.
Frezza obtained his BSEE and MSEE, along with a BS in biology, from M.I.T. He holds seven patents and serves on several private company boards.
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