Likely the biggest hurdle new companies face is raising outside capital. Only a small portion of those who embark on a search are successful, since investors are highly selective given the risks of the sector. To have a chance at success, owners and managers of new firms must devote considerable time and energy to understanding and mastering the funding process.

The panel consists of three investors whose groups have funded tech & non-tech startups and growth-stage firms. They will share their perspectives on characteristics, content, and approaches to conducting a successful investor search. Topics will include, among others:

    Do you find the investor, or does the investor find you?
    What portion of your time should be devoted to a funding search?
    Should you contact just a few, or hundreds, of potential funding sources?
    Tips on converting inventor and tech language to investor language.
    Can you gain traction online, or must everything be person-to-person?
    How to overcome the disadvantages of being a first-time entrepreneur.

Michael Belleris a General Partner at CoVenture, a venture capital firm that invests in pre-seed stage companies. He is also Partner of Lightship Partners, an advisory firm which helps firms to manage strategic, operational, and technological initiatives which support high growth. Further, Mike is an investor in ten startups, a member of the ARC Angel Fund, and the Advisory Council for Entrepreneurship at Cornell University.

Judith Feder is President of Harvest Capital, Ltd., an advisory firm that excels in fundraising for early stage ventures and in executing private share transactions for pre-IPO companies. Formerly, she was COO and Chief Business Development Officer of Lebenthal Wealth Advisors, LLC. She has served on the N.Y. Metropolitan Board of the National Association for Teaching Entrepreneurship, and on the Board of angel group Tri-State Ventures.

Anna Garcia is an Angel Investor and a member of 37 Angels, a network of female investors focused on funding high potential early stage startups. Her current portfolio includes companies in financial tech, fashion tech, data services, and hospitality. Anna is also Founder and CEO of AGM Ventures and an Advisor to DarcMatter, an online transactional platform that provides accredited investors with institutional-level access to alternative investments.