Panel of investors and entrepreneurs to discuss what companies they’re attracted to and why

How do entrepreneurs attract investors and secure funding? What’s the difference between angel investors and venture capitalists? These questions and more will be discussed by a distinguished panel of angel investors, venture capitalists and entrepreneurs on March 21 at Colorado College.

The Colorado Springs Technology Incubator (CSTI) and Colorado College are bringing together leading experts to share their “in the trenches” perspectives on what it takes to secure funding for startup companies.… Show more The event, which is free and open to the public, was created in response to demand from the entrepreneurial community wishing legitimate advice and guidance on how to fund and grow their companies. Two entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to present their companies and receive candid feedback from the panelists.

Panelists and Moderators Include:
Chris Marks, Partner at Boulder-based Tango/High Country Venture
Bill Miller, Managing Partner of PV Strategies, LLC and PV Ventures, LLC
Peter Adams, Executive Director at Rockies Venture Club
Chris Blees, CEO of BiggsKofford
Stephen Kaczmarek, Owner of Fatbike, Coordinator of Innovation and Incubation at Colorado College
Dr. Ric Denton, CEO of the Colorado Springs Technology Incubator

“Few agents are as critical to an economy’s success as entrepreneurs,” said Dr. Ric Denton. “More than ever, our community must become a collective change agent that fosters and supports our entrepreneurs and their innovations. But innovation is just a starting point and it doesn’t necessarily go hand-in-hand with sustainability. That’s where mentorship, provided by experts with been there, done that experience, comes in. We’re thrilled to work together with Colorado College to bring such an esteemed group of investors and entrepreneurs to Colorado Springs. This is a must-attend event for anyone serious about funding and growing their company.”

“I’ve experienced firsthand the challenges of funding my startup and the value that the right set of investors and advisors can provide,” said Stephen Kaczmarek. “I’m excited to be in the company of our honored guests, and to share our knowledge with aspiring entrepreneurs. This is a fantastic opportunity to meet startup pros and gain actionable insights.”

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In April, Colorado College will host a momentous entrepreneurial event for its students—Colorado College Pitch Night. Five selected teams will present their ideas before a judge panel and compete for $50,000 in funding.

Calling All Entrepreneurs!
Entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to present their companies to the panel and receive feedback. Two companies will be selected to present. Format: 5 minute pitch followed by 10 minute Q&A and feedback by the panel. Interested in presenting? Please contact Mary Fox: mary.fox@cstionline.org

Schedule
5:30-6:00 Welcome & Opening Remarks
6:00-7:00 Panel Q&A Session
7:00-7:10 Break
7:10-7:50 Startup Pitches {2 @ 15 minutes each}
8:00 Closing Remarks

Where: Colorado College, Jerome P. McHugh Student Commons, 1090 N. Cascade Ave, Colorado
Springs, CO. Parking is available in the W2 and W3 parking lots.
RSVP: Space is limited. Please RSVP to mary.fox@cstionline.org.
About the Colorado Springs Technology Incubator
The Colorado Springs Technology Incubator (CSTI) is a nonprofit organization run by successful entrepreneurs and mentors dedicated to helping startup entrepreneurs turn their ideas into brilliant reality. Led by Dr. Ric Denton, a Silicon Valley veteran with extensive experience in taking early-stage startups from conception to multi-million dollar businesses, CSTI offers a variety of reduced-rate services including: funding, product development, strategic partnerships, operational guidance, go-to-market strategies, marketing and business development. CSTI is also home to the Startup Factory, a free workspace that offers entrepreneurs a collaborative work site for developing their startup companies. For more information: www.cstionline.org. Media inquiries: info@cstionline.org or 719.685.7877.
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Biographies of Panelists & Moderators:
Chris Marks, Partner at Tango/High Country Venture
(Panelist)
Chris is a partner at Tango, a private investment company and venture capital fund located in Boulder, Colorado. Chris has been with Tango since 2000, during which time he has been leading investments in early stage technology companies, and helping entrepreneurs launch, finance and scale their businesses. Chris and his partners also manage High Country Venture (www.highcountryventure.com), a venture capital fund that invests exclusively in early stage companies located in Colorado. Prior to Tango, Chris was a corporate lawyer representing various private equity firms and early stage companies raising venture capital. Chris earned his BA from The Colorado College in 1991 and his JD from the University of Colorado in 1997. You can read Chris' blog at www.chrisamarks.com and follow him on Twitter at @cmarks831.
Bill Miller, Managing Partner of PV Strategies, LLC and PV Ventures, LLC
(Panelist)
Bill Miller is Managing Partner of PV Strategies LLC and PV Ventures LLC. PV Strategies is a macro multi-strategy hedge fund that employs strategies designed to achieve capital appreciation and income from market volatility while limiting risks of market exposure through active hedging. The fund invests primarily in liquid, exchange traded securities, including long and short equities, options and Exchange Traded Funds. Bill is a well known entrepreneur in Colorado Springs and has made a number of local startup investments through PV Ventures LLC.


Peter Adams, Executive Director at Rockies Venture Club
(Panelist)
Peter Adams has been an entrepreneur five times over, and has spent over a decade in corporate America as a Director of Economics and CIO for Design Workshop, a national architecture firm. Most recently, he was a strategic consultant for government, non-profit, and private companies. Peter is also the CEO for BizGirls.org, a non-profit summer camp for high-school girls to learn entrepreneurship, and Omniportraits, a for-profit e-commerce venture. He holds a BA from Colorado College and an MBA from Regis University.


Chris Blees, CEO of BiggsKofford
(Panelist)
Chris Blees currently serves as President and CEO of BiggsKofford Certified Public Accountants and BiggsKofford Capital Investment Bank, both located in Colorado Springs. In 2003, Chris expanded the firm beyond traditional CPA services and launched the firm’s M&A and Investment Banking practice, now operating as BiggsKofford Capital. Since 2003, the Firm has become a leader in this sector throughout the Western U.S., as demonstrated by the Firm’s involvement in over 200 merger, acquisition, or sale transactions in California, Washington, Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado.
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Steve Kaczmarek, Owner of Fatbike and Coordinator of Innovation and Incubation at Colorado College
(Moderator)
Steve Kaczmarek is co-owner of The FatBike Company and Borealis Bikes. Fatbike.com was established in January of 2013 and will introduce a new carbon fiber Fatbike branded under the name Borealis. Fatbikes are a new trend in the mountain and adventure bikes that have large tires (Fat) to provide better traction on rough surfaces and float across snow for all year riding. Steve is also acting as Coordinator of Innovation and Incubation at Colorado College, running the BIG IDEA. Colorado College is awarding $50,000 in prize money for the winning teams and currently has 28 teams competing in the competition. Prior to Fatbike and Colorado College, Steve was a major investor and active manager at Oracle Packaging, which started in 2000 and grew to $135 million in sales with almost 1,000 employees.


Dr. Ric Denton, CEO of the Colorado Springs Technology Incubator
(Moderator)
Dr. Ric Denton is a Silicon Valley veteran with extensive experience in taking early-stage startups from conception to multimillion dollar organizations. Over his +30-year career, he has led the development, funding and commercialization of numerous new products in a variety of industries. As CEO of the incubator, Dr. Ric assists entrepreneurs with product development, funding, corporate governance, strategic partnerships, and their go-to-market strategies. He is a member of the High Altitude Investors (HAI), an organization of accredited investors (as defined by the SEC), who seek private investment opportunities, largely in Southern Colorado and the Front Range. Dr. Ric holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in physics from the University of California in Santa Barbara.

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