May 14, 2004
'Power of Angel Investing' seminar set at SIUC
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- A one-day seminar at Southern Illinois University Carbondale will help angel investors find promising, lucrative funding opportunities through research and education.
The Southern Illinois Entrepreneurship Center, housed in SIUC's Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center, is hosting "The Power of Angel Investing" on Wednesday, May 26. Participants will learn how to thrive, despite economic downturns, from national and regional angel investors and other experts.
The seminar runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Dunn-Richmond center, 150 E. Pleasant Hill Road, Carbondale. Registration costs $195. For more information, or to register, call the Southern Illinois Entrepreneurship Center at 618/453-3805 or visit http://www.siecenter.biz/angel.
The entrepreneurship center is presenting the seminar in cooperation with the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation of Kansas City, Mo. The foundation works with partners to advance entrepreneurship in America and improve the education of children and youth.
John May, Kauffman Foundation entrepreneur-in-residence, will lead the seminar. He is the founder and managing partner of New Vantage Group, a Virginia-based firm that creates innovative channels to direct private equity into early-stage companies.
The day will include panel discussions, expert presentations and case studies in breakout sessions. Seminar topics include: Finding angel investments that are right for you; investment goals and portfolio strategies; local deal sourcing; due diligence; structuring the deal/term sheets; valuing start-up companies; monitoring angel investments; the post-investment relationship; and angels as advisers and mentors.
This seminar is open only to accredited investors. There will be no entrepreneurs seeking capital at the seminar, and the names of those attending will remain confidential.
Angel investors provide private financing for emerging growth companies that are too small to attract venture capital but too big to rely on funding from family or friends. Angel investments usually range from $250,000 to $2 million but may start at $50,000 and top out between $3 million and $4 million. Most angel investors are "cashed-out" entrepreneurs, so in additional to financial support, many also provide business expertise and connections to the companies they fund.
The Securities and Exchange Commission defines accredited investors as having a net worth of $1 million, excluding their residence, or an income in excess of $200,000 or, with a spouse, in excess of $300,000 annually.
Facilitating business development is among the goals of Southern@150, the blueprint for the development of the University by the time it celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2019.