While return on investment is important for all investors, for certain investors this return can come in other forms beyond just monetary return. Many of these "strategic" or "mission" driven investors provide capital (loans, grants, in-kind support & equity investments) to companies that: align with their mission; provide strategic value; or provide other tangible and intangible returns.  From an entrepreneur's perspective, the investment from these types of investors almost always exceeds the actual monetary value of the capital provided. These investors provide tremendous market credibility; access to customers and partners; and many more value added benefits.

Please join us to hear from a panel of distinguished corporate and non-profit strategic "smart money" investors and companies who have benefited from this type of investment.

Moderator: Michael Wiley, NJEDA
Michael Wiley is a Senior Venture Officer with the EDA's Technology and Life Sciences Division.  Wiley assists early-stage technology companies by providing financing to help grow high quality jobs in New Jersey.  He is currently serving as the Clean Energy Solution - Project Leader at the EDA.

Panel:
Frank DeBernardis, Nascent Ventures, LLC
Nascent is a venture catalyst company comprised of experienced medical industry entrepreneurs focused on the successful commercialization of promising biotechnologies and medical device inventions, with 21 companies created to date.

Jim Golubieski, NJ Health Foundation and Foundation Venture Capital Group
Foundation Venture Capital Group, LLC, established in March 2006 as an independent organization, invests exclusively in research at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) by funding new life science companies.  Mr. Golubieski is president of the NJ Health Foundation and Foundation Venture Capital Group.

Dan Keoppel, Executive Director Strategic Investments, Verizon
Dan leads the venture investing program for Verizon. In this capacity, he evaluates startup companies and is point person for contacting the venture capital community, keeping abreast of major technology and business trends in search of relevant venture prospects for the Verizon wireline, wireless, and enterprise business units.

Randy Harmon, Foundations Business Development Group, LLC
Randy assists scientists, engineers and small businesses in raising seed and early stage financing.  He consults for the NJ Small Business Development Centers of Rutgers Business School and coordinates SBIR and STTR training and proposal assistance services for the NJ Commission on Science and Technology.   

When
Wednesday, April 7,  2010
Noon to 3PM

Where
Rider University, Fireside Lounge, Bart Luedeke Lounge, Lawrenceville, NJ

$45.00 per person, pre-registered
and pre-paid by 5:00 PM Friday
April 2, 2010

$55.00 at the door

A full buffet lunch and dessert will be provided

Registration
Pre-register and pay below by credit card or by check mailed to NJEN, 11 Honey Lake Drive, Princeton, NJ 08540,

Sponsored by

Venture-Technology-Entrepreneurial Services

Supporting organizations: 

Einstein's Alley

NJIT Enterprise Development Center

 New Jersey Technology Council