March 13, 2012

Angel Resource Institute seminar set for March 29

by Christi Mathis

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Back by popular demand, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is hosting an entrepreneurship seminar from the Angel Resource Institute.

The institute, founded by the Kauffman Foundation, has earned national recognition for its seminars, and a dual session is set for March 29 at the Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center in Carbondale.  Essentially, angel investing occurs when someone with the means provides start-up capital for a business. 

Angel investors, entrepreneurs, CEOs, venture capitalists, commercialization and technology transfer professionals, researchers, financiers, lenders and those with new businesses seeking financing, will find the Entrepreneurship Speaker Series presentation valuable, according to presenters.  The seminar will feature Robert Okabe, angel investing expert.

The morning session is “Due Diligence” and this workshop takes angel investors through the key steps and issues to achieve successful angel investing.  Participants will learn about such issues as major risk factors and deal breakers, and about the risk of unknowns.  This interactive presentation features a lecture, panel discussions, studies of actual angel investing cases and more, so those attending can learn how to validate business plans and evaluate and contain investment risks. The morning session is from 8 a.m. to noon.

“An In-Depth Look at Term Sheets” is the afternoon session from 1 to 5 p.m.  Angel investing is a high-risk venture and thus it’s appropriate to have safeguards in place.  During this workshop, you will learn about terms and conditions that angel investors typically use in funding early stage ventures.  The session will focus on core principles and processes, structure of company and ownership interests, the mechanics of financial terms, investor rights provisions and protective provisions.

The workshop will also include a panel discussion featuring local business experts.

Participants in each session are welcome at the networking luncheon from noon to 1 p.m.  There is no additional cost.

“These seminars are critical for any entrepreneur or investor who is considering launching or growing a new venture,” Emily Carter, director of entrepreneurship and business development, said.

The cost is $60 per person for each half-day session, including lunch and resource materials.  Or, for $100, you may attend both sessions and lunch.

The registration deadline is 4:30 p.m. on March 26 and all those attending must pre-register.  To sign up, or for more information, contact the Illinois Small Business Development Center/International Trade Center at 618/536-2424 or email sbdc@siu.edu.   The center is located at the Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center, 150 E. Pleasant Hill Road in Carbondale.

Co-sponsoring the event is Champion Community Investments.  The University hosts the Illinois Small Business Development Center/International Trade Center with funding in part through a cooperative agreement from the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

Learn more about the center and the many services it provides at www.siusbdc.com.