Entrepreneur & Small Business Forum

                                            Mike Segal, New York Private Equity Forums
                                       Robert Plotkin, Terrapin Partners
                                       William Reinisch, Paladin Capital

The funding community is highly selective in terms of the entrepreneurs it supports. That said, startups and small firms can find funding in a difficult environment if they have a compelling story as well as a strong understanding of the criteria and mindset of investors. The event will focus on ways to find the right investor for your firm. The panel will address, among other topics:

    What are the current trends in angel and venture capital investing?
    What types of companies are being funded and which are not?      
    How do you find investors that are favorable to your industry?  
    Does anyone like non-game-changing or non-tech firms?  
    How many angel groups should a startup approach at the same time?
    Which valuation methods do angels use the most?    
    What elements of a funding contract can be negotiated?  
    What are the most common mistakes entrepreneurs make with angels?       

Mike Segal is a Founder of New York Private Equity Forums, the pre-eminent private equity and venture capital event organization in the northeast. He is also a member of the screening committee of Tri-State Private Investors Network, one of the area's leading Angel groups. Further, he is General Partner of the private investment firm Joshua Capital Partners, and founder of the boutique investment banking firm M.J. Segal Associates. MJSA was formed to address funding problems faced by emerging and growth companies.

Robert Plotkin is Director of Technology at Terrapin Partners, an asset management and private equity firm located in New York. His primary focus is investments in entrepreneurial firms. Prior to Terrapin, Robert was at IBM's T.J. Watson Research Center, where he worked for 10 years on projects including the development of parallel supercomputers, MPEG video systems, digital library management systems, and interactive web technologies. Previously, he served as Chief Technology Officer of Aldabra Acquisition Corp., a special-purpose acquisition firm.

William Reinisch specializes in strategy and investments for the high-tech industry at Paladin Capital, a multi-stage private equity firm that invests in start-up companies through venture investment, expansion capital, and acquisitions. Portfolio firms include enterprises focused on alternative energy, network management software, and antimicrobial solutions. Previously, William was Vice President of Strategy and Technology at Motorola, where he was responsible for positioning the company for growth in emerging market segments.

The next  Private Equity Forum takes place on May 3 at the Yale Club. The event focuses on funding presentations of early-to-late stage entrepreneurs to a large network of angel investors, venture capitalists, investment professionals, and high-net worth individuals. To learn more about the meeting, please visit the event website at www.privateequityforums.com.