Education Series: Capital Raise Considerations
To continue providing education for real world situations (“where the rubber hits the road…”) we present our ongoing Education Series. Learn from experts how to succeed with your business.
Topic: Capital Raise Considerations
When: April 19, 6:00 – 8:00 PM
Where: Impact Hub Boulder (1877 Broadway, Boulder)
Learn from the Experts
Gary Hirshberg: Founder of Stonyfield Farm
Chris Younger: Co-founder of Capital Value Advisors (CVA)
Ceyl Prinster: President and CEO of Colorado Enterprise Fund
John Grubb: (Moderator) Founder of Summit Venture Management
Description
Growing a brand and business can be very capital intensive – often beyond the ability to self-fund growth through cash flow. In this interactive educational session we will look at the essential considerations when contemplating raising capital – whether an outside equity investment, debt, or some hybrid financing instrument.
Featured in this session will be Gary Hirshberg, founder of Stonyfield Farm, a pioneer in the natural products world. Gary has extensive experience in raising capital over a thirty year timeframe both for Stonyfield and the many natural products companies that he has advised as a board member or friend. In addition to raising growth capital, Gary has a unique perspective on deal structure – in particular, how to protect cultural values in the context of significant capital infusion or acquisition. Aligning with an investment partner involves much more than money – and Gary will share some best case examples as well as watch-outs on this topic. Naturally Colorado is fortunate to catch Gary as he is passing through Boulder in mid-April.
The session will also feature Chris Younger, co-founder of Capital Value Advisors (CVA), a boutique investment bank based in Denver. Chris has extensive operational and transaction experience having led the acquisition and integration of 27 companies prior to the formation of CVA. CVA assists companies in the capital raises of all types, valuation advisory services, as well as mergers and acquisition representation. With this rich basis of operational and transaction experience, Chris will share both the financial and non-financial considerations in taking outside capital – with a bias to assisting entrepreneurs who might be less experienced in taking on a financial partner. Chris was previously an associate with the law firm of Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich and Rosati and he attended the London School of Economics as well as Harvard Law School.
The session will also feature Ceyl Prinster, President and CEO of Colorado Enterprise Fund (CEF), an award-winning nonprofit lender and community development financial institution, loaning more than $68 million to over 2,000 small businesses and startups since 1976. Ceyl is a frequent local and national speaker on the community impact of small businesses, their role in economic development, and their need for access to capital.
The conversation will be moderated by John Grubb, Naturally Colorado board member and founder of Summit Venture Management, an advisory and investment firm in Boulder.
Registration
Members: $25, Non-members $35 (Includes catered snacks)