Financing a Start-up in a Downturn
Join us March 5th for the second event of MIT Venture Lab’s Start-up in a Downturn Series, and learn how to overcome the challenge of financing your new business in today’s unique economic climate. Learn tips and tricks from our expert speakers as they share their knowledge, experience and perspective on the topic:
· Andy Sack, General Partner, Founder’s Co-op, a seed-stage investment fund based in Seattle. Andy has over 15 years of experience running and investing in high-tech businesses, most recently as co-founder and CEO of Judy's Book, a local search social network which he founded in 2004.
· Michelle Jacobson Goldberg, Partner at Bellevue-based venture capital firm Ignition Partners. Michelle specializes in investments in consumer and enterprise software and services, and represents Ignition Partners as Director on the boards of companies such as Mpire, Visible Technologies and SEOmoz.
Speakers:
Andy Sack, General Partner, Founder’s Co-op
Andy Sack has over 15 years experience running and investing in high tech businesses, most recently as co-founder and CEO of Judy's Book, a local search social network. Prior to founding Judy's Book in 2004, Andy co-founded three successful Internet technology companies: Kefta (acquired in 2007 by Axciom), a leading provider of real time customer interaction solutions; Abuzz, (acquired by New York Times Digital in 1999), an enterprises knowledge management solution ; and Firefly Network, an Internet company that pioneered internet personalization technologies (acquired by Microsoft).
Andy currently serves on the board of and advises a number of companies including: zango, Cooler Planet, and Orange Line Media. Andy received his undergraduate degree from Brown University in 1990, and his MBA from the Sloan School of Management at MIT.
Michelle Jacobson Goldberg, PARTNER, Ignition Partners
Michelle is a partner at Ignition, investing in consumer and enterprise software and services.
Michelle represents Ignition as director on the boards of Mpire, Visible Technologies, and SEOmoz. She was an observer on UIEvolution (sold to Square Enix, Japan).
Michelle was an investment banker at Olympic Capital Partners where she specialized in mid-market mergers and acquisitions. Michelle worked in management consulting for A.T. Kearney. As an associate in the Financial Institutions Group, Michelle focused on strategic and operational improvements for Fortune 100 clients. She also spent time working in Taipei with a group developing export strategy for the Chinese government.
Michelle earned her B.A. degree from Columbia, and an M.A. degree from Harvard University.
Doors open at 5:30 pm. Soft drinks and light appetizers will be served.
Online registration is closed, we will be taking at the door registrations beginning at 5:30. If you have questions you may call us at 425-771-4790 or email mitenterpriseforum@verizon.net
