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CAPTECH
Educational Series
Leaders
of growing technology firms consistently report that one of their
toughest tasks is the acquisition of adequate capital, and Virginia
Tech and the NewVa Corridor Technology Council
can help – with ideas from successful entrepreneurs, and
introductions to the capital community.
Today's
funding environment is harsh – we know that – and investors are
both more cautious and more demanding.
Yet
there's money to be found and Virginia Tech and the NewVa Corridor
Technology Council have combined to bring you CAPTECH,
a series to guide you from developing your business plan through
introductions to the venture community.
Come
learn from some of the most connected experts in the technology and
investment communities.
The
CAPTECH Educational Series, “Learning from the Leaders: Models,
Mentors and Peers” has been designed to meet the developmental
needs of entrepreneurs in Virginia. In this economy, managers and
their companies are likely to face important but exciting
challenges. The series has been designed to assist those who are building
and growing technology businesses in the region, and those participating
in the CAPTECH Business Plan Competition. To assist
entrepreneurs in this area for the challenges of building
and growing a business, CAPTECH will present the following
series of seminars:
January
8, 2002 Business Plans - Why Bother?
February
5, 2002 Building a Marketing
Plan for High-Tech Companies
March
5, 2002 Creating a
successful Financial Plan and managing Cash Flow
Business
Plans
–
Why
Bother?
January
8, 2002
Registration
begins at 7:30
Session
runs 8:00 am –10:00 am
Roanoke
Higher Education Center
(Directions)
108
N. Jefferson Street
Roanoke,
Virginia 24016
$50
(Includes continental breakfast and all materials)
A
well-conceived business plan serves as a foundation to focus
efforts, obtain financing, attract investors and serve as a road
map for growth. The first program in the CAPTECH series is
designed to improve your chances for success. This roundtable
discussion presents the elements of business planning in an easy
to understand fashion, with insights and advice from local
technology leaders, financial representatives and the legal
community.
Learn
the answers to these questions:
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Why
write a business plan?
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What
business plan model works best?
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Why
should a plan address strategic and tactical issues?
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How
often does a business plan change?
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What
are the best practices for staying on course?
PANEL:
Moderator:
Elaine Tuttle, President, The
Business Advisory Group
Experts:
Bob Lawson, Regional President, SunTrust
Bank
Jackson Taylor, Partner, Milestone
Equity Partners
Peer
Group: Brett Malone, President, Phoenix
Integration
David Poteet, President, New
City Media
Legal
Expert: Hugh Wellons, Flippin
Densmore
Registration
and networking begins at 7:30 am. Session begins at 8:00 am.
for
High Tech Companies
February
5, 2002
Registration
begins at 7:30
Session
runs 8:00 am –11:30 am
Roanoke
Higher Education Center
(Directions)
108
N. Jefferson Street
Roanoke,
Virginia 24016
$50
(Includes continental breakfast and all materials)
The secret
to successful marketing is to understand what your target
customers’ needs, demands and wants are before your competitors
can; offer them the products and services that will satisfy those
needs, demands and wants; provide customer service, convenience, and
value so that they will keep coming back. These principles are the
same for all businesses, however marketing in the high tech arena
means speed is of the essence. This session will focus on the
development of a marketing plan using the insights of other
entrepreneurs, marketing experts and the legal community.
Topics:
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Developing
the Marketing Plan
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Determine
customer needs through market research
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Pinpoint
the specific target markets that you will serve
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Analyze
the firm’s competitive strengths
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Create
the appropriate marketing mix
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Determine
the appropriate promotional strategy
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Understanding
the legal side of marketing
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Determine
the need for trademarks or patents
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Define
intellectual property issues
PANEL:
Moderator:
Jim Brown, Professor The
Pamplin College of Business
Experts:
Katie Wallace, President, The
Wallace Agency
Jodi
Rosendahl, Vice President, The
Business Advisory Group
Peer
Group: Mary Miller, President, Interactive
Design & Development
Steve Bennington, President, Provox
Technologies Corporation
Mary
Knebel,
CEO, LaunchFuel
Legal
Expert: Tom
McThenia,
LeClair, Ryan
Creating a Successful Financial Plan and Managing Cash Flow
March 5, 2002
Registration begins at 7:30
Session runs 8:00 am –11:30 am
Roanoke Higher Education Center
(Directions)
108 N. Jefferson Street
Roanoke, Virginia 24016
$50 (Includes continental breakfast
and all materials)
Raising money to launch a new business venture has always been a challenge
for entrepreneurs, especially in the high-tech field. Entrepreneurs and business owners needing between $100,000 and $3,000,000 are especially hard hit because of the vacuum that exists at that level of financing. Understanding the
sources of funding are best suited to the various stages of a company’s growth and then taking the time to learn how those sources work are essential to success. Fashioning a well designed,
logical financial plan is one of the most important steps in launching a new business venture. Potential investors will demand to see the financial plan before putting money into a start-up or even an existing business. The financial
plan also helps the entrepreneur manage his/her business more effectively. Managing the company’s financial performance effectively requires the entrepreneur to look not only at the bottom line but to focus on what it takes to keep a
company going – cash. This final session of the CAPTECH series will examine the financial side of the business such as sources of funding and the financial health and wealth issues.
Topics:
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Finding sources of Funds
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Debt and Equity
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Understanding the importance of cash management
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Describe fundamental principles involved managing cash flow
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Describe how to prepare the basic financial statements and how to use them
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Conducting a breakeven analysis
PANEL:
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Moderator: |
John Politis, Director, Business Technology Center at
Virginia Tech
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VC Experts: |
TJ Daly, Monument Capital
Greg Feldmann, Gryphon Capital Partners
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Peer Group: |
Ken Ferris, Carrier Access
Ted Melnik, Novozymes
Ron Lussier, New City Media
John Hodock, Luna Technologies
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Legal Experts: |
Bill Gust, Gentry Locke
Fourd Kemper, Woods Rogers
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Accounting Experts: |
Tim
Conner, Partner, KPMG LLP
John
Mcleod, Mcleod & Company
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