SVASE: VC Breakfast Club with Sigma Partners

Focus on Software, Comm., Semiconductors, Storage, Electronics & Infrastructure
The featured VC will be Gregory C. Gretsch, Managing Director, Sigma Partners, http://www.sigmapartners.com

This event is co-sponsored by Silicon Valley Law Group http://www.svlg.com.

Sigma Partners

Sigma Partners was founded in 1984 on the principle that people are the essential element of success. That is why Sigma focuses on identifying exceptional entrepreneurs with creative ideas and supporting them in building great companies.

Sigma think it’s much more important to have partners with experience in the trenches starting and running entrepreneurial companies. This first-hand experience allows us to give early-stage companies both tactical and strategic guidance and access to a powerful business network.

For over two decades Sigma Partners has invested in over a hundred early stage companies, and our portfolio has consistently outperformed. In 2005, we raised $400 million for Sigma Partners VII, bringing our total capital under management to over $1 billion. We continue to invest today in the same way we have since our inception, by identifying great entrepreneurs and collaborating with them to build strong businesses.

Sigma Partners invests in people first, markets and products second. We know growing a company is challenging and believe it’s the competence and character of the people that create success. Hence, we look for talented entrepreneurs who have drive, integrity, fortitude, versatility, and resourcefulness.

We look for defensible technology in ample market segments. We consider current market conditions and competitive offerings, and look for products that entice customer and brand loyalty. We seek opportunities in diverse markets including software, communications, semiconductors, storage, mobile computing, electronics, infrastructure, and software and Internet services.

Focusing on early-stage investing, we are typically the first venture investor and key board members. Our initial investment typically ranges from $2-8 million, and we invest in businesses throughout the United States.

Sigma have invested in some of the most innovative and significant technology companies of our time e.g. eDocs, FileNet, Iris Graphics, Atria Software, Vignette Corp and host of other successful companies/

Gregory C. Gretsch

As a former founder and executive of four start-up technology companies, Greg uses his expertise to assist entrepreneurs in building strong businesses. Greg has been in the high-technology industry for more than 17 years. He joined Sigma in 2000, and brings to the firm expertise in new venture creation and marketing. Greg tracks markets that impact both the enterprise and the consumer, including business applications, enterprise infrastructure, storage, Internet services, consumer services, and alternative energy.

In 1997, Greg co-founded Connectify, an enterprise software company that sold software for Electronic Direct Marketing. After selling Connectify to Kana Communications in 1999, he stayed on board as the Vice President of Electronic Direct Marketing. Prior to Kana, Greg started GiftONE in 1996, which he later sold to SkyMall. In 1993, Greg launched his first start up, Vicarious, an education and reference CD-ROM publisher. Early in his career, Greg spent time at Apple Computer where, in addition to spearheading product marketing programs, he lead a project partnering with CNN that offered the first public showcase of QuickTime. Before joining Apple, Greg was an IT consultant for Andersen Consulting (now Accenture).

Greg holds a B.B.A in Management Information Systems (MIS) from the University of Georgia

COST: $25 SVASE Members; $39 Affiliates; $49 Non-members. This event is for ENTREPRENEURS ONLY, BY PREREGISTRATION ONLY.

This event is co-sponsored by Silicon Valley Law Group http://www.svlg.com.
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