Press Releases
Contact: Jocelyn
Sese |
919-549-7500
ext.119 |
CED's Capital Connection Innovator's Quarterly Workshop Is November 16
Workshop Allows Prospective Entrepreneurs to Evaluate Their
Ideas with Seasoned Mentors
November 6, 2002, Research Triangle Park, NC - The Council for Entrepreneurial Development (CED) created the Capital Connection Innovator's Quarterly Workshop to help prospective entrepreneurs and innovators who are considering commercialization possibilities to evaluate the feasibility of their ideas. The workshop is geared toward companies still at the idea stage. The next session will be held on Saturday, November 16, at Duke University Medical Center, from 7:30-noon. The Innovator's Quarterly Workshop is part of the CED Capital Connection program, which consists of six comprehensive entrepreneur-focused sessions that assist entrepreneurs at various stages, from idea to initial funding. (For more information on Capital Connection, including details about the workshop and other sessions, go to www.cednc.org/capitalconnection.)
"The decision of whether or not to pursue a new venture is often a difficult one as the potential entrepreneur weighs the risks and rewards, and compares his or her technology and idea against the investment criteria of angel and venture capital investors," said Monica Doss, CED president. "The Quarterly Workshops are designed for corporate and academic researchers, but are open to anyone working with an innovative technology or idea and interested in starting a new venture."
Well-established entrepreneurs, investors, and service partners (accountants, attorneys, etc.) deliver the content of the program, combining panel discussions with interactive workshops and take-away tools. Some of the featured speakers at the Nov. 16 session will include:
- Brad Walters, Academy Funds
- Jesko von Windheim, Founder, Cronos Integrated Microsystems
- Chris Lynch, Wyrick Robbins Yates & Ponton LLP
Key topics to be discussed include:
- understanding venture capital and angel investment criteria
- how to approach investors
- understanding potential customers and competition
- science vs. business and technology vs. product
Participants will also discuss the start-up process, intellectual property protection and ownership, business formation, and management and team/partner issues.
"The CED does a great job putting these early-stage entrepreneurial programs together," says Jesko von Windheim, founder of Cronos Integrated Microsystems, which was acquired in April 2000 by JDS Uniphase for $750 million. "The new venture environment is challenging on multiple levels, and to have the guidance that the CED offers through its Capital Connection program is a wonderful opportunity for emerging entrepreneurs."
The Capital Connection Quarterly Workshop audience is limited to potential entrepreneurs interested in starting a business. Service partners are encouraged to refer individuals thinking of launching a business. Prospective technology entrepreneurs interested in attending may visit www.cednc.org/programs/capital_connection/quarterlyworkshop.html for details and an online registration form.
About CED's Capital Connection
CED's Capital Connection works in tandem with CED's FastTrac Tech and Streak
entrepreneurial training programs to assist innovators in the earliest stages
of company development. The Capital Connection Advisory Team, comprised of angel
and venture capital investors, helps companies review business development plans,
assess funding progress, identify CED programs that uniquely suit business needs,
and provides ongoing mentoring and direction. Capital Connection companies raised
more than $270 million in 2000, and $361 million since 1999. For more information
about the various Capital Connection programs, visit CED's Web site at www.cednc.org/capitalconnection
or contact Adam Smith at asmith@cednc.org.
About CED
CED is a nonprofit organization established in 1984 to encourage and assist
entrepreneurs in developing high-growth businesses, and to enhance North Carolina's
prominence as a center for high-impact business opportunities. CED's members
include businesses, investors, professional firms, and other organizations that
actively aid entrepreneurs in developing high-growth business ventures throughout
the area. For more information, visit CED's Web site at www.cednc.org.